Alumni Stories Archives - 51��

Pediatrics and Pregnancy: Finding Her Passion in Practice

Andrew Cook — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:49:02 +0000

Q&A with Jamielee Shanahan, D.C., ’10, of Harmony Chiropractic in North Attleboro, MA

Why did you choose pediatrics and pregnancy as your specific area of focus, and what do you like most about this work? Why is it important for pregnant women, babies and young children to be under chiropractic care?

Throughout chiropractic school, prenatal and pediatrics fascinated me. A large portion of my 14th quarter externship was focused on prenatal and pediatric care. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child, receiving chiropractic care regularly, that I knew this would be the focus of my work in my community. Throughout my pregnancy, I felt better than most expecting moms I knew at the time. We had a safe and fast homebirth, which I attribute to my body being aligned and ready to do what it is naturally designed to do. After this experience, I knew that prenatal and pediatric community was the area I was meant to serve. I love supporting and preparing expecting moms for a safe and healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery. ��

There are many ways that chiropractic care can help an expecting mom’s body provide the best home for her growing baby and prepare her body for labor and delivery. A balanced pelvis, unsubluxated spine and fully functioning nervous system helps set a labor for success. Spinal misalignments can affect baby positioning, stall labor and ultimately affect the ease and time for labor. Regular chiropractic can help address discomfort and support a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery.

Not only was chiropractic care essential during my pregnancy, but the community of women I met along the way helped me more than they will ever know. Between birth classes and an assortment of new mom groups, I found a tribe of women that supported, educated and exposed me to more than I ever knew I needed. In addition to preparing women’s bodies for labor through chiropractic, my goal is to connect them to the best collaborative providers and community to empower, educate and enrich the journey into parenthood.

As much as I love prenatal care and the effect it has, pediatric care is hands down the most rewarding part of chiropractic practice. So much of what we see in adults presenting as chronic issues started in pediatrics and was left unaddressed. Children under chiropractic care are at an advantage to grow optimally. At a time when a child’s body is changing rapidly, tremendous stress from repetitive sports, growth spurts and poor posture/ergonomics set our kids up for failure. There is no better feeling than knowing a child’s body will grow, heal and function better because their body is able to move without restriction and less tension of their nervous system.

Do you need any extra certifications or elective courses to work with expecting moms and babies?

There are no required certifications to work with expecting moms or babies, however many providers are certified in the Webster Technique through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (). The Webster technique teaches you to balance a woman’s pelvis and remove soft tissue tension, helping their body throughout pregnancy and in preparation for delivery.

Throughout school and over the last decade since graduation, I have utilized the ICPA’s continuing education programs to expand on my knowledge��and skills in prenatal and pediatric chiropractic. They have amazing resources��in the way of seminars, summits, patient education newsletters and magazines to support you in clinic and practice. I highly recommend anyone interested��in working with expecting moms and babies become members of the ICPA and lean on the mentors in our profession.��

Did you do any certifications/electives while at 51�� (and if so, how did you balance that with your studies) or did you complete that after graduation?

I took nearly every class and seminar offered on campus for prenatal and pediatric care while studying at 51��.��Dr. Ron Castellucci, who teaches pediatrics for the , was an amazing resource��on campus. While it can be challenging to do additional coursework and seminars in school, starting a practice is a lot of work, and it’s important to utilize as many available resources on campus as possible. Find and fuel your passion within chiropractic – it’s what will keep you focused during the challenges you will face in the first years in practice.

Do you have any advice for those thinking about pursuing a Doctor of Chiropractic degree?

My advice to prospective students is to shadow at many offices and expose yourself to as many styles of chiropractic as possible. You may not even know what will spark a flame in your heart until you see it in action. Take advantage of the resources you have on campus and the student discounts for seminars while in school.��

What is it like to be in practice and how did 51�� College help you prepare for it?

I love being in practice. I don’t know of many people who love their job as much as I do. 51�� helped show me the true foundation of chiropractic and the healing capabilities of our bodies. Over the last 10 years since I have graduated, they have only expanded their on-campus and off-campus resources for their students and alumni.��

·�� An Introduction to Pediatric Chiropractic

·�� Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic Sets the Foundation for Better Health in Adulthood, featuring Shaneen Brown, D.C., ’14

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Everyday Miracles Fuel This Animal Chiropractor’s Passion for Her Work

Andrew Cook — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 20:20:52 +0000

Dr. Shannon Ruff, Class of 2018

Practice Specialty: Animals

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During her undergraduate studies, Dr. Shannon Ruff knew she wanted a career in healthcare, but she struggled to find a direction that truly aligned with her interests, abilities and personal philosophy.

