Dr. Mary Babian, 2017 TCA Conference Honoree, addresses guests at their awards luncheon in Franklin
The Tennessee Chiropractic Association has honored Dr. Mary Babian of Chattanooga with their highest recognition, 2017 Conference Honoree.
“The TCA is proud to honor Dr. Babian for all she has contributed through her over 39 years of servant-leadership,” said Tiffany Stevens, executive director of the TCA. “Sharing her gifts as a doctor, an educator, and advocate, she is steadily building a legacy to benefit future generations.”
Dr. Babian’s first connection to the spine and its impact on health was through an injury sustained at age 14 while at work at a neighborhood service station. After years of living with discomfort, her injury flared up severely while in her sophomore year at UTC. A road trip to visit her grandmother in Iowa left her barely able to move. Spurred by her family, she sought chiropractic care and remembers waking up the next day in disbelief that the pain was gone. It was life-changing, setting her on a new course to help others through chiropractic, she said.
After completing her Bachelor of Science degree at UTC in 1974, she attended Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, S.C. There she benefited from the experiences of mentors, graduating with her Doctor of Chiropractic in 1978. She continues to give back to her alma mater and has been named a Lifetime Member of the Sherman Board of Regents.
She established her private practice in Red Bank in 1978 and this year she entered her 40th year of caring for her community, an achievement she celebrated while viewing the Great American Eclipse. Her chiropractic legacy spans three generations of patients and crosses county lines. She is blessed by family, friends, and loyal staff members, the longest running supporter being her mom who turns 98 this year.
Dr. Babian attended Nashville School of Law and earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2000. She accepted the opportunity to share her strengths as instructor for the "Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Risk Management" course required of Tennessee chiropractic physicians, bringing her own blend of humor, experience and legal expertise. Throughout her 18 years in this role, Dr. Babian has helped hundreds of newly licensed doctors.
To support efforts on behalf of her profession, Dr. Babian has been a consistent TCA Gold Member and TCA Eagle Society member. She has also served on the TCA Ethics Committee. In 2004, she was recognized by her peers with the James R. Cole Heritage Award for her contributions.
Dr. Babian actively serves members of her community, both two and four legged, from having co-chaired multiple Red Bank Jubilees and speaking for local organizations to advocating for animals as a Member Emeritus on the Tennessee Human Animal League Board of Directors, a local no-kill animal shelter, and taking rescued pets into her home.
“If we elevate one other person, we’re all better for it,” said Dr. Babian reflecting on her years of service. “One burden we can take from someone who is tired serves us all! That must be true, I feel my best when I share my luck and love.”
The award was presented to Dr. Babian by TCA President Dr. R.J. Crawford at the Southern Chiropractic Conference hosted by TCA in Franklin. The event featured keynote, Managing Director of Sports Medicine for the U.S. Olympic Committee Dr. Bill Moreau, who oversees all USOC sports medicine activities, both within the U.S. Olympic Training Center clinics and in Olympic Games environments. Throughout the weekend, over 600 participants attended clinical education sessions, social functions and informative meetings on issues impacting chiropractic and all health care professions in Tennessee.