Dr. Balestrieri, a Southwest Virginia native, always knew she wanted to care for others by pursuing a career in healthcare. In many ways, we have her parents to thank for that. Her mom was an OB/GYN nurse and her step-dad, Ralph, is a physiatrist. As a child, Dr. Balestrieri (just Michelle at that time) would accompany Ralph on his hospital rounds, learning something new each and every time. In fact, Ralph would often quiz her to make sure she was really paying attention. As Michelle got older the questions became more difficult and she relished in her ability to “crack the case” for Ralph when it came to the problems his patients faced.
Since it was clear healthcare was going to be part of Michelle’s future she pursued a pre-med educational path at Virginia Tech.  She knew this foundation would give her a well-rounded education and provide the perfect springboard for whatever was next, even if she wasn’t quite sure what healthcare discipline it would be. After shadowing a number of doctors from a variety of specialties, she still had yet to have an “ah-ha” moment about the right path forward. It was during her “Careers in Medicine” class that it all became clear.
It just so happened that Dr. Ray Tuck gave a presentation in Michelle’s class about chiropractic as a healthcare career choice. Michelle’s interest was piqued and she followed up with the presentation by arranging a shadowing experience with Dr. Rathmann. She recalls, “I loved how patients were excited about their appointments and left feeling great.” She noted that Dr. Rathmann, “had a great rapport with her patients and I loved the dynamic in the office.” After that, the path was clear. She knew chiropractic was calling her.
After Michelle graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech she pursued her Doctorate in Chiropractic (DC) from the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois. Her experience in DC school was anything but a boring one. Dr. Balestrieri recalls, “During clinicals, I spent almost a year adjusting young fighters at a boxing gym and the fighters at MMA events.” How about that for a colorful chiropractic experience? Not only was her experience interesting, her dream was achieved; Michelle became Dr. Michelle Balestrieri.
One thing we love about Southwest Virginia is that it has a way of calling people home. Dr. Balestrieri now has a 15 month old (absolutely adorable) daughter named Belle and moving closer to her family just made sense. We are fortunate that it also meant Dr. Balestrieri was able to join our team. Now that she is back, she is able to enjoy the rolling hills and beautiful sunrises that characterize our area. She also loves the southern hospitality. “The people of Galax have really welcomed me with their arms wide open,” said Dr. Balestrieri.
The Tuck Chiropractic Clinic team has also given Dr. Balestrieri a warm welcome. “Every doctor employed by Tuck Chiropractic Clinic has helped me at some point since starting,” said Dr. Balestrieri. She elaborated, “We have certain principles we live by at Tuck Chiropractic and one of them is the benefit of collective power. I cannot think of a better team of doctors to be with to help me grow the Galax practice.”
As Dr. Balestrieri grows with our team, she hopes that the positive impact of chiropractic will continue to be felt across the region. Dr. Balestrieri said:

So many people think that chiropractic can just help with low back pain.  Hopefully, as news and social media become more available to every demographic, they will be able to see how much chiropractic can help a multitude of ailments ranging from ear infections in babies to arthritic knee pain in an older patient.

We are thankful that Dr. Balestrieri is such an advocate for chiropractic and for her patients. We are excited to have her as part of our team and look forward to working alongside her to accomplish our mission of making a positive impact on our patients and community alike.

