Exploring Life & Business with Ryan Durand of Mission Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Durand.

Hi Ryan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in the KC area for just over three years now. I practice at Mission Wellness in Mission KS and become business owner in early 2022.

My story starts in the New England area where I grew up and most of my family still resides (east coast at least). If you are wondering no I am not a Patriots fan! Go Chiefs (and Titans, we will get into hey shortly)!! Many patients are curious what brought me to the KC area which I’ll get into now.

I was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 7th round of the 2009 draft from Syracuse University. I was fortunate enough to play in the NFL from 2009-2013. My main career was with the Titans (09-12) but I also played for the Miami Dolphins in 12′ and ended my career with the Chiefs in 13′. When I decided I needed to start a new chapter in my life, I knew I had to go back to school. I needed skills and knowledge beyond pushing other large humans around, so unless I wanted to be a bouncer for the rest of my life, going back to school was a must! I have always enjoyed science, anatomy, physiology, and helping people so healthcare seemed like a great choice. I considered many fields but, looking back on my football career and how important chiropractic care was to my longevity, I knew becoming a DC would be a great fit. Plus being a big strong guy is pretty helpful! I also lucked out that Cleveland College in Overland Park was minutes away from me so it ended up being a perfect fit.

Speaking of perfect fits, I love KC and what it has to offer both big and small. I’ve created relationships here that I know will stand the test of time and look forward to being a part of the Mission KS and KC area community for many years to come. I am currently the defensive line coach for Shawnee Mission North Highschool and really enjoying staying in and giving back to the game.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ll be honest my NFL career didn’t end on my terms. Football at the highest levels is a business first sadly. Professional sports in general are one of the few businesses where new positions are not added trending with business growth and new talent emerging every year. There are only 53 players on 32 teams for the NFL specifically. So long story short, I got older and more expensive and got replaced by someone younger and cheaper. It is what it is.

When that ended for me, it was a hard transition. Depression, anxiety and feelings of self-doubt were there. Don’t get me wrong, I was blessed to have that experience and feel fortunate to be a part of that brotherhood but any huge transition in life is hard. I am forever grateful to the NFL whom does amazing things for its veterans. With their help, I was able to go back to school and feel blessed for the opportunity to help people.

Also, chiropractic school was tough but I loved the opportunity to grow and learn and saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel fortunate to be a DC and that I love what I do. I’ll never call my career work because it doesn’t feel that way!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mission Wellness?
I am a currently a member of the Mission Wellness team in Mission, KS. We offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage and have a team of 8 great professionals. I am the third generation chiropractor at the practice which was started back in the 1968 by Dr. John Willits and currently under ownership by his son Dr Brad Willits. I will be taking over ownership of the practice in early 2022.

I think what sets me apart are my unique past experiences as a professional athlete. Pushing my body to the highest level gave me knowledge on the benefits of an extreme physical lifestyle and also the downfalls. Chiro care was vital in keeping me in the game as long as I was and I know it’s that way for many other athletes. Through my experiences, I have seen lots of injuries many of which first hand! I believe that this has given me a greater understanding on what it takes to get well and also prevent injuries all together.

How do you think about luck?
I’m stealing this from somewhere (Tony Robbins?!) but “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I worked my butt off to get through college as a student-athlete, make and stay in the NFL, and become a DC and are blessed to be in the position I am today!

Contact Info:

• Email: missionwellnesskc@gmail.com
• Website: missionwellnesskc.com

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