“I knew nothing about it (chiropractic) but we were desperate for help,” Day said. “After two weeks of treatment, my son was almost sleeping through the night, and his crying had decreased significantly. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to become a chiropractor.”

While Day was attempting to grasp the possibility of a new career, the rest of his life was slipping through his fingers. It was perhaps during his worst time that he made his best decision. In his early 30s, unemployed and going through a divorce, Day chose to rebuild his life. Chiropractic would be the foundation.

As his son’s doctor was a Cleveland alum, Day chose to attend Cleveland-Kansas City for his education. He relocated from Colorado and began work on this new career path. He soon found someone with whom he shared his time, his laughter and eventually, his heart. They graduated, married, and now Drs. Rich and Haley Day ’08 operate Great Day Chiropractic & Wellness in Erie, Colo.

Dr. Haley also had a Cleveland connection that brought her to the College. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Pepperdine University in California, she worked for Dr. Brandon Goldstein ’97, a graduate of Cleveland-Los Angeles. He lit the flame of chiropractic for her that became the springboard into a career. Goldstein remains one of her mentors even now.

Sharing the profession with a spouse is not uncommon in chiropractic, but it’s not for everyone. The Days’ have achieved a good balance between their personal and professional relationship by striving to improve both areas. It is a formula that has been a successful blend for them.

“I’m always growing, learning, and pushing myself to be better,” Dr. Haley said. “My husband and I have an awesome relationship. We’re able to spend 99% of our time together and still love what we do and being with each other. We have patients that come in and ask how we do it. We are best friends, on the same team, and we thoroughly enjoy what we do and the practice we’ve built.”

Dr. Rich echoed Dr. Haley’s thoughts regarding self-development, and he is cognizant of how those improvements impact his life as a whole.

“I am constantly evolving,” Dr. Rich said. “I’ve got an insatiable appetite for knowledge and I’m always looking to apply what I learn to improve all aspects of my life. Each day, it allows me to inch closer to achieving my full potential as a human being.”

When one achieves that level of personal comfort, the professional side is able to flourish. The positive energy that results is then transmitted to the patients. At that point, the treatment philosophy takes over.

“From the time they first call, through each appointment, we try to give the patient the kind of care we would want to receive, or the kind of care we would want our loved ones to receive,” Dr. Haley said.

This notion is something that is a constant presence in their daily activities. This applies not only to health and recovery, but also to the new practitioner just starting out.

“In practice, we tell our patients that each adjustment builds on the one before and that wellness is a process, not an event,” Dr. Rich said. “The same is true of the journey from student to doctor. Each course and each final exam gets you closer to where you want to be. Stephen Covey said it best when he said to “begin with the end in mind.”‘

That thought process guided them as they prepared for life after Cleveland. They leaned heavily upon the sage advice of Dr. James Anderson, the College’s business consultant and director of its “Success Strategies” program. That relationship is ongoing, as they still speak with Anderson on a regular basis about operating multiple practices in the future.

In addition to Anderson, there have been influences along the way that have shaped their development, including Dr. Joe Dziezsgowski, Dr. Braxton Pulley, Dr. Michelle Robin ’92, Dr. Shannon Pishny ’05, Dr. Amanda Toney ’08 and many more. They watched and learned from others and then incorporated that knowledge into their own practice.

The two have experienced much in their time since graduation. Although starting a business is never easy, they have been able to avoid the monetary pitfalls that beset some new practitioners.

“It’s sad to see a practice close its doors simply due to the poor spending habits of the doctor,” Dr. Haley said. “It’s not important to drive a nice car or have the most expensive table. What’s important is how much you care about your patients, the quality of care you give and the efficiency with which you run the practice.”

Beyond the financial side of the practice, there is also the human side encompassing the manner in which they provide their services. They have successfully established themselves as a source for ethical and professional care in the community. This level of respect was earned through exposure to people in their area, but also by holding themselves to the highest standards of treatment.

With attention to detail and by offering compassionate service to their patients, they have established themselves as a reliable source on which people can depend. This is demonstrated outside the office as well, as they give back to those they serve as a civic partner.

“Last year, we donated over $3,000 in free services in our area,” Dr. Rich said. “We’ve collected donations for our local food bank and hosted free photos with Santa during the holidays. We’ve earned the respect of M.D.’s and orthopedic surgeons in our area who routinely refer us patients.”

The couple has a zest for almost everything that they do, both personal and professional. They like to spend time outdoors, traveling and enjoying time with family. The fact that they share both a practice, and a home, is not lost on their patients. It’s a factor that might just endear them to the community even more.

“We are unique because we’re a husband and wife team who share a deep passion for life, our practice and the lives of our patients,” Dr. Rich said. “Our vibrant dynamic permeates our office, and it really seems to resonate with our patients!”

The Days will be on campus for Homecoming, where Dr. Rich will be sharing the practice management techniques that have aided them in building a thriving business. The information will be geared to recent graduates, along with current students preparing for graduation. Topics will include getting hired as an associate or independent contractor, buying a practice, and starting your own practice from the ground up.

“When I was a student, veteran docs lectured at the school and had great advice to share and I’d like to return the favor,” Day said. “Anyone graduating in the next year will not want to miss the presentation!”