Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Page A-3
Brothers take educational approach to care
Judy Hoyle
IVN Contributing Writer
Although it’s not unusual to see twins go
into the same career, it’s not often that they
wind up working in the same medical practice,
but that unique situation can be found at
Thorsen Chiropractic & Sports Medicine. The
practice has offices in both Grants Pass and
Cave Junction.
Dr. Nick Baker, doctor of chiropractic
(DC), was the first brother to move here.
Nick Baker is also a certified strength and
conditioning specialist (CSCS) and a certified
chiropractic sports practitioner (CCSP) He
was nearing an agreement to work at a large
practice in Vancouver, Washington, but was
unhappy with the assembly-line approach of
the clinic.
“They were more focused on making
money, and less on the patients, so I decided to
not sign a contract with them,” he related in a
recent interview.
Dr. Scott Thorsen, DC, CSCS, first
practiced in Cave Junction nearly 20 years
ago, and sold his practice to Dr. Jim Minervini,
DC in 2000. Thorsen then bought it back a
few years ago. The office has been recently
remodeled.
Thorsen was looking for another
chiropractor to share the practice and ran an ad
in a trade journal. When Nick Baker saw the
ad, he called Thorsen and moved here shortly
thereafter.
As the practice continued to grow, they
realized that they needed more help and Nick
persuaded his brother, Dr. Nate Baker, DC, MS
to join the practice. Nate has now been living
and working here for the past year.
The brothers grew up in the small
California town of Sonora, near Sacramento,
but spent time each summer in Medford,
visiting relatives. They were gifted athletes,
starring in multiple sports in high school and
were so well-known regionally that they were
featured in a Modesto Bee article. They both
also competed in NCAA Division III college
football and track and field.
It was during this period that they became
interested in sports medicine and recognized
the value of chiropractic treatment.
They have both earned several degrees,
including Master of Science in sports and
exercise, and both earned a doctorate of
chiropractic from the University of Western
States (UWS) near Portland. Coincidentally,
Thorsen, a Grants Pass native, also earned his
doctorate of chiropractic from UWS.
The Baker twins like Cave Junction’s
small town atmosphere that reminds them of
home, and enjoy the seasonal changes and
sports opportunities that Southern Oregon
offers.
They alternate days at the Cave Junction
and Grants Pass offices and are both in Cave
Junction on Wednesdays.
They can legally work as primary care
physicians, licensed to treat and manage the
general health of their patients, from pediatric
care to geriatric care.
In the State of Oregon, chiropractors
are licensed to perform a wide variety of
diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, from
urinary analysis to PAP smears, but Thorsen
Chiropractic & Sports Medicine primarily
focuses on complete musculoskeletal
management.
“Our initial exam takes about an hour,”
Nick explains. “On our busiest days, we see 20
to 25 patients, not 45 as is the case with some
practices. We spend times with our patients,
and let them know what’s going on with their
health. We see all types of conditions come
through the door from routine muscle or
joint issues to someone who has diabetes and
doesn’t know it.”
Nate told the story of one patient who
complained of back pain, but the source of the
problem was not musculoskeletal. He sent the
(Photo by Judy Hoyle, Illinois Valley News)
Nick (left) and Nate Baker at their Cave Junction office. The Baker twins enjoy
working and living in Southern Oregon.
patient to Asante’s emergency room, where
he was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis, a
condition that, if left untreated, can be life-
threatening. The patient was given antibiotics
that cleared up both the infection and the
pain. They also routinely refer patients to the
Siskiyou Health Center.
“We offer integrative care and refer
patients to other practitioners when needed,”
Nick said.
For those who are interested, they offer
therapeutic lifestyle change, covering mental,
emotional and physical health, weight loss,
stress, sleep patterns and exercise. They
also advise patients on diet and vitamin
supplementation. Mandi Feetham, LMT, a
licensed massage therapist, also works in the
Cave Junction office.
“Our goal is to teach people how they can
help themselves, so we can give them longer
lasting options,” Nick said. “We don’t want
anyone to feel dependent on us or feel they
have to come in routinely. We teach them to
take an active role to reinforce their own care.”
Thorsen Chiropractic is open every
weekday. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, closed for
lunch from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The office closes at
1 p.m. Wednesday and 4 p.m. Friday.
Call 541-592-6220 or visit www.
thorsenchiropractic.com to learn more or to
schedule an appointment.
The Archive Zone: by Hillary Mohr from the Illinois Valley News archives
This week we gaze upon
Aug. 24, 1978. The summer
temperatures were in the high 70s,
school registration was starting
and the sheriff stepped in a case
hotter than the summer air. If
you guessed that this is just the
beginning of an epic Archive
Zone adventure, then you are very
correct.
Suspect in GP murder
arrested in CJ. A routine car stop
by Cave Junction’s police sergeant
Carrol Huffman led to the arrest
of a suspect in the murder of
“Cosmic Curt,” the man who was
found under a bridge in Grants
Pass Aug. 8 with two bullets in his
head. Huffman stopped the vehicle
in front of Hammers Market
in Cave Junction about 8 a.m.
Wednesday. Arrested was Timothy
professor from Shasta College,
where Castle had been a student
four months ago, identified the
body. Why Marsolf was a suspect
is unkown at press time.
