Last trimester, National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) hosted alumnus Jeff Garofalo, DC’ 02, to present common practice mistakes new graduates make and valuable tips for building a successful chiropractic medicine career.
Since graduating from NUHS, Dr. Garofalo has built and sold two successful practices. He is now the founder and CEO of Midwest Disc Clinic in Northwest, Ind. that specializes in chiropractic focused disc injuries. Additionally, he is the author of “Never Look Back: A Simple Guide to the Causes and Cares for Back Pain.”
In his presentation, Dr. Garofalo outlined three common mistakes that can hinder success when running a practice. In contrast, he focused on sharing three valuable tips that helped him build his business from the ground up and achieve real success.
He describes that the key components of success include time, effort and decision making.
Becoming an Expert
Dr. Garofalo identified the first caution as committing to being a generalist chiropractic physician only. He encouraged students to choose a niche and develop expertise in that area to broaden their perspective and reach.
“You’re going to want to help everything because most people are taught that the more you can help, the more successful you’ll be,” Dr. Garofalo said. “Pick one specialty and put all of your time, energy and resources into it.”
In 2019, Dr. Garofalo decided to specialize in disc injuries. Since then, patients have traveled across state lines to seek his care, and his practice has achieved 30% annual growth.
Strive for Clinical Excellence
Dr. Garofalo emphasized that an important aspect of success is becoming clinically excellent. He stressed that lacking this quality in yourself, your team and your practice is a mistake that can cost you significant time and money.
“People travel from all over the United States and Canada to come see us because of our clinical excellence,” Dr. Garofalo said. “NUHS will give you a fantastic start to achieving this goal after graduation.”
While there are many approaches to reach clinical excellence, he follows the holistic medicine approach of getting a diagnosis first and then forming a treatment plan specific to each patient.
Know Who You Are – Business Owner or Team Player
After graduating, it’s important to recognize that DCs have various career path options. Starting a business isn’t for everyone, and Dr. Garofalo identifies this as the third common struggle for graduates.
“Between now and the time you graduate, you need to understand who you are. What I mean by that is that you will have two options: are you built to be a business owner, or would you like to be a part of an amazing team where you are valued and part of a mission?” Dr. Garofalo said.
After two decades, Dr. Garofalo remains as passionate about his work as ever. He shares that he was designed to be both a business owner and a chiropractic physician. He advises students to ensure they truly feel called to run their own business before starting a practice, as pursuing it without that certainty could end up pulling their efforts and funds in the wrong direction. For those confident in their direction toward ownership, he advises they commit fully and confidently.
To support his alma mater, Dr. Garofalo invited students to participate in his practice’s weekly grand rounds, aiming to share his expertise with current and future NUHS students.
Learn how NUHS can shape your future in chiropractic care by exploring our Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine program.
