Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Cohen
Hi Richard, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As an immigrant from Jamaica, I came to the United States in 2004 to pursue an education. I started college with certainty I’d become a medical doctor! However, as I was nearing the end of my pre-med curriculum, something about the culture of the students and that profession disquieted me. I wasn’t getting a sense that medical doctors were really in a position to help people stay healthy, though they were excellent at saving lives. In frustration over this dissonance, I spoke with a colleague in my Junior Year about my conflict and she nonchalantly said, “You should just be a chiropractor then.” To which my response was, “What’s a chiropractor?”!
My friend dragged me to her chiropractor in rural upstate New York (near SUNY Binghamton) and despite having a very modest setup, I was drawn to the philosophy of the profession, the methodology and the joy that radiated from all the staff and patients there. I applied to LIFE University in Atlanta, GA during my Senior Year and haven’t looked back since!
Shortly after starting chiropractic school in 2008 I started a family in 2010 and now co-parent three wonderful children who are my whole world! Raising children while in professional school was a daunting task but I graduated after four and a half years and have been practicing full time since 2013. I had the good fortune of becoming an associate at Sherwood Chiropractic Center in North Decatur, a long standing family practice since 1994, as Dr. Kathleen Sherwood brought me into the community and family she had built! After 7 years I was able to buy the practice and afford Dr. Sherwood a graceful retirement after 28 years of chiropractic stewardship and service!
Now two years into ownership, I understand why entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart! Nonetheless I continue to perpetuate the ideals that the practice was founded on and hope to be at the helm for another 30 years! In my limited spare time I preserve hobbies that include tennis, playing trivia and DJing special events (something I’ve done for over 20 years, including a multi-year stint with the Atlanta Braves!). I also wrote and published a children’s book during the pandemic as I was inspired by my children who kept me together while the world was falling apart…
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh the road has been anything but smooth! Having two kids while pursuing a terminal degree, having a third child while relocating and starting a new position, getting divorced during the pandemic, buying a business then growing it immediately afterwards… These major speedbumps require more exposition than I could type!
As you know, we’re big fans of Mason Mill Chiropractic. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mason Mill Chiropractic builds on the foundation set by my predecessor at Sherwood Chiropractic Center. Serving the community for 30 years, this practice has touched the lives of over 13,000 individuals! As a chiropractor we work with the spine and nervous system of our patients to facilitate their health goals by adjusting the vertebrae, without the use of drugs or surgery. We’re known for our effective hands-on approach to care and our ability to care for families and individuals of any age (we have patients less than a month and over 90 years old)!
As portal of entry healthcare providers you never need a referral to see us and can use your health insurance, if they offer chiropractic benefits, or your HSA cards to cover our fees. We offer very affordable cash plans as well!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Absolutely! I’ve always believed that if you invest in people you will never be poor. Despite uncertainty about the future, our communities all showed up for us! In many instances, family, friends, coworkers and even strangers demonstrated the highest levels of empathy and humanity to help keep me grounded. Those shared hardships galvanized my commitment to service as what I offer professionally is both invaluable and necessary.
It also taught me the value of creatives! Public and digital art, content creators online, a spike in artisanship were all major unsung heroes during the pandemic as we found new ways to express ourselves and find joy during a dark time. I’ve been making an effort to stay connected to those pursuits and communities.
Pricing:
- This will be changing in the new year and I’m formulating that new structure now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.masonmillchiro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masonmillchiropractic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasonMillChiro
