Dr. Dana Kent is no stranger to chiropractic adjustments. From the time she was born, Dana and her siblings were getting adjusted by their father, Dr. Raymond Kent. She remembers growing up in an apartment above the old Allegheny Family Chiropractic Center office and learning about chiropractic medicine from a young age. According to Dana, her long history of getting adjusted is why she has never suffered from an ear infection or headache and has never had to take Advil.

The center has been a mainstay along the Allegheny Avenue business corridor for more than twenty years. The small practice was founded by Raymond and has operated out of their current office at 2514 E. Allegheny Avenue since 1986. Dana, who has become a chiropractor herself, now works alongside her father at the office.

“I always loved it and it seemed like such a rewarding career that it made me decided to follow suit,” Dana said. “I worked in two other offices outside of this area. Once I moved home I decided to work here.”

Not long after Dana graduated from Life University in Atlanta, her father had to take some time away from the practice. While Raymond was out from November 2014 until early August 2015, Dana and Dr. Stephen Ralston stepped up to run the business in Raymond’s absence.

Allegheny Family Chiropractic Center treats patients with all sorts of symptoms from the immediate community and beyond. Dana specifically specializes in pediatrics and pregnancy, so most of her patients are young children or pregnant woman, but the office sees entire families of different backgrounds.

“We see everyone,” Dana said. “I had a patient today who drove up from Cape May because he’s been seeing my dad since the 80s. This morning I adjusted a two year old who gets ear infections. We even see a 92 year old who takes the bus up, walks over to the office and does great.”

Since joining the practice, Dana has made it a point to get more active in the community. After reading a report that ranked the healthiest neighborhoods in the state by zip code, Dana noticed that 19134 was ranked just about dead last. Seeing this motivated her to try something new at the practice — awareness events in an effort to make Port Richmond a healthier place.

“We are trying to put on different health workshops,” Dana said. “We are hoping that someone will hear us, talk to five more people, and we’ll get a healthier community that way. That’s what we’re passionate about and get’s us up in the morning.”

Some past workshops include a women’s health night — complete with wine and hors d’oeuvres — that discussed weight loss and hormones. Dana has also held a backpack safety event and an interactive smoothie workshop.

“We had a little kid who wouldn’t eat any vegetables come to the smoothie workshop end up drinking everyone’s smoothies,” Dana said. “Another boy, maybe 16 years old, was sticking his tongue out at the idea of ever drinking anything green. He ended up drinking smoothies.”

Dr. Raymond Kent, who has returned to his job, says “it’s been tremendously rewarding to serve Port Richmond and the surrounding communities. These people are the salt of the earth from all different walks of life.”

What’s next? Dana says she’s putting on a 21-day detox program and weight loss, starting October 5th. Seating is limited, so call the office at 215-425-1110 to reserve your seat today. Dana says they’ll probably do another one in January. You can also look out for Dana to be giving a talk at CrossFit Renaissance (3668 Salmon St). on October 17th about injury prevention, back safety and health.