Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Nardone.
Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At age 14, I took an elective anatomy class and immediately fell in love with it. To me, learning about the human body is like discovering the most masterfully created, ingeniously engineered piece of art. Trillions of cells working together in such a precise and intricate way. It is as complicated as it is beautiful.
I decided to go down the Pre-Med. path at Penn State since it seemed to combine my two passions: anatomy and helping others one on one. As the years went on, I interviewed many MD’s and DO’s and slowly discovered that these professions seemed to be lacking something; however, I could not put my finger on exactly what it was missing. Nevertheless, I still scheduled my MCATs for lack of a better solution.
Three weeks prior to college graduation, I picked up a random book on health and wellness and began to read. A portion of the book explained the job of a chiropractor and the vast health benefits the practice has for its patients. Immediately, I knew I had found what was lacking in the other professions. Of course there is a time and place for drugs and surgery, but chiropractic empowered patients to increase their own natural healing abilities without adding or subtracting anything from their bodies. It is a science, philosophy, and art all dedicated to allowing the body to heal faster and improve quality of life. From that moment on, I was destined to become a chiropractor.
Graduate school and family brought me out to California from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduation, I bounced around a few areas of Los Angeles before I realized that Burbank was an ideal place for me to open my practice. Coming from a small town, Burbank is small enough that the sense of community here is palpable. My practice tends to attract children and families, as well as adult athletes, so Burbank is a perfect place for that.
Has it been a smooth road?
My love for my profession outweighs any of the struggles that I’ve faced; however, there have been a few.
First, there are still people in the world that do not see chiropractors as professionals. Our schooling is as long as medical school, and we are portal of entry doctors (meaning that you do not need a referral to come see us). I was one of those very people that I am talking about before I began to research the education requirements for chiropractic school. It is a doctorate program that involves anatomy, toxicology, pathology, public health, biochemistry, etc. It is similar to a medical school education just with a larger emphasis on anatomy and wellness. It is for this reason that I sometimes hear “you’re not a real doctor”. As a female with a profession that some people do not truly understand it can be challenging at times to not be recognized for what I am. I am a valuable resource of knowledge and information that can make educated decisions about your health. This struggle frustrates me because in order to deliver the very best health and wellness care to our communities, all types of doctors and healthcare professionals need to be knowledge of each other’s abilities and be able to work together for the greater good.
Second, I quickly realized after graduation that eight years of science classes does not equal a business degree. For four years, you are solely focused on learning how to adjust and care for patients. Then, as soon as you hang your shingle you discover that you know zero about how to run the business end of things. How do I legally obtain a business name? What marketing strategies would be effective in my area? Do I need QuickBooks? None of my education focused on how to run my own business, so I have endured countless hours of self-taught business education. There is a big difference between being a dedicated chiropractor and a successful businesswoman, and I had to quickly learn how to do both simultaneously. I still constantly read books on marketing and communication skills, and regularly attend seminars that increase my knowledge in this area.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a chiropractor that serves the community of Burbank and its surrounding areas. For each patient I see, whether it is an infant or an adult, I evaluate their health and focus on the integrity of their vertebral column. I check for any misalignment that may be contributing to improper structure and function of the spine and its surrounding muscles, ligaments, etc. I correct these areas of improper structure so that the biomechanics of the spine can work optimally. This results in reduced pain, decreased symptoms, and better function of the nervous system. I specialize in pregnant women and children, and also adult athletes. Many pregnant women experience pain and discomfort due to the rapid changes that are occurring to the body. I help the athletes stay healthy especially if they have a pre-existing condition or history of back pain. We work together beyond just the spinal adjustments. I always give stretches, exercises, and nutritional advice to ensure that their problems will not be long-lasting. I do not want to just “Band-Aid” a pain or ailment. For instance, someone may come in with left knee pain, but upon examination I may find that the problem stems from the hip or ankle area. I always go for the actual cause of the problem instead of “what is the fastest way to alleviate some pain right now”. I want every patient to walk out healthier and with more knowledge of how to take care of their bodies.
Besides that, what sets me apart is my relationship I develop with my patients. After almost every initial visit, I hear comments such as “I feel like you are really listening to me” or “I was nervous to come at first, but you immediately made me feel comfortable”. I have always had a deep passion for helping people one on one and that shows in my practice. It is difficult to properly care for a patient when they do not feel like 100% comfortable and that can lead to them not sharing some information because they think you’ll dismiss it. Oftentimes these little bits of information play an important role in the speed of their care and recovery.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I chose the location of Burbank after much consideration. I found Burbank (like the rest of the valley) maintains a strong sense of community despite its high population. I come from a small town in Pennsylvania, so I was used to knowing a lot of people and business owners. People here support small businesses and are eager to improve their town. I see the same people at my gym as I volunteer with or shop at the same grocery store as. There is something special about having that sense of friendliness and familiarity that contributes to a strong small business/healthy chiropractic practice. There is a high density of chiropractors in Southern California when compared to the rest of the country, but if someone was planning to start a family practice, I would definitely recommend Burbank or an area like it.
Pricing:
- Initial Chiropractic Examination $80-$120
- Cupping $20/session
Contact Info:
- Address: 2202 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506
- Website: www.drjessicanardonechiro.com
- Phone: 724-494-6284
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: drjesschiro
- Facebook: Dr. Jessica Nardone, Chiropractor
- Twitter: @drjessicachiro
- Yelp: Dr. Jessica Nardone, Chiropractor
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