Dr. Marissa Bentham graduated Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, California in 2001. Upon graduation, Dr. Marissa was also presented with the Clinical Excellence Award and named to the Pi Tao Delta Chiropractic Honours Society. In her final year at Palmer College, Dr. Marissa was named to the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities” which recognizes students for their leadership ability in the areas of scholastic aptitude, community service and extracurricular activities.
During her time at chiropractic college, Dr. Marissa was honoured to be a member of the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush, one of the premier dance teams in the NFL. She was able to perform not only at the 49ers home games, but at many special events throughout North America and Europe.
Prior to entering Palmer College, Dr. Marissa studied biology at Simon Fraser University. But her journey to becoming a chiropractor and her passion for wellness began in early childhood.
“My road to becoming a chiropractor began with my childhood experience of watching my Mom battle with Multiple Sclerosis. I recognized from a very young age just how precious and valuable our health is. It is the foundation of everything else that we do. As a teenager I began exploring these questions... "What does it mean to be healthy?" "How do we know when we're healthy?" " What are the things we need to pay attention to, so that we may stay well throughout our lives?”
I love how chiropractic examines the relationship between the structure and the function of the body and that it works to restore balance and promote the body’s innate healing potential. I have been practicing for 22 years and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to connect with patients on their healing journey. It has been a rewarding experience to do the work I love.”
Dr. Marissa is especially passionate about role that our thoughts and emotions play in our physical health and loves to promote all things “Mindfit”. She believes strongly in the power of daily health practices like meditation and spending time in nature. Dr. Marissa is also the cohost of the podcast “Life Conversations” which reflects on wellbeing, relationships and meaningful work. Dr. Marissa loves Vancouver Island and embraces the opportunity for outdoor adventures with her family. You can often find her on the water or hiking and running trails. A dedicated hockey mom, Dr. Marissa loves cheering on her kids, Caleb and Summer.