WH E R E ARE T H EY NO W
Gerard Boehmer, DC, DACAN
Logan Alumnus Promotes Chiropractic Through Annual Bass Fishing Tournament On any given weekend, you can expect to find Dr. Boehmer and his wife on the water with a fishing rod and some bait. Together, the two travel the world in search of the best fishing holes. In fact, it was Dr. Boehmer’s long-standing love for fishing that first inspired him to organize a bass fishing tournament for chiropractors 31 years ago. After graduating from Logan University in April 1983, Dr. Boehmer, a thirdgeneration chiropractor, joined his father at their family practice in St. Louis, which his grandfather opened in 1922. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Boehmer opened his own practice, Maryland Heights Chiropractic Centre, now located in Bridgeton, Mo.; but soon after he felt a need to do more. “I wanted to keep promoting chiropractic,” said Dr. Boehmer, and he wanted to have fun while doing so. In 1984, the Missouri Chiropractors Bass Fishers Annual Spring Bass Tournament was born, with the help of David Dolinar, DC, who graduated from Logan in 1970. 28 SPRING 2016
The two-day “buddy tournament,” in which participants compete in pairs, is held each spring at the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri. “The Lake of the Ozarks is one of the best spring bass lakes in the country that I’ve fished,” said Dr. Boehmer, who placed second in the 2015 tournament with his partner. “I always fish this tournament, but I’m more concerned with making sure people had great fishing, a great time and a great meal.” Over the course of the weekend, participants compete for raffles, trophies, cash prizes and fishing gear. Afterwards the participants gather for a dinner after “weigh-in” on Saturday evening. Outside a weekend of fishing and camaraderie, the tournament has a meaningful impact not only within the chiropractic profession, but also in the lives it touches. Since the mid-1980s, the event has evolved to include a charitable component, and has supported organizations such
as the Missouri State Chiropractors Association and Oklahaven Children’s Chiropractic Center, an Oklahoma Citybased organization helping sick and disabled children through chiropractic care. “These kids need help, so I wanted to create awareness of Oklahaven,” Dr. Boehmer said. “Leaving your mark on this world and helping people with chiropractic care is what it’s all about.” Dr. Boehmer is passionate about providing care and joy to others, as well as contributing to health care as a whole— something he credits to Logan, his father and grandfather, Drs. William A. Boehmer Jr. and Sr., also Logan alumni. “One of the greatest things Logan helped me realize is that I can be in the boat—and not just the fishing boat, but the boat of life—with anyone in the medical field, and I can compete,” said Dr. Boehmer. “You can work around pretty much anything if you choose to be educated enough to do so.” That passion instilled in him is also the reason he continues to host the fishing tournament year after year.
This year’s bass fishing tournament will be held April 30 through May 1 at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. It is open to DCs, their patients and friends, past participants and limited public. Contact Dr. Boehmer at 3394 McKelvey Rd., Suite 108, Bridgeton, Mo. 63044 or call 314-344-4438 for more information.