Doctor by the Sea

By Shavantay Minnis

Integrating natural approaches and traditional medicine to figure out complex medical problems is Glenn Chapman’s goal. It’s with this practice in mind, that Chapman says he wanted to create his first business, Surfside Non-Surgical Orthopedics.

With help from Deborah Lanford, Chapman’s business consultant from the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), he launched his osteopathy practice in 2014, which takes a holistic approach to a patient’s musculoskeletal system to treat disorders like severe arthritis or sciatica through the manipulation and adjustment of bones, joints and muscles.

“I try to look for the cause of the problem and not just the treatment, that way I can determine a long-term healing solution for my patients,” Chapman said. “Many times, a deeper solution exists and that is where I come in using my hands to restore functions in the body as a whole.”

Chapman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, began his career 15 years ago when he realized he couldn’t ignore his passion for medicine. His father, an emergency room doctor, originally encouraged Chapman to pursue a career outside of medicine. This led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Central Florida, a choice that still enabled him to learn about the bones in the human body, he said.

After his degree, Chapman went on to be a field archeologist in Central America. During his spare time, he would spend hours reading different medical books, as well as books on how different cultures use plants for healing, he said. Then he discovered a modern hands-on healer who sparked his interest in osteopathy.

Chapman soon left his job in archeology to pursue medical school where he earned his medical degree in osteopathic medicine from the Osteopathic Medical School in Des Moines, Iowa. He also completed a residency in neuromusculoskeletal medicine in Fort Worth, Texas, and a fellowship in sports medicine and pain medicine.

“I was meant to practice medicine,” Chapman said. “I get to use my hands to heal while still being a licensed medical physician, an uncommon trait but also one of the biggest reasons why I love being an osteopath.”

Once Chapman began working in different doctors’ offices, it did not take him long to realize he wanted to be his own boss, so he could treat patients the way he wanted, he said. His first step was to reach out for a loan and startup assistance through the Florida SBDC at FAU. He then connected with Lanford, a business consultant specializing in growth expansion, international trade and market analysis.

Chapman opened Surfside Non-Surgical Orthopedics in 2014 in Boynton Beach. “It was amazing to see things on the business plan come true, and to see the growth that we have achieved since then is a blessing,” Chapman said.

Now, with Lanford’s support, Surfside Non-Surgical Orthopedics’ new goal is focused on expanding the business. They’ve added two additional doctors and more employees, who specialize in areas that differ from Chapman such as internal medicine or physiatry. "There is no way we could have done this without Debbie and the Florida SBDC at FAU,” he said.