By: Sarah Grassel
Photography by: Finer Details Artistry
For Wendy Iszler, her family, pups, patients, and jeep are everything she needs. Mother of three, Wendy grew up in Mandan, North Dakota with her parents and sister Kristi. “We loved boating and swimming on the Missouri River,” Wendy reminicies.
From an early age, she grew an appreciation for the outdoors. Wendy knew that when she started growing her family, she wanted the same life for them: outdoor recreation, midwest hospitality, and a community that supports and builds each other up.
Wendy’s three kids are spread out over the country, and her eldest is on his way overseas with the Marine Corp. Together, she has seven grandchildren. “I love traveling to see my kids and grandkids when I am not working,” Wendy says.
Before making her way to the Hills with her family, Wendy completed her fourth class engineering degree in process plant technology more than 20 years ago. As a child, she wanted to be a blues singer, but with her degree she became a turbine operator in a plant in Wisconsin, built Bobcats in North Dakota, and then soon after, everything changed.
Wendy was in a car accident that left her in immense pain and weakened her body and strength. Negatively impacting her work and career, she reluctantly went to a chiropractor as a sort of last resort.
Wendy explains, “The doctor explained the extent of the injury and what was going on with my body.” Sending her off with a treatment plan that extended beyond Advil, Wendy began noticing dramatic improvements. “I began to see immediate relief,” she adds.
With her in the accident, Wendy’s young son also changed as a result of injuries. It was different from what Wendy experienced; her son hadn’t complained of any pain from the accident, but he was not sleeping well, was unhappy, and more irritable.
Taking him into the same chiropractor that helped her, Wendy noticed improvement in her son as well. The experience overall is what inspired her to go back to school and pursue a career as a doctor of chiropractic.
“I became interested in how it worked and asked the doctor I went to if I could shadow him,” Wendy says. “There, I learned that chiropractic care treated pain and many different problems including infertility, headaches, etc. I was in awe of how people would walk in with so much pain and would turn around and walk out with a weight lifted off their shoulders.”
Moving with her family to Minnesota, Wendy received her doctorate degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University. Shortly after, she and her family moved to Rapid City.
Wendy adds, “Once I learned about the body’s innate ability to heal and the benefits of adjustments, I was compelled to quit my job and undertake the next eight years of education to become a chiropractor myself. It was the best decision I ever made.”
After reaching out to a few practices in the Hills, Wendy made a trip by herself to explore the possibilities of working in the area. Wendy was met with a multitude of responses from those looking for additional practitioners, but she accepted a position and moved in the summer of 2008.
When she was very little, Wendy’s family actually lived in Rapid City, so she already had a taste of what life in the Hills was like. Unhappy with the culture and pace of life in Minnesota, Wendy knew she wanted a change for her family.
“I love the outdoors, but I hated being mauled to death by mosquitoes in Minnesota,” she jokes. “I wanted my kids to have a life of activities and exposure to outdoor recreation with a nice community. We found that in Rapid City.”
Outside of the office, Wendy loves to explore the Hills with her rescue pup Ryla and her blue, two door jeep. Nothing is more freeing than taking a drive in the fresh mountain air with the roof off, windows down, and beautiful views.
Wendy shares, “Oftentimes, I get off work and head right into the Hills. It clears my mind and helps me relax.” Some of her favorite trails are just behind her house including one that leads to a secluded campground and lake.
As of right now, Solutions Chiropractic offers conservative chiropractic care, massage therapy and physical therapy as well as lymph and redlight therapy . They also have nutritional consultations, available supplements, and house an additional business, Balanced Healthcare.
Having different medically trained professionals and practitioners helps more solutions become easily available and accessible for patients in pain. Serving as an umbrella, Solutions encompasses all possible solutions. “I want to build a network of practitioners I genuinely trust to refer patients to when needed to get them the best care possible,” Dr. Wendy smiles.
As a house for these different practitioners, it also becomes easier for them to enjoy their craft and help patients without having to worry about all of the day-to-day behind the scene details of office work that take the fun out of healing a patient.
Together, the professionals all work as a team encouraging a “be healthy, stay healthy” lifestyle. The efforts made by Dr. Wendy reflects her passion to encourage this lifestyle as a whole. She really strives to treat the condition rather than a symptom.
Ryla was originally Regan’s pup, but whenRegan went away to school, Wendy became a mom to Ryla. Patients can see Ryla throughout the day wandering the office putting smiles on faces and begging for some pets!
Wendy and her family have had dogs for as long as she can remember, a tradition that she continued in her own family. Along with Ryla, Wendy’s family dog, Piglet, stays at home. Piglet is eleven years old and is finding it hard to get around. The two have really bonded. Wendy laughs, “Ryla brought Piglet out of his shell. She treats him like ‘her dog’ and grabs his leash to take him out in the yard.”
In 2015, Dr. Wendy felt ready to expand and Solutions Chiropractic in Rapid City was born. While she loves being a chiropractor, she wants to be able to offer more for her patients. “After having a conversation with a colleague about a patient who was struggling to find the best resolution, we began searching for new options,” she says.
Dr. Wendy saw a change in people during the pandemic. She and other leaders in medicine noticed a pattern of terror and devastation as they watched the world events unfold. “I want to give them their power back. My job is to teach patients things like joy and empowerment,”she adds.
Just a stepping stone toward her ten year goal, Dr. Wendy has talked about starting a podcast to make more information available to the public as well as expanding the Solutions Name and ideology. The goal is to be nationwide by 2030.
Dr. Wendy says, “I am trying to up my game on the online platform to reach people where they are at.” Having an online presence will allow patients and individuals not only nationwide, but worldwide to tune into their health while not having to put their lives at risk. “This is where medicine should be going,” she adds.
Dr. Wendy is passionate about her work. She pours all of her efforts into a better future for medicine and a better future for her patients. Her one-stop-shop dream isn’t for her, it’s for all those who are suffering. “What once seemed like something I just wanted to do, now seems like something I have to do,” Wendy passionately states.
Imagine being able to go to one location to meet all of your physical needs. That’s the dream for Dr. Wendy Iszler.
5 Things About Wendy Iszler
What Is Your Best Beauty Secret?
Wendy: My best beauty secret is coconut oil. I use it on my face and in my hair. Also, sleep and nutrition matter!
What Simple Change Has Made Your Life Better?
Wendy: Treat yourself like you’re someone you love.
How do You Spend Your Sundays?
Wendy: Moving slowly in the mornings, hot coffee or bone broth by the window. In the winter I like to food prep and in the summer I go out into the hills in my jeep.
What’s The Oldest Thing You Own?
Wendy: I have a nativity set one of my grandmothers made and i have the other grandmother’s Christmas cactus that continues to grow and bloom.
How Would You Spend Your 100th Birthday?
Wendy:With my children and grandchildren and however many generations there will be. I definitely want cake.
