My Story
Where to begin? I spent 3 and 1/2 years and over 100,000 dollars on a chiropractic degree (and that is not including 16,000 and 4 years on an undergraduate degree). Now one would think with that kind of investment in an education the job market would be great... Well one could not be more wrong.
My first job out of college (in 2002), I worked for a husband and wife team in a straight chiro office. I started at 36K, and a I had a bonus that was unattainable. I was also promised health insurance which never materialized, they paid no license or CME fees and having them pay my malpractice was a struggle each quarter. I feel they took advantage to the fact that I was straight out of school and did not know what a good contract. After a year and a half of practicing there, we parted ways. The practice began doing more and moreCRA, which i did not wish to participate in.
I than went to work for a large 6 practice multi disciplinary group, they had DC, MD and PT. I was told I would start at 40K, great I thought I just got a raise : ) . When I showed up for my first day I found out the 40K does not start until after you pass your 90 days, until then it is $12 /hr. Yup 12/ hr. $585/month in student loans and I am making 12/ hour, that was a morale booster!
And the contract, oh the contract. It was 20 plus pages with clauses like if I leave I owe them 20,000 dollars and when I left I was told that if I open up a practice they would sue me, no matter where it was. So that was that with them...
My story continues from there...
Then I got a job at an MD/ DC/ PT practice and I can;t complain too much about that one, they paid better then the rest. I finally had health ins and they paid my malpractice ins. The down size was the boss was somewhat of a tyrant... I stayed there for about 3 years and I did learn a lot, but had topped out on earnings and moving up unless I opened a satellite practice with them and I was not looking to get that involved with those people. So I put in my notice and we moved on...
This is where I made my biggest mistake, I joined a practice, which on the surface seemed like it had a great model and was growing by leaps and bounds. I must say to, I took about a 50% reduction in pay to 35,000 (for the record almost 6 yrs exp practicing and I was making 35,000). Once I got in and started practicing I started to notice that the senior drs took every patient they could off anyone else's schedule they could, they had all the good referring drs and were not willing or open to sharing, any new drs that moved to the area they had first shoot at.
Again there was a bonus structure but it was the usual routine, there was no way to hit it and even when you did the money never came thru. It was not that I was not asking for it, I was. Then I got labeled money hungry....really I am barely getting by making 35-40,000 the owners are making 250/yr plus hoarding every pt and I was the bad guy.
Again the writing was on the wall, we needed to leave. About this time you are probably wondering why I don;t open my own practice. I am with you, we were considering it. I will admit after running up a huge student loan debt I have become rather risk adverse, I did not feel good putting more money into something I cannot say I saw the return in.
To make a long story short, after much networking I was offered a job with a medical device company. Good pay, a moving bonus, laptop, cell phone, great insurance, car allowance, bonuses... I jumped on it!!!
UPDATE...
MArch 2012 , it has been two years since I said good bye to chiropractic. I have since had three friends (former Chiros) hired as well and they are all doing very well! Also I have been doing well at my new job and have gotten three raises in about two years! Very happy to be where I am!
If I could just find somewhere to hand in my diploma to get back the money I spent in Chiro school!
We would love to hear you story, please email us!
UPDATE...April 2012
Today I had another chiro email me for information on how to get out of chiropractic into my line of work, so far I have spoken to 5 chiros and helped 3 get hired!
Update...June 2012
Another chiro was hired this week with my company. It is great that the skills chiros have are in such high demand outside of practice.
Update...June 2012
We just brought together 200 Chiropractors and a hospital in the area, to raise the awareness of the hospital on what Chiropractors can provide to the medical community.
Update...July 2012
Currently $95,286 in student loan debt, thank you chiropractic! If you have not looked at HR 4170 take a look. I do not think it will actually go anywhere but it raises awareness. In the meantime please visit one of these fine sites below, so I can make .03 cents and get that much closer to paying off my loans.
Update...Jan 2013
Things are good still with the same company, we are now actively looking to hire chiros for certain positions. The Chiros that have been hired so far have all done very well in with the company and it is being noticed.
Update...Dec 2014
Been meaning to stop back and continue the story. I was able to recently pay off a large chunk of my loans. Still a large sum but at least more manageable now. Still working for the same company, just shy of 5 years now. The more time I spend with PAs the more I wish i had explored that career path further before I spent over 100k on a chiropractic education.
