Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jamal Pace BS, DC.
Hi Dr. Pace, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I could remember I wanted to be a doctor, I just had a different idea of what type of doctor that I would become when I was younger. I initially pursued a traditional medical degree in the hopes of becoming a cardiologist, A career choice that was sparked by the passing of my grandfather as a result of a serious heart attack. After I made it to college, I enrolled in the pre-med program at Georgia State University, but I was still discovering myself as a young adult and I personally couldn’t fully connect to the traditional medical field because of the possibility of working in a hospital setting. I never had the best experiences visiting hospitals and I just couldn’t see myself working in that setting every day which can oftentimes become overly demanding, stressful, and uncomfortable. My disdain presented a real challenge in my pursuit of Cardiology. I knew I still wanted to study the wonders of the human body and I still had a passion to help people but I preferred to work in a personal office or a smaller setting.
Ultimately I decided to change my career path to become a physical therapist which I figured combined my passion for fitness and my passion for health by switching my major to Exercise Science. I thought I’d finally figured it out, but little did I know that my final decision would be discovered in my last semester which required an internship to complete the Exercise Science program. I volunteered to help organize a health fair which included a number of health-oriented vendors which happened to include a few chiropractors. I never really knew too much about chiropractic besides the fact that my brother went to one after his auto accident for his injuries, but he only went once for an evaluation. I was curious to learn more so I decided to complete my internship with one of the chiropractors that I connected with at the health fair. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life because afterward, I knew that I found my calling. I witnessed firsthand how chiropractic changed the lives of many that had been suffering from years of pain and had been left with very few options. I gained more understanding about the importance of maintaining spinal health and its direct effect to your nervous system. Your nervous system plays a vital role in every function of your body from regulation of your breathing to hormone production therefore, being a vital aspect for optimal health. I felt like it was my duty to spread the word, especially to my community which I felt lacked this insight on what chiropractic truly entailed and all of its benefits that can be used as a self-care tool to improve our overall quality of life. I immediately applied to the best chiropractic program at Life University in Marietta, GA, started in the fall of 2010 and graduated from Life University in 2014.
While attending Life University, the hunger for me to open my own chiropractic office began to progressively grow. Near the end of the program, one of the classes required us to develop a mock business plan in preparation for the future possibility of business. From that business project came the birth of Change-Of-Pace Chiropractic. Following graduation, I became an associate with The Chiropractic Center LLC and began treating patients at both their Marietta and midtown locations. During my eight years tenure I gained valuable knowledge in the treatment of patients, diagnosis of illnesses and ailments, X-ray analysis, office management, and sharpened my chiropractic adjusting skills, With each year passing I became more confident of stepping out on my own and bringing forth my own version of a chiropractic practice to the world. I had a vision of complete chiropractic care and which included massage therapy and enhancing treatments with the use of CBD. CBD offered the community a healthier alternative to opioid dependency eliminating the dangerous risk of overuse. With the oncoming of the pandemic, the opioid crisis in this country rose to an all-time high resulting in an astounding number of overdosing deaths, especially among fentanyl users.
The plan finally came to action January 1, 2021 with the decision to create my own legacy to pass down to my son and to set an example for my family that hard work pays off. I worked on my vision for the office every day while simultaneously helping plan for my own wedding, let’s just say that 2021 was a stressful year. Sheesh. Through the grace of God, I was able to marry to the love of my life, Go on a honeymoon, and return from the honeymoon to my grand opening of Change-Of-Pace Chiropractic+ on September 16th, 2021. A dream had been realized and that is one of the greatest feelings I wish everyone could experience. I get to live my purpose which is to help improve people’s lives so that they can live longer, happier, and healthier.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges?!? Of course, there were plenty, but everything worth having is on the other side of hard. Did I mention that Change-Of-Pace Chiropractic wasn’t my first attempt to step out into ownership? Around 2018, I partnered with someone who was introduced through a friend to help open a chiropractic office that focused primarily with the treatment of auto accident victims. The partnership didn’t last long and not everyone is meant to work together, and that’s OK. I used this failure as motivation and I gained both knowledges on the specific treatment of auto accident victims and valuable connections that helped jumpstart into the network that I have now. Ultimately, that experience prepared me for my next chapter.
Did I mention that I opened in 2021? This is at a time where we had been in a pandemic since March 2020, and there were a lot of unknowns as far as what direction Covid was heading with the introduction of new variants. It was hard to gauge the direction of the market, logistical challenges that awaited, or extra delays because of understaffing that affected licenses and permits. Luckily chiropractic is an essential business and are allowed to operate through any shut down so that was a major hurdle avoided. But I still face the fact that people have been drawn to staying in the house because they now work from home and would rather not leave the bubble that they’ve been forced to create. The challenge is to figure out how to get people to step out of the house and into the office. I relied on the fact that ergonomic practices often lacked at home in comparison to practices in-office. This results in more occurrences of poor postures while working which leads to an increase of stress and wear on the body. If people have been under these conditions for going on two years, then they will need chiropractic care more then ever, so I pushed forward.
