Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Benjamin Liang.
Dr. Benjamin Liang, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA, I spent 10 years in the entertainment industry climbing the work ladder at prominent companies including MTV Networks, Fuse Music, Food Network, and TV Guide. Although enjoyable and lucrative, I still felt unfulfilled and at times empty. The jobs were great, but that was all they were…jobs. Day in and day out, I traveled across the nation to make presentations to promote the network and essentially myself.
In 2009, I decided I needed to focus on my passions, that being health and wellness. With a renewed sense of purpose, I embarked on my journey toward a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, graduating Cum Laude. I had an amazing opportunity to open my private practice at Cedars Sinai Medical Towers soon afterward. In 2014, I was honored to be the first Chiropractic Resident physician to complete a specialized training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Spinal Care at the Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Medical Center, where I currently hold staff privileges as an attending physician. In helping to train our future generation of physicians, I am also associate faculty at the Southern California University of Health Sciences as well as a Problem Based Learning tutor in Musculoskeletal Medicine for UCLA Medical Students. The journey has been fraught with hardship and hard work, but the outcome has been beyond rewarding.
Through my vast experiences, I have had the privilege of seeing patients in many different communities, from our esteemed U.S. Veterans to the LGBT community, from infants and pregnant mothers to the elderly. My approach to providing chiropractic care has always been the utmost dedication.
Has it been a smooth road?
One common struggle in the profession is how chiropractors are perceived. Chiropractic care is a specialty that only recently has had increased acceptance by the medical field. There had been an abundance of miseducation in the past about what our profession is about and does. Our training as Doctors of chiropractic include a majority of training in anatomy and physiology while also focusing on diagnosis, orthopedics, pathology, radiology and nutrition. Many patients and practitioners are surprised to hear that our education and total classroom hours are similar to that of MD’s.
However with advanced research-based approaches and training, this wall of misinformation is being chipped away and more multidisciplinary clinics have included chiropractic for spinal and musculoskeletal care. A patient’s health and wellness is best managed through a team-approach with collaborations and referrals to other members. This is why my approach to Chiropractic includes lab work or X-ray referrals when necessary, nutritional advice, physiotherapy modalities, and therapeutic exercise.
Another common challenge is in creating a customized approach and treatment for each individual patient. We realize that each patient comes with a different background, whether it be physically, mentally, or genetically. This includes factors such as the amount of activity or exercise a patient performs; whether a patient smokes or drinks excessively; comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, or cancer; past accidents and injuries; job type or even commute time; or mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. As a physician, you must also assess whether a patient will comply with the treatment plan; it’s a team effort with the patient being the MVP. After all, an occasional office visit does not completely combat the wear and tear that the body experiences throughout the majority of a patient’s week, month or year. The challenge lies in how involved a patient will be. As Hippocrates said, “The natural healing within us is the greatest force in getting well.”
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Align Chiropractic at Cedars Sinai Medical Towers story. Tell us more about the business.
Align Chiropractic located at Cedars Sinai Medical Towers was opened in 2014. By employing a whole body approach and assessing musculoskeletal components, I combine the best hands-on-technique, physiotherapy procedures, and provide the most effective natural supplements. My ultimate goal is to assist patients in accelerated healing and maintaining a journey toward optimal health.
What sets me apart from many of my colleagues is my approach. Often times I hear complaints from my patients that they were seen for 5-10 minutes by their physician. Being that my private practice is modest, I personally spend all the time with my patients each visit. Through a combination of therapies such as e-stim, ultrasound, flexion distraction, myofascial release, and therapeutic stretches, I prepare the patient’s body prior to the adjustment.
My specialties include the following:
-Pain management
-Spinal care
-Family Chiropractic Care
-Rehabilitation
-Postural Correction
-Headaches
-Pregnancy-related Pain
-Sciatica
-Disc Herniations
-Frozen Shoulder
-TMJ Disorder
-Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis
-Carpal Tunnel
-Plantar Fasciitis
-Neck and Back Pain
-Facet Syndrome
-Musculoskeletal Disorders
-Sports Injuries
I accept most insurance plans including but not limited to Aetna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, American Specialty Health, Motion Picture Industry Health Plan, Health Net, and Triwest/CHOICE,
I also work with Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle Accidents.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Chiropractic care continues to grow more acceptance with patients due to its non-invasive treatments with minimal to no side effects. As we continue on this road of collaboration between all physicians with the patient’s health and wellness in mind, I foresee Chiropractic care continuing on its path toward mainstream acceptance in musculoskeletal disorders and spine care.
Contact Info:
- Address: Dr. Benjamin Liang
align| chiropractic at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers
8631 W. Third St, Suite 304E
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310-853-0143 - Website: www.drliangdc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBenDC/
- Yelp:@ https://www.yelp.com/biz/benjamin-liang-dc-los-angeles-3
- Instagram:@ swyguh