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Multiple internships had given her clarity on fields she DID NOT want to pursue, but the path forward remained murky until 51�� alumna �� Dr. Allison Gardner spoke at a club meeting for future healthcare professionals on Ruff’s undergraduate campus.

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“As Dr. Gardner spoke about subluxations and innate intelligence, I immediately felt that I had found what I had been searching for all these years,” Ruff said. “I began shadowing her in her office and quickly knew this was where I belonged.”

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Two Passions Make One Career

As a lifelong animal lover, veterinary school was an option Ruff briefly considered and rejected just as quickly because it was not suited to her professional ethos. The two interests converged during Ruff’s first year at 51�� College, when she attended a presentation on equine adjusting at , the college’s annual homecoming and continuing education program.

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“Watching the fluidity of that adjustment and how the horse accepted chiropractic was awe-inspiring,” Ruff said. “And that is when I knew I needed to pursue animal chiropractic.”

Animal chiropractic requires special certification beyond the licensure requirements for a regular Doctor of Chiropractic. Only licensed doctors or students of chiropractic or veterinary medicine can become certified for animal chiropractic. Check this post for the basics about certification.

Students can pursue animal chiropractic certification concurrent with their regular chiropractic studies — a path Ruff chose to follow during her time at 51�� College.

“It can be overwhelming to balance both programs at the same,” Ruff said, “but it is doable as long as you plan ahead and are organized and prepared.”

Ruff’s favorite thing about being an animal chiropractor is being witness to what she describes as miraculous outcomes every day.

“It was a very long road to get here, but every time you are able to save another animal’s life through chiropractic care, it makes all the years of hard work worth it.”

Related Content:

·�� Chiropractic Careers: Animals

·�� Ensuring Critters Benefit from Chiropractic Care, Too, featuring Maria McElwee, D.C., ’14

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Athletes Take Advantage of Chiropractic Care for Peak Performance

Andrew Cook — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:26:12 +0000

Dr. Jeremy Bowman, Class of 2018
Practice Specialty: Sports

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When was a little kid, he bounced from one doctor to the next in search of answers to health problems that had plagued him for far too long.

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“I had multiple health issues that were continually unresolved from other providers,” said Bowman, who sought chiropractic care at the urging of a family friend. “After a few months, most of my issues had eased dramatically and continued to improve with regular care.”

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Discovering chiropractic finally released Bowman from the stranglehold of illness —and inspired the 10-year-old boy with the direction for his future life’s work. “I decided then that I wanted to give that hope for improvement to others in similar circumstances,” Bowman said.

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Putting the Pieces Together

Before launching his studies at 51�� College, Bowman first became a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and completed the Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) certification. “Any chiropractor can see athletes and adjust them, but to understand all aspects of the training and sport-specific demands, additional knowledge is preferable,” Bowman said.

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He noted that while the Performance Enhancement Specialist certification can be completed during or after chiropractic school, the ATC is typically a bachelor’s or master’s program with a board exam. “I recommend that anyone interested in working with an athletic population plan to pursue post-graduate certifications to be able to provide comprehensive care to athletes.”

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Working with Athletes Offers Unique Challenges

“Chiropractic care should be a key part of any athlete’s training regimen because of the stress being placed on the body,” Bowman said. “Proper movement, flexibility and strength are dependent on a solid foundation within the spine and nervous system.”

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Caring for athletes provides a unique set of issues because they tend to push their bodies harder or play through an injury in their quest for better performance.

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“Athletes tend to produce interesting challenges for a doctor —whether that be aggressive timelines for return to play or simply their case presentation,” Bowman said. “However, there are few things more rewarding in practice than watching someone limp into your office one day and be back on the field or court the next.”

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Know Your “Why”

Ask any chiropractor about their years in school and the process of learning their profession, and most will tell you that it can be an arduous process. Bowman has advice for anyone exploring a career path in chiropractic.

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“Keep the end goal in mind and remember what made you want to start in the first place,” Bowman said. “Your ‘why’ is what will push you to make it.”

Related Content

·�� Chiropractic Careers: Sports

·�� Keeping Athletes at the Top with Chiropractic: Q&A with Ashley Liew, D.C., ’16, of Family Health Chiropractic Clinic in Singapore

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Keeping Athletes at the Top with Chiropractic

Andrew Cook — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:44:03 +0000

Q&A with Ashley Liew, D.C., ’16, of Family Health Chiropractic Clinic in Singapore

Ashley Liew, D.C., is a 2016 51�� College graduate and practices at in Singapore. In addition to caring for many athletes and families in his practice, he is a marathoner himself, managed by ONEathlete. We recently asked him a few questions about chiropractic, sports and what led him to 51�� College and a career in this profession.

