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Some stories are best told when starting from the end. And that was certainly the case when interviewing Michelle Young recently about her work as a Patient Coordinator at Laser Spine Institute. Much has been made about people in customer-care careers being verbose, perhaps even animated at times. But in a coolly confident, show-don't-tell fashion, Michelle is the Laser Spine Institute equivalent of Erin Brockovich this day. She sits silent for a moment scrolling intently through pictures on her phone.

When Chad Benson drives an hour to work each morning, he does so with an eagerness matched only by superheroes. Chad is one of 34 Patient Coordinator's at Laser Spine Institute whose professional contributions exemplify the highest standards of customer service. Through a combination of hard work, responsiveness and genuine concern for others' well being, Chad is able to bring people out of a foggy realm of suffering and into a place where they know they're being helped. "I'm so focused on my patients," says Chad. "I treat them all the same and I give them the attention and care that I'd give my own mother."

If you're overweight, you already know the countless reasons why shedding those excess pounds can be beneficial to your overall health. But, if you also suffer from chronic neck or back pain, did you know that reaching a healthy body weight can also serve a positive purpose for your spine?

Aside from reducing the risk of heart problems and the other overall health benefits that losing weight can offer, dropping those frustrating extra pounds can also ease the burden your spine has to deal with every day. This, in turn, can help slow or prevent the natural degeneration of the anatomical components of the spine, which quite often is the true cause behind chronic back or neck pain. Whether you're suffering from a bulging disc, pinched nerve, spinal arthritis, or some other degenerative spine condition, reducing the stress and strain on your spine caused by excess body weight can only help.

If you suffer from chronic neck and back pain, you have probably seen the initials M.D. and D.O. next to the names of surgeons. You might have heard that there is a significant difference between the capabilities of medical professionals with these two degrees and that perhaps you might receive a different level of care based on what letters follow a physicians' name. Dr. Michael Perry explains that there is not much at odds between the two, especially when it comes to helping you find relief from your back and neck pain.

Q: What do all of those letters stand for?
A: M.D. stands for Doctor of Medicine and D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

Q: What is the education level of each of these doctors?
A: Both M.D.s and D.O.s complete four years of basic medical education, spend three to six years in residency and can choose a specialty area of medicine - such as psychiatry or surgery. They are both licensed by the state, and are internationally recognized as medical doctors.

Laser Spine Institute is happy to announce donation recipients after the inaugural year of the Choose Your Charity contest.

The contest was set up to distribute $7,000 to six separate charities this holiday season. The following financial donations were made to these charities:

• Humane Society of Tampa Bay: $4,000
• The Spine Foundation: $1,000
• Alex's Lemonade Stand: $800
• Feeding America: $600
• Operation Homefront: $400
• Esping Family Foundation: $200