Your Chiropractic Center In Thunder Bay
Dr. Angelo Santin Angelo Santin, born and raised in Thunder Bay, was introduced to Chiropractic at the young age of 16 when his cousin offered to provide Chiropractic care to Angelo’s basketball team. He recalls, “I had never been to a chiropractor, and I really didn’t know what to expect, but I’ll never forget my first adjustment. I remember feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.”After experiencing the benefits of his first adjustment, and noticing the atmosphere in the chiropractic office as he watched happy people leaving the office smiling, his introduction to that positive environment provided him with the incentive to pursue a career in the service industry that would allow him to help people live their lives to their fullest.
Angelo was committed to his career choice and enrolled in a vigorous science program that he thought would provide him with a strong background and prepare him for a career in Chiropractic, even though the courses he enrolled in were advanced and not required in his program.
After completing his science program, he was accepted into the prestigious Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College where he obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic. Looking back he explains, “Chiropractic College provides an extensive 4 year training program with the same amount of required hours as the medical program.”
The rigid curriculum required he fulfill his 12-month internship and integrate his knowledge in the chiropractic faculty for 6 months, and serve his remaining 6 month period at Annishinaabe Health Centre in Toronto.
He learned some important life experiences during that time and remembers showing up on the first day and being told to go home and change into casual clothing that consisted of jeans and a t-shirt so the chiropractic team would fit in. Looking back, he laughs. “We had to go home and change which suited me fine, because jeans and a t-shirt is what I like to wear.”
After graduating, Angelo and Carla had to decide where they would live, practice and raise a family, which now consists of their three young children. The decision was difficult because Angelo has family in Thunder Bay, but Carla’s family lived in Hamilton. In the end, they decided to choose a place that would provide them with a slower pace of life so they would have more time to spend with their children.
Looking back, Angelo realizes their decision of making Thunder Bay their home has proven to be a wise choice. Their established practice provides a happy environment that families have come to trust over the years, and Angelo has been instrumental in helping them live their lives to the fullest.
Angelo feels at home in the Thunder Bay community and he understands the importance of giving back, event though he hesitates to talk about his community involvement because he feels he could do so much more.
To date, he is involved in volunteer programs that include:
Past President of the local branch of the Ontario Chiropractic Association
Volunteer for Chiropractic for the World Foundation
Mentor for the Ontario Chiropractic Association
Contributing Columnist for the Canadian Chiropractor Magazine
Angelo and his wife Carla also use their office as a tool to give back to the community, supporting local food drives and matching the poundage of food raised.
He is dedicated to providing personalized care that promotes healing and long term well being to his patients. And in his words, he explains, “I do what I do really well so people can do what they do really well.”
If you would like to find out how Angelo can help you lead more of a productive life and start living with less pain, call 344-4606.
Dr. Carla Santin
Born and raised in Hamilton, Carla’s passion for Chiropractic care and working with children began at a young age.
It all started when her mother was seeking advice on scoliosis, a condition her cousins were afflicted with. Her mother attended a workshop because she was desperately searching for answers that would help with her own children.
It was during that time her mother was introduced to Chiropractic care and the benefits of getting children checked early on in life. Her mother realized the importance and benefits of Chiropractic care and Carla’s Chiropractic journey began.
At age 11, Carla received routine adjustments every two weeks, and she was eventually invited to work for her own Chiropractor, assisting with in-office typing and filing tasks.
Her part-time position continued right through high school and university. Carla looks back on that experience and explains, “For me, it was an awesome environment where people were coming in wanting to get better. It was a refreshing career choice because I knew I would be helping people who would be actively participating in their own health and well-being.”
Carla understands only too well what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. At the young age of 18 she was involved in a bad snowboarding injury that herniated discs in her back. Chiropractic care was the one thing that got her through, and it became the driving force of her passion today.
Experiencing and witnessing first hand the impact and benefits of chiropractic care, provided Carla with the pivotal inspiration that helped define the rest of her successful career.
Carla enrolled at McMaster’s four-year Kinesiology program, and then attended Chiropractic College in Toronto for an additional 4 years. She participated in an extensive internship during her last year.
She is an active member of the International Chiropractic Association for Paediatrics and participates in an ongoing program that deals with children and Paediatrics called Generations, where she is mentored by a major Paediatric Chiropractor in the United States.
As a mother of three young children, Carla understands the importance of adjusting her own children regularly. She explains, “Our children have been adjusted right from birth. We made it a point of checking them right at birth when they were no more than 10 – 15 minutes old.”
In Carla’s home, her children ask for an adjustment instead of Advil when they don’t feel well.
Carla understands the hectic lifestyle we all experience in our daily lives and she is the first to admit, “I’m guilty of being that mom who knows all about health and how important it is to carve time out for yourself, and yet, I’m guilty of putting myself last a lot of the time. If you don’t make that time for yourself, you’re never going to be your best.”
If you are wondering how Carla can help you and your child achieve and maintain your best health, call our office to schedule a consult at: 344-4606
Heidi Holland
Heidi, born and raised in Minnesota, moved to Thunder Bay in 1995.
She received her Chiropractic Assistant certification from the Carter Universal Program, joined the Santin Chiropractic team in 2007 and has been a welcoming presence in their practice ever since.
When asked why she enjoys working at Santin Chiropractic, Heidi is quick to answer.
“Santin Chiropractic is different than other offices. When you walk in, you feel at home. Patients don’t just come in, sit down, and wait for their name to be called. They interact with one-another, swap recipes and genuinely enjoy the family atmosphere in our office.”
Heidi is proud to be part of a practice that gives back to the community and focuses on helping others live a pain free and productive life.
Sarah Czapski
Sarah was born and raised in Thunder Bay.
Having worked in a variety of different customer service positions, she has always known that she loves helping people. So when the opportunity came to work as a chiropractic assistant, She couldn’t pass it up!
She is excited to be part of a team that is so passionate about educating others of the benefits of Chiropractic.
“Meeting all of the people that come in for care has been so great. It’s an awesome feeling to see how much patients progress during their time here.”
Kristina Catanzaro
Having danced since the age of 2, the importance of body movement and mobility was always a large part of Kristina’s growth and development. This passion for how the body works, human movement and a genuine enthusiasm for passing this knowledge on to children, directed Kristina to become a dance educator.
She also pursued her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education Degrees. Benefiting from chiropractic care over the years at Santin Chiropractic, Kristina was able to see first hand what regular Chiropractic care and the right lifestyle changes can do for her own personal growth.
Kristina is excited to be a part of a team that is committed to helping others achieve their health goals and live their best life.
Kristi Pechiwa
Kristi, a local resident of Thunder Bay, has always focused on making a positive difference to children and their families.
After studying Sociology at Lakehead University, Kristi worked as a social worker and also helped people struggling with addiction.
In 2012, she found her true calling when she accepted a Chiropractic Assistant’s position with Santin Chiropractic.
Kristi enjoys sharing stories about patients who went from struggling to walk into the office with a cane, to watching them forget their cane as they leave.
In Kristi’s words, she explains:
“I never knew how many people chiropractic care helped until I started working here.”
