From Chiropractic Practice to Sports Medicine: The Remarkable Journey of Dr. Lee Bazzarone

Dr. Lee Bazzarone, DC, CCSP, PC, is a retired Chiropractor who built a successful career over three decades in practice. He has studied at a number of esteemed institutions including Loyola Marymount University, Western States College, Pierce College, and California State University to complete his undergraduate studies. He received his doctorate at Cleveland Chiropractic College and continued his postdoctoral studies in cervical acceleration and deceleration at the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. Dr. Lee Bazzarone is dedicated to mission work and has volunteered with Mission Voice and volunteered for Haitian missions. After undergoing major hip replacement surgery, Dr. Bazzarone leveraged his medical knowledge into recovery and regularly engages in sports like pickleball and basketball. He models the proper attributes and positive effects of an active lifestyle in retirement for others.

What circumstances led you to a career in sports medicine?

I originally went into sports medicine because I loved playing sports. I thought my penchant for maintaining an active lifestyle, which has stayed with me throughout my life, perfectly matched the hands-on opportunities and experience needed to best help athletes. I specifically chose chiropractic sports medicine as a result of my own treatment for a recurring shoulder injury that would not heal. I saw a sports chiropractor who showed me how the entire body was connected and that the source of my shoulder troubles extended beyond the shoulder itself. I learned that my shoulder was not healing because multiple structures were involved and had to be treated together. When this knowledge was applied to my treatment plan, the results spoke for themselves. It worked.

Why did you decide to start your practice?

I started my practice with the idea of incorporating both corrective and preventative care, working together with all health professions. At the time, these partnerships and collaborations with other areas of medicine were not the norm, and I found my goals were best accomplished by opening my own practice.

What experiences best informed your career over the years?

As a young athlete who was exposed to multiple injuries, some quite complex and prolonged, I found I had a unique insight into what injured athletes experience, both physically and mentally. My own experiences were further enhanced by helping treat patients early in my career. I remember vividly one of my first patients suffered from chronic headaches for many years, and he—along with his extended family—was skeptical that anything could be done. Through chiropractic treatment, his headaches ceased, and when they went away, he said he felt as though he got his life back. His wife said he was a new person. To help someone who had been disappointed so many times that he found the situation hopeless is extremely gratifying and was an experience that has informed many of the decisions I’ve made throughout my career.

What values, skills, and business qualities are most important to a successful practice?

Allowing patients to make informed decisions about their treatments and working together with them was more than an opportunity to empower them; it consistently improved health outcomes in immediate and timely ways. Further, the ability to empathize with patients has proved vital to being a good, trusted doctor.

What are you looking forward to in your next endeavor?

Over the thirty years of my career, I have learned a lot and believe I could contribute value in the realm of teaching. As an educator, I would be able to teach from my experiences, which include health, business and entrepreneurship, and aging well.

Key Takeaways

• Creating a career based on your interests, talents, and experiences can lead to rewarding opportunities and unique perspectives on your work and field of study.

• Taking risks to forge new paths and partnerships can contribute to moving your industry forward, especially within medicine where standard procedures often silo different areas of medicine.

• Chiropractic sports medicine opens doors to support athletes in keeping small injuries from pervading the rest of the body by treating all body systems that need healed.

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About Dr. Lee Bazzarone

Dr. Lee Bazzarone is a retired chiropractor who built a successful career as a practitioner beginning in 1988. He is excited to seek new entrepreneurial endeavors and online initiatives. He is active in his church and works regularly with church youth. With a heart for serving, he and his wife have volunteered for missions in Haiti. Dr. Bazzarone has a wealth of health knowledge and advice as well as deep insight into how insurance works.