The newly minted Dr. Peter Wolodymyr Mulyk headed west and found himself in Edmonton. But the climate was too reminiscent of Winnipeg, so he carried on through the Rockies, arriving in Vancouver where the climate and scenery captivated him. In December of 1980 he joined the practice of Dr. Donald MacMillan, a 30-year veteran. Peter then became partner in a Surrey location, and finally, in 1984, took up sole ownership of a practice at Denman and Robson in Vancouver. By 1999 he found that the rent for this location was becoming excessive, and in May he purchased the current facility on Alberni Street.

    Peter’s interest in the heavens and all things astral becomes apparent on entering his reception area. Referring to himself as ‘Galactic Chiropractic,’ he proudly displays a poster given to him by NASA. He relates, “I was so persistent in trying to present my ideas to them that they called me to a luncheon and presented the poster in recognition of my efforts.” Continuing with this theme, Peter is decorating the windows and walls of his facility with space murals.

    After ten years in Chiropractic Peter was in search of a specialty, wishing to channel his knowledge and experience to the ultimate benefit of others. This came in the form of sports sciences. Prior to the mid- 80s, the sports medicine establishment shunned the field of Chiropractic. It was Dr. Leroy Perry who crossed the divide at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. At first banned from the stadium by physicians, he set up shop in the parking lot and soon had a lineup of athletes awaiting treatment. From then on, “the athletes refused to go to events without Dr. Perry. “He broke the ice for us in North America.”

    Now a standing candidate for a fellowship in sports sciences, Peter donates countless hours at athletic events, such as the Pan Am games, tending to the aches and strains of competition, and assisting with athletic performance enhancement.

    Peter was treating a patient for spinal complaints when the conversation turned to the gentleman’s participation in Ironman and Triathlon. Describing himself as, “a little chubby fellow running along enjoying life,” Peter’s stout appearance contradicts the stereotypical image of a triathelete. He trains regularly for local and international events – all of this with a pacemaker implanted in his chest.

    Dr. Peter Mulyk has a philosophy that extends to his methodology of treatment. Believing that the medical community is often quick in resorting to drugs and surgery, he treats patients with a variety of techniques that include natural supplements and neuro-emotional therapy. “I have a passion for helping people. I love what I do and don’t consider it work.” He adds, “Chiropractic isn’t just moving bones, there’s a whole connection with the individual. We have to disconnect our mental barriers and preconditioning to overcome fears and phobias.” He relates that athletes he treats often have the skills to excel but their mental approach inhibits their success, describing some of his methods as “a little voodoo stuff.” His sense of humour and enthusiasm are an integral part of his commitment to his patients.

    The road from childhood in Winnipeg to professional achievement has not been without speed bumps. Peter was diagnosed as having Bi-polar disorder in his mid-teens. Psychiatrists and tranquilizers became part of his life, but results were inconsistent resulting in years of mood swings. Highs and lows would sweep over him with alarming regularity. He recalls, “I would go 100 MPH for months, sleeping three or four hours a night and accomplishing great things, then wake up one morning in the depths of depression.” A chance meeting on Vancouver Island was Peter’s salvation. He met Dr. Abram Hoffer, known as the father of vitamin B3, who introduced him to a program of orthomolecular nutrition involving exercise, vitamins B3, B6, C, and Zinc. The extremes that had plagued Peter for years became a memory, and he is now a firm believer in this approach, employing it in his own practice.

    The aforementioned pacemaker resulted from events that changed Peter Mulyk’s life both physically and spiritually. This came to pass five years ago when he literally died seven times in one day. With his lady friend at the time, he collapsed without warning or prior symptoms. When he quickly awakened he felt fine and couldn’t offer any explanation. They carried on, but while driving it happened again, this time accompanied by nausea and dizziness. Peter was administered CPR and taken to emergency where his heart stopped a further five times that day. Regular tests revealed nothing. Drawing on his training Peter suggested they do a provocative vascular test that provided the answer – a previously unknown heart condition. The resulting pacemaker has removed any worries of a recurrence, but the experience left him with a reinforced sense of spirituality and a new focus on life. With an upbringing in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Peter wanted to further explore that side of his persona. He recalls, “I didn’t see the so-called white light, I got mad at God for not allowing me to get closer.” His curiosity led him to investigate different religions, and he soon stumbled on a book entitled “Conversations With God.” The message he absorbed from this helped him to come to terms with what had happened. “We’re not here to learn lessons, we’re here to remember what we know in our hearts to be true.” After this experience, he says, “what I’ve accomplished now comes from the heart; my life has turned around in the last five years.”

    Also espousing the philosophy of new age guru Eckhart Tolle, “The Presence of Now,” Peter says that we forget about being ourselves. He feels that by using this philosophy with patients he can inter-relate with them; “they open up, and I open up with them. I have fun with people and they pick up more this way.”

    Dr. Mulyk believes that as Chiropractors, ”we have the power to treat without using drugs or surgery. We become one with the patient. With nutrition, biochemistry, and the mental aspect we can get on their side and that’s when miracles start happening.” But he realizes that some people aren’t ready for an alternative approach to health care. “I see what they’re ready for; sometimes we just talk.”

    Peter Mulyk is proud of his heritage, and is a former musician and Ukrainian dancer. One of his greatest thrills was a visit to Vancouver by the Virsky Dance Troupe from Kiev. He received a call asking if he could help with some of their dancers’ physical complaints, and proceeded to look at 137 dancers in one session. So great was their gratitude that they invited him to accompany the tour. Peter was sorely tempted, but his many commitments forced him to decline. Chiropractic treatment is scarce or unknown in Ukraine, but an American practitioner is setting up a clinic in Kiev to which Peter is hoping to donate time, his fluency in the language being to great advantage.

    Peter also feels quite strongly that, as Chiropractic changes and new techniques are developed, this province is lagging behind other jurisdictions. The ‘Slavic Maverick’ crosses swords with the establishment at times, feeling that they should open up to new ideas. He is running for the board of directors of the British Columbia Chiropractic Association in an effort to implement some of the techniques in use elsewhere.

    Dr. Peter Mulyk maintains a hectic pace that would tire many younger men. His commitments to his patients, sports activities, and his philosophy are reflected in his outgoing demeanor and enthusiasm for life.

    Galactic Chiropractic, Dr. Peter Mulyk.1318 Alberni St., Vancouver.
604-685-9416