Bio: Byron Ethan Agapay, DC attended Western Oregon University (WOU), where he completed his BS in biology and a minor in health before coming to University of Western States (UWS). While at WOU, Byron enjoyed working with the admissions office, providing tours and information to prospective students, which led him to serve as a student ambassador during his time at UWS. Beginning in his second term in the DC program, Byron was involved in the UWS Associated Student Body (ASB), coordinating events and overseeing club activities on and off campus.
Tell us about what you have been up to since graduation? What are you doing now?
Following graduation, I joined Dr. Megan DeJana at Active Wellness Chiropractic in Beaverton. I had such a wonderful time working with Dr. Megan and the wonderful staff. I’ve expanded my practice to include seeing infants, pediatric, pre-/perinatal, and postpartum populations. In addition to patient care, I got through the slowest part of 2020 by making TikTok videos to help spread self-care techniques and information surrounding what we do in our profession. Here’s my shameless plug: You can follow me on TikTok and/or Instagram at @drbyronagapay. P.S. I host trivia on Wednesdays on Instagram and sometimes there are fun prizes!
Where does your passion for chiropractic care stem from?
My mom tells me that my passion for helping others started at a very young age. In fact she found a piece of work I did in the first grade that stated that I wanted to be a doctor and a clown, because a doctor helps people and a clown gets to make people laugh. I was raised by a family of caretakers who were always extending themselves to help however they could– I suppose that set the precedent for me! In college, I injured my back and visited my first chiropractor. Dr. Joynt (yes, that’s his real name!) took his time with me and made sure that I was comfortable while also challenging me to heal and get stronger. Through my interaction with him, I learned about the chiropractic field and how I could shape my passion for helping people around manual medicine.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a UWS student?
I don’t think I could choose just one memory from my time as a UWS student! I guess you could boil all of my favorite memories down to my classmates. Whether we were out in the town celebrating the end of finals, or studying in the late hours at the library, my favorite memories about UWS include my friends and how they added so much value to my education.
How did your time at UWS prepare you for your career and life?
From day one we were told to “get your hands on as many people as you can” and UWS provided so many opportunities for education and growth in that manner. While the school curriculum succeeded in educating us, UWS helped prepare us for real life patient interactions. Open lab hours, various clubs, and very helpful colleagues/TAs made it easy to feel comfortable in practice.
What is a piece of advice you’d offer to current UWS chiropractic students?
My biggest piece of school-related advice is to get your hands involved! It’s one thing to learn the adjustments, but a whole new ballgame when it comes to application. There are an infinite amount of body types and as a chiropractic physician you should be prepared on how to accommodate them. You never know who is going to walk into your office looking for help. Go to open labs and register for seminars to get your hands on people. Ask them if it’s comfortable and how you can change anything to make it more productive.
What made you choose UWS over other schools?
When looking into chiropractic schools, my top priority was finding an evidence-based program. All chiropractic schools have their philosophy on their websites so it was easy to rule out the programs that did not match my requirements. I visited two schools and it came down to the overall appeal of the campus and its students. When I visited UWS in the spring of 2016, I saw students playing volleyball next to slackliners between trees, and students laughing in their classes with their professors. There was a lot of buzz around the campus and it looked like the type of environment I would thrive on: an environment that encouraged student enrichment inside and out of their academic program.
What is your favorite way to relieve stress?
My favorite way to relieve stress is to find new food and drinks around Portland! Whether it’s sampling menus during various dining themes like Dumpling Week, Pizza Week, Burger Week, or finding a cozy patio to warm up with seasonal drinks, you’ll always have a new place to try! Don’t worry, if you’re wanting to walk off those food and drinks, Portland has a vast array of hikes throughout the city! On the weekends, I love finding a longer hike outside of the city to explore before bouncing back to the city in time to catch their happy hour menus.
