Features

Life could have taken one of many paths for Dr. Carol Houdek. However, with the guidance of family and friends combined with sheer determination, she has become a successful Mankato, Minnesota, chiropractor whose many patients and loyal employees overwhelmingly recommended that her inspiring story be shared with Womeninc readers.

Born in Caledonia, Minnesota, the youngest of eight children, Carol’s mother was killed in a car accident when she was seven years old. Her father remarried a few months later. They moved away from Caledonia when she was eight. When her dad’s marriage didn’t work out, at age 13 Carol found herself on her own and looking for a place to live.

Carol attended high school in Cresco, Iowa, and lived with a friend of an aunt. She says, “When I was a senior in high school, I decided to be a chiropractor. My best friend’s brother was a chiropractor and I became interested in the benefits of the drugless, non-surgical alternative remedy for injury and restoration of wellness.” She began to learn about the profession and says, “I looked into it and thought, ‘I can do this. I can do anything.’ It interested me more and more to help people.”

In college Carol pushed herself and earned enough credits in a two-year undergraduate program to be admitted to Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Bloomington, Minnesota. At Northwestern, she received a Bachelor of Science and a Doctorate of Chiropractic. After graduation she went on to obtain degrees in chiropractic orthopedics and acupuncture. In addition to financial aid and student loans Carol says, “I worked as a teaching assistant and a variety of campus-based jobs.” Looking back she realizes that, “It was a big undertaking for someone with no cushion.”

Following her graduation in 1995, Carol spent three years in Worthington, Minnesota, working as an associate chiropractic physician. Then she went on to practice as an associate for four years in Austin, Minnesota. In 2002, she began to think about establishing her own practice and chose Mankato without knowing a soul in the community, “The first person I met was the man who showed me rental space for my practice!”

Her practice, Advanced Chiropractic of Mankato, is located in lower North Mankato, just off Webster Avenue. She recalls, “It was nerve-wracking to start, but I never thought of failing. I advertised and went door-to-door in the neighborhood and got acquainted. Within three months, I was doing well.”

“Sometimes ignorance is bliss when you think you can do anything,” she laughs. “I just had a dream and followed it. Now I have a beautiful clinic and a great staff.”

“Chiropractic deals with the neuromuscular skeletal system. I treat anything from a sprained lower back to an infant with colic,” Carol explains. “I also maintain a strong connection with the medical community because I think a combination of both is necessary. There are excellent medical physicians, orthopedic surgeons and clinics in the area and I work with them frequently.”

A large portion of Dr. Houdek’s practice is geriatric, “We are an aging population so there are large numbers of people with a lot of discomfort. Medical advances are keeping us going longer but our bodies are wearing out.” She continues, “You cannot prevent the aging process. I strongly believe that once a person retires, their full-time job is taking care of their mind and body – not that you shouldn’t do that before retirement – but there are other things that distract us from our own needs.”

Carol reminds her patients that her job is to be their coach, “I always tell people that I only have them for a half-hour. The rest of the hours in the day are up to you. I remind them to put their body first, not just for the time they are in my clinic, but every day. This includes everything from exercises to daily living activities and proper diet. Hopefully they hear me. People worry about their 401Ks and their retirement plans but what remains at the very end of your life are your mind and your body.”

Her profession also puts her in a position of great trust, “Touch often opens up physical and emotional pain.” Dealing with patients who have experienced some form of abuse can be difficult and challenging but rewarding when healing takes place. “I work with the body’s energy to make sure there is harmony and balance so there is nothing blocking where you should be as an individual.”

Treating patients ranging in age from infancy to elderly is a privilege for Dr. Houdek, “I interact with people who remember World War II to people who now have family members fighting in Iraq.” She also offers acupuncture, massage therapy, ultrasound and physical therapies as well as sports and CDL/DOT physicals. In 2005, Dr. Houdek hired Dr. Bradley Schaff to help her care for an increasing number of patients.

On a personal note, family has always been important to Carol, “My brothers and sisters are good parents and good people. I have 19 nieces and nephews who I see often. I am very proud of the individuals they are becoming.” Working out and running are important to her and she is an avid fast pitch softball and baseball fan. She enjoys shooting sporting clays and loves to pheasant and deer hunt with her brothers. Recently, Carol took a hunting trip to Wyoming for antelope. “I am involved with an organization for women who love the outdoors. I also am a big supporter of conservation – I tie that in with the history of our land. There is a need to preserve our resources.” Carol also loves to travel, especially weekend trips to Northern Minnesota.

Her life is busy and full. When asked about the future, she says, “I really like the way things are going right now. Someday I might consider opening a satellite clinic but I mainly want to be a good chiropractor. I’m seeing entire families now – and I truly can call them friends.”

The large number of notes and letters sent to Womeninc magazine – each of them a glowing testimony of how Carol’s healing touch has impacted the lives of her patients – tell the story of a woman determined to succeed despite tragedy and loss. She is humbled and grateful and knows that her success did not happen by fate or chance, “I’ve always felt that my mom had her hand on my shoulder, steering me in the direction I should go. That is comforting to me. I’ve had so many blessings that there is no other explanation.” Carol Houdek’s life and profession will continue to honor the love of her parents and family.