Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 5/5/2006

Question
hi i am doing a project for my language arts class about careers, and i want to
be a chiropractor when i get older, and i am looking for you to answer a few
questions if u don't mind
1 what was ur salary when u started working in the medical feild?
2 how old were u when u started?
3 how many years of collage?
4 why did u choose this profession?
5 do u like your job?
6 when u were younger what did u want to be in the future?
7 who influnced u to do become a chiropractor?
8 would you ever quit your job, because of another colleageu?
9 how many people do u work with?
10 would u recomend this job to others that are willing to work?
11 were u a staight A student?
12 are u the owner of your bussiness
13 are their people that come all the time?
14 how old do you want to retire?
15 would u change your job if u could?

thank you for your time
sincerly kayla  

Answer
Kayla,
Hello!  I am glad you chose Chiropractic as your career field to report on. I am excited for you as you learn more about being a chiropractic physician.

1.  When I graduated chiropractic college, I was hired as an associcate doctor in a very busy clinic.  My starting salary was $35,000 per year plus commission and bonuses.  Ultimately I made $90,000 that year.  Some chiropractors make less, some make more.
2.  I was 29 when I started chiropractic college and 31 when I started my career.
3.  I had four years of undergraduate to get my bachelors degree, and four years of chiropractic college for eight years total.
4.  I chose chiropractic as a profession because I wanted to genuinely help others without the use of drugs and surgery.  I wanted to practice physical medicine and use natural substances to aid in the healing process.
5.  Love it!!  I get to help people every day and build relationships with my patients.  
6.  I actually wanted to be a pediatrican or orthopedist when I was younger.
7.  A friend of mine was a pharmacist and made great money, but he hated his job.  I was ready to start medical school when he started explaining the chiropractic profession to me.  He wanted to quit his job and learn to be a chiropractic physician.  His discussions and information persuaded me to research the profession.  I liked what I found and enrolled in chiropractic college instead of medical school.
8.  Never, I am a chiropractic physican because it is what I love to do.  Nobody will change that.
9.  There are five other people in my office.  Two other chiropractors, one massage therapist, one personal trainer, and our office manager, but we work with hundreds of other health professionals in the community.
10.  Absolutely...but it is not going to be easy.  Chiropractic School is very demanding, and your learning will never stop.  You will be a student for the rest of your life if you choose this field.  The more you learn the better doctor you will become.
11.  I got good grades in college and Chiropractic College-National Dean's List and Honor Society, but I was not a straight A student.
12.  I am co-owner of the business.
13.  Yes, we have patients that come to our office on a regular basis because they see the value in regular chiropractic care, even when they are not in pain.  We also have others who only come when they are hurt or injured...it is a mix.
14.  I will never retire, I will just see less patients and spend less time in the office when I reach my sixties.  Many chiropractors work well into their eighties because we love what we do.  Chiropractic is fun, and I don't see it as work.  It is more of a daily opportunity to help others.
15.  If I could practice Chiropractic on a cruise ship, then I would change my location, but not my job.

Thanks for the questions Kayla and good luck on the report.
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman