Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Pregont.
Hi Melinda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My experience with chiropractic began early in my junior season playing college basketball for the Benedictine College Lady Ravens. There came a point where I wasn’t even able to sprint the length of the court or jump for a rebound due to the severity of my low back pain.
After several of weeks of this pain, my boyfriend at the time (now my husband) suggested I go see his chiropractor. At that point, all I knew about chiropractors was that they popped your neck and that made me really nervous. Eventually, the pain became too much to bear and I decided to give his chiropractor a try.
The chiropractor used a technique called Activator, which is an instrument-assisted form of chiropractic with no pops or cracks. After three treatments, I was pain free and I went on to have the best season of my career!
I couldn’t believe this treatment had helped me become pain free without the use of medications or invasive techniques. Shortly thereafter, I decided to become a chiropractor.
I attended Cleveland Chiropractic College – Kansas City immediately after graduating from Benedictine College in 2009 and opened Trusted Care three months after graduation in March 2013.
The vision of creating a holistic multi-disciplinary practice has always been my driving force. I have always enjoyed being a part of a team and working with others in order to move a goal forward. I also feel that recognizing one’s own limitations is among the most critical responsibilities of a practitioner. Which is why I began to seek out likeminded service providers to collaborate with in order to serve our community within the same working space.
I didn’t realize the goal would be women’s health care until a few years into practice as I kept seeing more and more women, mostly mothers, who would come to me with chronic neck pain or low back pain. As I spent more time with these women, I found that women in general, but especially mothers were being left behind in health care.
There was on encounter with a new mother who was having chronic headaches who I had been seeing for a few visits and by that time, her pain should have progressed, but it wasn’t. I could tell that something was off that day, so I asked her simply “Are you alright?” and she just started crying. No one had asked her that since having her baby and no, she wasn’t alright. And I knew then that I wanted these women to be the focus of my multi-disciplinary clinic.
There is a great shift that happens when we become mothers, one that unfortunately we do not support well enough in health care. As soon as the baby is born, most attention gets turned to the baby, but what about mom? Therefore, at Trusted Care we have built a safe place for women to heal both mentally and physically.
I personally specialize in pediatric, sports and pregnancy chiropractic. I have also recently become trained in Mercier Therapy to help those looking for a non-invasive, holistic approach to fertility care and balancing hormones.
In our space we currently have two mental health therapists, three massage therapists, a lactation consultant / doula and a naturopathic doctor. All of our practitioners provide some aspect of holistic wellness for the whole family, however we all have a focus on women’s health care.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, the journey has been relatively smooth. The most challenging phase was at the beginning—navigating the complexities of launching and sustaining a small business while at the same time stepping into the role of a new healthcare practitioner. Wearing so many different hats at once was, at times, overwhelming.
A key factor in my success has been the incredible support from both the local government in Atchison and my landlords. My landlords have allowed me the flexibility to grow my business in alignment with my vision and at a pace that felt right for me. The City of Atchison has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting small business startups, offering valuable resources and assistance in securing funding opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Additionally, my state chiropractic association has been an excellent source of guidance and information from the outset. I’m also incredibly grateful for my husband, whose unwavering support and expertise have helped me navigate government processes and manage the financial aspects of running a small business.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
During my time in chiropractic school, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Michelle Robin from Your Wellness Connection in Kansas City speak to our class. She shared a message that has stayed with me ever since. She encouraged us to imagine that every person who walks into our office has the letters “MMFI” stamped on their forehead—standing for “Make Me Feel Important.”
This simple yet powerful reminder has profoundly influenced how I approach patient care. I strive to embody that principle with every client that walks into my office. It also brings to mind one of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Every person who walks through Trusted Care’s door, I want them to feel safe, supported and cared for. I want them to feel like they’re the most important person in the room, because they are, and I’m so grateful that they are trusting me with their care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trustedcarechiro.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trustedcare_ks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trustedcareatchison
Image Credits
Christa Rieger – Storyweaver Studios
