Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Andrew Kiper.
Dr. Andrew, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Chicago in 2001 to attend Columbia College. I majored in TV/Film production with a minor in American Sign Language. While working in the film and television industry, I sustained a neck injury at the gym. After months of chronic tension headaches and neck pain, I was introduced to Chiropractic medicine for the first time through a friend’s referral.
Growing up in a family that relied strictly on traditional Western medicine, I was a bit unsure if Chiropractic could work for me.
After three visits with my new Chiropractic Physician, the pain had completely vanished, and I felt better than ever before! I was immediately drawn to the profession and within a few weeks had decided to quit my job with a casting director and go back to school to become a Chiropractor myself.
My passion is to help patients suffering with any type of pain find a lasting solution and prevent future occurrences.
I attended National University of Health Sciences in Lombard IL for my Doctor of Chiropractic degree. While at National, I served as the University President for the Motion Palpation Institute, teaching students manual therapy and rehab techniques twice a week. I practiced as a chiropractic intern at The Salvation Army clinic in downtown Chicago.
While at National I was introduced to McKenzie method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy. Not common to Chiropractic, this extremely accurate mechanical symptom response method allows the Doctor to quickly classify a patient and treat accordingly. Self-care and prevention play a big role in MDT as well.
I knew I wanted to open my own practice right out of school as I have lived in Chicago for almost 15 years and have a large network of potential patients. I live in Uptown and have always loved the surrounding neighborhoods of Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, so I chose to open there.
I opened my doors in Sept of 2016 and can honestly say I don’t feel like I’m every going to “work”! I get so excited treating patients and helping them live their best lives pain free. It truly feels amazing to love what you do!!!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not everything has been smooth sailing from the start. Obtaining business financing was work, trying to weed through the constant barrage of sales people calling and emailing my office to sell me on some marketing adventure when trying to compete with large corporate high-volume style Chiropractic offices and PT clinics with a “business centered model” vs a “patient centered model” who spend thousands of dollars a month on marketing. I learned my lesson and soon realized that the best marketing for my business is face to face, networking and direct referrals from my awesome patients who get better quickly!
Lakeside Spine and Wellness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
A science/evidence-based Chiropractic clinic specializing in MDT (McKenzie method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy), acupuncture, rehab and health and wellness. Our goal is to get patients better fast, and not to get them “addicted” or dependent on endless treatments. A typical treatment plan for a new patient is less than 8 visits unlike most other offices who are treating 20 or more times for one issue. We have a 98% success rate and if we can’t treat a patient for a particular reason, we WON’T, and have great referral sources to send them too.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Watching patients who have struggled with chronic pain for years that have been tossed around the poor system of musculoskeletal health care, completely resolve in a matter of a few visits. Most all of these patients were told they would have chronic pain for life or would need surgery. It’s incredible to put the power of a person’s own natural healing body back into their hands!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1828 W Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL 60640 - Website: www.lakesidechicagochiro.com
- Phone: 773 828 9506
- Email: info@lakesidechicagochiro.com
- Instagram: lakesidechicagochiro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakesidechicagochiro/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lakeside-spine-and-wellness-chicago
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