Naa Ashietey, D.C. (`11) and Sarah Marfo, D.C. (`24) bring preventative care to Ghana and beyond.
For Naa Ashietey, D.C. (`11) and Sarah Marfo, D.C. (`24), careers in chiropractic have been shaped by their shared homeland, Palmer pride, and a commitment to expanding lifelong wellness in communities around the world.
Dr. Ashietey grew up in Ghana, Africa, knowing she wanted to become a doctor. At Palmer, she found a curriculum that aligned with her interest in natural medicine and encouraged exploration. “I could try so many different approaches,” she says. “I have one of the most integrated clinics today because of that.”
She returned to Ghana in 2012 and opened Nova Wellness Center the following year in a small two-bedroom apartment. Establishing credibility was one of Dr. Ashietey’s earliest challenges. “People were used to chiropractors being expatriates — usually white and male,” she says. “I was young, Ghanaian, and female, so people questioned who I was.”
Her ability to speak three local languages helped bridge that gap. “I could explain what I was doing in a way people understood,” she says. “This is something other chiropractors didn’t have.”
Fifteen years on, Dr. Ashietey has developed Nova Wellness Center into a technologically advanced clinic in two of Ghana’s 16 regions, offering integrated care that includes chiropractic, rehabilitation, regenerative therapies, and structured wellness education. “Health care in Ghana has always been very focused on treating disease once it shows up,” she says. “But we don’t put enough attention into prevention. Wellness is not a luxury. It is a must.”
In December, Dr. Ashietey received the Global Industry Award for Health Excellence, recognizing her leadership and innovation in health care. “When those awards come,” she says, “it’s a reminder that something is working and that people really need what we do.”
Dr. Marfo, founder of Rapha Chiropractic Care, a Florida-based, faith-centered practice, brings a similar commitment to prevention and education. Born in Ghana and raised in the U.S. from age six, she grew up in a culture that deeply respected physicians but often sought health care only in moments of crisis.
While studying at Florida State University and serving on a medical mission trip to Costa Rica, the calling to pursue chiropractic kept resurfacing. “I liked that chiropractic felt more intimate and impactful,” she says. “During my pre-med path, I saw firsthand how quickly patient visits moved — sometimes up to 50 individuals a day. I knew in my heart I wanted to practice differently. I wanted time to listen. Time to educate. Time to walk alongside my patients in their healing journey. Rapha Chiropractic was built on that foundation — relationship-centered, faith-guided, and committed to whole-person care.”
At Palmer, she found strong mentorship through faculty and visiting alumni. “All those people who poured into me made me who I am today,” she says proudly.
“As a kid from Ghana, it was hard not to feel left out, but the more I discovered my calling, the more confident and grounded I became. At Palmer, I found a community that reflected what I value most — connection over competition.”
In early 2025, shortly after graduating from Palmer, she joined a chiropractic mission trip to Haiti, providing care in underserved communities and adjusting infants and toddlers at a local birthing center.
“This mission trip has been the most rewarding moment in my career so far,” she says. “I got to see the sacrifice the parents made to get their children to the clinic. Seeing their vulnerability and trust in me when they’re at their last resort — I feel that same trust when I’m back home in Florida. Once people understand what chiropractic can do, they start to see how it fits into their everyday lives, not just when they’re in pain.”
Follow for more
Dr. Marfo also shares her journey on social media, encouraging students and young chiropractors to follow in her footsteps.
“You can make a difference,” she says. “And you can also show the difference you’re making. When we keep it to ourselves, people don’t realize the opportunities they could be pursuing to make the world a better place.”
Follow along on Instagram at @dr.sarahmarfo.dc.