There are people who are born knowing what they want to do in life and what they want to be when they “grow up.” Dr. Chérie Gallant had always wanted to work in healthcare, however, wasn’t quite sure where she fit it.  After shadowing a local chiropractor in her junior year of college, her career search was over; “something in me just clicked,” Dr. Gallant explained.
Dr. Gallant’s background is as colorful and as complex as she is. She was born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Canada, is a dual Canadian and US citizen, has sung competitively, plays five different instruments, has lived in four different states, and holds five advanced degrees! Her degrees in chemistry, French modern language, life sciences, sports science & rehabilitation and chiropractic medicine give her a diverse educational background and rich perspective. Dr. Gallant is confident her eclectic background has equipped her remarkably well for a career in healthcare. She explained, “the more well-rounded you are, the better prepared you are for the real world – regardless of where your career takes you.”
As part of her formal training, Dr. Gallant also completed a 10-month clinical internship at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois, treating active duty military men and women stationed there and in the surrounding area. The amount of physical strain placed upon those who sacrifice for our country is extensive. Their gear and equipment they wear and carry in the field often weigh between 50 and 80 pounds. Carrying that amount of weight around makes the reality of pain unavoidable for servicemen and women. Dr. Gallant was profoundly honored to provide care to these brave men and women and now looks forward to continuing her work with military veterans in Southwest Virginia.
Each and every day Dr. Gallant uses her academic background combined with her years of experience to serve patients facing a variety of problems. She credits her unique academic background and meaningful experiences for her excellent problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills. For a chiropractor, these critical thinking skills are a necessity. Dr. Gallant said, “If a patient presents in such a way that differs from the norm you need to be able to think critically and creatively to properly assess the situation and treat them appropriately.”
We are very fortunate to have Dr. Gallant as part of the Tuck Chiropractic team, based out of the Fairlawn/Radford clinic.  She is excited to be practicing in the New River Valley and to provide patients with the best care possible. “As chiropractors, we should be one of people’s first ports of call instead of their last resort.  Chiropractic is extremely cost-effective and efficient at treating a variety of physical ailments and is minimally invasive,” stated Dr. Gallant. She is often saddened to see patients that have struggled for years in pain, only for their complaints to be quickly and effectively treated with chiropractic without painful and invasive procedures.  Dr. Gallant is dedicated to holistically eliminating pain and providing each patient with the encouragement and opportunity to make each day healthier than the last.

We are kicking off 2017 with a big and exciting announcement. As of January 2nd, we will have a new office open to serve the Bonsack, Botetourt, Northeast Roanoke and Vinton Communities. We are constantly striving for ways to improve accessibility and better serve you, our patients and know that convenient clinic locations are a key aspect of this. You can find our new office at:

Tuck Chiropractic-Botetourt
60 Summerfield Court
Roanoke, VA 24019

Our Vinton office and patients will also transition to this office, effective January 2nd. Exciting moves like this would not be possible without our supportive patients and community. Dr. AJ Labarbera explained, “The demand for a Tuck Chiropractic clinic in the Bonsack and Botetourt area grew such that we knew it was the right time to add this clinic location. We continuously work to improve our accessibility, so it is exciting to bring our brand to Botetourt. We strive to positively impact our community and know that convenient chiropractic care is key to accomplishing that goal.”  
We are also thrilled to be neighbors with Carilion Wellness. This strategic location is helpful to those that integrate chiropractic care with their overall wellness plan, to include exercise and fitness.
We would like to thank our patients and the community for making this opportunity possible. It is a privilege to help each of our patients eliminate pain and improve their quality of life. We look forward to continuing to serve the community in 2017 and beyond.

It’s always fun to pause and reflect on the Christmases of the past. This year, we decided to do so by pulling together pictures from when our doctors were little tots. We recently shared this video at our company-wide Christmas party and it made us laugh, so only felt it fair to share it with you also (in hopes it’ll at least make you chuckle as you see your doctor’s picture). Enjoy this slideshow and take a moment to pause and reflect on your special Christmases of the past. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic family to you!

