This past month, my wife, our boys, and I had the privilege of visiting the clinic of our fellow Life West alumnus, Dr. Kim B. Khauv (’00), who recently passed. We were warmly received by his surviving wife, Aireen, and by Dr. Mark, who is now overseeing the clinic in its new home at Bonifacio Stopover, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila.
Dr. Kim was more than a chiropractor. He was a passionate health educator, philanthropist, and servant-leader. Featured in the Life West Alumni Spotlight, his story highlighted a remarkable journey: from surviving the Khmer Rouge as a child, to earning his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life West in 2000, to serving thousands of patients across the United States and the Philippines. He also held a Master’s in Public Health from UCLA and was one of only 24 chiropractors worldwide providing chiropractic care to active-duty military at Navy Medical Center San Diego.
In 2019, Dr. Kim and Aireen moved to the Philippines to raise their two daughters and fulfill a shared vision: creating holistic health centers rooted in chiropractic philosophy. Together, they launched Well Balanced Chiropractic Wellness Center, which became a trusted clinic in Metro Manila, especially during the pandemic, when access to non-hospital care was critical. Known for his tagline, “You’ll be fine when your spine is aligned,” Dr. Kim was celebrated for providing safe, evidence-based chiropractic care while empowering people to live healthier and happier lives.
Dr. Kim also embodied Life West’s mission of Lasting Purpose. He co-founded the non-profit Well-Balanced World, organizing service trips that brought Life West interns and volunteer chiropractors to Cambodia and the Philippines. Through these programs, countless people in underserved areas experienced chiropractic care for the first time. His legacy of outreach and mentorship continues to inspire many of us.
For me personally, Dr. Kim had a profound influence when I was deciding to pursue upper cervical chiropractic. The Life West community will deeply miss him. Yet, it is reassuring to see his legacy carried forward, not only through Aireen and their family, but also through the community he built and the patients he served.
During my visit, Aireen and I discussed the possibility of reigniting his service trip program, with plans to establish new outreach locations in the Philippines in 2026. I would like to extend this opportunity to all alumni who feel called to continue Dr. Kim’s mission.
If you are interested in learning more or being part of the planning process, please reach out to me directly at joseph@truehealthcenters.net.
Together, we can honor Dr. Kim’s life by carrying forward his vision of service, education, and chiropractic care that transforms lives.
Joseph Ibe, DC
Secretary, Life West Alumni Association