My first job out of college (in 2002), I worked for a husband and wife team in a straight chiro office. I started at 36K, and a I had a bonus that was unattainable. I was also promised health insurance which never materialized, they paid no license or CME fees and having them pay my malpractice was a struggle each quarter. I feel they took advantage to the fact that I was straight out of school and did not know what a good contract. After a year and a half of practicing there, we parted ways. The practice began doing more and moreCRA, which i did not wish to participate in.
I than went to work for a large 6 practice multi disciplinary group, they had DC, MD and PT. I was told I would start at 40K, great I thought I just got a raise : ) . When I showed up for my first day I found out the 40K does not start until after you pass your 90 days, until then it is $12 /hr. Yup 12/ hr. $585/month in student loans and I am making 12/ hour, that was a morale booster!
And the contract, oh the contract. It was 20 plus pages with clauses like if I leave I owe them 20,000 dollars and when I left I was told that if I open up a practice they would sue me, no matter where it was. So that was that with them...
My story continues from there...
Then I got a job at an MD/ DC/ PT practice and I can;t complain too much about that one, they paid better then the rest. I finally had health ins and they paid my malpractice ins. The down size was the boss was somewhat of a tyrant... I stayed there for about 3 years and I did learn a lot, but had topped out on earnings and moving up unless I opened a satellite practice with them and I was not looking to get that involved with those people. So I put in my notice and we moved on...
This is where I made my biggest mistake, I joined a practice, which on the surface seemed like it had a great model and was growing by leaps and bounds. I must say to, I took about a 50% reduction in pay to 35,000 (for the record almost 6 yrs exp practicing and I was making 35,000). Once I got in and started practicing I started to notice that the senior drs took every patient they could off anyone else's schedule they could, they had all the good referring drs and were not willing or open to sharing, any new drs that moved to the area they had first shoot at.
Again there was a bonus structure but it was the usual routine, there was no way to hit it and even when you did the money never came thru. It was not that I was not asking for it, I was. Then I got labeled money hungry....really I am barely getting by making 35-40,000 the owners are making 250/yr plus hoarding every pt and I was the bad guy.
Again the writing was on the wall, we needed to leave. About this time you are probably wondering why I don;t open my own practice. I am with you, we were considering it. I will admit after running up a huge student loan debt I have become rather risk adverse, I did not feel good putting more money into something I cannot say I saw the return in.
To make a long story short, after much networking I was offered a job with a medical device company. Good pay, a moving bonus, laptop, cell phone, great insurance, car allowance, bonuses... I jumped on it!!!
UPDATE...
MArch 2012 , it has been two years since I said good bye to chiropractic. I have since had three friends (former Chiros) hired as well and they are all doing very well! Also I have been doing well at my new job and have gotten three raises in about two years! Very happy to be where I am!
If I could just find somewhere to hand in my diploma to get back the money I spent in Chiro school!
We would love to hear you story, please email us!
UPDATE...April 2012
Today I had another chiro email me for information on how to get out of chiropractic into my line of work, so far I have spoken to 5 chiros and helped 3 get hired!
Update...June 2012
Another chiro was hired this week with my company. It is great that the skills chiros have are in such high demand outside of practice.
Update...June 2012
We just brought together 200 Chiropractors and a hospital in the area, to raise the awareness of the hospital on what Chiropractors can provide to the medical community.
Update...July 2012
Currently $95,286 in student loan debt, thank you chiropractic! If you have not looked at HR 4170 take a look. I do not think it will actually go anywhere but it raises awareness. In the meantime please visit one of these fine sites below, so I can make .03 cents and get that much closer to paying off my loans.
Update...Jan 2013
Things are good still with the same company, we are now actively looking to hire chiros for certain positions. The Chiros that have been hired so far have all done very well in with the company and it is being noticed.
Update...Dec 2014
Been meaning to stop back and continue the story. I was able to recently pay off a large chunk of my loans. Still a large sum but at least more manageable now. Still working for the same company, just shy of 5 years now. The more time I spend with PAs the more I wish i had explored that career path further before I spent over 100k on a chiropractic education.