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What do you like most about the chiropractic profession?

Chiropractic involves the whole human body! It is amazingly connected in so many ways by means of the nervous system. Before I took up sports, I played in a string orchestra, so I liken the nervous system to the orchestra conductor that coordinates all aspects of the human body, not just the musculoskeletal aspects.

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Chiropractic is a holistic profession that deals with optimum nervous system functioning, far more than just pain. For example, a triathlete with initial spinal disc herniation issues not only eased back into long-distance training but could carry his children again. A senior patient that used to walk with difficulty due to severe hunching is now able to carry herself significantly straighter naturally. An infant with severe reflux issues has had them resolved. Just seeing a smile from these patients and their caretakers gives me great joy. The beauty of chiropractic is looking into the root cause, rather than treating the symptoms.

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How has chiropractic benefited you?

I have benefitted immeasurably from chiropractic care, ever since my first spinal check in 2010 by Dr. Kelvin Ng – fellow Singaporean, 51�� graduate, mentor, and now colleague. Experiencing these positive in changes in myself was what got me started on the journey toward a Doctor of Chiropractic career. Back in 2010 I was already a competitive triathlete and marathoner, but not yet at the national level. Dr. Ng was invited to speak at an athlete symposium organized by a bicycle shop that I was sponsored by. He gave a simple message about how specific chiropractic care could potentially help athletes of all levels function better. The message was not about fixing any pain, but a holistic means of gaining a competitive edge. My triathlete teammate and I became patients just to give it a try.

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I went in without expectations, but with each visit, I was soon impressed by the changes experienced. The greatest thing is that I have remained free of overtraining injuries from 2010 until today, never being sidelined from my training routine for more than a day. I recover quickly from grueling workouts and races, so my body can adapt in time before the next one. My running form has become more naturally efficient.

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I was blessed to finally make the national team, competing at the 2013 and 2015 Southeast Asian Games Marathon – both of which were while I was still studying at 51�� College in the USA! My marathon personal best improved from 2h51m in 2009 to 2h32m in 2015. Interestingly, my mental clarity also increased – not only did my grades in undergraduate (and subsequently doctorate) studies improve, but so did my focus during training and races. Thank you, chiropractic!

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What is it like to be in practice and how did 51�� College help you prepare for it?

I have loved every day of chiropractic practice in Singapore since 2016! It is an honor working alongside mentor Kelvin Ng, D.C., ’09, at Family Health Chiropractic Clinic as well. My daily run training (sometimes twice daily) is still ongoing outside the practice, so I can relate to my patients who exercise too. I feel like each patient has their own unique story being written when they get checked, so I am glad that chiropractic care forms part of that story, too, for better health outcomes.

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51�� College instilled in me the philosophy, science, and art of chiropractic. With a solid philosophy, we keep our chiropractic message in the clinic clear, with our focus on locating, analyzing, and correcting vertebral subluxations. With instructors that taught us to refine our techniques, we were already proficient as 51�� interns even before graduation. The tight-knit 51�� culture was something I appreciate even now, as it was my family in the USA, continents away from my Singapore hometown. As such, we take care of our practice members as if they were own our family members too.

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What is one of the most important lessons you have learned through chiropractic?

Find your “why” in life (credit to Chair of the Business Department Brian Dooley, D.C., ’05, A.C.P., for this concept). My “why” is to fulfill all the athletic and health potential God has blessed me with, and likewise fulfill the health potential of the community by checking spines for nervous system interference.

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Why is it important for athletes to be under chiropractic care?

Athletes and dancers, from recreational to high-performing individuals, cannot afford to be sidelined by training injuries. Unfortunately, the incidence rate is high, so injuries may be perceived as common. However, I strongly believe training injuries do not have to be part and parcel of being an athlete, contrary to popular belief.

An example of a common overuse injury in runners would be plantar fasciitis; those who experience this know how long and frustrating the recovery process can be. Even when one physically recovers from the injury, the mental scars may remain for fear of it flaring up again. But what if the root source of that injury was because of some spinal imbalance?

