The Back Story
Many people describe their careers in medicine as a calling; they have an unyielding urge to help others. But for others, including Dr. Kara K. Little, the pursuit is more personal.
Kara Little was 14 when she first saw a chiropractor. Her mother, a nurse who valued a more holistic view of healthcare, was worried about her daughter’s posture and sought a remedy. For Kara, this early experience was so positive that her frequent visits may have been influenced more by the practitioner’s demeanor than by the improvement of her spine.
That doctor, Oliver F. Blaker, started his career in 1933 and was known as Maryland’s “grandfather of chiropractic” long before his death in 2003. Dr. Little was “fascinated” by him.
“I just adored him. He would see patients at his house starting at 6:30 a.m. until all were seen, then head to the office for the rest of the day,” she recounts, adding, “6:30 a.m., and there were people waiting in their cars!”
“…And here I am today!” she says.
Dr. Little has spent the past 24 years at Excelsia Injury Care, where she has helped injured patients find relief and recover from pain. After more than two decades, Dr. Little knows what sets Excelsia apart from other healthcare facilities. “Our multi-disciplinary approach provides a seamless, patient-centered experience.” If she could make one change in the healthcare industry, she would ensure the integration of physical healing with emotional healing. “Both significantly impact the outcome of the patient’s overall recovery.” (See Behavioral Health after an Accident for more about how Excelsia embraces this integration.)
Dr. Little’s guiding motto is a quote by author George Eliot: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
“This quote has always resonated with me, as it is very empowering. It inspires taking action and pursuing goals. No matter what stage of life one may be in, growth and change are always possible.” Fittingly, George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, who adopted it so her work would be taken seriously in the literary world.
A Patient’s Back Story
“I go into treating patients with the thought that each has a story. I love when they share that story with us,” she says before recounting a recent success story during Patient Recognition Week. “This young man was in a car accident with his mom and injured his back and neck. We got to chatting about basketball and found we had that same favorite college team (go, Duke!). [The patient] was bummed because he couldn’t play basketball, so we needed to get him treated and back on the court ASAP!” Dr. Little and the Excelsia team tailored a specific rehabilitation program for him, and before long, he was back doing what he loves. “Seeing patients transition from significant pain and uncertainty to confidence as they resume their daily routines without pain makes what we do so rewarding,” Dr. Little says.
Recently, she found a thank-you card in her mailbox from the mother of that patient, telling Dr. Little how much she appreciated all of the folks at Excelsia Injury Care for helping her son return to the basketball court.
“What I love most about what I do is witnessing how the patient-focused care our team provides helps patients get better. It is very rewarding to see the smiles on their faces.”
What does “rise to excellence” mean to Dr. Little? “It means being consistent and continuously striving to improve. Excellence isn’t a one-time achievement, it’s a continuous dedication to performing at your best,” she says.
Kara K. Little, DC, is a chiropractor on the Clinical Care Review Team at our Dundalk location.
About Excelsia
Born in 1993, Excelsia Injury Care’s mission is to restore quality of life through patient-centric care and support for those injured in a motor vehicle or work-related accident. With over 100 patient care centers across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Mountain West regions, our vision is to be the leading provider of injury care—setting the standard of excellence in the communities we serve and expanding access to high-quality care nationwide.
At Excelsia, we offer the full continuum of care with an integrated care delivery model. Our diverse team of medical specialists provides the full spectrum of treatment, including physical rehabilitation, medical care, and other ancillary services. We are committed to supporting patients through prompt treatment, successful recovery outcomes, and full management of the complex insurance claim reimbursement process. With Excelsia, your clients are never far from the care they need—with the compassion they deserve.