Holistic care, or looking at the whole patient before prescribing treatment, is a concept Dr. Japhet LeGrant decided to pursue while a student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was leaning toward studying physical therapy his senior year when a representative from Logan University, outside of St. Louis, Missouri, visited the campus. “I decided to look into it,” Japhet says. He decided to finish his academic career at Logan, where he earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and, in his own words, “has been going strong ever since.”

Japhet started practicing in 2002 as the chiropractor for Hampton University’s athletic department. Eight years ago, he moved to the Danville/Martinsville area where he practiced as an associate at Hill Chiropractic. “The doctor I was working with decided to retire, so that gave me the opportunity to buy the practice,” Japhet relates. He made an appointment with a Longwood SBDC counselor, and they discussed various factors involved in buying a business. “Kelvin Perry went over a lot of numbers to help me see how I could purchase the business,” he recounts. “The SBDC really helped me with the financial side of it.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to alter those finances, the SBDC was there to assist. “When I moved to Martinsville, I went in to see SBDC Business Analyst Michael Sales,” he adds. “Michael helped me take advantage of the opportunities as far as CARES Act money — everything that was available, I applied for it. That helped me pay my employees and keep everything going.”

While the Back and Neck Pain Relief Center, deemed essential, did not close during the pandemic, Japhet did decide to reduce office hours. “We took the necessary precautions, including cutting hours,” he explains. “I didn’t want my staff to be exposed unnecessarily.” Overall, Japhet treated fewer patients during the pandemic, but there was an influx of injuries resulting from home improvement projects and yard work. “We took care of those patients so they wouldn’t flood the ER during the pandemic,” he adds. 

“I love the holistic approach to care and helping my patients get better without the use of drugs or surgery,” he says. “It makes me happy when patients tell me they can play with their grandchildren again or mow their own grass. That’s why I got into this profession.” 

Japhet says he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the SBDC. “The SBDC really helped me with the financial side of my business,” he concludes. “They’re always there to help and keep me informed.”