We have to appreciate that the body is all connected, so a vertebral subluxation (spinal misalignment causing nerve interference) may potentially cause tension on one side of the musculoskeletal chain and result leg length imbalance. Imagine the potential for injury even with the tiniest of leg imbalances, especially when running or jumping when the shock from the ground moves up the body. It is vital to look into the root cause rather than just treat symptoms.

Because chiropractic is a holistic profession, athletes can potentially also have other non-musculoskeletal health aspects looked into. It is not uncommon that athletes often deal with issues such as brain fog, headaches, digestive issues, or even anxiety. Our role is to find those potential connections and improve overall function.

What are the challenges and rewards of working with athletes?

It is rewarding to see athletes get better with gentle and conservative chiropractic care. We have had extreme cases of athletes hardly able to move (let alone do any sport), then ease back into their training routine and even to record-breaking ways. More importantly, I love that they can continue to train consistently with regular spine checks to maintain their tip-top shape, sorting out any subtle imbalances before they develop into an injury.

The challenge of working with driven athletes is that sometimes they tend to ignore their symptoms, taking them in their stride and just accepting them as normal, while continuing to push their bodies to the limit. I have taken care of several that were still rigorously training, yet had difficulty with activities of daily living like wearing their shoes. Some of our athlete patients also have the “quick fix” mentality with the desire to fully jump back into the game within just a short time span. These challenges present opportunities for us to educate the community to change their worldview and preconceived notions about chiropractic care.

Related Content
• Chiropractic Careers: Sports
• Athletes Take Advantage of Chiropractic Care for Peak Performance, featuring Dr. Jeremy Bowman, ’18

The post Keeping Athletes at the Top with Chiropractic appeared first on 51��.

Alumni Profile: Cassandra Peterson, D.C., ’08

Andrew Cook — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 21:16:32 +0000

What made you want to join the profession?��

When I was 19, I crossed paths with a 1977 51�� College graduate, Dr. Robert Fox. I thought, “A guy with this kind of clout has an extreme amount of confidence in what he does.”�� As I watched him adjust family and friends, I wondered, “How can someone know how to do that?” It seemed as if he knew with certainty right where to go on the body.��I thought to myself, “There are so many mysteries in the world. Maybe this can be my thing. If I can come to understand how this works, how cool would that be?”

How has chiropractic changed your life?

Chiropractic has given me an outlet to excel in a way I never thought possible for myself.�� I was given the opportunity to develop my skills at something which has given me the confidence to know that no matter what happens in life, I always have a skill of great value to offer in exchange for goods or services. As we experience these uncertain times of COVID, this is a very comforting feeling.

How has your practice changed since COVID-19?

We have seen businesses around us die sudden deaths. We feared that COVID might shut us down, either immediately or extremely slowly.��We have been lucky to have remained open through it all. The thing that has changed our practice is the immense gratitude we receive for being there for our patients, day in and day out.��This is what fuels us and keeps us going.

How would you describe the value of your chiropractic degree?

This is an easy question. When I Google value, what comes up is: “the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” I think the value is as good as you make of it as your life goes on.��When I graduated from 51��, I spent a year building a practice.��I tried to sell it after a year for $50K. Location, goodwill, and equipment were all valuable. No one bought my practice.��I spent the next three years on a chiropractic adventure in Asia.��I made nothing beyond my living costs, but I experienced one thousand adventures.��I consider this invaluable.��Based on those experiences, I was able to build a multi-million dollar practice in Hawaii.��So my simple answer to how I would describe the value of my chiropractic degree is: “highly.”

How are you doing in the field today?��

In 2015, I was a one-woman show with two clinics, no staff, working six days a week. Five years later, I have five D.C.s working for me and a staff of 10 C.A.s. If you want to know what happened in those five years, so do I! It’s been a blur.��

��Why should someone still enroll in chiropractic school when our country is facing such uncertainty?��

��There will never be an end to stress, the cause of all dis-ease. We as chiropractors are needed now more than ever.��1895 was the beginning, and our profession was beaten and battered as we tried to find our place in society. In this century, people are ready to explore other options than just medications and surgeries.��We are well respected in the healthcare industry. History has had a lot of curve balls. Life will always go on. Big idea: the sooner you start chiropractic school, the sooner you become a chiropractor.

What advice do you have for students thinking about the chiropractic profession?��

It can be scary to take the big step onto a new path. In my mid-20s, I liked to imagine myself as incredibly successful 15 years down the line. I thought about the pep talks I might get from that wiser version of me.��I envisioned the individual steps it would take to become her. Don’t think about the whole journey. Think about the next thing you have to do to move in the direction of the best version of you. It might be passing organic chemistry or deciding to move across country to go to the right school.��It won’t be without a lot of risks, growing pains, and sacrifices. No risk, no reward.

