photo by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
In 2000, Dr. Patrick M. Borja moved to Berks County to build a thriving business. He has succeeded, but, along the way, has become a community builder as well. His Spine and Wellness Center in Exeter Township offers a variety of treatments, services and classes to people seeking health, healing and active lives. Borja has a first-hand understanding of his clients’ needs on many levels, not the least of which is a love of physical activity. A golfer, wrestler and even skydiver, his favorite teammates for life’s better moments are his wife, Lori, and their children: Alexis, 14; Patrick, 12; and Michael, 9.
Q: You’re from New York; how did you adopt Berks as your home?
I’m from Horeseheads, New York, near Corning, but before graduating [chiropractic school] in 1999, I was working in Bucks County. I was looking for a place to start my business and met Dr. Glass, who had a practice in Mount Penn. I visited him on a bleak, gray winter day and didn’t know if I could see myself here. After graduation, however, I called him to talk about starting out, and he was looking to sell his practice, so we struck a deal. It was the best business decision I’ve made.
Q: The timing of him selling and you starting seems fortuitous, doesn’t it?
Absolutely. That first few months were challenging to say the least, not so much from a business perspective, because a handful of his patients stayed on with me and word got out pretty quickly. But real life took off at a rapid pace. My wife Lori and I always say we were forced to succeed because our lives changed so much, so quickly. That year we bought our [Exeter Township] home in March, I took over the practice May 1 and our daughter was born May 6. We just decided to go for it.
Q: And your practice has changed a lot over the years, hasn’t it?
Yes, the Mount Penn office was only 900 square feet. We now have 15,000 square feet in Exeter. The main practice is chiropractic care, but we also offer certified massage therapy and acupuncture, as well as our physical therapy facility downstairs. There are also classes like yoga and cardio kick, and a gym. The gym doubles as a sports training facility to help athletes with speed, endurance, agility and flexibility. Proper training is important to avoid injuries; I’m seeing a lot of young high school-aged athletes with joint injuries, particularly tears to the ACL in the knee.
Q: What made you choose to be a chiropractor?
My dad was a cardiothoracic surgeon, a great role model and an inspiration for working in the medical field. When I was younger I had asthma and was often on a lot of medications. My brother was in chiropractic school and would call me to sing its praises. He said it was a way to make me feel better, naturally. I took his advice, and within three months I was off some of the drugs and felt much better. That really made me want to go into this work. I understand what patients go through and want to help. I’ve expanded the business to meet their needs and try to offer a natural approach while working closely with patients’ physicians, particularly orthopedists and neurosurgeons, to give people in our area the best care so they can have better outcomes.
Q: After long days of work, how do you unwind?
I wouldn’t say I’m an adrenaline junkie, but I love scuba and sky diving, white water rafting, hang gliding and flying gliders. In high school, I was a wrestler, and a few years ago I found a sort of dad’s league where older guys still wrestle. I’ve competed in two annual events called, only half-jokingly, the Bald & Fat Tournament in York; it’s a lot of fun and keeps me active. But my favorite way to relax is to watch my kids compete in sports and to make memories with my family. We’re going to Canada in June to see the Women’s World Cup; it will be a great time and an unforgettable experience.
