Welcome to Tarry Chiropractic! I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give a bit of background information – who I am, how I decided to pursue being a chiropractor, and why I decided to open my own practice.
My name is Ryan Tarry. I was born and raised in the Kansas City area. I graduated from Shawnee Mission East high school in 2014 and went on to Kansas State University the following year. I started college studying business but decided early on that wasn't for me. I was always interested in the human body and how it functions, as well as sports and exercise, so that led me to Kinesiology. Over the next four years, I developed a deeper understanding of and love for biomechanics and physiology – my favorite course at K-State was exercise physiology. My time at K-State was extremely transformative for me. I found some of my best friends, I found something I love learning about and putting into practice, and I met my wife, Maddie, there too.
When the time came to decide what was next after graduation, I was considering applying to physical therapy school when my advisor recommended I check out chiropractic school as well. I was familiar with the concept of chiropractic but hadn't been to a chiropractor myself. I ended up shadowing a couple chiropractors in Manhattan and it just felt right. Shortly after, I applied to Cleveland University – Kansas City, and the rest was history.
In the Fall of 2018, I began my studies at Cleveland. School was demanding, but I knew it was all a means to an end, and the more I learned in school, the more I could help people live healthier, happier lives as a practicing chiropractor. The first year of school is spent mostly in the classroom, focusing on building a foundational understanding of anatomy, physiology, and basic adjusting skills. In the second year, focus shifts more toward a clinical focus and building a wider adjusting skillset. I especially enjoyed the courses that focused on adjusting and physical therapies, as they felt the most immediately applicable to life in practice.
Maddie and I got married toward the end of my time in school, in August of 2021. Our wedding was the happiest day of my life, and it was such a gift to be surrounded by all our closest friends and family on that day, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic changed the landscape of public gatherings like that so significantly. We look back on that day often and feel incredibly lucky it happened the way it did.
As graduation approached, I knew that I wanted to spend at least some time working under an already established chiropractor. I was confident in what I had learned in school, but knew practicing in real life would be vastly different. Cases rarely present as they do in textbooks, and I knew I still had a lot to learn. I also knew starting my own practice was a dream down the road, so was eager to learn the ins and outs of owning and running a practice. I found that opportunity at a long-established practice in Lansing, Kansas where I worked for 18 months. There, I learned as much as I could about the things school was unable to teach me, primarily working with insurance providers, operating a business, and patient interaction.
Toward the end of 2023, I started to feel the time was approaching for me to move on and open my own practice closer to home. Maddie and I bought a house in Lenexa at the end of 2022, were starting to think about growing our family, and I knew that financially it wouldn't get any easier to leave my job and start something from scratch once kids were in the picture. I started looking for spaces to rent and found a small office right up the street from our house. I signed the lease in December of 2023 and started preparing to start my own practice.
The last few months have been spent buying furniture, setting up software, collaborating with insurance providers, and doing just about everything else you could think of that may be necessary to open a business. I've had a lot of help, too. Maddie has been continuously supportive, both emotionally and financially. My family has contributed countless hours to help me get my practice started on the right foot. My dad and brother did graphic design for Tarry Chiropractic, their expertise and eye for design was instrumental in creating a brand image best representing what I want for this practice. My good friend TJ is the mastermind behind this website. Greg, my father-in-law, was the engine behind getting permits from the City of Lenexa – a process that would have been a nightmare to navigate alone. His knowledge of local government processes made everything a breeze. Through all this I've gained a greater appreciation for the amazing support system I'm surrounded by. My family and friends are the best part of this life, and I'm eternally thankful for all of them.
Opening my practice has been a long, stressful, incredibly rewarding, and exciting experience. I wouldn't be where I am without the support of my family and friends. I'm looking forward to building something special here in Lenexa, getting to know this community, and helping people live healthier and happier lives, and I'm excited to share this journey with all of you. Welcome to Tarry Chiropractic, and thank you for trusting us with your care!