What advice would you give current chiropractic students?��

The world is moving very fast these days. If you choose to start your own practice, there are so many choices, and it can be very overwhelming. Don’t forget that you can run a chiropractic office with just your adjusting table and your hands.��You can rent a room out of someone else’s office. We would all love a state-of-the-art office because it proves something to the world; however, you can prove yourself in different ways.��If you don’t control your overhead, it will control you.��

Did you have an “a-ha” moment while pursuing your degree in chiropractic, and if so, what was it?��

I wish I could say that I did, but I would be lying. I saw so many who seemed like they belonged more than I did, simply because they were a third generation chiropractic student or more heavily tied into campus clubs. There was so much talent around me.��I thought, if I just keep swimming, like Nemo, I will get there.��I think this is an important answer for so many, because when you feel like you are just not quite there in either the art, science, or philosophy, it doesn’t mean that things are over.��I hope this article can be some kind of “a-ha” to keep students going!

What is something you wish you knew about entering the chiropractic field before graduating?��

It is important to have guidance and accountability from someone you trust to guide you and hold you accountable. ��

How does this profession give you purpose?

I don’t believe in specific purposes for myself; just to be good and fulfill my responsibilities. From a young age I wanted to be an artist.��That has been on the back burner during my career, but I get a little kick in thinking that each adjustment is artistic in the way I choose to approach the subluxation.

How did working in other countries affect your perspective on chiropractic, health and how you practice?��

In a nutshell, we, as philosophically minded members of the chiropractic profession, need to protect and cradle our very special profession. It is always susceptible. I worked in Vietnam and Singapore from 2010-2012.

In Vietnam, I encountered a savvy business woman who wanted her country to experience the healing powers of chiropractic.��However, she wanted me to present chiropractic as she understood it: she asked me to include a vitamin to swallow with every adjustment so that the adjustment would be “believable.” I was provided with a two story clinic, the nicest digital x-ray machine I had ever seen, and 22 staff members dressed in pink nurse uniforms.��I lovingly refer to this time as my comedic nightmare. ��

In Singapore, my job was incorporating chiropractic into the spa setting, where chiropractic might be “sold” alongside facials and massages in packs of 50, 75, or 100.��We were pushed hard to sell. ��

In Asia, I was being strong-armed to change what chiropractic meant to me. I ultimately couldn’t do it. Working in this environment taught me not to take advantage of others for profit.��I came to understand the golden rule.��I learned to teach without the expectation of a return.��I learned that I am temporary along another human’s path, but I do control my impact. When I finally arrived in Hawaii in 2013, I had been schooled by an education that was priceless.

What is the hardest part of your job?��

It’s tough to find a balance in the roles of wife, mother, boss, and chiropractor.��However, this is the order in which I prioritize my life. I would love to take on new patients and build a practice, but I hand them off to my associates because they are awesome and I have a self imposed limited adjusting schedule of 11 hours per week.��All my patients are long term and understand that I love them and I will see them when I can.

What is the best part of your job?��

My favorite part of the job is when I randomly answer the phone and hear the need in someone’s voice, especially someone who is doubting that chiropractic will work for them. When I can help the most difficult case I’ve ever seen, someone who can barely stand to be touched, who then shows incredible hope for their own future; this is my cherry on top.

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Alumni Profile: Alnessa Hickmon

Andrew Cook — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:30:12 +0000

With everything going on in the world right now, 51�� College’s vision of Adjusting the World for a Better Future is more relevant than ever. We would like to share another alumni profile to help encourage prospective, current, and past students to keep pushing forward because graduating and serving this profession as a doctor of chiropractic is so important. Today, we get to hear from alumna Alnessa Hickmon, D.C.

Dr. Hickmon graduated from 51�� College in 2018 and is here to share her experiences after graduating and the value of chiropractic during such a difficult time for many. We hope that hearing from Dr. Hickmon and other recent grads will renew your passion for chiropractic and remind you how life-changing this profession can be, whether this is a path you are considering or have already chosen.

Q: What are you currently doing with your degree/how are you doing in the field of chiropractic?

A: I am an associate doctor in Missouri at Overland Chiropractic and loving it! I work with great mentors, and I get the opportunity to serve a community that has embraced me from day one.

Q: How was your first year as a D.C.?

A: The first year provided a lot of growth. The failures I endured helped me develop into the chiropractor I am today, and I am looking forward to continued growth.��

Q: What made you want to become a chiropractor?

