Dr. Cassee Hayes

Lead Chiropractor and Vice President of Operations at Premier Wellness

Q. How did C.S.S. help you to prepare for post-secondary both academically and socially?

A. I will say that I think it’s hard to be prepared for the shift from high school to an undergraduate program. I found this also to be true for the shift from my undergraduate program to my graduate one. In my experience with my field of study, academically, there was so much new exposure to material I had not studied or explored in high school, so it would be unrealistic to expect that an established background knowledge base would be possible. However, the most important skill that was required to exercise most frequently was English writing skills, particularly essays in specific formatting. Writing skills directed towards creating science papers and an understanding of the principles for hypothesis formation and experimental method are the things that stand out the most to me. Socially, the transition was from a primarily Caucasian and middle-class SES group of peers to one of the most diverse populations in the country. A significant majority of the people enrolled there were international students and it provided a major source of cultural exposure I had never previously experienced. Overall, I can’t say I felt particularly “prepared” for anything, but I wouldn’t consider that to be a problem. All that was needed to successfully transition was a desire to learn, good habits and work ethic.

Q. What are some positive memories about C.S.S.?

A. Almost all of the C.S.S memories are positive, but the hands down winner is my memories of sports; tournaments and meets, travelling with my team members and hanging out with my best friends for the day. Classes were always enjoyable for me there and I learned a lot. I may have harassed some of the teachers with incessant questions, but I got to know most of them well and I appreciate those relationships.

Q. Why would you recommend C.S.S. to others?
A. I think the thing that separated C.S.S ultimately from the other high schools that I went to is the community. When I was there, students were largely all a part of the same group and everyone seemed to be friends with everyone, for the most part.

Q. What year did you graduate from C.S.S.?
A. 2009

Q. What post-secondary institution(s) did you attend?
A. I first attended University of Toronto to obtain my BSc in Psychology and Biology. Following completion of my undergraduate program, I travelled to San Francisco where I attended Life Chiropractic College West and obtained a Doctorate in Chiropractic. I am currently also undertaking a Masters in Health Administration at Steven’s Heneger College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I work. This most recent program enrollment is with the purpose of obtaining further formal training in management of healthcare facilities so that I am better equipped to fulfill my management roll as V.P.O and continue to expand my endeavors in this roll.

Q. What program(s) did you take?
A. BSc in Psychology – Major in Psychology, Biology and Exceptionalities in Human Learning
D.C – Doctorate of Chiropractic
MHA – Masters in Health Administration

Q. Explain your career path from after college/university to present.
A. Upon graduating from my chiropractic program, I decided to leave California to explore something new and I followed a friend of mine to Utah, where I discovered an employment opportunity with a mentorship program from a known guru and genius in functional medicine. I was determined to get the position and didn’t even bother to apply anywhere else. I was offered the job and after receiving my employment authorization for the U.S. I began working as a chiropractor 2 months after graduation. I have been in this position for just over a year and was promoted into the V.P.O. position about 5 months ago. Since starting. I have helped to develop the procedural infrastructure of the practice with the intent to expand our treating practitioner base, created and delivered multiple presentations for public events discussing health related topics, and created and implemented new comprehensive patient intervention strategies and protocols to provide therapy supporting chronic illnesses.

Q. Where are you currently working?
A. I currently work at a Functional Medicine based holistic health care clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am both the lead chiropractor and the V.P.O. at this office that employs roughly 15 people, with 4 current practitioners.

Q. What is your job title and explain your responsibilities?

A. Doctor of Chiropractic. As a chiropractor who practices functional medicine, I perform extensive examinations and analysis of data pertaining to a patient and gain an understanding of the source of their condition and help them to understand my findings or diagnoses. I determine the most effective strategy to support the organ systems involved in their dysfunction and remove stressors or triggers such an infections, toxins and allergies. A physical examination, detailed history reports, diagnostic questionnaires, vital signs, orthopedic testing, blood work, hair analysis, stool testing and other laboratory testing is used to find the root cause of the issue and then natural methods of therapy such as chiropractic adjustments, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, homeopathics, emotional support, diet planning and physical therapy modalities are used to restore the person’s normal function and give them control over their health.

Q. What are your long-term career goals?

• I would like to develop and perfect an effective system of patient analysis and stepwise therapeutic progression through established treatment protocols that follow a hierarchy of priorities in terms of re-establishing a patient’s foundational health status and continuous health optimization. Determining a series of reproducible steps and a predetermined flowchart of supporting health improvement would allow for this effective clinical best practices model to be applied in an extensive variety of conditions for reliable relief and restoration. This could be offered without requiring ongoing exploratory/diagnostic appointments and would reduce the amount of time spent by the patient to see the practitioner and reduce the amount of time the practitioner has to spend in office. I would like to work remotely running programs like this very soon.

Q. What advice would you give to current secondary school students?
A. I think that the pursuit of something you care about and having the determination to do whatever it takes to make it happen is the most important factor for success. The path that I took to get where I am now seemed extremely long, expensive and difficult at the time, but the investment I made in my education and the experiences I had throughout academia are priceless to me. I am motivated to go to work every day to a job that is rewarding and fulfilling and the extra time I spend on special projects isn’t a chore. Pursuing a career that I really love was worth every hour and every penny spent to get here. Spending a few years broke and exhausted is a sacrifice I would make again to have the rewards I enjoy today.