Kirchner Named Missouri’s Chiropracter of the Year

Kirchner Named Missouri’s Chiropracter of the Year

By Kevin Fox

Dr. Darren Kirchner was recently named “2010 Chiropractor of the Year” for the State of Missouri. Dr. Kirchner received the award at the Missouri State Chiropractors Association at the end of July in Branson, Missouri. The Plaque, which Dr. Kirchner received reads, “In Recognition and Sincere Appreciation of Your Outstanding Service and Unwavering Dedication to the Chiropractic Profession”. Dr. Kirchner was presented the award by Dr. Russ Matthias, President of the MSCA.
Dr. Kirchner’s wife Kelley, herself a Chiropractor stated, “I knew he was getting some kind of an award, but I didn’t know what it would be!” Dr. Kirchner added, “It was really a surprise to me as it normally doesn’t go to someone who has only been involved in the field for a few years. When they presented the award , they first begin describing the background of the person , without giving the name. I was sitting there listening and when he mentioned the college and the year, I thought that was my year and my college. I started looking around to see if any of my classmates were present. When they added that his wife was a chiropractor I also wondered who that might be without thinking it was myself. However, when they begin mentioning the activities, which the person was involved in, then it hit me that I was the recipient. But even then they had not revealed what the award would be. At that point I was thinking it might be an award for effort put forth, although I would have been honored to receive any of those awards I begin to hear them mentioning Chiropractor of the Year. Interesting enough, this may be only the third time that a father and son have won the award. Dad won it in 1969. Dad was very active in the state and there was not an award which he did not win in the 1960s he was just terrible involved in the profession as well as training other chiropractors.”
Kelley, then added, “But after graduation Darren really stepped in and became very involved. After Darren’s graduation, the District President had a heart attack and at the next district meeting Darren was named District President, so he really has taken on a leadership role. And he has been active since day one. Our District runs from Troy to the south and Kirksville and Moberly. Being District President also means that Darren serves on the state board as well as numerous sub-committees. Among those sub-committees is the licensing board.”
As most of our readers already know Dr. Darren Kirchner is not the only Chiropractor in the family as aside from his wife, Dr. Kirchner’s father has had a Chiropractor’s practice in Kahoka for nearly 50 years. When asked why he chose it as a profession, Dr. Darren Kirchner responded, “I started out thinking that’s what I would become, but at 19 or 20 years of age I sort of lost the drive. I knew first hand the amount of hours my father has poured into his practice and how many weekends he was gone to seminars or continuing education. The thought of being a chiropractor was very appealing to me, but it takes a great deal of work. Kelley and I were married and we both kind of bounced around in different jobs and I ended up running a martial arts school. During that time I began hearing from clients who were having health problems and I became increasingly interested in their health. And that’s when I decided that I was meant to be in the health care field. I also remembered the joy and pride my father had when he would be out and someone would come up to him and thank him for how much better they felt and how he had helped them. That’s just a very inspiring feeling.
Dr. Darren Kirchner graduated in April of 2007 from Cleveland Chiropractor College in Kansas City, which was the same college his father graduated from. After graduation he joined his father’s practice in Kahoka. When Darren mentioned to his father about becoming a Chiropractor, his father was very pleased with that decision and began thinking immediately about remodeling and making room for his son. Dr. Darren Kirchner stated that college was tough and demanding and there were times when he was the oldest on campus, and he would think, “What have I got myself into? But I have been interested in challenging myself and I like it when patients come to me with a variety of issues. It’s at that time I have to call upon that education and experience and come to an effective answer. And I enjoy that. But perhaps what I became most aware of was dad’s sacrifice of time. Growing up in this house, which is also our office, I remember dad walking through this door and coming to eat dinner with us and then go back to work. But that didn’t give me any insight to what his days were like. It is truly amazing the things, which he accomplished here on his own.