Owner Spotlight: Dr. Adrian Cohen
• by Dr. Adrian Cohen
I’m Dr. Adrian Cohen, proud owner of Torontochiropracticservices.com
I look forward to sharing my story, and I hope that you will enjoy getting to know me.
Webware: What parts of being a chiropractor do you find most enjoyable?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: The best part of my job is the positive feedback I receive from my patients. Among the more common post-treatment reactions I hear: “I can breathe better.” “I feel less stressed.” “I feel lighter and have more spring to my step.” “The pain is a lot less compared to when I came in." "The pain is completely gone.” And one of my all-time favourites; “You have magic hands!" Who wouldn't love their job if that's what they often heard all day long?
Naturally, there are challenging conditions I treat which don't allow for instant positive feedback. For example, some of my patients suffer from long standing chronic spinal degeneration or pinched nerves causing severe burning pain down arms or legs. However, we have the tools to treat these patients. It is very rewarding to help people return to their daily activities and essentially get their lives back after treatment has run its course.
Webware: Why did you choose to become a chiropractor?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: It is my goal to empower patients to take control of their own health care and optimize their function by providing cutting-edge customized, chiropractic care.
I used to question “chiropractic" like some people out there until I had my own injury as a track and field athlete. My positive treatment experience completely reversed my mindset. I became aware of the scientific evidence and positive clinical impact chiropractic care had on people.
I have been practicing for eight years, and I bring state-of-the-art treatments designed to improve a patient's function by reducing pain and increasing performance. I treat children, adolescents, desk workers, retirees, and professional athletes. My youngest patient is 5 and oldest is 95!
Webware: Where Did you grow up? Go to School?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: I grew up in Toronto, and went to York Mills Collegiate Institute. I obtained degrees in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario in 2005 and my Doctor of Chiropractic in 2009 from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto.
Webware: What are your responsibilities as a chiropractor?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: My responsibilities are to assess my patients by doing a full medical history evaluation, followed by a complete orthopaedic and neurological examination. I judge whether patients should be in my clinic versus their family doctor's office or the hospital emergency department by ruling out serious medical conditions. After diagnosis, I explain the plan of management and then we agree upon a treatment plan.
Most people are surprised to learn that chiropractors don't just treat the back. My treatment techniques help muscle, nerve and joint disorders from head to toe, including headaches, burning nerve pain down the arms and legs, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, and post-concussion syndrome (same therapy used on NHL and NFL players).
Webware: Describe/Outline your typical day.
Dr. Adrian Cohen: I keep office hours from 8am until 6pm. For patients who cannot visit during these times, I make myself available for early evening house calls. I usually work 10 hours daily because it's "fun" and not "work!"
Webware: What are the most important decisions that you face daily as a chiropractor?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: The most important decisions I face regularly are that patients are cared for and that any challenges or concerns they have are attended to promptly.
Webware: What would you say are the top three skills you use as a chiropractor?
Dr. Adrian Cohen:
Detective skills - it's all about "searching and destroying" muscle tension and joint restrictions to optimize body mechanics.
Quick but gentle joint adjustments - allows for maximum tension release while being very comfortable. Patients are often pleasantly surprised about how easy and painless it is to be adjusted and how much better their bodies move after one treatment.
Compassionate personality - I truly listen to and address my patients concerns. I believe that the only way I can do my job effectively is when my patients are comfortable.
Webware: To what do you most attribute your success?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: I attribute my success to my mentors and my dedication and passion for what I do, by consistently upgrading my skills and techniques. This way, my patients receive the highest quality of care as I truly provide a "one stop shop" service.
Webware: What has been your most satisfying moment in your personal life/business?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: When I reflect on my most satisfying professional moments, I might easily choose taking care of members of my favourite professional sports teams: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but honestly, the most satisfying moment was after a new patient, frightened before her first treatment ended up giving me a high five! She immediately wrote a glowing online review. She wanted to educate others about how chiropractic fears were irrational. Based on her experience with me there was no need to be scared of neck or back adjustments any longer.
Webware: Who has had the most impact on your leadership style?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: My father who is a renowned Gastroenterologist and public speaker, has had the most profound impact on my leadership style. His excellent bedside manner, reputation and patient-first attitude, has certainly shaped me into the health care professional that I am today.
Webware: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most? Why?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: A company which I admire is the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. I share the same principles as the Canadian founder, Isadore “Issy” Sharp. He told me that his basic premise (which separated his hotel franchise from all others) was that if you treat hotel guests like royalty, they will never leave you. It wouldn't matter what the hotel looked like on the outside, it was the power of the customer service on the inside that counted. That's how I operate my health care business too.
Webware: What are you hobbies? What do you do in your non work time?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: Away from work I enjoy playing piano, guitar, and drums. I play baseball in the summer and hockey all year around. I make time to hit the gym two to three times weekly. I also certainly enjoy networking with other young professionals at various charity events around the Greater Toronto Area, and I support several health related charities.
Webware: What are you personal values?
Dr. Adrian Cohen: My personal values are: compassion; education; clear communication; balance; understanding and cooperation.
Thanks for reading. I have enjoyed sharing my story about the things which matter to me and how they influence the way I practice. If you or someone you know in the GTA could benefit from my expertise in chiropractic treatment, I invite you to get in touch.
Sincerely,
Dr. Adrian Cohen, DC