We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kate LaVigne. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kate below.

Kate, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I opened my business as an independent contractor within a larger, successful chiropractic practice in March 2015. In August 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I went completely on my own and moved my office into my own space. It was a risky thing to do during a time when the economy was unstable and I work in an industry that requires physical human contact. People were working remotely, kids were home from school, no one was even leaving the house to grocery shop and here I was hoping they would make a chiropractic appointment. I was nervous that I would lose some of my patients, that I wouldn’t be able to grow without being marketed by a larger practice, and that the economy and pandemic would take another turn for the worse, but I took the leap and it really worked out for the best. Many of my clientele followed me, I started to operate almost solely on referrals, and it was a great feeling to have that loyalty and trust from my patients. Working in my own space has allowed me to give better care to my patients, to grow as a chiropractor and a businesswoman, and has also provided me flexibility to pursue my other passion – boxing.

Kate, 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 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland Chiropractic College Kansas City with my Doctorate in Chiropractic in December 2014 and opened my own practice, Complete Chiropractic & Wellness, LLC, in Shawnee Mission, KS in March 2015. I was initially an independent contractor within a larger practice and then moved into my own space in August 2020. I have a passion for helping people to feel their best and meet their wellness goals, whatever they may be, through all phases of life. In order to accomplish this, I offer traditional chiropractic care in addition to functional lab testing and nutrition/supplement advice. I particularly enjoy working with athletes as I am a professional boxer and understand injuries, training, and how important it is to take care of our bodies for longevity in sports. I believe chiropractic care and wellness, in general, are more than just an adjustment or pain relief. To obtain true wellness, we need a complete approach that includes movement, nutrition, positive energy, and mental health. Everyone’s path is a little different, but I want my clients to know that I’m a resource for any aspect of their health, if that’s what they are looking for. I want my clients to be active participants in their wellness journey, so we talk a lot about what they can do outside of the office to move and feel better, whether it be exercises/stretches, dietary and lifestyle changes, or adding supplements. My goal isn’t to see a client for weekly adjustments; my goal is to get the client to feel awesome on their own. I believe what sets me apart as a chiropractor is my ability to relate to my patients and treat them as individuals. I want to be their partner in health and I refuse to use a cookie-cutter approach to wellness. I understand what it is like to go through health challenges, injuries, weight struggles, etc and I use my experience to help my patients deal with similar situations. I aim to be as accessible to my patients as possible, maintain flexible hours and a casual environment, and enjoy getting to know my patients on a more personal level. In my quest to keep learning while also giving back to the field I love so much, I am also a part-time clinical educator at Cleveland University-KC since August 2022. My current patients know that between my office, the school, and my boxing career, my schedule can get hectic but I always make my patients a priority.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I feel like being my true self helped to build my reputation. So often, in any professional field and particularly in the health field, we feel like we have to maintain an air of “mystery” and inaccessibility. It sometimes seems like doctors are not people we can relate to and they just “aren’t like us.” When I first opened my practice, I believed I had to dress up every day, only discuss the patient’s complaint, and never talk about anything personal. The longer I was in practice and the more confident I grew with myself and my abilities, I realized that patients want to relate to their practitioner. I love sneakers and have a huge collection and once I started wearing them, I had patients who were excited to come to their appointment to see what shoes I had on that day. I am a professional boxer and when I have fights in Kansas City so many of my patients come to watch or at least ask me how training is going or how the fight turned out and the support is just incredible. I have personal conversations with my patients about family and friends, and work; this has allowed our relationships to grow and I believe I can provide better care as a result of knowing them on a deeper level. Since I am authentically myself, new patients know me as the “boxing chiropractor” and people describe me as someone who is relatable, kind, and down to earth.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I read Profit First by Mike Michalowicz in early 2021. I heard about it on a podcast and decided to read it because I had recently moved my business to a new location, was operating 100% on my own, and was looking for ways to maximize profit and minimize expenses. This book is such an easy read but really gave me a lot of perspective on how to run a business profitably. I’ve implemented their system since I read it and it has drastically changed how I operate my business. It’s allowed me more freedom and flexibility while simultaneously setting my business up for success. I would encourage any entrepreneur or small business owner read this book.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drkatelavigne.com
• Instagram: @katelavigne
• Facebook: @CompleteChiroKC

Image Credits
Jennifer Ward