As a Doctor of Chiropractic Student at Life University, the last six months of our program are focused on getting clinical experience outside of our campus perimeter; this is called the PEAK Program. PEAK stands for Practice, Excellence, Art and Knowledge, and must be completed at one of the many credentialed offices approved by the university.
When it came time to start looking for an office to complete my internship at, I approached it similarly to how a new patient seeking care would; I looked at practice websites, reviews, and proximity. I also sought to work at a practice that offered other services in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments as I believe that additional modalities can enhance a patient’s treatment immensely. This led me to shadow Dr. Michael Dellaria B.S., D.C., A.F.M.C., CFN-S at Holistic Health Center and eventually interning here for six months.
Throughout my time as an intern here, I could tell that patients truly loved coming in for their appointments and that patient care was the central focus of this practice. The whole-body approach with the incorporation of Functional Medicine is not a common thing to find within chiropractic offices, let alone one who uses gentle, instrument adjusting techniques. As an intern, I got to see everything! From new patient exams to bloodwork analysis and allergy testing to maintenance patients of 10+ years, PEAK was truly an immersive experience. When I was offered to make things permanent and join the Holistic Health Center team as Chiropractor following graduation, it was an easy yes!
This past year, I've been able to be even more involved with patient care. I have become familiar with all therapies offered within the practice, created treatment plans for new patients just starting out, and helped patients feel their best. It’s been amazing to see patients who were new to chiropractic while I was an intern have now moved into phase two or three of care and their initial complaints have been corrected. I am extremely thankful that my decision to shadow a small practice in Alpharetta, GA turned into a full-time career.