SPRING 2011 VOL. 4 ISSUE 1
LIFE UNIVERSITY’S ALUMNI MAGAZINE
PRESIDENT’S letter
Greetings Life Alumni! Spring is always a wonderful time of year for all of
And, because LIFE can never be too busy when it
us at Life University – the grounds are green and
comes to promoting our mission and growing the
blooming; the weather warms enough for students
profession, our quarterly LIFE Leadership Weekend
to haul their laptops and books outside to study in the sunshine; and, of course, we graduate our latest class of talented students, and welcome a growing number of new students to their first quarter at LIFE. This spring however, the excitement seems higher and our schedules seem fuller than ever with numerous events being planned. Our Running Eagles, arguably the best undergraduate rugby team in the country, set out to prove just that with
This spring however, the excitement seems higher and our schedules seem fuller than ever with numerous events being planned.
and LIFEforce Training events will be held that same weekend. We will also be introducing prospective students to LIFE, and training our elite ambassadors, the LIFEforce 1000, so that they are equipped with the right tools to help us continue introducing more future chiropractors to our campus and the chiropractic profession each year. Finally, I am pleased to announce that our latest campus improvement project under the 20/20 Vision is now complete; the parking lots that once
the kick-off of the inaugural College Premier
stood in front of the administration building are
League season on March 5.
gone, replaced with a beautiful new central green
LIFE will host the second Life Source Octagon
we call “Lyceum Park.” You can read about the
program April 14-16, which convenes thought lead-
amazing transformation in this issue of Your
ers in Healthcare and vitalistic philosophy on LIFE’s
Extraordinary LIFE, but I also ask that next time you
campus to undertake the task of describing what a
are on campus (which I hope is very soon) you take
new healthcare paradigm – one based on natural,
time to explore this incredible space for yourself.
vitalistic principles of optimal health rather than
After all, there’s no better time than springtime in
sickcare – would look like. I personally encourage
Atlanta for a walk in the Park!
you to attend this program as it is sure to be one of the world’s greatest conversations going on in
Yours in Chiropractic,
Healthcare today.
Guy. F. Riekeman, D.C. President
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2011 Your Extraordinary Life The Alumni Magazine of Life University
Contents
www.life.edu
Spring
FEATURES
6 Running Away with the Field On the Run with Leo Kormanik
10 On-Site DC Dr. Michael Sheps takes an active role in the training of today’s top athletes.
12 Lyceum Park LIFE’s new green gathering space transforms campus culture and community DEPARTMENTS
2 NEW SOUTH PUBLISHING, INC.
LIFE UNIVERSITY
Jamie Ryan Publisher
Guy F. Riekeman, D.C. President
Larry Lebovitz President
Greg Harris Vice President for University Advancement
John Hanna Vice President
Craig Dekshenieks Director of Communications
Austin Holt Editor
Molly Dickinson Communications Coordinator
Amy Selby Associate Editor
Leila Tatum Alumni Relations Manager
Michelle Schlundt Production Coordinator/ Circulation Manager Garon Hart Graphic Designer
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Lasting Purpose Committing Now to Give in the Future
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Undergraduate News What’s happening in the College of Undergraduate Studies.
Jen Lesshafft Alumni Relations Coordinator
17 Your Extraordinary Life magazine is published three times a year by New South Publishing, 450 Northridge Parkway, Ste. 202, Atlanta, GA 30350. 770-650-1102; Fax: 770-650-2848. Postmaster: Send address changes to Your Extraordinary Life, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060-9854.
Athletics No. 3 in Rugby; Welcoming James Isaacson; 200 in Cyclocross
Jenni Bennett Public Relations Coordinator Guy D’Alema Senior Photographer
Around Campus: What’s New at Life? LIFE’s Mobile App Goes Live; Octagon Defines New Paradigm; Smart Moves Students; Team USA Training; LIFE Takes Bronze; Remembering Dr. Turnbull
Faculty Spotlight Frances Roberson, Ph.D.
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LIFE Research Update Alumni Speak, LIFE Listens
It is the purpose of Your Extraordinary Life to promote the events, accomplishments, accolades and philosophies of Life University and its faculty, staff and students to current, prospective and former students, as well as the academic community at large. Life University is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1974. For more information, write to Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060, or visit life.edu.
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Material in this publication may not be reprinted without written permission from the editorial offices in Marietta. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011 Life University. Printed in the USA.
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Reader Comments
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Class Notes
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Mark Your Calendar
See something you are excited about? How about something that makes your blood boil? Write in and tell us about it. Please submit all comments to alumni@life.edu.
Alumni Spotlight Austin Cohen, D.C.
Alumni Update Class Reunions; Meet the Board; Alumni Discounts and Benefits
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What’s New at LIFE’s mobile app goes live on Apple App Store LIFE’s brand new app, myLIFEplus, is now available to download (for free!) from the Apple App store. Unlike onedimensional apps aligned with a traditional medical model of health, myLIFEplus measures users’ total wellness via the six dimensions of the Wellness Portfolio –– physical, intellectual, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual –– and provides multiple tools to help users improve their total health using a vitalistic approach. “This app is absolutely the first of its kind,” says LIFE President Guy Riekeman, D.C. “We’ve been sharing some of the details of myLIFEplus with chiropractors all over the country, and the excitement level is already phenomenal. This really is a tool that can not only help spread the message of vitalistic Healthcare, but can actually help people start living truly healthier, happier lives from the first time they use it.” Download myLIFEplus today and let us know what you think! For more information on myLIFEplus, please visit www.life.edu/myLIFEplus.
LifeSource Octagon to define new health care paradigm aligned with vitalism Life University is already the largest chiropractic college in the world, but our goal is to become a thought leader in
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Healthcare. The LifeSource Octagon is one of many vehicles we are utilizing to achieve this goal. The LifeSource Octagon is a unique think tank project designed to start vital conversations about human growth, development, health and healing. Since 2009, Life University has been hosting an annual conference to bring together people from a variety of health care professions to discuss philosophies of natural health. The inaugural edition produced a consensus statement on the philosophy of vitalism, as well as a discussion about how to change the basic paradigm of disease-based health care in the United States. April 14-16, 2011, the LifeSource Octagon will take the next step in the logical path toward moving this important conversation forward. We will bring together leading thinkers who will help define a new health care paradigm aligned with vitalistic principles. As a graduate and supporter of Life University, we would like to invite you to attend the conference. This conversation affects you, your family and friends, as well as your profession. Visit www.life.edu/ octagon to learn more.
Smart Moves students get a taste of college life On Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 Life University once again hosted freshman Marietta High School students for an afternoon of hospitality, discussion and a slice of LIFE as they learned about opportunities for higher education through the Marietta Housing Authority’s Smart Moves pro-
gram. Students sipped cocoa in the Tree House, met our LIFE basketball players (some of them Marietta High School alums) and discovered more about what the college experience –– and a college degree –– could do for their lives. In keeping with LIFE’s commitment to supporting these students throughout their higher education, each participating student who graduates high school with a GPA of 2.5 or higher will be eligible to receive a $20,000, four-year scholarship to attend Life University.
Team USA chiropractors train at LIFE In November 2010, LIFE, in conjunction with Maximized Living, hosted 86 DCs who will be in the pool of chiropractors hoping to be selected to be part of Team USA for the 2012 Olympics. Chiropractors came from across the country to get further education on extremity adjusting from LIFE faculty members Drs. Keith Rau and Marni Capes. The attendees have been working with wrestling, weightlifting and judo competitors as the athletes train and compete in the lead up to the U.S. Olympic Trials prior to the summer Olympics in London. Many of the chiropractors in attendance will be selected to be official members of Team USA in 2012. Rau hopes this will be the first of many sessions attended by these chiropractors, as they help our Olympic athletes achieve optimum performance in the greatest competition in the world. The outstanding education provided by Life University faculty in the areas of Exercise Science and Sport Health Science are a natural fit for chiropractors who care for elite athletes.
