Why did I choose to become a Chiropractor…
This is a question that patients often ask me so thought I’d share my story for you here…..
When I was 8 years old a dear friend of mind passed away as a result of a diabetic event and I clearly remember saying to my Dad, ‘when I grow up I want to be a doctor so that I can save people like Arthur from dying’.
I guess that was when my mind was made up that my working career would always revolve around health and wellness in some way, shape or form.
I completed my schooling in Zimbabwe (too long ago to remember when!) and in those days career guidance wasn’t something that one’s parents really considered, or had access to. As a result my subject choices for ‘A’ level didn’t include the physics and chemistry that were then required for entrance into medical school.
Actually, to be honest, by the time I finished school I really wasn’t relishing the thought of another 7 years at university anyway, so I wasn’t that disappointed! My Dad was adamant, though, that I went to ‘varsity, so I enrolled for a Bachelor of Social Science degree, majoring in psychology.
During my university days at Natal University in Durban I realized that my desire to be involved in medicine in some way was still very high on my priority list. I joined the Red Cross Society and worked at King Edward Hospital in Durban doing paramedic and trauma work and thoroughly enjoyed it.
On graduating, once again the thought of applying to get into medicine and to study for many more years didn’t sound that appealing!! I therefore applied for a job in the retail world and that’s where I stayed for the next 6 years.
Even before starting my degree I had met Dr Roy McCallum, a chiropractor in Cape Town, and had had a few chiropractic adjustments from him. The company I joined then transferred me from Durban to Cape Town, once here, I and became a regular patient of Dr Roy’s, more because I really felt great after my adjustments, than because I had a particular problem.
Dr Roy would spend time explaining the difference between wellness (the chiropractic philosophy) and sickness (the medical philosophy) to me, and it really made so much sense. The idea of keeping people healthy rather than waiting for the symptoms to appear and then suppressing them seemed way more logical.
So, after 6 years I made the decision to move to America to study chiropractic and what a great decision that was!
So, for the past 26 years I’ve had the best of all worlds. I get to make such a difference in people’s lives by helping them to stay healthy and empowering them with information about structural, nutritional and psycho-emotional health. The chiropractic training is very medical for the first few years so my desire to ‘understand the body’ was more than fulfilled, yet I do not have to deal with really medically sick patients.
What a privilege it’s been over all these years to have literally treated thousands of patients and to have so many loyal patients that have ‘been with me’ for years.
I look forward to the opportunity having you become a part of my practice and to assist you as best I can.
With best regards
Dr Kevin Lentin