Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd (a.k.a. Dr. Ozzie) Oczkowski.
Dr. Ozzie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I Grew up in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Like most Canadians, I played hockey. While playing junior hockey, I had a violent impact with the boards injuring my low back. I went the typical route of PT/REHAB and anti inflammatories. Although this helped temporarily, my pain kept coming back and it was stopping me from playing hockey at a high level. This is when my cousin told me I should try Chiropractic. I went and with in a few visits my pain was gone and it stayed that way. On top of that, my speed and strength had increased on the ice. I was sold and wanted to know more. That’s when I decided to start my perquisites to become a Chiropractor. I received my undergraduate pre-med education in Canada at Mount Royal College and at the University of Calgary. I then moved to Dallas in 1995 to attend Parker College of Chiropractic, where I received my doctorate in chiropractic in 1998. Then I spent the next two years as an associate chiropractor, and in the spring of 2000, I opened my own practice, the Functional Medicine Center, where I’ve successfully treated a wide variety of patients. My desire to be the best Doctor not just Chiropractor I could be lead me to pursue a more well-rounded approach that has lead to 15 years of ongoing study in Functional Medicine, Applied Kinesiology and Functional Neurology.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has been very difficult trying to navigate being a doctor and a business owner. When you are a medical doctor you already have a multi trillion dollar a year industry ie pharmaceuticals advertising for you. As a chiropractor, you are on your own. Although Parker University is better than most colleges integrating some business info it is minimal in the grand scheme of things. So, on top of trying to get patients in, treat patients and all that goes into that you also have to run a small business. Added on to that, I’m a husband and a father to an amazing 11-year-old but that also had to be balanced with building and running my practice. Attempting to navigate threw insurance billing while giving the best care possible has been challenging. We have moved more towards a cash model simply because insurance dictates what gets covered and what does not which can lead to patients not getting the care they so desperately need. Moving to cash gives us the ability to focus strictly on the patient running whatever tests are needed and whatever treatment is best suited for the patient not just what the ins. will allow,
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Functional Medicine and Wellness Center (FMWC) – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are committed to helping you restore and maintain optimal health through natural, non-toxic methods. We use both modern diagnostic testing and alternative treatment methods. We help you understand the causes of illness and learn methods of self-care so your body can fight disease and remain healthy without frequent visits to the doctor.
What sets us apart is my study and practice of AK and functional/integrative medicine combined with chiropractic care expand greatly the success rate of the overall health of all his patients, as compared to the practice of chiropractic care alone.
We specialize in Functional Medicine and here is a brief description. Functional medicine is a personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms for the serious chronic disease. It is a science-based field of health care that is grounded in the following principles:
Biochemical individuality describes the importance of individual variations in metabolic function that derive from genetic and environmental differences among individuals.
Patient-centered medicine emphasizes “patient care” rather than “disease care,” following Sir William Osler’s admonition that “It is more important to know what patient has the disease than to know what disease the patient has.”
The dynamic balance of internal and external factors.
Web-like interconnections of physiological factors – an abundance of research now supports the view that the human body functions as an orchestrated network of interconnected systems, rather than individual systems functioning autonomously and without effect on each other. For example, we now know that immunological dysfunctions can promote cardiovascular disease, that dietary imbalances can cause hormonal disturbances, and that environmental exposures can precipitate neurologic syndromes such as Parkinson’s disease.
Health as a positive vitality – not merely the absence of disease.
Promotion of organ reserve as the means to enhance health span.
Today, alternative medicine is becoming more prominent. Unlike modern-day medicine, which focuses on attempting to treat disease after it has been diagnosed, the Functional Medicine & Wellness Center determines the underlying factors of the body’s dysfunction that lead to disease. People are recognizing the benefit of seeking an alternative to traditional medicine; one that will help them achieve and maintain optimal health.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are working hard to integrate technology into our practice to make it easier to get information to patients and serve more patients. I am looking forward to doing more speaking engagements this year in person and online. We are working with our web team to be able to see patients online from anywhere in the world. We will be able to analyze there blood work online via virtual visits and then Tailor make a treatment plan for them where they are. If they are in the Country we will be able to drop ship nutraceuticals to them.
Pricing:
- New Patient Wellness Exam in Office: 1 hour (195)
- Discuss Blood Work Results: 20 mins (90)
- Adult Wellness Blood Panel Request (199)
Contact Info:
- Address: 1001 Cross Timbers Road Suite #1130
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
We are located inside of “The Atrium” building where the “Flower Mound Pharmacy” is located. - Website: www.functionalmedicinecenter.com
- Phone: 214-395-7264
- Email: drozzie@functionalmedicinecenter.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/FunctionalMedicineCenter
- Twitter: twitter.com/drozzie_
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