AROUND campus
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LIFE community grieves the loss of Dr. Wilfred Turnbull
LIFE takes bronze at 2010 Chiro Games Life University finished in third place overall for the second year in a row at the 2010 Chiro Games, held Nov. 6-7 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Second place went to Logan College of Chiropractic, while Parker College of Chiropractic took firstplace honors. LIFE entered the second day of games with undefeated women’s soccer, men’s soccer, volleyball and softball teams. In the end, men’s and women’s soccer both took gold, remaining undefeated after seven games each. The men’s team scored 38 goals and only allowed three goals the entire tournament. Coed volleyball and softball both remained undefeated until falling short in their championship games behind Parker. LIFE’s tennis team took home silver after entering the tournament in the third seed from preliminary games on Saturday. The Running Eagles fielded teams in every sport including: women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, coed relay and coed swimming, and fielded two teams for men’s soccer, coed beach volleyball, tennis, golf, flag football and coed softball. All of LIFE’s teams contributed points toward their final third place finish. The student-athletes are already planning for next year’s Chiro Games in hopes of bringing home the gold.
Dr. Wilfred Turnbull, professor of Nutrition at Life University, passed away in his home on Oct. 19, 2010. He will be remembered not only for his incredible leadership and presence as Director of the Nutrition department, but for his great love for the institution, his students and the rest of the LIFE community. He will be deeply missed. Dr. Turnbull came to Life University in 2001. Though he had studied, worked and lectured in countries all over the world, he counted his tenure at LIFE as his greatest accomplishment. Owing in part to his many achievements, Dr. Turnbull was selected as our faculty profile for the Summer 2010 issue of Your Extraordinary LIFE. “We were extremely fortunate to have Dr. Turnbull for these past nine years,” wrote Dr. Guy Riekeman in a message to the LIFE community. “Because of him I was never concerned with the quality or vision of the nutrition program. I had complete faith and trust in his work, and admired the high standards he set and adamantly adhered to in his teaching and research. His commitment was unmatched. The LIFE family has experienced a significant loss; we will miss him greatly.”
Dr. Wilfred Turnbull
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What’s New at Rugby pre-ranking climbs to No. 3 in nation for Premier League RUGBYMAG.com recently published its 2011 pre-season Collegiate Premier League (CPL) rankings: with LIFE’s undergraduate Running Eagles taking third in the nation. This puts LIFE ahead of such big-name, big-game teams as Army, Dartmouth, Penn State, LSU and Texas A&M going into the CPL’s inaugural season, which kicked off March 5. According to the article, RUGBYMAG.com “could actually put LIFE at No.1, but then we’d get a gruff call from Dan Payne asking us why we’re putting all that pressure on the players. OK, No. 3 it is. LIFE is for real.”
Life Rugby welcomes new Super League head coach Director of Life University Rugby, Dan Payne, recently announced James Isaacson as the new head coach for LIFE’s Super League rugby team. Originally from Newcastle, England, Isaacson was signed out of high school to play professional rugby for the Newcastle Falcons in the English Premiership. He played nine years of professional rugby and coached for two years at the professional level. Upon the suggestion of a friend who practices in Chicago, Isaacson enrolled in Life University’s chiropractic program in January 2010 and began playing for the university’s Super League team. Isaacson is currently in his third quarter of the D.C. program. He credits chiropractic for prolonging his rugby career when physiotherapy and trainers couldn’t correct his hamstring and hip flexor injuries. “I saw an American chiropractor in the U.K. and I probably wouldn’t
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have played in the 2003 season without him. Chiropractic gave me the opportunity to extend my contract four more years.” Since January, Isaacson has been an assistant coach for LIFE’s Super League and Premier League teams. “I am looking forward to shaping the Super League side and coaching these great athletes. I have a lot of ideas and the players are like sponges, so it’s the perfect combination.”
Coach Dan Payne says, “His value all along has been his experience as a player-coach. With two teams, it’s a prime opportunity for James to jump into exactly what he loves to do, which is coach. As we continue to grow and build our program, it is imperative we attract high-quality individuals to meet the needs of our student-athletes. James fits this bill perfectly.”
Two hundred compete in LIFE’s inaugural cyclocross race On October 31, approximately 200 cyclists competed in Life University’s first ever Cyclocross (CX) race, making it the largest Georgia Cross Series race last year in terms of participation and cash award payout. Many local riders tackled the course alongside elite cyclists from all over the Southeast, as well as several professional competitors. The event was coordinated by the Life University Cycling Club (LUCC), who hopes to host another CX race in 2011. “There was universal agreement from the participants I spoke with that the Life University CX course was among the best they have ridden in terms of technical challenge, intensity and layout,” says Dave Ward, director of chiropractic sports performance at LIFE. “The officials from USA Cycling did not receive any complaints regarding the course, which is rare in this type of event. We received many compliments about the appearance of the campus from both participants and spectators.”
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STUDENT PROFILE
Running Away with the Field Newly graduated DC and Master’s student Leo Kormanik balances Olympic and Chiropractic dreams. BY JEN LESSHAFFT
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7 Leo Kormanik
Baseball. Football. Wrestling. Like many middle school kids, Leo Kormanik loved sports and played on several school teams. But unlike many middle school kids, Leo had a distinct talent on the field, one that was immediately evident to each of his coaches: This kid could run - fast! Those same coaches encouraged Leo to start running competitively. When he was in high school, Leo stopped playing other sports and committed himself to running cross country and track and field. He was All-State in high school in Ohio for cross country. His successes in high school earned him a full athletic scholarship at Malone University in Canton, Ohio, where he was a six-time All-American. His impressive talent resulted in a twoyear sponsorship deal with Mizuno shoes after graduation. To help supplement his income from his Mizuno sponsorship, Leo worked at a local shoe store where he met Dr. Gary Minorik, a Palmer grad and local chiropractor, who needed some running shoe suggestions. He told Leo about some pain he was experiencing in his feet and asked for his opinion. Impressed by Leo’s analysis, Minorik began talking with him about Chiropractic and gave him a copy of Life University President Dr. Guy Riekeman’s “Make Your Life Extraordinary” DVD. Leo was impressed with the concept of vitalism and Life University’s approach toward health and wellness. After watching the DVD and talking further with Minorik about the benefits of Chiropractic, Leo applied to LIFE. He packed his bags and moved to Atlanta in September 2007. Shortly after starting the Doctor of Chiropractic program, he tore his plantar fascia during a training workout –– one week before he was scheduled to compete in the U.S. Cross Country Nationals in San Diego. In his first two years at LIFE he faced injury after injury, ultimately leading him to quit running two or three times. Something always made him change his mind, however, and he kept coming back to the sport. During each
recovery process he received continuous Chiropractic care. Before attending LIFE, he’d only had a handful of adjustments; none since he had made the decision to become a Chiropractor. Prior to 2010, he estimates that he was injured 60 percent of his running career. This is the first full year Leo has ever been 100 percent injury free. He attributes this to consistent chiropractic and injury care. In early 2010, Leo recommitted himself to running with two specific goals – promoting Chiropractic, and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in London. “I rededicated myself to training because I wanted to become an advocate for Chiropractic in the distance running community and within USA track and field,” says Kormanik. While he was injured and not training, he focused solely on school, mastering the art of studying and time management. He took a positive approach and used his time well by getting involved in organizations on campus. He is the former treasurer for the Sports Chiropractic Club and was the LIFE liaison for the American Chiropractic Association sports council in 2009. Leo continues to train by running approximately 80 to 100 miles per week, most of which are logged on the running trails on campus in between classes. Although running is his primary focus at the moment, he attends classes as a full-time student in both the Chiropractic and Master’s programs. In addition to his regular classload and his training, he is currently completing his PEAK internship at the Life University Sports Science Institute (LUSSI).
Now that he is back on a strict training regimen, he uses the skills and experience he gained while on the injured list to help him excel in the classroom. “Adding running back into my schedule was easy. It actually helped by distracting me and making me really focus on school, because I knew I was on a tight schedule. I’m actually able to meditate on my schoolwork while I’m training.” In early 2010, Leo signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas and the Atlanta Track Club. He’s participated in races all around the world, including the 2010 Atlanta Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Thanksgiving Day, where he beat out 8,887 competitors to take home the gold. He finished in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 15 seconds, which equates to an average 5:03 minutes per mile; 11.86 miles per hour. Leo is currently training to run a sub 1:05 for the half-marathon to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the full marathon. He missed making the 2008 Marathon Olympic Trials by just 29 seconds when he ran his first marathon in 2006. If able to run a qualifier within the next year, he will have to place in the top three to advance to the Olympics. Leo competed in the USA Track and Field (USATF) Half Marathon Championships in Houston on Jan. 29. He finished with a time of 1:05:26,narrowly missing the automatic qualifying time for the 2012 USA Olympic Team Trials (1:05:00) and achieving a personal record in the process. He will continue training and has until Dec. 15, 2011, to qualify for the Olympic Trials. “It would be a dream come true to have the opportunity to represent the United States both as an athlete and a chiropractor,” says Kormanik. Leo graduates in March and plans to continue training with the 2012 Olympics in sight. Although he is still unsure of his future plans in Chiropractic, he is excited to continue representing the profession in the distance running community.
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LASTING PURPOSE
Committing Now to Give in the Future BY CRAIG DEKSHENIEKS
“It’s impossible to give more than you receive – especially in this profession,” says Dr. Dean DePice, Life University graduate, practicing chiropractor, and founder of TLC 4 Superteams. That philosophy is shared by his wife Dr. Jen DePice, who is also a Life University graduate and practicing chiropractor. But these are not just hollow words, it is something this husband and wife team believes and lives every day. “We have been incredibly blessed,” says Jen. “In our lives, we have an abundance of friendship, love, receiving, you name it. Did it come from anything specific? I can’t put my finger on it, but it keeps coming back.” The DePice’s believe in giving until it becomes uncomfortable, or as Dean says with a smile, “’Til it hurts.” They do it because it always comes back tenfold. They don’t do it to get it back, it just seems to happen. The DePices live their lives for others. They provide health and wellness to their patients; they provide coaching for other chiropractors through TLC 4 Superteams; they provide unconditional love and support to their kids and extended family; and they provide for the future for others through giving. But giving doesn’t just include money, it means giving time, giving knowledge or giving support. Says Dean, “We give in places where virtue is being exercised. Those places include church, community organizations and worthy causes, and at Life University.” This type of mindset has to be taught and nurtured. Says Jen, “An attitude of giving needs to be instilled early. It’s almost like muscle memory. It’s part of our routine, and it needs to be part of everyone’s routine: parents to kids, professors to students, DCs to patients.” Dean and Jen learned this philosophy shortly after graduation when they were surrounded by people who encouraged
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them. They credit Dr. Joe Charboneau and Dr. Peter Fernandez among those who inspired them to realize that chiropractic is bigger than one person, and to become a small piece of the larger equation.
Drs. Jen and Dean DePice
“The future of Chiropractic is about educating more students and about building more practices,” says Dean. “All chiropractors need to invest in training of future chiropractors.” He and Jen believe that Life University is the place where this will have the most impact. Says Jen, “At LIFE, the mission and vision is clearer than it has ever been. Giving must be done as a moral exercise, if nothing else.” The DePice’s have been making donations to LIFE for many years, and encourage others to do the same. “Even
a thousand dollars a year goes a long way,” says Dean. “Just committing to doing it and having the follow-through is the hump that everyone needs to get over. It’s not about me or you; it’s about all of us and about investing in the future. Skip the weekend getaway and do the right thing.” If you can’t give right now, there are other options. One such option is what Dean and Jen recently did, which is to make provisions in your estate plans for a gift. Life University was in the DePice’s original will 17 years ago before they had children. When they recently updated their will, they made a new commitment. Says Jen, “Our will makes provisions for our kids and family, but also includes the institution that gives us our purpose and the future of our profession. We want to perpetuate what Life University is doing.” Dean adds, “Maybe you can’t write a check today. But you can eventually.” It’s always easier to give after one has accumulated wealth. Making a planned gift is a way to lend your support while you are still here and create your legacy. Dean and Jen DePice are creating their legacy today, tomorrow, and for time immemorial. Planned giving provides an opportunity to make estate provisions for the support of Life University through deferred gifts such as trusts, charitable gift annuities, insurance policies, and bequests. Deferred gifts generate tax savings for the donor immediately while providing a future source of income for LIFE in the future. Deferred gifts, both large and small, help the University plan for the future. Donors are recognized through permanent membership in LIFE’s Legacy Society.
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FEATURE
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BY AUSTIN HOLT
Dr. Michael Sheps is a man of commitment. At the age of 8, his lifelong interest in Chiropractic was sparked when, as a young baseball player, he received weekly adjustments. Since he seemed to hit home runs after each Saturday session, he figured something must be working right. “It stuck with me. It’s a path I was so intrigued with,” Sheps recalls, “and one that I stayed on my entire life.” As Sheps grew up, he discovered another passion—track and field. An accomplished runner throughout high school, and through his time as a prechiropractic student at New Jersey’s Bloomfield College, Sheps took his love of the sport and combined it with his long-time appreciation for Chiropractic. This was the seed that would set off this DC’s career as one of the country’s most well-respected go-to chiropractors for athletes. Shortly after graduating from Bloomfield, Sheps had a decision to make: stay at the school and become a DC, or move to Georgia. “I decided to go to LIFE. I like the curriculum and philosophy much more,” he says. “The teacher colleagues were like family. I completely indulged in the studies and worked in the library at LIFE, and was able to take a lot of the post-doctorate seminars. I came out with a very good technique package and a very good philosophy of practice management from my experience at LIFE.” This diverse, multidisciplinary approach to Chiropractic, combined with Sheps’ tenacity for self improvement and success, has been a driving force. A temporary trip to California after graduation from LIFE turned into a life-changing one. “Originally, I intended to come out here for a little while,” he recalls. “At that time, they had a preceptor concept in California where you could actually practice under another licensed chiropractor before you actually got your license. I thought I would go back to New Jersey,
but I liked the weather and the scope of practice in California. So, here I am.” Shortly thereafter, Sheps gained a diplomate from American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists and one from the Chiropractic Board of Rehabilitation. These credentials, combined with his experience in the Gonstead, Nimmo, Thompson and Logan techniques, and credentials in the McKenzie approach (his office in West Los Angeles is the only credentialed, interdisciplinary McKenzie clinic in the world), quickly earned him notoriety among professionals in other fields, setting the stage Dr. Michael Sheps for the rest of his career—to use his skills to care for athletes who share his passions for sport. “I ran track in high school and college, and I had a coach about 15 years ago who worked with some Olympicgold-medal winners, namely Felix Sanchez and Jerome Davis,” Sheps says. “With his referrals, it kind of blossomed into other coaches like Bobby Kersey and John Smitt sending patients. “There is a lot of track and field training here in southern California—they all seem to migrate to the same track at UCLA,” he continues. “When they came back to the track with injuries, they would be steered in my direction. Now, I take
care of most of the U.S. female gymnastic team, a referral from an orthopedic surgeon.” His experience with the gymnastic team is one that has been of particular interest. Sheps recently spent time in Rotterdam, Holland at the world championships. “I was there with Mattie Larson, to take care of her in the event of injury, and to try to get her back into competition shape,” he says. “Also, to offer my services to the other national team members. It was a unique experience.” And the pace isn’t slowing down for Sheps. He recently developed a class-four laser with Biolase, which he uses in conjunction with the Chiropractic treatment he provides. “I currently oversee UCLA’s Biolase laser therapy. They acquired one of our lasers that the basketball team has been hogging lately,” he laughs. “But we’re hoping they’re going to begin to use it on the other teams, as well.” And with 2012 just around the corner will come the Olympic trials. “At the last trials, I had 38 active track and field athletes, men and women, and I take care of some of the other teams. Great Britian sends a lot of their athletes to southern California to get away from the weather.”
