COVER DC SPOTLIGHT ALL IN THE FAMILY These chiropractors have made their practice a family matter D BY MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN rs. Megan and Mailie Harris have taken al-most the exact same path in their careers, albeit at different times. They went to the same university, took the same program, held the same summer jobs, operated a business together, went to the same chiropractic col-lege, and now work in the same clinic. When it comes to practice, however, each sister assumes her own identity. Megan, who is three years older than Mailie, has an inter-est in prenatal chiropractic care. She is certified in the Webster Technique for pregnancy through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and has a large preg-nancy practice, often collaborating with obstetricians, mid-wives and doulas in her community. She co-owns the Chi-ropractic Wellness Studio in Edmonton. Coming from a professional sports background, Mailie has established a connection with the Canadian Football League and the National Hockey League. While a student at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC), Mailie was also part of the cheerleading team for the Toronto Argonauts. Her patients include NHL and CFL players, mixed martial artists, Olympic athletes and professional cheerleaders. “We’re the first chiropractors in our family,” says Megan, whose interest in chiropractic was sparked by her mother’s positive experience with chiropractic treatment. “My mom had really bad sciatica and it was chiropractic that actually got her on her feet.” After finishing her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Megan enrolled in the chiropractic program at CMCC where she MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN is the editor of Canadian Chiropractor magazine and Massage Therapy Canada magazine. She has been a journalist for more than 15 years. E-mail her at [email protected] 28 Canadian Chiropractor December 2015 Drs. Roy (left) and Bob (right) Kariatsumari use different techniques in practice but share the same view on patient-centred care. graduated in 2003. In the same year, her sister Mailie started her freshman year at CMCC. She also graduated from the University of Guelph with a bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics. The Harris’s grew up in Tweed, Ont. When Megan was 15, she applied for a scholarship and got accepted at Albert College, a co-ed boarding school in Belleville, Ont. This meant she had to live away from home during the last three years of high school and then go away to university. In university was when Megan confirmed chiropractic is the career path for her – but not before exploring other vi-able options. “When I got into Guelph University, I started experiment-ing by going to different offices back and forth, between chiropractic offices and physiotherapy offices. I noticed all the chiropractic patients were happy, and all the chiroprac-tors were happy as well and they were encouraging. My decision was made pretty quickly,” Megan recalls. Following her graduation from Guelph, Megan went to Calgary to volunteer at Dr. Greg Kawchuk’s spinal research www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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