A passion for women’s healthcare and an interest in practicing in an integrated environment led Cypress Garrett, DC (’10) to become the first chiropractor to work for St. Luke’s Medical Group, the network of physicians within St. Luke’s, a premier regional health system located in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Dr. Garrett grew up in central New York with dreams of becoming a physician. She had considered medical school and massage therapy, but a visit to a chiropractor affirmed her decision.
“I realized this was the kind of doctor I wanted to become: someone who looks for the root of an issue to figure out why it is happening instead of simply addressing symptoms,” Dr. Garrett said.
After earning her Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree from Logan University, she worked at a local chiropractic practice for several years before becoming a chiropractor and acupuncturist for a local, independent OB-GYN practice in 2017. In 2022, some of those providers, including Dr. Garrett, decided to join St. Luke’s Medical Group.
“The providers have embraced me and appreciate being able to refer their patients to me for chiropractic care and acupuncture,” Dr. Garrett said. “Having me as part of the St. Luke’s team gives them someone internal who they can direct their patients to for pain treatments that don’t involve drugs or surgery.”
Dr. Garrett enjoys the high degree of collaboration and communication that occurs between the St. Luke’s healthcare professionals in a variety of fields.
“The integrated environment gives all of us the ability to do what we do best,” Dr. Garrett said. “I frequently collaborate with OB-GYNs, physical therapists, neurologists and others as part of my patients’ care teams. I can focus on doing what I love and what I am great at and rely on other healthcare professionals for the rest.”
Now in her third year at St. Luke’s, Dr. Garrett specializes in treating women. She provides a wide variety of services as part of her safe, effective, non-invasive, drug-free approach to improving function—key to an active, healthy life for women.
Dr. Garrett’s interest in treating women stemmed from her background and an observation: Women’s health and reproductive care are often synonymous, even though women have many unique needs that are unrelated to pregnancy.
“Women do so much more than have children,” Dr. Garrett said. “A woman may be a mother, but there are many other parts of her life that need to be acknowledged. I see women as a whole person and treat them as a whole person.”
Certified in the Webster Technique, Dr. Garrett does provide care to many women who are pregnant, but she also focuses on treating other women’s health issues, including pelvic pain. She attributes the success of her practice to her focus on whole person care.
“Many women have experienced trauma, whether it is physical, mental or emotional,” Dr. Garrett said. “I understand how trauma contributes to how they experience pain, their bodies, and how it can impact their healing journey.”
For aspiring chiropractors interested in treating women, Dr. Garrett offers advice.
“Acknowledging the whole woman will get you far,” she said. “However, you may not get the knowledge and skills you will need from school alone. Make the effort to seek out specialized training whenever and wherever you can.”