Stephen Hamman, a 9th-quarter Palmer Florida student from Barrington, Illinois, started go-kart racing in a league when he was eight. After his first race, Stephen was hooked and his passion only grew from there – driving race cars by 13 and racing sports cars by 15. Through his racing experience and chiropractic studies, he now has a thorough understanding of the missing self-care link for those involved in racing and plans to work with them in his chiropractic career…while racing Aston Martins.
“In addition to having rigorous jobs, race car drivers and crew members are constantly traveling. As I have learned more and more through the Palmer curriculum, seminars, etc., I’ve been able to understand how chiropractic care can benefit fellow racers and crew members performance-wise,” he explained.
When asked how he found chiropractic, Stephen reported that chiropractic found him. It wasn’t until Mississippi State University created a neuromechanics major during his junior year that he felt he had a clear path. It aligned with friends and family often suggesting that he’d make an amazing chiropractor, so he went for it and quickly found himself interning at a local clinic in Starkville, Mississippi.
“I instantly fell in love with the genuine happiness of patients leaving the clinic and saw some remarkable things happen during the time I was there. From then on, I knew I was on the right path,” said Stephen.
Palmer Florida was a perfect fit since Stephen’s parents relocated to the area five years ago. Having just started clinic and with only four quarters two terms to go, Stephen is thinking about his future. It includes both of his passions: chiropractic and racing.
“I plan to continue my chiropractic career in Florida. My goal is to start a family practice where I will work full-time. I also want to dive into the racing community, setting up agreements with specific racing programs as a traveling chiropractor for racing teams!” he said, excitedly.
There is no doubt that Stephen is bleeding purple and excited to get off to the races in his chiropractic career.
“Chiropractic has absolutely changed my life since the moment I started at Palmer. I never knew how much purpose this profession could have, but after the past years of meeting wonderful doctors and mentors, my perspective on chiropractic and life has changed drastically,” he said. “The potential of healing that future chiropractors possess is immense and only grows as we learn and practice. Chiropractic finding me has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever received and I plan on paying it back ten-fold to the future communities I will be serving.”
