Dr. Daniel Corallo is the founder of DC Chiropractic, an interdisciplinary clinic specializing in chiropractic care, physiotherapy and naturopathy in Markham, Ontario, Canada. We caught up with him over email to chat about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur and a healthcare professional. He shared how his personal health journey led him to a career in chiropractic care, how difficult it was to start a business fresh out of school, how much his family supported him in those early days as a new entrepreneur, and much more.
Your business, DC Chiropractic, specializes in chiropractic, naturopathic and physiotherapy services. Can you tell us a bit about what led you to become interested in chiropractic care?
I was first attracted to chiropractic at a young age. Suffering from chronic migraines, I continuously sought help from many healthcare practitioners. It was chiropractic care that helped my symptoms and ignited my interest in health care. Also, playing provincial level soccer and competitive hockey for over 10 years, I experienced many injuries and had an impactful exposure to clinical settings including chiropractic and rehabilitation clinics.
What is the core of DC Chiropractic’s purpose and vision?
DC Chiropractic is a team of experienced chiropractors, physiotherapists and naturopaths who have dedicated their lives to improving the quality of life and well-being of our patients. We approach each new patient with a personalized treatment plan, so you receive the most optimal results for your symptoms and wellness goals.
You founded DC Chiropracticin 2017. Can you tell us why you decided to start your own practice at that time and what challenges or opportunities you encountered?
After more than 20 interviews with multidisciplinary clinics, I couldn't find anything that aligned with my treatment styles and clinical outlooks. Therefore, I started my practice in a small eight-by-ten room, treating mostly family. Coming from an Italian family, there were enough people with multiple complaints to fill my schedule. Thank God for my family!
There were numerous challenges in starting a business fresh out of school. I did a lot of talks at local businesses and gyms, a lot of cold calling, and I said yes to every opportunity I had. Being a new business owner, I also worked at two other clinics around the GTA to keep DC Chiropractic afloat for the first couple of years. As I grew, I had the opportunity to expand my business to a full five-room interdisciplinary clinic, become an athletic trainer for the Italian National Ball Hockey Federation for the ISBHF Ball Hockey World Championships, become an athletic trainer for AAA hockey teams, appear as a guest speaker during an MS Society of Canada charity event, and mentor an abundance of new chiropractic graduates over the years.
Do you have any advice for other chiropractors who would like to set up a practice?
Be patient. If you expect your business to grow into a mature clinic over the course of two years, you are mistaken. One thing chiropractic education does not teach is entrepreneurial skills. As a result, talk to every experienced health professional who is also a business owner. It will give you an invaluable perspective on startup costs and how many unpaid hours it takes to run the business, all while managing a full patient load.
Does DC Chiropractic work with businesses and entrepreneurs?
We try our best to be as collaborative as possible. We try our best to help our patients meet their goals in rehab and body function. If we run into roadblocks or issues outside our scope of practice, we refer to other health practitioners in Markham. We are always open to developing new relationships.
How can businesses benefit from hiring you?
At the start of my chiropractic career, I went through four heavily science-based years learning about the different systems of the body. Through this learning, one of my biggest assets I possess is the ability to recognize, manage and diagnose neuromusculoskeletal conditions. These sets of skills are invaluable qualities that chiropractors can offer to Canada’s struggling healthcare system.