Did I mention that I was a victim of contractor fraud? I had luckily found retail in space in Buckhead which unusually had more available spaces at that time and needed to hire a contractor for the conversion of the space into the office. BEWARE!!! Make sure you do your due diligence on your contractors!! Please look up license standings of the state you reside which can be found on the Secretary of State’s website, the legitimacy of the LLC, and all reviews before handing over any money. Contractors will ask for %50 of the estimate in order to get started with work and if you haven’t done your research, they will cash your check and never pick up the phone again. I learned the hard way. Normally I do my due diligence, but I let my guard down because the contractor was introduced through an in-law. I was a rookie so I didn’t see the red flags and proceeded to hand over my first significant investment that I saved for my own office. Afterward, he was nowhere to be found and I couldn’t help but feel like my dream was over at the gate. But I had a great support group who wanted to see me win and helped me through that situation to continue forward with the development of the office. I am very grateful for my friends and family and the main reason why I’m here today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Change-Of-Pace Chiropractic+?
Change of Pace Chiropratic+ prioritizes the safety and well-being of our patients while also focusing heavily on meeting their physical and psychological needs during distress.
We accomplish this through innovative chiropractic care with a focal point of CBD use for an enhancement of therapeutic and pain relief. We tailor a specific treatment plan to meet each individual’s particular needs, goals & unique health conditions. We are proud to provide a state-of-the-art facility in Buckhead, Atlanta where you can expect the highest quality chiropractic care available.
Change of Pace Chiropractic+ recognizes that there are many factors that can affect one’s wellness including but not limited to: exercise, diet, rest, environment, and hereditary. Change of Pace Chiropractic+ provides natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments, relying on the bodies inherent recuperative functions.
Change of Pace Chiropractic+specializes in the following body areas for treatment:
Back pain: Many factors can be responsible for back pain. We will attempt to restore a more normal motion and position of affected spinal bones through specific chiropractic adjustments.
Neck pain: We can have significant success in reducing a wide range of neck pains.
Headaches: Some studies estimate that 25% of the population have a headache right now. Headaches are often caused by a malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.
Whiplash: One of the most common injuries from an auto accident is Whiplash. Whiplash is defined as an injury to the neck by a sudden movement of the head and a variety of directions. Change of Pace Chiropractic+ is able to offer significant relief from pain caused by whiplash.
Vertebral Disc Injuries: Lumbar herniated discs are a widespread medical problem, most often affecting people aged 35 to 50. We will develop a treatment plan that may include spinal adjustments and other chiropractic techniques to help ease herniated disc
symptoms.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS): inflamed muscles are a common cause of neck and back pain. This is most commonly caused by repetitive overuse injuries caused by repeating the same movements over and over again on a daily basis. With the addition of CBD, Change of Pace Chiropractic+ will utilize a product that has been linked to alternative relief for sore muscles, joints, and anxiety to maximize the benefits chiropractic care has to offer.
As a chiropractor, it’s important to keep up to date with industry trends to ensure you are offering patients a comprehensive approach to treatment. Over the past few years, topical cannabidiol (CBD) products have grown in popularity, especially in the chiropractic market.
CBD is being incorporated into a number of practices because it offers a variety of benefits that include:
Relief from muscle soreness
Anti-inflammatory benefits
Help with anxiety
Arthritis pain
As a topical treatment to ease pain
Nonpsychoactive pain relief
With the focus on infusing CBD with traditional chiropractic care, Change of Pace Chiropractic+ will be on the cutting edge of the health industry. The use of CBD products is on the rise, especially in most recent years. Across the country, CBD enthusiasts are gushing over its benefits.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted from the cannabis plant. When CBD is extracted from hemp, there is no risk at experiencing the same effects that occur when marijuana is consumed. CBD may be able to help the body’s response to pain and complement adjustments administered by a chiropractor. With the opioid crisis in full force and a significant number of Americans addicted to prescription medications as a way to manage pain; it’s no wonder so many are turning to alternative ways to manage pain.
Change of Pace Chiropractic+ treats every patient with these philosophical approaches.
Our massage therapists use different massage techniques customized to each patient’s needs. We offer Swedish Massage, Deep tissue massage, as well as hot stone massages.
Our Deep Tissue Therapeutic Massage:
Promotes deep muscle and tissue relaxation
Alleviates stress and anxiety
Relieves pain and muscle tension
Improves blood circulation so that nutrients and oxygen flow to the muscles which speed up the healing and recovery process.
Promotes overall health and well-being
Enhances the immune system
Promotes nervous system functioning
Improves mood, intellectual reasoning and job performance
Has a positive effect on conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetes and migraine headaches
Here at Change-Of-Pace Chiropractic+, we understand to get you back to feeling great, it’s going to take routine chiropractic care in order to maximize and maintain results. The frequency in which you receive chiropractic care varies from individual to individual depending on your presenting condition and overall goals. Since our recommendations will vary from person to person, We offer multiple plans that are both affordable and convenient without the hassles of insurance billing, copays, deductibles, or declined reimbursements. Our pricing plans for both chiropractic and massage therapy can be found on our website. Be sure to visit www.chiropracticxcbd.com and request an appointment.
What matters most to you? Why?
God because I want to make sure I fulfill his purpose and family because my wife and son are my biggest supporters and I don’t want to let them down. I want to be an example for others who may come from poorer conditions to show that there are more ways to make it out other than just sports and entertainment.
Pricing:
- Chiropractic Memberships: $99/ month and includes up to four adjustments a month with a complimentary 30-minute massage with our massage therapist
- Massage Therapy Membership: $75/ month and includes one 1-hr massage ( including specialty massages) and a complimentary maintenance chiropractic adjustment
- Care plan packages that vary from 6-20 visits and save money
- Change-Of-Pace Ease Away: CBD that’s a Nano-enhanced Topical Cold Spray/ Massage oi l: 1 fl Oz $50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chiropracticXcbd.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chiropracticxcbd/
Image Credits
Kashanda Pace
