From B.C. to D.C.
It was Lars P. Seitzinger, D.C.’s love of sports that got him hooked on movement or, more specifically, functional movement. This led him to determine he wanted to become an expert in physiotherapy and chiropractic so he could care for high-level athletes. His undergraduate degree in kinesiology turned out to be the first move toward his goal of becoming a chiropractor.
Hailing from a remote area of British Columbia, Canada where he grew up on a ranch, Dr. Seitzinger (West, ’16) knew he wanted that same small-town feel on campus. The intimate setting at Palmer West was just what he was looking for and it didn’t hurt that so many professional athletes reside in the Bay Area. After all, his end goal was to work with athletes!
Post-graduation, he charted his path after shadowing as many practitioners as he could-something he would recommend to anyone today.
“Find out which styles are most appealing and authentic to you,” he said. “The good news is that your chiropractic practice doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter. You have plenty of options to personalize and specialize in exactly the field of your choice.”
For Dr. Seitzinger, that meant embracing the latest technology and building a well-rounded team and an array of allied health services.
“Nothing quite like the practice I have today existed when I opened my doors. I realized I’d have to create my own niche.”
It was worth the gamble.
In his first five years of practice, he was able to expand his team from two to 12 interdisciplinary practitioners. He and his team pride themselves on passionately pursuing continuous growth, learning, and development to deliver the best for their patients. “It was a lot of work getting to the opening date, but seeing how the community responded to it was tremendously motivating to me,” he recalls.
He and his staff work with everyone from weekend golf warriors to professional NHL athletes. “We love what we do, and our primary goal is keeping people doing what they love,” he said. “We want to inspire our patients to play an active role in their own health, seeing them as a whole and prioritizing customized care. As athletes ourselves, we know their injuries because we’ve been there (and back again!). That’s why we are so committed to taking the best care of them and supporting them in ending up exactly where they want to be.”
Dr. Seitzinger’s work as a chiropractor doesn’t stop with patient care; he’s also compelled to educate. Since his clinic’s opening, he has welcomed approximately 15 undergraduate students into his practice where they get to see first-hand what it’s like to work in a well-rounded practice.
“I remember how lost I felt coming out of my undergraduate education. I couldn’t find a mentor who was aspirational to me, so I charted my own course. I hope I am able to provide some guidance to those who are in the same place I once was – if nothing else, I think it’s important for undergraduate students to see a young, driven entrepreneur finding success in this industry,” he said.
Plus, when he refers prospective students to Palmer, he gets to highlight his favorite profession, “I love having even a small hand in creating the new, modern generation of chiropractors.”
For those of you still in school, Dr. Seitzinger has some advice.
“Learn the things that are uncomfortable for you. Keep stepping outside of your comfort zone and take as many extracurricular courses as you can. Even the best chiropractors are learning every day, so keep an open mind to learning and never grow stagnant or allow yourself to plateau! Just keep moving!”
While there was no miracle that brought him to the chiropractic field, Dr. Seitzinger considers it a privilege to get to help people in his chosen niche and work with his hands every day. Naturally, he hopes the same for anyone considering working in this field!
Visit www.palmer.eduto learn how you can impact the future of the chiropractic profession by mentoring and referring future students.
The Palmer Advancement Office advances Palmer College’s standing as The Trusted Leader in Chiropractic Education® by developing meaningful relationships with its alumni and friends, and raising funds to support the College’s mission. Connect with us today at palmer.edu/alumni.
