VOORHEESVILLE — A new chiropractor has opened its doors and looks to build a strong client base inside BrickHouse Fitness in Voorheesville. But it is only open by appointment due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Located at 18 Drywall Lane, Samson Chiropractic, operated by Dr. Eric Samson, opened in early February. It offers services like cupping, muscle stimulation, nutritional guidance and Rock Tape. He also works as a chiropractor at Domenick J. Rizzuto, MD’s practice at 1441 Western Ave. in Albany, since early March. Samson added that working there helps to further build his clientele and he is expected to take over for Rizzuto in the future.
“I want to promote fitness in general and help people, including athletes,” Samson said, juggling 11 clients between his Voorheesville and Albany offices. “On the same side, I want to help anyone get out of pain.”
However, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Samson wrote in a follow-up email, “If a patient comes in feeling sick at all, whether it be a fever, cough or trouble breathing, they will be asked to leave. Also, as long as the doctor [like myself] practices safe hygiene measures before and after treatment, there is minimal risk of spreading germs.”
Having grown up in Colonie, Samson graduated from Colonie High School in 2010, pursued biochemistry at Siena College for four years and graduated from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls in December 2019, where he earned a doctorate in chiropractic medicine and a master’s in applied clinical nutrition. He also serves in the New York Army National Guard; he was promoted to Captain of the 42nd Aviation Brigade’s 642 Aviation Support Battalion in Rochester in January 2020.
“It can be tricky but it’s been a really rewarding experience so far,” said Samson, when asked how he feels to have graduated recently and juggle chiropractic and military duties. “It’s not typical to open your own practice two months after graduation and I’m working on becoming a solo practitioner and business owner. It takes time and I have a network that supports me.”
Samson said he was inspired to become a chiropractor after he did not enjoy learning about biochemistry, doing research and working at labs at Siena College. “I played rugby all four years there too. A couple of times, I injured myself and I saw Dr. Rizzuto,” he said. “We started talking more and he said I’d make a great chiropractor. One day, I asked him, ‘What do you do?’ and he said he helps people get out of pain, gets to know them, care for them, make referrals and be smart. He said it’s so rewarding and I thought that could be it for me.”
This led him to enroll at New York Chiropractic College.
Eventually, he named his Voorheesville practice as Samson Chiropractic after being inspired by his late father who worked for years at the New York State Office of General Services. “He died two years ago from a heart attack at an old age,” he said. “All he did was help people and it seemed like he knew exactly what to say when meeting people. That’s what I want to remember him by when working under the Samson Chiropractic name.”
Samson also has a background in fitness which led him to know Johnny Lucarelli, the owner of BrickHouse Fitness, who brought up the idea of a chiropractor working there as a way to maximize the use of the fitness space. Samson’s practice takes up temporary space there for now.
“I know there’s a lot of new properties and new people starting families in their 30s or 40s who are moving into Voorheesville, but there are not many chiropractors there,” he said. “There’s a lot of promise and [Lucarelli] and I have a lot of things we could do to promote my chiropractic and BrickHouse Fitness.”
Looking ahead, Samson acknowledged how COVID-19 is affecting chiropractics. “It will be tough on us, since all chiropractors are technically small business owners,” he wrote in an email. However, he expressed gratitude for still being in the New York Army National Guard to keep himself financially afloat.
He added that he wants to continue promoting his practice via social media and a website. “I’ve always wanted to work as a sports chiropractor too, like working for an undergraduate college sports team, and I really think chiropractic and physical training can help athletes perform better,” he said. “If they can perform better, that can relate to their mental well-being and doing better in school.”
Samson also wants to keep working in the Capital District and continue growing his clientele. “Being in 2020, everything can be scary, like what’s going on in social media, but I think it’s good to have a source of relief,” Samson said. “Being a chiropractor helps you get to know your patients and that’s really amazing. There are people we can help and it’s unreal the relief people can get with chiropractic.”
For more information, call Domenick J. Rizzuto, MD’s Albany practice at 518-482-7164.
