Dr. Hartshorn says goodbye

Dr. Damon Popovics and Dr. Jeffrey Hartshorn

 

By Alannah Allbrett

 

Dr. Jeffrey Hartshorn, and his wife (and office manager) Wendy, were planning to move from Sitka, Alaska four and a half years ago to open a chiropractic practice.
 

They were tired of the rain. Also, they were looking for a small town atmosphere in which to raise their two children Kylie and Hunter. They found it; Orofino fit the bill. Jeff enjoys fly fishing, and even admits to sneaking out to do a little fly fishing during his lunch hour.
 

Since opening his chiropractic office, Dr. Hartshorn says he has treated over 1,000 patients in an underserved area. Since he started his practice in 2008, he is proud to have never turned away a patient who needed care. He is moving on to a new challenge, however, as a Force Support Officer in the US Air Force. He will leave for officer training school at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama next month. Jeff said he comes from a long line of people who have served in the military or law enforcement, and he has always wanted to serve.
 

Taking over Dr. Hartshorn’s practice will be Damon Popovics, originally from upstate New York and more recently Bend, Oregon. He credits Dr. Hartshorn with “bringing me out of retirement” – in the chiropractic field. Jeff told him he had been selected as an officer candidate and asked if he would be interested.
 

It didn’t take much persuasion. Damon had visited here a couple of times before and said he liked the conservative, small town atmosphere, and the self-sufficiency of the people. With hunting opportunities and places to hike with his dogs, he was convinced.
Dr. Popovics took over the reins Sept. 15, and he is excited to open in a brand new location on the corners of Michigan Avenue and Riverside Avenue, across from Builders Supply. Dr. Popovics will host a community welcome after he gets settled into his new offices and also be offering a health lecture series. His lectures cover such things as nutrition, stress management, exercise, symptom-based conditions, and even back pack safety for kids.
 

Dr. Popovics attended Cornell University and graduated with a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry. He then attended New York Chiropractic College and, after receiving his Doctorate in 1996, he opened his first office in Prescott, AZ.
After seven years in practice, he moved to the San Diego, California area where he opened a complete natural wellness center. In 2009, after seeing over 75,000 patient office visits in his career, he left California and retired from his practice to teach other chiropractors how to be successful in practice.
 

Dr. Hartshorn’s last official day in his office was Sept. 15, and he wishes to thank his patients and the medical community for embracing him in his time in Orofino. “It meant a great deal to me to be making a living doing what I love and helping others. After seven years it is time for a new adventure and new challenges – to keep pushing myself personally and looking towards the future.”