At age 16, Dr. Jim had a football injury. Urgent care gave him pain meds that didn’t seem to help at all. As he sat out for practice, a friend mentioned an uncle who was a chiropractor. Dr. Jim went to the man’s home and was adjusted. The subsequent relief he felt planted a seed of interest, though it would be years before Dr. Jim followed the chiropractic path.

A year after his first chiropractic experience, Dr. Jim was working as a produce clerk when his back seized up. He saw another chiropractor who explained to him what chiropractic was, what had occurred in his body, and what the plan was to help him. The education process reignited his interest in the profession. Put off by the costs of graduate school, however, he became a molecular biologist and began working as an engineer.

His wife, stricken with migraines, saw a chiropractor. Dr. Jim went with her, and he loved to chat with the chiropractor and ask questions. On the drive home, his wife said, “You still have an interest in this. If you want to do it, I’ll support you.” Dr. Jim switched gears and entered Life West at age 28.