Graduate Connections Graduate Highlight: Dr. Montserrat Andreys, DC, MS, CCSP Doctor of Chiropractic and Master’s in Exercise and Sports Science Alumna Founder – HEART Health
Bio: Dr. Montserrat Andreys is a queer Latinx sports chiropractic physician born in Mexico City, Mexico, raised in Chicago, Illinois, lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico and educated and currently practicing at a sports medicine clinic in Portland, Oregon. She is the founder of HEART Health Care for Artists. As a dancer herself, she was keenly aware of how underserved the artist community was in regards to health care. She utilizes the principles of sports medicine and applies them to the needs of the arts community through connections via social media, workshops, panel discussions, interviews and her work at the clinic. “There are so many tools available in sports medicine that can keep artists healthy and help them recover from injury, they just don’t know about them!” Where does your passion for chiropractic care stem from? I come from a long line of healers. My greatgrandmother was a midwife and herbalist in
Honduras. Natural and conservative medicines were always a part of how my family managed their health. When it came time for me to decide what kind of provider I wanted to be, I wanted an education that would prepare me to diagnose and manage patient care including referrals to specialists and advanced testing, as well as to advocate for patients as they navigate the health care system. It was important for me to not only be highly skilled in the management of acute injury, but also coach people out of chronic pain and be able to provide wellness care once acute and chronic injuries were under control. What initially drove you to choose to work with populations such as tattoo artists and performing artists? I have been surrounded by art and artists my whole life and I have an undergraduate degree in dance. One thing that our society makes very clear is that we want to consume all the incredible creativity artists have to offer, but we do not support the health and wellness of those same artists. The acute, repetitive strain injuries and chronic injuries artists are easily managed with the right care. When I saw how my skill set could serve the arts community, it was a no-brainer to make the information accessible. I believe that wellness care should be free and available to everyone, so I decided to start making videos for artists to share the information with them. As for the tattoo artists, I accompanied my friend for a piece and the Continued on next page
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