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ON CAMPUS
FromParkingLotto LIFE’s new green gathering space transforms campus culture and community BY MOLLY DICKINSON In 2006, fresh from accreditation and eager for change, Life University put pen to paper on an ambitious plan to wholly transform its campus. The comprehensive master plan would encompass nearly every foot of LIFE’s 100-plus acres, from its brick-and-mortar (constructing new student housing; revitalizing academic buildings; installing an auditorium) to its community culture. One of the most significant undertakings outlined in the plan (dubbed LIFE’s 20/20 Vision and slated to be
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largely completed by the year 2020) was the transformation of the existing parking lots in front of the Administration Building into a multi-use green space that would embody the 20/20 Vision’s ultimate goal –– to create a “village” environment where students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors would be encouraged to interact and engage with each other and the spaces around them in ways that honored vitalistic principles. The result is Life University’s brand new Lyceum Park.
The Vision Atlanta-based landscape architecture firm Hughes, Good O’Leary and Ryan (HGOR) was tapped to conceive and realize the architectural design of the space (they had recently finished the landscaping design for the Socrates Café and the courtyard at LIFE Village Retreat, both charter projects of the 20/20 Vision). However, the true visionaries of the expansive central green, now officially Lyceum Park, were a diverse group of LIFE community members aptly named the “Visioneers.”
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LyceumPark As part of the 20/20 Vision’s mission to create a campus culture infused with vitalistic philosophies of health and well-being, the University instituted an innovative development process inspired by the LIFE Wellness Portfolio. One of the key elements of LIFE’s institutional identity, The Wellness Portfolio explores the concept of optimal wellness as a synergy of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual health. Based on this model, six teams of “Visioneers” were assembled, one for each dimension of health, comprised of LIFE community members with expertise in that particular field. These Visioneers are charged with envisioning proposed campus projects through their assigned lens, and providing insight into how that space or facility might best be designed to promote physical health, environmental health, social health, etc. Bill Jarr, LIFE vice president of operations and finance, was involved in the
Lyceum Park project from the very beginning, and was officially responsible for managing the project from the University’s standpoint. “Lyceum Park is a testament to the Visioneering process,” Jarr says. “The six Visioneer groups met independently to ensure that their specific facet of The Wellness Portfolio would be reflected in the finished project. That work was assimilated and provided to the landscape architect who was then tasked with incorporating those specific features that exemplified wellness. The landscape architects had never been through a similar process and were very complimentary.”
The Realization The result is a 5.94-acre, $3.1 million dollar mixed-use park that epitomizes Life University’s philosophy and new campus culture. An open-air amphitheatre is carved into a natural slope leading down from the expanded entrance to the Administration building –– a perfect place to hold lectures, student performances, movie nights, and other educational and cultural events. Two reflection pools create peaceful spaces for meditation and contemplation. A symbolic fountain circled by granite markers engraved with the Eight Core Proficiencies, a cluster of Peace Poles (in which students can deposit their wishes and dreams for the future on scraps of paper) and a Path of Heroes, to be lined with pavers bearing
the hand and footprints of Chiropractic’s most inspirational leaders, serve as physical reminders of the University’s philosophical and historical foundations. Walking paths have replaced parking spaces, as a continuation of LIFE’s ongoing transformation from a primarily commuter campus to a walkable, liveable village –– a transformation which in addition to lowering LIFE’s carbon footprint, increases opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. Though the final touches are still being made and the official grand opening will not take place until the spring (when many of the trees and plants throughout the park will be in bloom), LIFE’s new green gathering space is a beautiful sight to behold –– especially for those who worked so hard and waited so long to see a parking lot become a park. “I am extremely proud of the process used by the University and how it turned out,” says Jarr. Dr. Guy Riekeman, Life University president, agrees. “It’s been very exciting and rewarding to see the transformation. First, the parking lots were torn up, then the amphitheater was graded in, then the fountains and all the trees and the plants went in. It was amazing to see this incredible space that we had put so much thought and care into designing take shape before our eyes. This is going to change the way people behave on campus. “‘Lyceum’ is the Greek word for the grove where Aristotle and his students would meet to discuss their revolutionary philosophical ideas,” Riekeman adds. “That’s what we want this space to be; a place for people to get together, to think, to talk and to grow as individuals and as a community.”
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UNDERGRADUATE NEWS
Life University’s 20/20 vision includes a 2,000/2,000 vision as well. The plan is to have 2,000 chiropractic students and 2,000 undergraduate students by the year 2020. For those readers who are alumni of the College of Chiropractic, you might be asking yourself, “Why?” For those of you who are alumni of the College of Undergraduate Studies, you might be saying to yourself, “It’s about time.” Although LIFE started as a chiropractic college, the expansion into undergraduate degrees made sense for multiple reasons. First, the vitalistic philosophy of Life University extends to other specific sciences like biology, psychology, nutrition, exercise science and even to business. Second, almost every undergraduate degree available at LIFE covers the prerequisites for admission to the College of Chiropractic, thereby creating a natural feeder system. Finally, LIFE is trying to create an authentic university experience for all students, instead of a commuter college feel that existed until recently. Enhancing the undergraduate experience is an initiative that the administration is taking seriously. A committee was established to create goals and outcomes for the near and distant future. Construction was recently completed for a modern, on-campus housing facility, a campus café, and a central green called Lyceum Park (read more on page 12). And to make sure the needs of our undergraduate alumni are represented, Debbie Lancaster, BBA (’06), has been appointed to the Executvie Board of the Life Univesity Alumni Association. They couldn’t have picked a better person to carry the torch!