A: My advisor in undergrad encouraged me. I knew I wanted a career in the health field, but I did not know what I wanted to do specifically. My advisor is an alumnus of 51��, and he told me about chiropractic. He explained that this would be an excellent career path for me because of my interest in helping people in a natural way.

Q: Did you have an “a-ha” moment in chiropractic college that confirmed you were on the right path and if so, what was it?

A: It was through my first experience of chiropractic care as a first quarter student. I learned a lot from my intern and my classes, especially palpation and philosophy, regarding the connection of chiropractic and overall health.

Q: How would you describe the value of your chiropractic degree?

A: My degree has created avenues to educate and help communities that I did not consider before now. The education I gained helped me be a part of changing the education realm about health and helping it evolve.

Q: Why should someone still enroll in chiropractic school when our country is in a time of panic and economic distress?

A: This current situation is not constant; change is constant. Everything is constantly changing and progressing, so this is a time to adapt and persevere. I would say learn from this situation and utilize it to help accomplish your goals.

Q: What advice would you give to current students?

A: I would say focus on one quarter at a time. Be responsible your with time and start off strong and try to end strong with every class. Also, take advantage of as many seminars and workshops that you can, especially the free ones! Lastly, stay focused and maintain a positive and prosperous mindset throughout your journey.

Q: What advice would you give to prospective students?

A: If you are still in undergrad, be sure to keep your goal in mind. Take the initiative to start the work to pursue your��education; stay focused and make sure you complete your goal(s). Also, if you have not experienced chiropractic care for yourself, you definitely should find a D.C. and ask questions that could help you make a decision about becoming a chiropractor.

Q: What were the best and worst parts about chiropractic college? What do you miss the most about 51��?

A: One of the best parts of school were the relationships I built with classmates, patients, and mentors and the additional education I gained from seminars. As far as worst parts; I would say the workload as far as studying and exams was overwhelming at times.

Q: What is something you wish you knew about entering the chiropractic field before graduating?

A: I wish I gained more knowledge about the business aspect of chiropractic. I think it is essential to know the tools that creates a business that is successful and efficient.

Q: How has the chiropractic profession changed your life?

A: I am able to help our practice members improve and achieve their health and wellness goals. Chiropractic has given me opportunities and abilities that can help people in a way that changes their lives for the better, and for that I am grateful!

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Alumni Profile: Molly Spohn

Andrew Cook — Tue, 05 May 2020 19:13:59 +0000

With everything going on in the world right now, regarding COVID-19, we here at 51�� College thought it would be nice to hear from some of our recent graduates. Today, we get to hear from Molly Spohn, D.C.

Dr. Spohn graduated from 51�� College in 2019 and is here to share her experiences after graduating and the value of chiropractic during such a difficult time for many. We hope that by hearing from Dr. Spohn and other recent grads to come, that it will remind you of how important and life-changing chiropractic can be and why this is a path that you want to choose or have already chosen.

Q & A with Dr. Spohn:

