We recently connected with Dr. Julia Hartman and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Julia, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I have always been an independent person. I had a job at the age of 14 and have worked since then. My parents instilled a great work ethic in my siblings and I at a very young age and we ran with it. When chiropractic changed my life, I decided to attend chiropractic school to be able to serve my community forever.

I knew in chiropractic school that I wanted to build my own practice from the ground up and create my own culture and niche. After graduating chiropractic school in 2019, I worked with a mentor of mine, Dr. Tron Malachowski at a busy office in Summerville, SC for 2 years. There I was able to care for over 300 patients a week, learn how to run a busy office by myself, gain the tools it takes to grow a business, and learn the inside of running a business and support team.

I knew that with my mentor’s help, and the tools I gained from practicing with him for 2 years, I was ready to branch out and open my own practice. That’s where Elevate Spinal Care came in. I knew James Island was where I wanted to serve.

Because of the connections I had made in the 2 years of practicing, I was able to connect with local banks and lending agencies. After being denied many times for a loan, I landed on the Climb Fund, who was able to loan me a small business loan in order to open up. It took hours and months to create a vision, find the perfect space and go all in. Once I found the perfect spot, it was grind time. I was able to open within 6 weeks of leaving the Summerville office. It took many sleepless nights and hours of behind the scene work to get the equipment, construct and design the office, and market like crazy to be able to open. Doors officially opened on May 9, 2022 and since then the practice has grown over two and a half times since.

The hardest part of getting open was knowing that things were not going to go as planned. There were many delays, and waiting on others to perform their duties on time was frustrating. However, with persistence and patience everything came together. I worked very hard to make sure I had new patients scheduled before evening opening. I marketed at every event I could find, and went door to door to introduce myself to the community.

My biggest takeaway is to find a good, solid mentor that will guide you through. I’ve known Dr. Tron for over 5 years now, and he has helped in ways words cannot describe. With the right support, you can do it. My other piece of advice would be to just do it. Pick a path and go for it. If you want to open your own practice YOU can do it. Create a vision, Make goals, and go crush them. Looking back, I realize how much blood, sweat, and tears went into this and it’s so exciting and rewarding knowing that my vision has come to fruition.

Get your mindset right, find a mentor, and make your visions come alive!

Dr. Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was a competitive soccer player my whole life. After suffering 2 concussions, I developed headaches and migraines, brain fog, and digestive issues. My brother was in chiropractic school at the time and told me to go see a chiropractor. After getting adjusted, my health changed dramatically. My headaches and migraines were gone, brain fog lifted, and my digestive issues cleared. I knew from that moment chiropractic was going to be the vessel in which I was able to serve the community.

I was introduced to Upper Cervical Chiropractic in school. Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a speciality within the field of chiropractic which focuses on the top two bones in the neck. Because the brainstem runs through that area, if there’s a bone putting pressure on those nerves, a multitude of health issues can arise. I take care of all kinds of conditions. Musculoskeletal issues such as neck and low back pain are good examples. However because of the speciality of upper cervical, I also see a lot of neurological issues like Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune issues, ADD/ADHD, headaches and migraines, etc. I have basic and advanced certifications in the Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique. I also am passionate about taking care of kids. Kids respond so well to chiropractic care. Because of potential birth trauma, and many falls and bumps kids get, it’s so important to check their spines as well.

I am most proud of starting my own practice, Elevate Spinal Care by myself. I have built a beautiful office and a space that encompasses true healing without drugs or surgery.

We have state of the art digital x-rays, thermographic scans, and we never guess with your health here.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been networking and marketing like crazy. I try to be at any event they’ll allow me to be a part of. I have a booth with information and offer free neurological exams. I love getting out in the community and speaking. I do lunch and learns wherever I can to share chiropractic and educate.

I also became a part of The James Island BNI group – where different business industries meet and pass referrals back and forth to each other. This has been very helpful in expanding my business and getting to meet the community.

We also encourage our patients to refer their friends and family as much as possible!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

The biggest thing other than the training and knowledge is being in the right mindset. Being an entrepreneur is not for the week. Every day brings new challenges, so you have to be in the right state of mind every day in order to lead. This means no negativity, reading lots of books, and be open to learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elevatespinalcare.com
• Instagram: @elevatespinalcare
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatespinalcaresc

Image Credits
Georgia Grace Photography