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BY CRAIG DEKSHENIEKS
Debbie Lancaster Debbie Lancaster began working at Life University in 1989 when the College of Undergraduate Studies formed. While working full time, she also began taking classes several years later. In 2006, she received her bachelor’s degree in business from LIFE, earning valedictorian honors in the process. She enjoyed the experience so much, she decided to continue her education, earning an associate’s degree in coaching psychology from LIFE in 2007. She has seen it all in her 22 years on campus, having worked for all six deans of the College of Undergraduate Studies. Says Lancaster, “I’ve seen the campus grow from three academic buildings to five. I’ve seen the degrees offered expand. I’ve seen LIFE get more involved with the community through sports and camps, and even with offering meeting space to clubs and organizations.” Debbie wants to help push the undergraduate initiative forward. She envisions undergraduate students getting more involved while they are here, with student government, clubs, intramural Debbie Lancaster sports and campus events. She envisions undergraduates having their own graduation ceremony and honors convocation, orientation and assemblies. Debbie looks forward to our undergraduate alumni becoming more involved and returning to campus. “Give me a call,” she says to undergraduate alumni. “Stop by and see what’s going on. We miss you and we want to see you again.” The Alumni Association has needed this representation on the board, and they knew Lancaster was the right choice because of her passion for Life University’s College of Undergraduate Studies.
That passion is evident in the fact that her daughter chose to attend LIFE as well, and will be graduating from the College of Undergraduate Studies this year. “My family has been a part of LIFE for the past 22 years, so its only natural my daughter would graduate from LIFE!,” Lancaster says.
News from the College of Undergraduate Studies The list of goals and outcomes for enhancing the undergraduate experience is too lengthy to show in these pages. However, here are some news and notes that might interest you:
Interim Dean Michael Smith, Ph.D., has helped establish two honor societies and hopes to establish more in the future. Honor societies are the highest honor a student can achieve at a university. It represents scholarship and achievement amongst your peers, while exceeding national standards of excellence in one’s chosen degree. Sigma Beta Delta just inducted its inaugural class of three business students, and Kappa Omicron Nu recently inducted its inaugural class of 12 nutrition students. Dr. Smith is in the midst of establishing a chapter of the Psi Chi honor society for psychology students. Phi Beta Lambda, the student arm of the Future Business Leaders of America, chose Life University and its local chapter to host a regional competition in 2010. Students from other Georgia Phi Beta Lambda chapters convened on the campus to compete in business-related events, where the winners advanced to the next level. It was in this competition in 2009 that Life University undergraduate student Tynaeshia Woods finished second in the country in public speaking.
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A dietetics internship at Life University is one of the most competitive programs to which a student can aspire. Last year 60 students applied for 16 spots in the program. Job placement upon completion is becoming an easier prospect for graduates due to the leading edge science and active learning the program offers. With the recently opened nutrition wing in the College of Undergraduate Studies, LIFE’s entire nutrition program is emerging as a model other universities are noticing.
There are now 29 clubs and organizations that undergraduate students can join. Everything from sports clubs such as cycling and jiu jitsu, to student government, to academic organizations like the nutrition club. More clubs, are being established each quarter, particularly by undergrads, as students with similar hobbies and interests create their own tribes on campus.
The authentic university experience is one of the main objectives at Life University. Additions include concerts and film night in the outdoor amphitheater; lectures and speakers from various industries and backgrounds; student parties and events; and off-campus excursions to cultural events around the Atlanta metro area. With the strides already made, and the future strides in the works, achieving the goal of 2,000 undergraduate students is not only realistic, but well on its way. Research Life University has established itself as one of the preeminent centers for chiropractic research, having enjoyed more presentations and platforms at ACC-RAC than any other institution in recent years. But the research being conducted here is not solely Chiropractic. Many of our undergraduate professors have been doing studies, too.
LIFE’s intercollegiate sports program plans to expand as well. The accomplishments of our existing basketball, rugby and ice hockey teams have been well documented in previous editions of Your Extraordinary LIFE. In the next couple of years, there are plans to expand athletics. Under consideration are women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s and women’s tennis, just to name a few.
The new Lyceum Park was completed in late fall. Now that the grass has grown in and the trees and shrubs are blooming, this centrally located park has become a focal point for students. The historic universities throughout the country have a true campus look and feel to them. Up until now, this area was parking lots. Long term plans include encircling this park with academic buildings creating even more of a campus look and feel.
Humberto Dutra, Ph.D., in the Biology department, conducted some research into invasive plants and their effect on the environment. Specifically, Dr. Dutra collaborated with professors from other institutions to study the bush honeysuckle, a common plant found in local forests that, due to its invasive nature, finds its way into many backyards. What the study found was that despite its beauty and colorful berries, the bush honeysuckle can have adverse affects on humans. Due to the dense foliage, the plant provides a natural canopy for deer, which are a natural reservoir for tick borne diseases such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Erlichiosis. The study further found that bush honeysuckle provides shelter for mice, which may consume native plant seeds and seedlings and reduce biodiversity. The bottom line is that disease risk to
humans is augmented eightfold in the presence of this invasive plant.
Sudhanva Char, Ph.D., in the Business Department, and Cherry Collier, Ph.D. in the General Studies Department, have collaborated to study the inevitable interface between economics and psychology. The reason they took on this project is because economics is a growing industry, in part due to the recent downturn in the United States and world markets, as well as the fact that economics has a pervading influence on health care policy and decision making. The key aspect of considering economics and psychology together is a notion called “rationality” when it comes to intellectual discipline and wisdom passed down through generations. In other words, taking the lessons of a market downturn and the panic and depression associated with it, while also considering a market uptick and the irresponsibility and unscrupulous behavior associated with it. Char and Collier were prompted to go back to the roots of the discussion on rationality and call upon professionals to update themselves and consider rewriting economic texts. Their paper was recently published in the Journal of Emerging Knowledge on Emerging Markets. It has been downloaded and cited numerous times by economic scholars, which Char and Collier hope will generate discussion and debate on the topic.
Life University’s College of Undergraduate Studies is blazing its own trail in leading-edge natural science degrees. With faculty members like Humberto Dutra, Sudhanva Char and Cherry Collier educating tomorrow’s leaders, Life University will continue to emerge into the national consciousness.
www.life.edu
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Getting Down to Business: Frances Roberson, Ph.D. BY JEN LESSHAFFT Life University is most commonly known for its dynamic chiropractic program. With its top-notch facilities and exceptional faculty, it’s pretty obvious why we are arguably one of the best chiropractic schools in the world. We all know about the chiropractic program, but did you know about the other 10 degree programs LIFE offers? LIFE is a comprehensive chiropractic university, offering degree programs ranging from biology and psychology to business and nutrition. When she joined the Life University family last year as Chair of the School of Business, Frances Roberson, Ph.D., knew there was something special going on here. She actually spent some time as an adjunct faculty member before coming on full-time as Chair. “As an adjunct faculty member I was fortunate enough to see how special this school actually was. The students here are so positive and cordial and the faculty is just wonderful,” says Roberson. “I have a lot of contacts in the community and want them to know the assets Life University has to offer.” Before coming to LIFE, she worked her way up from a K-12 instructor to System Office Administrator for Cobb County Schools, where she started the first computer literacy program for K-12 schools. She trained principals and administrative staff on the use of computers and focused the computer-related curriculum on things students could use. Roberson was the Dean of the School of Business and Technologies at Chattahoochee Technical College, a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. Transitioning to the system level in 2007,
she was responsible for the curriculum of the business and technology programs for 32 technical schools across the state. Roberson is using her experience to help transform the business program at LIFE. Although it’s one of our most enrolled undergraduate programs, she hopes to increase involvement by implementing seminars and programs available to the entire LIFE community. These seminars and workshops will focus on resume building, investing, interviewing and networking skills, in addition to other relevant business-related information. The focus of the School of Business is to provide students of all majors and programs a solid foundation of concepts for entrepreneurship and social change as a result of experiences in the program. “Entrepreneurs don’t fail because they don’t have skills in their area,” Roberson says. They fail because they don’t understand business. We’re giving our students, no matter their program of study, the opportunity to learn how to run a successful business.” Roberson, along with some LIFE administration, participated in a Business Summit with key business leaders to discuss the future of the University’s business program. Chaired by Columbus State University President Dr. Tim Mescon, the summit included executives from Greenguard, Microsoft, Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), The Center for Family Resources, Overby-Seawell Company and Hawthorne Visual. The plan is based on the phi-
losophy that the individual student is the main focus. Another exciting development is a future partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia. Says Roberson, “We are close to signing an agreement with the Technical College System of Georgia that will provide students graduating from business programs in the 27 technical colleges the ability to receive credit for courses successfully taken toward requirements for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Life University.” This will give more Georgia students an added incentive to not only turn their two-year technical degrees into four-year Bachelor’s degrees, it will also encourage them to pursue those degrees at LIFE. It’s not surprising that Roberson is also is involved in several community groups. She is a Board member for the Credit Union of Georgia, and for CobbWorks. She is also Chair of One-Stop Consortium, and the Workforce Development Partners Council. She is an active member of the Marietta Kiwanis Club, and the Education Committee for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of Marietta First Baptist Church. Roberson looks forward to a bright future for business at LIFE, and the new challenges it will bring. “I love the challenge that this profession provides,” says Roberson. “The process of taking a program to the next level allows me to channel my creative side while advancing the University, its programs and its students.”
