By Rodney Richey, Herald Bulletin Feature Writer
ANDERSON, Ind. — Shahnaz Sabeti opened her own practice, American Chiropractic & Wellness, on North Broadway in 2004. Her bachelor and master degrees were in microbiology at the University of North Texas in Denton, and her doctorate was earned at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas.
Sabeti, 45, lives in Middletown and commutes nine miles one way each day.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. “The people. Basically, I enjoy relieving the pain and being in pain management. I see them initially so distressed with the pain, and when they get better, they are a completely different person. Their faces change, their attitudes change, their outlook on life changes. Everything changes, and I see that change in a very short time. That’s what I enjoy the most.”
Q. What do you like least?
A. “I’m sure there is, but I can’t think of anything right now.”
Q. What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened?
A. “My staff would be very helpful right now, because they would remember something.”
Q. The most serious thing?
A. “One of my patients fainted one time. She had gone through fainting episodes all the time, but this time happened in my office. So I wasn’t expecting it, and it kind of surprised me.”
Q. What kinds of jobs does Madison County need?
A. “In my opinion, it’s not the kinds of jobs we need. I think we need to work on what needs to be done to make it a better community, to have jobs for everyone. I don’t think it’s the job itself that we need to define.”
Q. Besides treating patients, what are your job responsibilities?
A. “My secondary responsibility is to keep the office running smoothly, to see patients greeted and checked in and out. I manage the building itself; if anything goes wrong, it’s my responsibility to take care of it. I also make sure everybody gets paid.”
Q. What other jobs have you done?
A. “When I was in college, I worked in a microbiology lab and in a bookstore for a very short time.”
Q. Do you offer any other services?
A. “I also provide acupuncture and nutritional services.”
Q. How long did your chiropractic training take?
A. “Four years. But you have to have two years of undergraduate work before you start.”
Q. Is there any problem you see in this county more than any others?
A. “I see a variety of conditions. But people here, especially people who have worked for (General Motors), are a lot of them elderly. And they have a lot of neck and mid-back pain, because they were standing on a cement floor for 20 or 30 years. And now they’re kind of paying the price.”
Q. Has the recent downturn in the economy hurt your business?
A. “It’s gone through ups and downs, but I cannot say it’s because of the economy.”
Q. What is the biggest misconception among prospective patients about chiropractic?
A. “Some people have a fear that it hurts. But it all depends on the technique the chiropractor is using and how it’s being used.”
Q: Apart from training, is there anything else people need to be a chiropractor? Physical or emotional strength?
A. “As far as physical strength, no, because they train you at school in so many different techniques, to be able to handle all types of people as far as body size goes.
“As far as the emotional side, I think to have love for people, regardless of who they are or where they come from or what their expectations are, that helps with any kind of business, to be able to give good service. If you have that, I think everything else would work itself out.”
Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey@heraldbulletin.com.
On the Job
What kind of jobs do people have in Madison County? What do they do on the job? In a series called On the Job, The Herald Bulletin will look at many occupations and the people who work them.
Would you like to have your job profiled? If so, contact Associate Editor Stephen Dick at 640-4863 or steve.dick@heraldbulletrin.com.
