Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cari Jacobson.
Dr. Jacobson, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After graduation in Los Angeles, CA in December of 2006, I moved back to the Chicago area to work with Dr. Darren Weissman at The Way To Optimal Health in Northbrook, IL. It was quite an opportunity and one that I didn’t feel I could pass up despite being in love with California and its weather. After nearly four years, I had a strong vision that I needed to create my own center – a place that is community, where there is truly something for everyone of all ages, to connect with others and be empowered to be healthy and vibrant. With Dr. Darren’s blessing, I found the perfect space in Glenview – not too far from the prosperous practice I had worked so hard to build over the previous few years.
I literally did not take a day off. The build-out of my new space happened in record time. I continued to work at The Way to Optimal Health for a couple of months and the day my new space was ready was the day I took my full schedule of patients to Be Optimal in Glenview. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have had such ease and flow.
Shortly after opening, a massage therapist and a LCPC (therapist) began renting space at Be Optimal. Additionally, prior to becoming a doctor, I was an event planner.
Juggling many things is something I do well. I had created a full schedule of classes with local teachers for yoga, meditation, and even belly dancing in the beautiful large open space I call “The Expression Studio.” This was all launched within the first week at our 1st annual Be Optimal celebration where about 200 people attended the open house. We have thrown an annual party every year in June and just recently celebrated our 7th year!
Our team has shifted throughout the years – practitioners and staff have come and gone for various reasons. All the while, we continue to strive to offer quality care, great customer service and to truly help people become their best self.
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?
There have been a couple of struggles as every business will have…growing pains are the first.
We have grown quite a bit and being in the service business – I am only one person and can only see so many patients in a day. I want to ensure that everyone who wants help can get it but I also want to ensure that each person gets the quality of care that I so strongly adhere to… (BIG BREATH) … So I am grateful that I finally have another doctor on our team for nearly two years now, Dr. Abby Kramer, who has similar training and is extremely passionate about helping others. She joined the Be Optimal family running and hasn’t stopped since. She is an amazing doctor. We are really fortunate to have her ideas, passion, skills, and dedication to this work and to Be Optimal.
We also finally have a great front office team in place. What goes with growing pains is finding someone who can lead the team from the front desk while the doctors and practitioners are behind closed doors… to manage the day-to-day operations and even more, the many teachers, inquiries, classes, events, and practitioners and all the needs that come with that. It is a LOT for one person to manage but initially that was all that was needed until we started growing. It takes time to find the person that not only aligns with our vision and mission, understanding and valuing health and wellness but who also has organizational skills. For a few years, I took on too much and am happy to say how lucky I feel to have the team in place now and yet, we are always looking for more amazing people to support, teach and BE a part of the Be Optimal Family! 🙂
Be Optimal Holistic Health Center – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Be Optimal is a holistic health center that offers chiropractic and other various holistic health services which include functional nutrition, massage, foot ionization/detox, light therapy and more! Our approach is to get to the root cause of symptoms and stress, helping to rebalance the body structurally, chemically, emotionally and energetically. There is no cookie cutter approach to our sessions – we meet people where they are and help them attain their best self and awaken them to the possibilities of proactive and positive healthcare. We also offer classes and workshops to connect our community and invite people to learn practices that can help them process the work, expand their knowledge and/or to inspire & empower people to better their health in everyday living. Whether in our clinic or the Expression Studio, there is something for everyone to get started in finding their own perfect balance.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Opening Be Optimal Holistic Health Center!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1249 Waukegan Road,
Glenview, IL 60025 - Website: www.beoptimal.com
- Phone: 847-486-8000
- Email: info@beoptimal.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BecomingYourBestYou/about/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/beoptimal
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/be-optimal-holistic-health-center-glenview
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