www.life.edu
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LIFE research update Alumni Speak, LIFE Listens: Your 2010 Alumni Survey Results Over the past two years, LIFE has surveyed alumni both informally and formally on such topics as University programming, LIFE’s place within the profession and our communication with external constituents – including alums themselves. A formal survey in 2009 revealed a few concerns (a desire for more communication, difficulty locating certain information on our website) that LIFE staff have successfully worked to improve. In late 2010, we asked almost 7,000 alumni to participate in a survey conducted by our educational research partner, Eduventures.
Your Opinion of Life University A strong majority of alumni (83 percent) reported having a positive opinion of the University (up from 67 percent in 2009); We are very excited about these results and believe that this is a strong indication that our alumni like the direction LIFE is heading. Opinion of LIFE university Negative
Neutral
5.8% 11.2% 83%
Survey respondents by class year 1970-1984 1985-1994
Positive
17%
24%
2005+
15%
25%
19%
Your Event Attendance A significant number (74 percent) of survey respondents indicated that they had not attended a regional Alumni and Friends event in the past two years.
2000-2004
1995-1999
With increased survey participation, the latest numbers are even more representative of the alumni body, and we are pleased to report measurable improvement of alumni opinions about LIFE’s progress in a variety of areas. Thanks to all of you who shared your thoughts with us and provided valuable insight into N better serve you in the how we can following ways.
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However, those who did attend indicated a high level of satisfaction with the events. This year, the University will explore how to create regional events that provide additional value to alumni, and increase overall attendance. Specifically, a large number of respondents indicated that they are interested in attending events where they will learn what LIFE is doing to benefit Chiropractic and/or their individual practices. This past fall, LIFE revised its event presentations so that 15 percent of the content relates to campus programs and development and 85 percent relates to what LIFE is doing to benefit our alumni. The next time LIFE hosts an Alumni and Friends event in your area, we encourage you to come see for yourself just what LIFE is doing, every day, to improve your alumni experience. Our calendar of events can be found on page 24 and on the LIFE Alumni and Friends website page at raisersedge.life.edu.
Our Website, Online Directory and Job Board Almost three quarters of respondents indicated that they had visited the LIFE
What would motivate you to attend an alumni and friends regional event in the future? 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Learn what the University is doing to help my practice and/or benefit the profession
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BY LEILA TATUM
Receive sample products from LIFE University sponsors
Hear about opportunities to support the University
Hear the president of LIFE University, Dr. Riekman, speak
Other
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Percentage of alumni who visited the LIFE website in the past 12 months
No
29% 71%
Yes
for jobs, you must be either a student or an alum, and you must use your alumni ID number to access this portion. For your convenience, your ID number is printed on the postage tag of this magazine. You may also contact the Department of Alumni Relations to request assistance with obtaining your alumni ID and registering for access. In addition, we are looking at ways to make the job board more user-friendly for our alumni. The job board can be accessed via the LIFE website at www.LIFE.edu by choosing “Classified Ads” from the Quick Links menu at the top of the page. There is also a link to the job board from the Alumni and Friends website.
website and the majority of those had visited the Alumni and Friends section. Following the results of the 2009 survey, LIFE’s Alumni Relations Department Your Gifts to LIFE developed a new Alumni and Friends section which launched last October. The survey revealed positive news The new section contains a calendar of regarding your financial support of the events that includes alumni events, CE University. seminars, athletic events and campus More than 60 percent of the responhappenings. In addition, you can find dents who indicated they would consider current Life University news and alumni making a gift to LIFE would do so if the updates, make a donation, update your University clearly communicated our contact information and view photo ongoing efforts in supporting the profesgalleries. Alumni who register for access sion. Additionally, almost one in four of to the site can explore enhanced features, those who would consider a gift would do such as creating a profile and searching so if their gift could help improve the for classmates. campus. The job board is a service brought to you by the Student Alumni surveyed indicated that they Services Office and is jointly would give for the following reasons managed by the Department of Alumni Relations. It was If their gift would originally designed with LIFE improve the campus students in mind, but has If they were asked since been adapted to 23.4% accommodate alumni. Anyone 15.2% (alumni, friends, students, donors, organizations and 61.4% individuals) may post a job opportunity, practice for sale and/or equipment for sale/rent; you do not need an If they better understood alumni ID number to use this our efforts to improve the profession feature. However, to search
With the exception of a couple dozen one-on-one gift meetings each year, LIFE has not asked alumni to make individual gifts in the past five years. Your positive survey responses have encouraged LIFE to re-institute an Annual Fund campaign in the coming year. We look forward to working together to find the level and method of support that is right for you. LIFE is especially grateful for the positive responses from alumni who graduated since 2005. Our youngest alumni play a leading role in LIFE’s future, and we will continue to work to engage you as we move forward with new and improved Alumni programming. We will also continue to update all our alumni on how we are using survey results to better tailor our services to meet your needs. Thank you again for all you do to support LIFE, and to help us support you in return. Remember, LIFE is listening.
Congratulations to the Survey Prize Winner: Dr. Kevin HayClass of 1996 Participants of the survey were randomly selected to win a prize. Dr. Hay won free admission to a Life University CE Seminar.
www.life.edu
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Living to Serve BY JEN LESSHAFFT
How Austin Cohen, Buckhead DC and newest board member of LIFE’s Alumni Association, lives his life of Lasting Purpose. The words “Lasting Purpose” are frequently heard around the Life University campus. Lasting Purpose refers to a key principle on which the University was founded. It’s not just a phrase or a motto, but a call to action – “To Give, To Do, To Love, To Serve out of a sense of abundance.” The LIFE community is encouraged to live and act by these words, ultimately creating an environment of value and purpose. Since graduating from LIFE in 2009, Austin Cohen, D.C., has built his life and his career on Lasting Purpose. When he opened his Atlanta-based practice in Buckhead in October 2009, he designed it with service in mind. Through his practice and his many commitments, Cohen not only gives back to his community, but also to his fellow chiropractors and current chiropractic students. Every month, Cohen visits the Atlanta Mission, a nonprofit organization geared toward helping Atlanta’s homeless population get back on their feet. He provides free chiropractic care to those willing to commit to six to 12 months in the shelter to better their lives and get the help they may need. In December 2010, he adjusted 51 people at the shelter, giving them a head start toward a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle. “Fortunately, I learned at a young age the importance of giving back and now it has become a part of my life,” says Cohen. Recently, Cohen created a “Chiropractor Mentor Members” group on Facebook.
