Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Anne Etonga, DC.
Hi Dr. Etonga, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In the beginning, I wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. As a child, I participated in many sports including: Track and Field, Cheerleading, Dance and Boxing. As an athlete I sustained many injuries, the most severe being a torn meniscus in my right knee. My orthopedic at the time advised me to have surgery immediately but warned me that I was more likely to have a second surgery if I went the surgical route. With a cheerleading competition and track meet scheduled the following month, I knew that I could not have surgery as it would prevent me from participating. I ultimately decided to not get the surgery and allow my meniscus to heal on its own with the help of some knee rehabilitation exercises. My meniscus did indeed heal and I was able to participate in my track meet but not my cheerleading competition; this sparked my interest in holistic medicine. Knowing that I no longer wanted to pursue allopathic medicine, I had to figure out what type of holistic medicine best fit me. Being an empath and extrovert, I knew that I wanted to work with people and help assist them in their body’s ability to heal itself. Trying to find a good career fit was the hard part because I wasn’t sure which direction to go towards. My guidance counselor at the time was the one who suggested I look into Chiropractic care because she had been seeing a Chiropractor and felt that it would be a good fit for me. I had never been to a Chiropractor and was unfamiliar with who they were and what they did. I did my research and immediately felt that this was for me. I reached out to my mother to get her advice and she expressed that she supported my career change and had actually been seeing a Chiropractor for low back pain that was caused by a disc herniation she obtained from working as a Registered Nurse. She revealed that the Chiropractor had really helped with her low back pain and was the reason that she could resume work and avoid surgery. At that very moment, I began to research different Chiropractic Schools and came across Palmer College of Chiropractic – West which was located in California. I loved that it was established in 1897 by Daniel David Palmer (Founder of Chiropractic) and was the first school of chiropractic in the world. I also appreciated that Palmer College had more than 28,400 alumni practicing worldwide. I immediately began my application and was accepted to attend in September 2016. I would later graduate September 2020 as Dr. Anne Etonga, DC.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The year 2020 was a rough year for me and the pandemic did not help. I graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in September 2020 and immediately felt lost. I wasn’t excited about life and I was so afraid of failing. The fear literally paralyzed me. I was having a HARD time passing my National Board of Chiropractic Exams. I had to retake them multiple times, which really put me in a dark place and ultimately pushed me away from the people I love. I was depressed, sad, frustrated and angry. The people closest to me could see that I was just not in a good place. I would call my mother every day just to vent or express how horrible I was feeling – she always gave the best advice and never gave up on me or never allowed me to give up on myself. I remember having doubts about myself and dealing with imposture syndrome. I was so mad at myself for thinking that I could even do this and for thinking I was even smart enough to accomplish such a huge goal. Black chiropractors make up 2.3% of the industry population! About 2.6% of the nation’s doctors are black. I didn’t think I’d be one of them. Just looking at the statistics and the numbers completely scared and discouraged me. I wanted to give up! It took a lot of work to get out of that dark place and it began with rebuilding my mindset. I had to disconnect from social media, get a tutor and I even began meditating. I went on a Daniels Fast and focused on passing my board exams. On 7/18/2020, I passed the Physiotherapy portion of my board exams. On 1/16/2021, I passed Part 1 of my board exams. On 2/28/2021, I passed Part 2 of my board exams. On 3/28/2021, I passed Part 3 of my board exams. On 5/23/2021, I passed Part 4 of my board exams. On 7/25/2021, I officially received my license to practice in the State of Georgia. I sacrificed going out, traveling, shopping, social media, certain friendships, hanging out & having a life. However, it was SO worth it to finally say that I DID IT!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am both the Owner and Chiropractor of One Eighty Chiropractic. My practice is based in Atlanta, GA and serves all of Metro Atlanta. One Eighty Chiropractic serves its patients and community by providing a high-quality and affordable health care in a comfortable environment. As a Chiropractor, I know that many factors affect your health, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, environment and heredity. Therefore, every individual’s adjustment is tailored to their specific needs. Regardless of the condition, the entire person is taken into account. My mission is to reduce pain and discomfort through manipulation and adjustment of the spine. By delivering specific chiropractic adjustments, using physiotherapy modalities and providing wellness coaching/patient education, I aim to provide the highest quality of Chiropractic care. I’ve had success treating patients ranging from infants to seniors. I specialize in preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system, while improving each patients functionality and quality of life. Conditions treated include: low back pain, neck pain, pregnancy, acute/chronic pain, wellness care, sports injuries, spinal deformities (Scoliosis), TMJ disorders, Sciatica, migraine and headache management, extremity care arthritis pain, among many others.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
One of the most important characteristics of my success was a genuine desire and willingness to learn. I learned that successful people typically aren’t know-it-alls. They keep an open mind. They try to learn from everyone and every situation they come across. Success rewards consistency. To be consistent, you also have to have discipline. Having discipline helped me establish a routine, which was one of the keys to making my dreams a reality. This allowed me to be consistent in my efforts and helped build self-resilience.
Pricing:
- Initial Chiropractic Adjustment (For New Patients Only): $100
- Wellness Chiropractic Treatment (For Existing Patients Only): $50
- Soft Tissue Mobilization (up to 1.50 hrs): $50-$150
- Foam Rolling Class (A form of myofascial release that you can also do on your own): $50/Hr
- Better Posture Class (An introduction to the health risk of poor posture & ways to fix it): $50/Hr
Contact Info:
- Email: OneEightyChiropractic@Gmail.Com
- Website: www.oneeightychiropractic.com
- Instagram: @TheChiroBae
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnY7rX80jjTpQ4U2tlvAW-w
- Other: Instagram: @OneEightyChiropractic
Image Credits:
Joshua-John Frank https://www.creativevanguardphotography.com
