Northeast Alumnus Merges Chiropractic and Massage Therapy into Successful Private Practice

The College's high pass rates on the national board exams was just one reason Dr. Nick Patterson (D.C. '11, MSACN '11) chose the College to study both chiropractic and nutrition. The other reasons were the many clubs and electives offered on campus as well as its proximity to his hometown of Malta, N.Y.

In 2011 Patterson graduated with his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition.  He fondly remembers the clinical phase of his education:  Patterson was grateful for the knowledgeable clinic mentors at the Levittown Health Center who opened his eyes to the world of instrument-assisted soft-tissue manipulation and prepared him for professional practice. His only regret is not taking full advantage of all the programs, seminars, and clubs offered outside the curriculum.

An externship completed at Brown Integrated Chiropractic, with Drs. Alison and Jason Brown, led to a position as an associate in their practice, where he gained further experience. Dr. Patterson now owns Dig Deep Chiropractic and Massage Therapy, located inside Purebred Athletics in Clifton Park, New York, where the focus is on treating soft-tissue injuries and recommending corrective exercises to keep patients healthy. All patients are treated as athletes, regardless of their age or activity level, through a combination of chiropractic, massage therapy, and exercise. In addition, Dr. Patterson is currently a member of the New York State Chiropractic Association.

The greatest challenge Dr. Patterson has faced in owning a practice is the business aspect and making the hard decisions necessary for the betterment of the practice. It’s also a challenge to try to get his patients performing at their best and keep them performing. Nonetheless, what makes all of his hard work worthwhile is being able to see his patients competing and performing at events such as CrossFit, powerlifting, and others. For the future, Dr. Patterson would like to see healthcare grow into a more integrative, patient-centered approach with all different healthcare professionals working together for the benefit of the patients.

Dr. Patterson’s offers these words of advice: “Don’t be afraid to be different. Try new things and make mistakes. You may fail, you may not, but either way you will learn something that will help you grow!”