Q: What was it like growing up as a child of a chiropractor?
A: Growing up, our toys were the equipment in Dad’s home office. My sister and I would take turns climbing on to the headpiece of the old porcelain-based, high-low table and launching each other through the air by stepping on the spring-loaded foot piece. There was always a plastic model spine around, which was very useful for frightening the neighborhood children during Halloween and for countless “show and tells” at school. Since Dad was studying Applied Kinesiology, we learned it to. We would amaze our little classmates by muscle testing them before and after they opened a package of sugar under their tongues. My first patient was our family dog, who received so many “adjustments” from me that I think she expected an audible release every time I would pet her! When asked, as a young child, what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always answer, “a dog-o-practor!”
Growing up the child of a chiropractor had its challenges too. I can remember the time when I was in the first grade and some kids called my Dad a “quack” during recess. I remember being confused at first, and then hurt, that my Dad wasn’t as good as the other kids’ dads. When I went home that night, my parents reassured me that Dad wasn’t a quack. It was my first lesson in the discrimination that confronts chiropractors even today!
Q: What are your dreams & aspirations for the chiropractic profession?
A: My goal is to see chiropractic recognized for its central and unique role in the delivery of healthcare. My vision is to have all chiropractors experience the freedom that results from financial abundance. I know that it is only by creating a generation of financially affluent chiropractors, who are motivated to support our profession, will chiropractic win the respect that it deserves. It takes significant financial resources to affect public policy on a legislative level. The best lobbyists and legal counsel are extremely expensive. My goal can only be achieved if chiropractors come together in a spirit of unity to protect our profession. Our chiropractic licenses are not an entitlement, they are a treasure. A treasure that was hard fought for by a generation of chiropractic pioneers, some of whom were jailed for their convictions. Many of us take for granted the ability to freely practice our profession, but we must remember there are still many who wish to deny us this right. We can never stop fighting for the complete recognition of our value to humanity until the battle is won. Our patients deserve nothing less from us.
Dr. Mark Sanna is the CEO of Breakthrough Coaching, LLC, a leading resource for personal coaching to chiropractic and multidisciplinary practices throughout the country. He can be reached at Breakthrough Coaching, LLC, by calling 1-800-7-ADVICE.