Head-on accident victim in
serious condition. Two women
and a juvenile were injured Friday
in a head-on collision on Highway
199. In the intensive care unit of
Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital
in Medford is Sandra Gloria
Benson, 19, of 5515 Westside
Road, Cave Junction, after
receiving a compound fractured
skull in the accident. (Wednesday
morning the Valley News was told
she was out of intensive care,
and rated in “fair” condition.)
Marcella Josephine Gibson, 54, of
Medford, is at Josephine General
Hospital in Grants Pass where she
Lee Marsolf, 22, of Orange
County, California. Marsolf was
taken to the office of Grants Pass
police detective Larry Russell for
questioning. Curtis Dale Castle,
31, was shot twice in the back of
the head sometime after dark the
night of Aug. 7. His body was
found lying beside a sleeping bag
about 25 feet from the Rogue
River near the Caveman Bridge on
the south side. The 22 caliber rifle
apparently used in the crime was
recovered from the river by deputy
sheriffs. It reportedly had been
purchased by Castle a year ago
in California. District Attorney
Bob Burrows said the bullets
in the victim’s head matched
those in the rifle when it was
recovered. Castle, whose identity
was unknown until a chemistry
is listed in satisfactory condition
with a broken right ankle and
knee. A passenger in the Gibson
vehicle, 13-year-old Virginia Lee
Gibson, of Medford, was treated
at Josephine General Hospital
and released. According to
Oregon State Police, the accident
occurred near Round Prairie
Road. Gibson was headed south
on Highway 199, and Benson
was northbound. Benson veered
into the southbound lane as she
rounded a curve, hitting Gibson’s
car head-on.
Group forms to help people.
A new group has been organized
here in Illinois Valley. The name
of the group is “Illinois Valley
Human Resources Committee.”
The stated purpose of the
committee is to bring together
2
Packages $
Starting at
Less Than
people and organizations that
may be utilized to assist persons
in the Valley that have problems
too large to handle by themselves.
The committee has been meeting
for about four months, on a once
a month basis. Paul Cavaille, of
the Mental Health Clinic, has
been heading up the formation
of the group, which is now made
up of several school teachers,
local pastors, doctors from the
I.V. Clinic, and persons involved
has an area of expertise through
which he or she is able to help an
individual with a need. Through
the resources of the “committee,”
any person may refer the person
in trouble to someone or an
agency that has the ability to give
assistance.
/DAY
Head Coach: Bruce Reece
Head Coach: Bruce Reece
Assistant Coaches: Aaron Skinner, Terry Larson, Jesse Dugas, Tony Hess, JV Culbertson, Scott Thornhill,
Tanner Smith, Clay ValenzuelaReece, James Thompson
It‛s a…
Touchdown Auction!
Illinois
Valley
Naturally!
GET SMART SECURITY, CALL VIVINT NOW
800.351.6177
The Illinois Valley High School Football Team is hosting their biggest fundraiser of the
year the 2016 Touchdown Auction!
When :
Saturday, August 27, 2016
5:30pm to 9:00pm (no host bar at 5:30pm, dinner starts at 6:00pm, Live
Time :
Auction begins at approximately 7:15pm)
Location :
Siskiyou Smokejumpers Base Museum (IV Airport), Cave Junction
$20 per ticket Includes dinner
Price :
$150 for 8 tickets Includes dinner, reserved table and a bottle of wine
Dinner will be catered by Carlos’ Restaurant. There will be many silent auction items to
bid on, grab bag prizes and a Live Auction.
*
FREE
Touchscreen Panel
24/7 Monitoring
Motion Detectors
Smartphone Apps
Automatic door
locks & MORE!
Tickets are on sale now! Please contact Danielle Reece (5038878727) or Sheri
Larson (5417613661) to purchase tickets or if you have questions about this fun event.
The team will begin selling tickets the week of July 11th!
NO SALES AT DOOR
Contact Mary Venezuela
We want to thank you in advance for your support of the Illinois Valley High School
541-218-4155
Football Team! We look forward to seeing you at the 2016 Touchdown Auction!
Vivint
Doorbell
Camera
Limited
Time.
*conditions apply
Calendar
Art’s Red
Garter
POOL TOURNEY
Tuesdays @ 6:30
KARAOKE
Wednesdays 9 PM
STEVE
BERG
F r i d a y, A u g . 1 9
5:30 PM
from
Taylor’s
Country Store
Karaoke
w/ Steve
MADD
MOOSE
The
G Spot
Ross
Welcome
Friday, Aug. 19 @ 9 p.m.
Jammer’s Hump Day
Karaoke
& friends
Pool Tourney - Saturdays at 7
8 p.m. - midnight
Saturday night @ 6
Every Wednesday
Open MIC Night
6 - 8 p.m.
Jay Barley
F ridays @ 6 p.m
Free Pool Games on
Sunday
Sportsman
Tavern
OPEN MIC
THURSDAYS 7 - 10 PM
Doug C & the
Blacklisted
(Rockabilly)
Fri., Aug. 19, 8 - 11 p.m.
The Rockets
Friday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.
$5
Jammer Dave’s
Karaoke
Sat. Aug. 20 @ 8 p.m.
@
McG re w’s!
