Dr. Michael Mortensen started his career in an unusual manner.

"I switched my whole background into premed. I have a bachelor's degree in human biology and a doctorate in chiropractic."

On his desk, there is a wooden cube which he says denotes his philosophy. At the top of each side is word, with inspirational thoughts. Mortensen mentioned two.

"Trust and integrity are two of the greatest things we have to offer to our patients," he said. "You can't break that."

Mortensen opened his chiropractic office in American Fork two months ago. He has been in practice since 1990, however. His background is in sports medicine and chiropractic. He was trained at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles and Southern California College of Chiropractic.

He said he thoroughly enjoys the field.

"I like the fact that I get to help people get out of pain without drugs or surgery," he said. "The other thing is when they have a disk injury we do spinal decompression to relieve nerve impingements which stop pain."

He identified a challenge he faces.

"A challenge is letting people know you are available and what you can do for them to help them out," he said. "Chiropractic has been looked at from the Journal of American Medical Association, England Medical, Canadian Medical and the New Zealand Journal of Medicine. California did a study on chiropractic and low back and found that it was effective in returning the patients back to work."

Mortensen said chiropractic is overcoming the image problems it had years ago.

"Progress has been made between chiropractic and the medical profession in improving relationships," he said. "There is a place for both. They should be working side by side in physical medicine and restoring patients' health."

Mortensen has also taught medical specialties and radiology at a local college and said he liked the experience.

"I enjoyed being able to teach," he said. "Hopefully I can teach again."

In California, he was the doctor on the field for Grant School District for eight years.

He has special certification in treating golf injuries. He has also been a medical specialist for the NorCal Racing Association.

"I did medical safety and safety inspections on cars and drivers," he said. "I made sure they have proper safety equipment."

Today he still works with drivers.

"I work with auto accidents," he said. "I have done a lot of research on low impact injuries and the long-term effects of whiplash injuries."

Mortensen is active in the Scouting program and has been a coach.

He said he is glad to be in American Fork.

"I am looking forward to serving the community in all the ways that I have in the past," he said.