Douglas Taber, DC, celebrates his 25th year in chiropractic care

At UHS, we acknowledge that our employees and providers are an integral part of our System and dedicate their time to serving our community. Many of our employees and providers hit milestones throughout their careers at UHS, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements with them. Douglas Taber, DC, of UHS Chiropractic, is celebrating his 25^th year in practice. Back in early April, Dr. Taber didn’t realize he would celebrate this milestone until one morning when he looked up at his diploma, and it dawned on him that it would be 25 years that he has been a chiropractor.

As an athlete, he was intrigued by how many active people chose to seek chiropractic care, which was considered complementary or alternative at the time he began considering a career in the field. “I was always drawn to chiropractic because it interweaves orthopedics, neurology, biomechanics, hands-on manual techniques, nutrition and exercise,” said Dr. Taber.  When he started training, there was a push to study manual manipulation (also known as spinal manipulation or chiropractic manipulation), a technique that chiropractors use to help improve overall function, increase your range of motion and reduce nerve irritability. Most manual manipulations involve a thrust to the vertebra using high velocity. Nowadays, there is a large body of solid clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of the techniques and tools that Dr. Taber has implemented in his practice, and he stays on top of the literature to provide evidence-based treatment for his patients.

In 2011, Dr. Taber decided to join UHS and bring his knowledge to an integrated healthcare system that serves the community.  He believes patients are best served when they have options and a coordinated team of providers looking out for their best interests. “What has kept me here, honestly, is the level of dedication, mutual respect and collegial interaction at UHS that is professional and personal at the same time. That can be a culture that is hard to establish and maintain in healthcare. It reflects, I think, as we especially saw during the COVID pandemic, steadfast and principled leadership,” he said. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Taber completed his certificate in Strategic Healthcare Leadership with Cornell University in 2022 and continues to play an active leadership role on multiple committees.

During his career, Dr. Taber has written books that address common questions, concepts, or concerns relevant to his patients' experiences. His books include “The Back Pain Solution: Unlocking the Spinal Code,” “Overcoming Failed Back Surgery,” ”Here: Body-Mind Harmony through Present Moment Awareness” and “The Neck Pain Solution.” In 2015, Dr. Taber won a Quilly award for his involvement in an Amazon bestseller, “Success Today.” He also tries to teach and write about principles in his books, such as the importance of balance, proper eating habits, mind-body integration, exercise and rehabilitation. Dr. Taber said, “Looking back at the books I have written, the concepts hold true because they are based on principles. I am continuously learning and honing my skills, so the methods are ever-evolving based on experience and applying new techniques and approaches.” His leadership involvement at UHS involves a similar philosophy. The values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork and Innovation are something we strive for, with different methods of realizing these standards based on our roles within the organization, he said.

Treating generations of families is a level of trust that forms a relationship between a patient and a doctor. For Dr. Taber, forming those relationships is the best part of his job: “I have treated generations of families at this point, and that is an enriching experience for me because I do not take that level of trust lightly.” In addition to making his patients feel better, he finds it extremely rewarding to help patients make positive lifestyle changes. Dr. Taber helped patients with chronic problems avoid or go off of addictive medications under his care. He believes every patient encounter is an opportunity to learn something new, but you should be attentive and present.

Apart from treating his patients, he enjoys golf and reading non-fiction books about personal development, leadership or philosophy. However, spending time with his wife and children is something he cherishes deeply. Dr. Taber's philosophy on everyday life is everything you do should be intentional and align with your highest purpose, values and goals.  He lives up to this philosophy through his achievements, but he's excited to see where the next 25 years lead him.