Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Nguyen.
Hi Nathan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was raised in Orange County, California to an immigrant family, and I have always wanted to become a doctor growing up to help others. I was able to attend the University of California, San Diego, to complete my Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. During my time there, I was part of a hip-hop dance team, and one time, during a routine, I felt a sharp pain in my low back that left me unable to sit in class. I did not think anything of it and suffered with the pain for months. The pain went away eventually, but it would resurface on and off.
Years later, while working in the biotechnology field and pursuing medical school, I was training for a marathon and, again, injured my low back while putting on a sock; however, this time the pain was much more severe and even shot down into my toes rendering me unable to work, drive, or run for weeks. My boss referred me to a Doctor of Chiropractic and within a month, utilizing a diverse treatment plan of spinal manipulation, manual therapy, electrotherapy, and rehab exercise, I became pain-free and was able to resume working and training.
I had never known about chiropractic before and felt that this was my calling for me to be able to achieve my passion in life in caring for others. I decided to drop my plans of attending medical school to pursue chiropractic school instead. Furthermore, I chose to attend Texas Chiropractic College in Houston, Texas, due to its evidence-informed curriculum and graduated with my Doctor of Chiropractic in 2018 as Salutatorian of my class with Summa Cum Laude honors. I also have a passion for exercise and chose to also complete a dual Master of Science in Exercise & Health Sciences at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, during my time at Texas Chiropractic College.
After graduating from Texas Chiropractic College, I started out having a small practice in a baseball/soccer training facility treating youth athletes, but I wanted more exposure treating a greater range of population. I started working at a Physical Therapy clinic treating patients with daily aches and pains to expand my experience. I eventually ended up working in personal injury for 5 years, helping patients suffering from auto accidents, slip & falls, and much more. However, I always wanted to own my own clinic, and my spouse always wanted us to work together. With his support, we decided to open Spine Time Chiropractic to achieve that goal.
I have a tremendous passion for helping others, and I want patients to feel comfortable and heard when they come to my practice. I also believe in practicing with integrity, and I want to be able to provide a facility where patients can trust their providers to give an honest opinion on treatments they need, not what they should have. Not only that, but I also want patients to believe in themselves when going through their health journey. Taking care of your health is an everyday task, and it’s something we all need to invest our time into to stay well for our entire lifetime. Here at Spine Time Chiropractic, that’s the goal for our patients!
Alright, 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?
It has not been easy setting up our clinic. We have had to deal with a myriad of changes in permitting and city codes to open our practice, which cost us a significant amount of our start-up capital that was meant to be used for marketing purposes. We also had difficulties with our storefront sign being installed incorrectly and other issues regarding plumbing and electrical wiring in our office. It has been a non-stop issue since we decided to open our practice, which has made it seem like it was not meant to be. However, despite all the challenges, it has been a great learning experience opening our office, and we have vastly enlarged our network. We encourage those who want to be their own boss take that leap of faith, as it will pay off in the long run.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Located in Houston, Texas, SPiNe TiME Chiropractic believes that your spine is an integral part to your body’s health. It sets up the foundation of your movements and serves as the primary connection between your brain and your limbs. It is an intricate structure made up of bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves, yet as a society, we tend to neglect our spine, which can lead to many repercussions.
Our goal at SPiNE TiME is to make sure that you put your spine and health first. Our doctors will recommend evidence-informed treatment for your spinal needs. From injuries to wellness, we got you covered. Beyond the spine, our team also provides musculoskeletal management for extremities from shoulders to knees and toes. Our treatment plan will reflect your needs & preferences as a patient to help you feel the best.
And not just help you feel the best; we want to make sure you stay your best year-round. We want to help you become more aware of how your individualized body works. We will work with you to provide you the knowledge on how your body moves best. This will help reduce the reoccurrence of your condition, whether it’s chronic back pain, chronic neck pain or sports injuries.
We also want to help you help yourself. We believe each individual has the potential for a higher quality of life and a positive health outlook. Not only that, but we are here to provide you, our patients, with the necessary tools to achieve and maintain that optimal health potential every single day of the year. This can range from lifestyle recommendations & nutrition to fitness plans.
We provide complete chiropractic care at SPiNE TiMe Chiropractic, utilizing a myriad of treatments such as spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, modalities & rehab exercises. We also provide telehealth care since sometimes it may be difficult for patients to leave their home, but they may have questions or concerns regarding their conditions. Via telehealth, we can provide patients that option of addressing their concerns in the comfort of their own home.
Regardless of your healthcare, musculoskeletal, and sports injury needs, SPiNE TiME Chiropractic is here to help you reach that destination!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The chiropractic industry will go through its challenges in changing for the next 5–10 years. People see videos on social media of patients being adjusted and “popped,” which allows chiropractic to be brought into the limelight. Also, traditional chiropractors see spinal manipulation as the only treatment options chiropractors can provide to help patients, regardless of their conditions. The public may also be scared that chiropractors are quacks and spinal manipulation may cause injuries such as strokes, but these events are very rare instances in which the patient has already been suffering from the condition, and it happens that the chiropractor was the last step in the chain of events.
New and younger providers want the public to view chiropractic as a positive and potential treatment option for individuals suffering from pain, like how physical therapy is an option. The younger generation of chiropractors want chiropractic to be more than just spinal manipulation. We want chiropractic to be the first line of defense against pain for musculoskeletal complaints, utilizing every technique at our disposal whether it is spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, or, most importantly, exercise, as a form of rehabilitation.
We wish to put the patient first and address their concerns before the need for medication and invasive procedures. We want chiropractic to work alongside physical therapy and other professions to help patients with their musculoskeletal conditions, like how MDs & DOs or DDS & DMD work together for their patients, regardless of degree type.
As of now, only about 10% of the population sees chiropractors for their conditions. Our chiropractic profession hopes that number will continue to grow and allow more people to view chiropractors as allies in their overall health and well-being to keep them moving and pain-free throughout their lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spinetimechiropractic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinetimechiropractic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spinetimechiropractic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spinetimechiropractic/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/spine-time-chiropractic-houston
- Other: https://spinetime.janeapp.com/