The group, which is open to anyone, allows chiropractic students and chiropractors in practice to interact and discuss chiropractic principles, ask questions and get advice. “The goal of this group is to allow students to connect with successful chiropractors who are out in the real world making a difference.” Even while he was in school, Cohen was continuously practicing the Lasting Purpose model. Cohen was a co-founder of Innate Enterprise, a student-run personal and professional development organization that focuses on three main values: leadership, communication and, you guessed it, service. Upon graduation, Cohen received the Clinic Excellence Award, an award given for outstanding achievement in service and academic performance related to the clinics, its patients, and the University. Watching how he runs his own clinic today, it’s obvious it was recognition well deserved. Teaching his patients about the benefits of chiropractic and a healthy lifestyle are key components in Cohen’s Buckhead practice. He leads monthly Whole Foods shopping tours, offering suggestions on healthy meals and food choices,
Austin Cohen Spring
2011
www.life.edu
as well as educating patients on the value of healthy eating. He also invites his patients to attend “Dinner with Doc,” a free meal with him to discuss the power of health and healing, and “Training with Doc,” where he designs individual fitness plans that work in conjunction with chiropractic care and nutrition to help patients attain optimal health. Even as a young alumnus, Cohen is committed to giving back to the University. As a LIFEforce 1000 member, Cohen works to enhance the Chiropractic profession by participating in special quarterly seminars, hosting Student Recruitment Events (SRE’s) and referring students to LIFE. The 1000 share the same passions, goals and aspirations for the profession, and strive to do everything they can to advance chiropractic in accordance with core values they share with Life University. “Being a LIFEforce 1000 member has provided me with an opportunity to give back to my school and the profession that I love,” says Cohen. “The camaraderie within this group is amazing.” We are proud to have Austin Cohen as the newest board member of the International Alumni Association of Life University (IAALU). He joins the group as the D.C. Student Recruitment and Engagement Representative, where he’ll work directly with the University to promote programs geared toward students and recent graduates of the D.C. program.
Meet the Board of Directors: Your Life University Alumni Association Elected Officers: Dr. Lorenzo E. Marchese, Jr. FICA (’83) President Dr. Stuart E. Katzen (’97) Vice President Dr. David Eugster (’84) Representative, Philanthropy/Community Service Deborah Lancaster (’06) Representative, UG Student Recruitment & Engagement Dr. Austin Cohen ('09) Representative DC Student Recruitment & Engagement Appointed Officers: Robert Love Student Council President Leila Tatum Alumni Relations Manager Jen Lesshafft Alumni Relations Coordinator Greg Harris VP for University Advancement Ex-Officio: Dr. Guy F. Riekeman President of Life University
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BY LEILA TATUM
ALUMNI UPDATE
Class Reunions
Alumni Discounts and Benefits
On October 1, 2010, the Department of Alumni Relations and the Alumni Association hosted reunions of 78 alumni for LIFE University class years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. The event took place at the Hyatt Regency in Marietta. Alumni Association Board Members, Leila Tatum, Larry Marchese, D.C. and Dave Eugster, D.C., were on hand to greet alumni, award door prizes and mingle with the crowd. Revelers enjoyed scrumptious food, live music and a full bar. Attendees were also able to have a “prom-style” picture taken during the event. Many alumni took advantage of this opportunity to strike a pose with old (and new) friends, and generally have a good laugh. The current rugby team and a number of rugby alumni attended the reunion as well, before hosting an awards ceremony in a nearby room. This year, class reunions will be hosted on campus during the Fall CE Weekend (formerly known as Homecoming). The class reunion years for our 2011 event are 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. LIFE plans to host a VIP reception for these reunion members in close proximity to a larger event for all alumni. That way, attendees can cross-mingle. Please visit the Alumni & Friends website for up-to-date information. The LIFE Alumni Association is currently looking for reunion chairs. If you are a member of one of the reunion years and would like to help get the word out to your former classmates, please contact Jen Lesshafft or Leila Tatum at alumni@life.edu or 800-543-3203.
As a member of the Life University Alumni Association, you are now able to enjoy a variety of different discounts and benefits. Upon graduation, you are automatically inducted into the alumni association. Membership in the association is completely free. As an alumnus, you’ll have complete access to the University library and our career services department, as well as our online alumni directory. Continuing education opportunities are also available. Additionally, you should also be receiving alumni and campus publications such as the bi-weekly alumni enewsletter and our alumni magazine, Your Extraordinary LIFE. Discounts offered to alumni include lower rates on car rentals with Hertz and discounted auto insurance provided by GEICO. We’ve partnered with several Internet retailers including Brookstone, Overstock, ProFlowers, Red Envelope and Shari’s Berries. We also have relationships with local organizations like the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which has offered discounted admission to all LIFE alumni. You can even stock up on LIFE memorabilia by utilizing alumni association discounts in the Life University bookstore on campus.
WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING to bring you more discounts and benefits. For more details, please visit the new Alumni & Friends website by clicking on the “Alumni & Friends” tab on the LIFE homepage.
www.life.edu
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CLASS NOTES
Keep in Touch with LIFE Graduates Dr. Corey Mote (’08) travelled to London to compete in the Musclemania Britain professional bodybuilding competition. Not only did Dr. Mote win his weight class (middleweight), he also took home the overall title and has now earned his status as a Musclemania professional bodybuilder, the highest level for any natural bodybuilder. His next show will be the Mr. Universe competition in Miami in June 2011. We would like to extend our condolences to the family of Dr. Frans Leeuwen, a former LIFE rugby coach in the mid1980s, who passed away in September after suffering a heart attack. He leaves behind his son, Francie, and his daughter, Anine. Dr. James Eaton (’92), China Clinic Director, LIFE Chiropractic Clinic in Zigong China, travelled to Beijing to present at the Shi Ao conference. As the International Chiropractors Association Representative from China, he presented on the necessity of proper healthy sleep and how crucial it is in relationship to good health. He emphasized his presentation with visuals of X-rays taken in the Zigong Clinic of the consequences of not sleeping well. Dr. Eaton is one of fewer than 20 chiropractors in a country of 1.4 billion people. He can be reached in the Zigong Clinic at no1chinadc@gmail.com Dr. Darin Cundiff (’02) was named Healthcare Provider of the Year by the Liberty/Casey County (Kentucky) Chamber of Commerce. After graduating from LIFE, he opened Cundiff Chiropractic in Liberty, Ky. Although a May 2 flood closed the practice for several months, Cundiff and his staff were overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the members of the Chiropractic community. Other doctors offered office space,
Spring
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equipment and words of encouragement. Cundiff is married to Rachyl Hoskins Cundiff and they have two children, Karis and Karmen.
Ghana or to a local project in whatever town or city where they are adjusting. If someone cannot give anything, the group will adjust them anyway.
Dr. Perry Chinn (‘86) has written a new book, “Symphony of Wellness: How Nitric Oxide Can Help You Orchestrate Your Health.” After years as a chiropractor helping people to acquire wellness in their own lives, he wrote his new book revealing how nitric oxide benefits health, including the heart and circulation.
