Changing the Narrative Around Chiropractic

Zeynep Tuzcu, D.C., ‘21 opened Evren Chiropractic right after graduation. She wanted to create a space where every patient feels heard and included, particularly people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, who have been historically mistreated within the medical field. Dr. Zeynep also specializes in trauma-informed and consent-based care, working with patients recovering from varying emotional and physical trauma that deeply impact their pain and their overall lives. “I haven’t been able to find a clinic that operates with that specific mission,” she shared. “So I just decided to make it.” 

Dr. Zeynep wants to play a role in shifting the narrative around chiropractic away from a boutique, upper-class service and towards the pain management and prevention tool that it is. She’s also a strong advocate for accessible, integrative care.  

“I feel like integrative care is really just collaboration amongst providers to make sure our patients are getting the best care possible,” she said. “It takes a lot of vulnerability to do that type of collaboration because you have to admit you don’t know everything, and that’s okay.” 

Dr. Zeynep got her first taste of working this way as an intern at the Integrative Clinic of Minnesota (ICM) and Salvation Army during her time at NWHSU. She still regularly refers patients to an acupuncturist with whom she interned and has built a strong network of other providers since then.  

Long-term, Dr. Zeynep hopes to open a wellness center, where practitioners across disciplines work together in a shared space to facilitate accessibility. Beyond that, she seeks to have a positive impact on her profession, as well as the Minneapolis community.  

“I just want to see the community continue to shift their perspective around chiropractic,” she shared. “I want to treat so many more patients, not for the sake of making more money, but for the purpose of patients getting the care they need and deserve. I want people in Minneapolis to know they have a provider on their side.”