About Dr. Kerr
Heading Here
Dr. Kerr wanted to be a kinesiologist at the age of 18 after experiencing positive health changes from her care of a kinesiologist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Medical College of Georgia to pursue the traditional medical field and study our healthcare system in the United States. She practiced in a variety of fields including surgery, high risk perinatal, Labor and Delivery, outpatient surgery, and spinal surgery. She was also a traveling nurse, experiencing four different hospitals in three states over a two year period. Dr. Kerr became well versed in the hospital systems and fine tuned her diagnostic skills. Nursing was such an integral part of her journey because it helped strengthen her philosophy to heal the body naturally. Dr. Kerr decided to follow her passion to help people heal and prevent illness and injury, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Life University receiving her Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Dr. April Kerr is a clinical kinesiologist and chiropractor at West Family Chiropractic in Sandy Springs. As a local Atlantan, she is dedicated to empowering the community to experience improved health and understanding of the human body. Using her unique perspective, she is committed to helping bridge the gap between allopathic (traditional) and holistic medicine. She has a passion for educating patients to become their own health care advocates to heighten their quality of life. She also continues to teach classes at Kennesaw State University in phlebotomy and EKG. Her diverse experience in the allopathic field helps her in the diagnosis and treatment of the most challenging cases. Dr. Kerr considers her relationships with family and friends a top priority. After marrying the love of her life, Richard, she next added mother to her list of titles in August 2016 welcoming her daughter, Addyson. She enjoys any activity with a competitive twist or up in the mountain air. She is passionate about helping others and experiencing all that life has to offer.
The Rest of the Story
Heading Here
I’m originally from a big Catholic family based out of Atlanta, GA. My four sibilings and I had a blast growing up and discovering the world together. I was an active kid playing basketball, volleyball, and riding horses as my main focuses.
In the third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Woods, saved me by pointing out to my parents that some how I had gotten this far and actually couldn’t read. I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and ADHD. After my evaluation, my parents, under advisement of doctors put me on Ritalin along with specialized tutors to help me “catch up.” I remember as a child hating the way the medicine would make me feel. I used to “forget” to go to the school nurse quite often to get my medications in hopes that they would “forget” to call me over the school intercom to come to the office. I remember feeling so stupid when I had to go to a special reading class. When I returned to class for other subjects with my peers, I was constantly asked to read out loud which caused complete panic. So, at a young age, I was under the impression that I was not smart and that I hated reading.
I made a deal with my parents starting at Marist school in 7th grade, that if I could keep my grades at or above a B average that I would no longer have to take medication. I thank my parents every day for giving me that choice. Although school was never easy for me, I never took medication again, continuing on to earn my bachelors degree in nursing and doctorate in chiropractic.
During high school, I started to have moderate problems with my gastrointestinal system. Despite still staying active in competitive sports, I started to have an increase in IBS symptoms and fatigue. I remember my mom thought at times I was narcoleptic because I could fall asleep anywhere within seconds. Looking back now on my health journey, I know as a doctor I was suffering from extreme food allergies that were annihilating my immune system on a daily basis, leading to a leaky gut. It was recommended that I take anti-spasmodic medications for my IBS.
Thanks to my mother, I started seeing Dr. Kenneth West, a chiropractor and clinical kinesiologist at the age of 15 years old. Originally, I was seeing him for a sports related injury, but he ended up changing the entire trajectory of my life. Dr. West ended up identifying that I was allergic to gluten, dairy, and corn. Of course, it took me about 5 plus years to listen to him as a teenager. But, when I made the choice to change my diet and eliminate the foods that I was allergic to my quality of life improved dramatically.
Unfortunately, the years I lived on Pepto Bismol and Immodium took its toll on my health. Although I felt better within weeks, I think it took several years for my health to fully return. Boy do I wish I had listened earlier! But, we are all on our own journey and we make our decisions when we are ready. Dr. West was able to light a path; it was my decision to walk that path.
I was about 30 lbs overweight throughout my 20’s. I required 10 plus hours a sleep a day to function and still be a nice person. I had all my gastrointestinal disturbances, IBS, PCOS, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disfunction, hormonal imbalances, skin rashes, chronic pain in my back, brain fog, and mood swings. I was a mess! I committed to changing my diet officially when I was 25 years old and by 30 I was myself again.
I love helping people become educated to be advocates for their own health. The road is not always the easiest but the quality of life reward is the big one! I first enjoyed being a nurse learning the ins and outs of allopathic medicine. My nursing background really helps me in the office on a daily basis with the complex health challenges of my patients. I loved nursing, but since my experience with Dr. West in my teens, my heart was set on being a kinesiologist and chiropractor. I absolutely love my job and know that it was worth every sacrifice along the way. I often ask patients if you could do anything professionally what would it be? I’m 100% living my dream and I couldn’t be more thankful to all the people that helped me along my path.
There is not a magic bullet fix to our health challenges. Often times, there are multiple reasons contributing to dysfunction, pain, or disease. But, if you are willing to allow yourself to be guided while making lifestyle changes, your quality of life will improve.