What are you currently doing with your degree/how are you doing in the field of chiropractic?
- I am the owner and sole chiropractor at in Greenville, SC. My practice has been open for 8 months and I am currently seeing more than 200 patients per week. I started with one chiropractic assistant and I just hired my second. We see a mix of families, athletes, elderly, children, and everyone in between.
How was your first year as a D.C.?
- The first year has been an amazing ride. I leased a building, renovated it, opened my business, hired someone, fired someone, learned about networking, worked alone for a month seeing as many as 60 patients per day, hired two people, paid significant amounts toward my student loans, moved to downtown Greenville. I bring my dog to work with me every day (Dogtor Sophie), I continually fine tune our patient flow and patient experience, and I have loved coming to this office every single day since I opened.
What made you want to become a chiropractor?
- I randomly met and talked with a 51�� student at a pool one day. As I sat with him and chatted, he explained what chiropractic was. Previously, I was planning to attend medical school or physician assistant school, but I knew it was not my true passion. After talking with this student and hearing the philosophy and science of chiropractic, I could feel my whole world shift. I knew this was exactly what I had been waiting for. I knew I needed to be on the preventative side of health care—not the reactive side. I knew I needed to be helping people get to the root of their problems instead of covering them up. I knew I needed to be giving hope, knowledge, and power. Within minutes of hearing about chiropractic I dropped all things and applied to 51��.
Did you have an “a-ha” moment in chiropractic college that confirmed you were on the right path and if so, what was it?
- While in school I frequently shadowed offices. I was always hunting to find things I wanted to implement in my office and things I wanted to avoid. While shadowing I landed on an office that I absolutely loved in Greenville. I shadowed the office once per quarter and it always gave me a revitalized vision and purpose.
How would you describe the value of your chiropractic degree?
- There is no way to put a value on this degree. The experience I have gained as an entrepreneur has been tremendous, but the difference between us and a regular business entrepreneur is that we are backed by the best profession in the world. We are sharing hope, health, healing, and above all self-empowerment. The ability we have as chiropractors to positively influence our patients [cannot compare to] any other profession. In chiropractic we have the ability to allow people to heal organically—but more importantly we have the knowledge to empower patients with education on the power of their body.
Why should someone still enroll in chiropractic school when our country is in a time of panic and economic distress?
- This global reaction of fear-based knowledge is what we work to oppose every day—nothing is new here. We need strong, rooted chiropractors more than every right now. Other chiropractors in my area are talking about drastic number drops and yet we are having a record setting week in terms of patients visits and collections. It is essential to cling to your philosophy and anchor to holistic health during these times.
What advice would you give to current students?
- Use this online schooling time to your advantage. Do not procrastinate, do not get lazy, do not use this as an excuse or scapegoat for complaints. We are in a unique time where you can spend your days shadowing offices, planning and visualizing what you want your practice to be, and creating your future.
What advice would you give to prospective students?
- In a time when virtually the entire world is shutting down, chiropractic is THRIVING. This profession is ESSENTIAL, and we need more chiropractors out there helping to take care of people in need.
What were the best and worst parts about Chiropractic College? What do you miss the most about 51��?
- The best part about chiropractic college was the knowledge I gained. I had never had my mind so expanded to the capabilities and possibilities of the human body. I came into school with a medical-model back ground. Learning the power of the human body and the philosophy of chiropractic changed what I eat, how I work out, how I treat my body, how I treat others, how I approach conventional medicine and most importantly how I will raise my family.
- The worst part of 51�� College was the number of hours required to sit still. However, those committed hours now allow me to have a career where I am up, moving around, and interacting with wonderful people all day.
- I miss the friendships 51�� College brought into my life. I miss our study group’s slap-happy-late-night study sessions.
What is something you wish you knew about entering the chiropractic field before graduating?
- Signing up with a chiropractic business coaching group during the clinic portion of school would have been great to better inform me of the business obstacles ahead.
How has the chiropractic profession changed your life?
- It has changed my life view. It has changed every aspect of the way that I think and how empowered I feel in my own body, opinions, and thoughts.

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Dr Elizabeth Pagano and Dr. Rick Florez

Drum Creative — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:14:27 +0000

When Elizabeth Pagano, D.C., and Rick Florez, D.C., met at Penn State University in 1998, neither was headed toward a career in chiropractic. Pagano’s plan was to become a veterinarian. Florez was a pre-med major with his sights set on becoming a medical doctor.

The plan changed first for Florez, a soccer player, who switched his major to kinesiology because of his interest in studying the human body in relation to athletics. When someone mentioned to him that chiropractic was a potential career path with that major, he investigated the profession and volunteered for a summer in a chiropractic office. He was instantly drawn to chiropractic after seeing how it changed people’s lives, including his own.

Florez decided to enroll at 51�� College, and Pagano was still working toward becoming a veterinarian. But six months before Florez’s graduation, Pagano, who had worked in several veterinary clinics but was becoming disenchanted with veterinary medicine, decided to change her career path as well, entering 51�� to pursue her own degree in chiropractic.

Because Pagano’s father had been a member of 51�� College’s second graduating class, chiropractic had always been a part of her life. And she learned a lot more about it from Florez’s friends who were his fellow students. The couple never looked back after her decision.

Florez graduated with his Doctor of Chiropractic in 2004, and the couple married in March of 2006, the weekend after Pagano’s National Boards and final exams for the quarter.��When she graduated in 2007, they began searching for the right place to locate.

Pagano was born and raised in West Virginia, Florez in Maryland. They settled on Raleigh, NC, as the place to begin their joint careers and opened their wellness-based Chiropractic Café there in March 2008. The couple immediately began looking for ways to get their business out into the community. With a practice that cares for people of all ages but caters to many athletes, they naturally gravitated toward an outreach that involved athletics.

Pagano is certified in the Graston soft tissue technique, which she said is a good fit for athletes. That “good fit” was helped along by the fact that they both have been doing CrossFit since 2008 and found a community of people in Raleigh that they have been seeing regularly in their office over the years.

