Conversations with Byron Ethan Agapay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Byron Ethan Agapay.

Byron, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I was born and raised on the island of O’ahu in Hawai’i. If you’re familiar with the island, I grew up in a city called Ewa Beach, which is on the southwest corner of the island. I moved away from the island to attend college at Western Oregon University and then found my interest in the world of physical medicine. I changed my program from marine biology to general biology and health, which helped position myself nicely to apply for physical therapy schools and chiropractic schools. After learning the philosophies of each school, I decided to attend the University of Western States for their chiropractic program, which was evidence-based and offered structured courses in rehabilitation and exercise in addition to their chiropractic education. After graduating in 2019, I started working with Active Wellness Chiropractic in Portland. While working through the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult, it reassured my drive to help patients get active and stay active. When my partner got accepted into her graduate program at UNC Chapel Hill, we decided to make the big move to North Carolina. With the help of my parents, we drove across the country and moved to Durham. We’ve been here for over a year now, and we love it! The sense of community is strong, and there are great opportunities for growth and development. In July of 2023, I started my current position here at Triangle Spine Center in Brier Creek as a chiropractic physician, and I have enjoyed meeting new people and helping them get out of pain and achieve their activity goals. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Although I’m an optimist, to say that it was a smooth road would be doing young professionals a disservice. I got out into practice right before the state of Oregon shut down for COVID-19. With chiropractic care being very hands-on, it was difficult to strategize our clinic with people being afraid to step outside. Thankfully, we were already in the digital age, and I found myself scrolling endlessly on social media when the idea hit me: If I can’t help people in-office, then I can try and reach people and offer help via social media! I hoped on TikTok and started posting videos on how to find relief with stretching and exercise. Due to everyone sheltering in place and scrolling social media, I gained a following, which then lead to in-office visits and clinic growth. 

Another struggle that I’ve had more recently is a philosophical struggle in the field of chiropractic. When I first moved to North Carolina, I joined a well-known clinic that offered me a place to land with a competitive salary and benefits. It was relatively smooth as I started; however, the model of the clinic did not match my philosophy of patient care, and that quickly wore me down. My mental health started to deteriorate, which affected my overall quality of life. Thankfully, with the help of my partner (now fiancée) and supporting family and friends, I was able to change courses and step into a clinic that matches my approach for patient care. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a chiropractic physician at Triangle Spine Center in Brier Creek. When most people think of chiropractors, they think of cracking joints and bones, but we are much more than that. We take the time to assess your body and the way it moves, finding areas that can be improved and setting goals for our patients to achieve in order to feel their best. Chiropractors diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders with manual medicine: improving ranges of motion and strength to promote better function and ultimately less pain. Historically, chiropractors and physical therapists were direct competitors, constantly trying to bring each other down, but with newer developments in research and modalities of care, we have found that the treatment in physical therapy and chiropractic offices are meshing together in order to create the best outcomes for patients. 

At Triangle Spine Center, we treat the whole family! We host individualized treatment plans for day-to-day aches and pain, injuries and trauma, youth and professional athletes, weekend warriors, those who need palliative care, and everything in between. We are more than your rack-em-and-crack-em chiropractor that you’ll only see for 2 minutes at a time: we offer personalized chiropractic care based on your tolerance, soft tissue manipulation (think muscle release, Graston muscle scraping, etc.), electric stimulation, laser therapy, spinal decompression, and rehabilitative exercises that will progress you at a faster rate, and get you back to doing what you love. 

Since starting practice in 2019, I have found a particular interest in pregnancy and pediatric patients. These populations don’t fit the standard chiropractic treatment plan, so I like to work with them on how we can set and achieve their specific goals, whether it be a successful VBAC, helping baby breastfeed more effectively, returning to sport after an injury, or even just making sure they are developing appropriately! For the other population of patients, I love sitting down with them and finding a route of care that works for them, especially if they have been dismissed from other providers in the past. Health and wellness is an ongoing journey, and regardless of where a person is at on that journey, I want to make sure that they are heard and that they know that someone is on their side. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
This one is tough! I’m typically an open book; however, it was only more recently that I started to communicate that I have anxiety and depression. When most people meet me for the first time, it’s hard to see my bubbly personality and smiling face trapped in an ongoing downward spiral, which is why it is surprising for most people when I communicate that. 

The reason I started to talk about it more openly is because you typically DON’T know if someone is struggling with their mental health, so to hear other people in your tangible world talk about their struggles it makes managing anxiety and depression a lot more manageable. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.trianglespinecenter.com/
• Instagram: @drbyronagapay
• Other: TikTok: @drbyronagapay

Image Credits
Kylia Ahuna
Rolly Agapay
Rowena Agapay