One of the driving forces for the decisions we make as a chiropractic practice is you, the patient. Patient satisfaction is one of our key indicators to determine if we are accomplishing our mission of leaving a positive impact on the lives we are privileged to touch. We know that one issue heavy on the minds of many of our patients is the rising cost of healthcare.
While not all chiropractors take insurance, for us it is an absolute must. To meet the needs of our patients we must make it cost effective and it must also honor their time. By taking insurance from carriers like Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, and Medicare we are ensuring we honor the financial aspect of health care. We also know it is necessary that our staff help patients navigate the waters of chiropractic and insurance because at times it can be cumbersome and confusing.
If you find yourself with insurance questions we invite you to contact the office most convenient to you. Reaching out is the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. If you reach out with a question you can expect a timely answer from a real person. You won’t get passed through a never-ending phone tree directory. You will interact with someone that works within our clinic offices, who has received training on insurance coverage and billing, and who genuinely wants to answer your question.
We are thankful that our patients report 97% satisfaction with our services. From the information we have gathered associated with this rating, we have learned that patient satisfaction is related to results and also to the convenience of obtaining care. Convenience factors include flexible appointment times, multiple clinic locations, and providing administrative services, such as insurance billing. We are thankful for our wonderful patients that give us feedback, which allows us to continuously improve.
One documented reason that people do not make choices that support good wellness is lack of convenience. When making the healthy choice is also the hassle-free choice we know our patients are more likely to follow through. Our hope is that by accepting insurance and billing insurance companies on our patients’ behalf we are removing a barrier that would prevent them from seeking the best possible decision for their health and well-being. We want to be a healthcare partner with our patients in every sense; from the adjustments we provide to the patient care from our support staff. We hope to soon have the opportunity to partner with you and help you live a pain-free life.
Copyright: stockasso / 123RF Stock Photo

It has been said that if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. We believe that quote embodies the collective Tuck Chiropractic mindset. We see ourselves as perpetual students, eager to continue the process of learning. A large portion of the education we seek is related to improving as physicians and better clinical practices. However, we also seek to learn and grow as professionals and people in general. We want to have better customer service skills, hone in on our passions and skill sets, and energize ourselves through group training sessions. Since this is so important to us, we have made it a regular practice to host a monthly company training session.
Our training sessions cover a wide variety of topics and are largely driven by the interests of our team. We have listened to the interests of our people from across the various clinic locations to determine what they feel is most beneficial. Some of the topics include health and nutrition information, communication etiquette, tips for better patient interactions, and personality assessments. It could be argued that some of the topics we discuss fall outside the realm of chiropractic. We would politely disagree. Much like wellness, it is important that all the parts of the Tuck Chiropractic team are functioning at their best, so the team as a whole is stronger for it. Helping our staff develop in healthy and positive directions is good for them as individuals and also for our collective team, it is a win-win.
Tuck Chiropractic is also unique in that it is 11 different clinic locations all part of the same company, driven by the same mission and core values. Keeping all clinics interacting and on a mission is important. Gathering as a team regularly is a key step in ensuring this consistent patient-centered focus. As Missy Turner, with our Human Resources Department, explained, “I personally enjoy the camaraderie that I see when we gather together. I also enjoy watching those individuals grow and step into more active roles as they themselves begin to share with others, train others, and lead others. That’s what it’s all about.”
One recent training session, from July 2016, featured world-class athlete, Charles Clark. Charles didn’t just speak to our team; he inspired our team to continue our mission to positively impact other people. He encouraged us to be bold and shed the fear that holds us back from achieving goals. He said, “Life is too short to let fear contain you.” It was an encouragement to us all to hear his remarks. Charles provided us with a great reminder of why we all entered this profession in the first place: we have a purpose to help and serve others. He also had us break up into small groups and share ideas about what it means to preserve the integrity of the team. Pausing our work days to think about the importance of sharing an encouraging word, clarifying expectations, or communicating clearly were all good reminders about how the small things have a big impact.
“Prioritizing time to invest in our most valuable resource, our people, is really important. Through these monthly trainings, we are creating an environment where a culture of excellence and high standards are the norm,” explained Missy. If we tell our team we want them to grow and develop then we know we must set the example by creating opportunities to do exactly that. The reality is, the better we are as individuals the better we are as a team. The better we are as a team the better we can serve our patients and leave a positive impact on their lives.