But their greatest success in community outreach came as a result of Pagano being an avid runner. She read an article in Runner’s World magazine about an Irish Pub in Colorado that hosted a weekly run club. Her brother owned an Irish pub in Raleigh, so she thought they might be able to establish something similar there. With the help of a local running store, Fleet Feet, they started a run club.��

As a result of its success, they then inaugurated a St. Patrick’s Day themed “5 Mile Run.” When that was also successful, they created an Oktoberfest themed run, as well as the “World’s Largest Flip Flop 1K,” an event that has broken the Guinness World Record five years in a row.��

As the events grew, the couple decided to turn them into a non-profit, through which they have now raised approximately $700,000 for local charities. “It has been amazing to see how the idea of a weekly run club to meet people has grown into this opportunity to support our local community for the past 11 years,” Pagano said.

It’s clear that Pagano and Florez, along with their dog, Chase, have created both a personal and professional home in Raleigh where they can fulfill their goal of advancing chiropractic while making a significant contribution to the community.

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Alumni Profiles: Dr. Charmaine Herman

Drum Creative — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:37:51 +0000

Charmaine Herman, M.A., D.C., ’09, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in Brooklyn, NY, after her family immigrated to the United States. She earned undergraduate degrees in biology and history as well as a master’s in history from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Though she initially wanted to be a pediatrician, she went on to pursue two different careers following graduation.��

Her first career was working for the South Carolina Department of Health as an environmental lab evaluator. Herman completed her master’s degree in history in 2002 and she began teaching history part time at Midlands Technical College in Columbia. After ten years of working for the state, she managed a private environmental laboratory for two years. It was only after the company closed that she thought of a positive experience she had had with chiropractic.

Her minister had suffered from severe acute sciatica after an accident, and a friend who was a nurse recommended that Herman take her to a chiropractor. With no previous experience with chiropractic, Herman was impressed with the dramatic results she saw under chiropractic care. This memory led her to consider chiropractic as a career choice.��

After visiting 51�� during Lyceum and meeting with Jerry Hardee, Ed.D., then the president of the college, she applied and was accepted. However, with many financial obligations she could not enroll until the next year, so she worked as a history lecturer at Savannah State University. Herman began her chiropractic education at 51�� in July 2005, once her term of employment had ended.

Herman credits her successful career transition to the support she received from 51�� College’s faculty, staff and administration, as well as her involvement with the Student American Black Chiropractic Association, the Christian Chiropractic Association and other groups that helped to build her foundation. Since chiropractic was her third career, life experiences not only paved the way for future success, but also gave her an avenue to teach history and biology at Spartanburg Community College while pursuing her degree.

Herman was interested in the Blair Upper Cervical Technique, even spending time learning from an upper cervical practice in Charlotte, NC, as a student. That experience, along with the Blair Technique Club and bootcamps and training through the Upper Cervical Health Centers of America, a practice management group for chiropractors and students who want to practice specific upper cervical chiropractic, prepared her well.

Her plan to return to Columbia and open a practice after graduation changed when she married in 2007. She moved to Georgia with her husband, Stephen, who worked for Bell South in 2009. There she got a job as an adjunct professor at Life University, a job that eventually became permanent in 2014.��

Now she’s not only an associate professor in the College of Chiropractic’s Division of Clinical Science, but is also clinic director of Agape Upper Cervical Health Center, which she opened in May 2013 in Alpharetta, GA.

Her Christian faith has played a large role in her life, and she feels that God led her to chiropractic. Her husband, who retired two years ago and is now a pastor, works with her as the CEO and office manager at the Agape office.

Herman’s professional success has not gone unrecognized. In 2016 she received the Chiropractor of the Year award from the Blair Upper Cervical Society. In 2018 she was recognized as one of the top chiropractors in Atlanta by Atlanta Magazine. Additionally, in 2018 she received both the Life University Club Advisor of the Year and Faculty Excellence Award.��

Then, in 2019, the avid researcher who has published seven peer-reviewed papers was awarded Upper Cervical Researcher of the Year by the ICA Council on Upper Cervical Care. She has presented several of her studies at 51�� College’s International Research and Philosophy Symposium (IRAPS).��

Juggling two successful jobs and actively participating in her husband’s ministry might seem daunting to some, but not for Herman. “I love teaching these soon-to-be D.C.s. I bring my practice experience into the classroom to help students integrate theory with application,” she said. “By teaching the Blair elective, I have guided students to careers as Blair docs. I have the best of both worlds. My service to my students and my patients is an extension of our ministry.”

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