Meet Andrea Violette | Chiropractic and IFM certified Functional Medicine Physician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Violette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work-life balance has not always been a priority of mine. When I first started in the chiropractic world almost 12 years ago, I would take work home with me. I would answer emails all weekend long. I even had my personal cell phone number on the voicemail so that patients could reach me over the weekends, and I would come in for special visits if they were in pain. What I learned from this is that many times people called me just to schedule an appointment for days later, if they were in intense pain, I couldn’t offer what they needed, and my personal cell phone should be just that: PERSONAL.

I started giving myself the okay to tell patients NO, when they wanted to come in on off hours and I took my personal phone number off the voicemail.
What these things allowed me to do was become a better doctor when I was in the office. I was able to focus 100% on their care and the needs they had at the present moment.
This also allowed me to incorporate into my schedule more studying. I loved learning more about healthcare and when I wasn’t involved with work on the weekends, I could learn more and give myself time to study.

Saying no is hard, but it has allowed me to develop and move into functional medicine, which is a game changer when it comes to chronic health conditions.

I am happier at home and I can be completely present with my family when I am at home. I am also happier in the office and can give my patients the care they deserve.

Work-life balance is crucial for creating the life you desire!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started in practice as a traditional chiropractor, mainly treating neck and lower back pain. Still, over time and seeing patients, I began to understand that patients needed more than that. They had underlying root causes for their pain that were not addressed with traditional adjustments. I started to learn that they needed more time, and I needed more understanding. This is when my practice pivoted. I started studying at the Institute for Functional Medicine. I am proud to say that after doing their coursework, I passed the case study and the examination earlier this year. Since this time, my practice has grown and continues to get more and more traffic to our website.

One challenge that I am about to face is taking maternity leave, just as the traction for clinic growth has started. I am taking a few months off to connect and care for my newborn but will return early next year, to begin with existing and new patients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am lucky that my best friend lives 5 minutes from my house! Some of my favorite spots we like to visit are Oxford Farmers Market on Saturdays to get a few things to cook during the week and Burwinkel Farms to see the sunflowers and grab local produce.
Favorite spots to eat: Basil 1791 in Downtown Hamilton for Sushi, Roof Top bar at Fretboard Brewing and Public House for the view and the Pimento Cheese Dip, and in the summer, have to stop into Flubs to overindulge in ice cream (it is all about balance).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my husband, Drew Violette. He has been so supportive of my job, my passion, and my life since meeting him on day one. He always understood when I couldn’t travel as I was stuck in a weekend-long seminar. He has supported me as I stayed up late hours or got up early to work on my Functional Medicine case study. He would cook dinner and clean the kitchen when I was pregnant and had extreme fatigue during the first trimester while studying for my Functional Medicine Exam. I can’t thank him enough for everything he does for me and our family.

Website: www.thecincinnatihealthinstitute.com

Instagram: @drandreaviolette

Image Credits
Janina Souders