Dr. William Brady (’90) was awarded the 2010 Hall of Fame Award for Health and Fitness from World Martial Arts Magazine. A black tie event in Orlando, Fla., recognized and honored those who are outstanding in their efforts in the Martial Arts industry. Dr. Brady is a Tae Kwon Do 5th Degree Master of 30 years, member of the Michigan Association of Chiropractors and owner of Lifecare Martial Arts and Lifecare Chiropractic clinic in Algonac, Mich. His daughter, Cortney, is a current student at LIFE.
Dr. Tim Kelly (‘85) joined former Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., and Director of the Office of Health and Safety for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Casey Chosewood, M.D., during Leadership DeKalb’s Health and Wellness Day to discuss ways to improve U.S. health. The day-long program included a wide variety of presentations on the current status of health care in the Atlanta community, as well as recommendations for improving it. Dr. Kelly’s presentation was on natural healing. Dr. Robert Champagne (’80) is the current president of Chiropractic for the World Foundation (CFTWF), a registered Canadian charity whose vision and purpose is to bring the gift of chiropractic to the world. In addition to Dr. Champagne, CFTWF’s current leadership also includes LIFE alumnus, Vice President Dr. Janelle Bohemier (‘01). Also on the board for the organization are LIFE alumni Drs. Joel Bohemier (‘00) and Alain Desaulniers (‘02). The group explores different regions of Ghana and, as a gift, provides free chiropractic care to thousands of Ghanaians. To honor the law of exchange, they ask for a small donation (approximately $1 to $2) and in return, the donations are given to a school project in Offinso,
Drs. Jeffry Michael Smith (‘83) and Michelle Zuback Smith (‘88) celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in December. Dr. Jeffry Smith was a LIFE faculty member for nine years and he and his wife now practice in Brunswick, Ga. Dr. Wendy J. Jacobs (‘94) of Arlington, Va., was named the recipient of several awards, including The Professional of the Year in Chiropractic for 2009-10, 2010 Expert Resource in the Field of Sports Chiropractic Care for Cambridge’s “Top 101 Industry Experts,” 2010-11 NAPW Woman of the Year, and National Honors Society Who’s Who for Exemplary Contributions to the National Standards of Professionalism. Dr. Parker Zarbuck (’98) was elected president of the Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association in the fall of 2009 and is serving a two-year term. The IPSCA’s mission is to protect and promote the chiropractic adjustment to correct vertebral subluxation.
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Dr. Jeff Zaika (’92) of Mansfield, Ohio, has been named Ohio Chiropractor of the Year for 2010. He is the former president (’09-’10) of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association (OSCA) and is the 2011 Chairman of the Board for the OSCA. Dr. Zaika was selected to be included in “The Best Doctors in America” list for 20092010, the third time he has appeared on
the list. Dr. Zaika is actively involved in his local community. He is a board member of the Appleseed Youth Soccer/ Flames Soccer Club and is also a long-time soccer coach at Mansfield Christian School. Dr. Leona (Fischer) Di Amore (’98) is a former Navy Corpsman and was stationed with the Special Operations unit,
Bob Rabin Inducted into Academy of Fellows BY LEILA TATUM On Dec. 17, 2010, Dr. Bob Rabin became the 15th person to be inducted into the Life University Academy of Fellows. The Academy was established in July 2004 as a means of recognizing devoted leaders of the chiropractic profession who have made significant contributions to the success of Life University. Rabin was honored by President Guy Riekeman, D.C., during the Fall 2010 graduation ceremony. Dr. Bob is a familiar face to many in the LIFE community. He is a gregarious and affectionate individual and an outspoken advocate for Life University and Chiropractic. In fact, Rabin’s love of LIFE and its philosophies is so legendary, that when Dr. Riekeman asked him to come work for the University, Rabin asked, “What do you want me to do?” To which Riekeman responded, “I just want you to walk around the campus and be Bob Rabin.” Rabin was born in New York in 1928. He enrolled at Life College in 1978 and was part of the 13th graduating class in 1980. He was also a founding member of the Georgia Council of Chiropractic. At the induction ceremony, Dr. Riekeman had this to say about Dr. Bob: “He lights up a room, lights up the profession, he’s lighted up millions of people’s lives.”
Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Virginia Beach from 1987 to 1992. She travels to military bases in California to adjust active duty soldiers returning from war who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Di Amore continues her work in Chicago and in her Naperville office, The Healing Place, adjusting veterans returning home. The travel and services she provides are at no charge; instead she is rewarded by the value and effectiveness of her work, and by supporting a cause she strongly believes in. We would like to extend our condolences to the family of Dr. Eddy Cohen (’82) who died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 at Owatonna Hospital in Minnesota. Dr. Cohen taught at LIFE in the early ‘90s. His son Danny is also an alumnus. Our thoughts go out to the Cohen family. Congratulations to Dr. Brian McKenna (’02), who won a free drop table from Sunshine Tables for attending a regional LIFE alumni event. Dr. McKenna attended the LIFE alumni breakfast during the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society’s annual spring conference. Every six months, the Department of Alumni Relations randomly draws a name of regional event attendees. The winner receives a custom drop table from Sunshine Tables. “I went to the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society’s annual spring conference with the intent of obtaining continuing education, and came away with much more. Thank you to both the Life University Alumni Association and Sunshine Tables.” – Dr. Brian McKenna ‘02
DON’T BE SHY! We’d like to include your personal and professional news and photos in upcoming editions of Class Notes. Send your information to alumni@life.edu.
www.life.edu
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Mark Your Alumni Events For more information or to register please contact the Life University Department of Alumni Relations at alumni@life.edu or 800-543-3203. Date APRIL 8-10 15-17 29-May 1 MAY 13-15
JUNE 10-12
Event/Venue
Location
Day/Time
Ocean Place resort & Spa, Longbranch, N.J.
TBD
Hilton Riverside Hotel, Wilmington, N.C. Hilton Dulles Airport, Washington D.C.
Friday 6p.m.-8p.m. TBD
Michigan Association of Chiropractic Spring Convention
Radisson Plaza, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Saturday Noon-2p.m.
Alabama State Chiropractic Association
Auburn, Ala.
TBD
New Beginnings for a New Future ChiropracticPhilosophy Weekend North Carolina Chiropractic Association Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association
PG & CE Seminar Schedule For more information or to register, visit http://www.life.edu/Continuing_Education or contact the Postgraduate Programs Office at 800-543-3406. Date APRIL 2-3 9-10 16- 17
MAY 7-8 21-22 JUNE 18-19
JULY 23-24 30-31
Spring
2011
Seminar Title
Location
Instructor(s)
Transition To Wellness Lower Extremity Pelvic and Cervical Analysis for Confident Adjusting
Life University Life University Life University
Anthony Carrino, D.C. Kevin Hearon, D.C. Jerry Hochman, D.C.
Practical Neurology: Proposed model for VSC and its Clinical Application Foot Gait Orthotics
Life University
John Minardi, D.C.
Life University
Kevin Hearon, D.C.
Neuro Sensory Integration *Mod. 1 NSI Certification
Life University
Monika Buerger, D.C.
Rehab Sacro-Occipital Technique: Spinal
Life University Life University
Paul Hetrick, D.C. Martin Rosen, D.C.
www.life.edu
Life University 1269 Barclay Circle Marietta, GA 30060
www.life.edu
Important Contacts Update Your Information: Office of Alumni Relations 800-543-3203 Make a Gift: Office of Development 800-543-3436 Order a Transcript: Office of the Registrar 888-423-5547 Volunteer with Student Recruiting: Office of Recruitment 800-543-3202 Place an Ad on the Website: 770-426-2700 or email careers@life.edu