After 25 years of chiropractic practice on Vashon, Dr. Lauren Chinn is announcing the closing of his island office. The last day for the office will be July 16.

Dr. Chinn said that he does so with great reticence and sadness. “I need to slow down a little bit and spend more time with family,” he said.

After earning his doctorate in 1977, Chinn spent two years working in a family practice setting under the tutelage of his father, Dr. Wilbur Chinn. He then went into solo practice in March of 1980 in Burien. He opened his Vashon clinic in 1994.

Dr. Chinn noted that he did look—unsuccessfully—for someone to assume the practice. “There are only a few old-timers who practice the way I do,” he said. Chinn’s postgraduate training included studies in orthopedics, neurology, physical therapy, rehabilitation, massage therapy and myofascial mobilization. “I was unable to find anyone who could continue in the tradition to which my patients’ have become accustomed,” he said. “That is not to say that what I do is better than anyone else, but it is a peculiar admixture of all of those things that people have come to expect from me.”

Chinn will continue working in his Burien office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for as long as he, and his office manager Patty Murray, are “physically able to do it.” He also said that any of his Vashon patients are welcome to come to his Burien office if they find themselves in the area—all patient records will be retained and available.

“I want to thank all of my patients and allied healthcare providers for their support and confidence that they have shown me over the past 25 years,” he said.