Since opening the Dowagiac Alternative Wellness Center last August, Chiropractor Antonio Gonzales has been busy bringing his unique blend of traditional care adjustments with long-term rehabilitation to the people of Cass County.

However, demands from his other office in Niles has caused him to spilt his focus between the two operations. At the moment, the Dowagiac branch, located above the downtown Chemical Bank on Commercial Street, is only open on Tuesday and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“When there’s only one of you running between two locations, you get tired,” Gonzales said. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”

Enter Sturgis Chiropractor Spencer Wickey, who will take over the day-to-day operations of the clinic on June 16.

Beginning on June 30, the Dowagiac Alternative Wellness Center will extend their weekly hours, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

“The practice is actually growing here, and with more hours we can better serve our customers,” Gonzales said.

By hiring Wickey, the doctor has concluded his nearly yearlong search for a qualified chiropractor to handle a majority of operations at the Dowagiac office. Patients who are already attending the clinic will be in capable hands, as the two doctors share a similar methodology and philosophy when it comes to spinal care, Gonzales said.

“He’s got a great personality,” Gonzales said. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get patients better. That’s exactly what I do, so he’s a very good match for us.”

Wickey, 37, is a relative newcomer to the field, graduating from National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois in Dec. While earning his degree, Wickey spent more than a year working at clinics in Illinois, caring for patients with back, shoulder, headaches and other muscle concerns, he said.

“I’ve seen a lot of different things, about how touch and chiropracty can change people’s lives,” Wickey said. “It’s not just a job for me.”

Like Gonzales, Wickey is focused on not only treating patients, but also on teaching them techniques such as yoga and stretching to help them maintain their spinal and muscular health.

“I had a rehab teacher in school who really inspired me to go the direction of self care, of taking care of yourself,” Wickey said. “You can take the strictly medical approach, where the doctor does everything himself. However, that’s not really helping you live the rest of your life in a healthy manner.”

In addition to adjustments, Alternative Wellness Center also offers massages, rehabilitation services, and yoga classes.

Next month, the office will begin offering a promotion for first time patients, offering an exam consultation adjustment for $40. Patients will also receive a $40 gift certificate for Creekside Greenhouse for their visit.