CHIROPRACTIC MAGAZINE
FINDING THE BALANCE EVIDENCE-INFORMED CARE
TRIBUTE TO
JEANNE OHM, DC P. 16
NEW DEGREE
LAUNCHES P. 04
BODY HACKING AND CHIROPRACTIC? VOLUME 40
ISSUE 3
FA LL 2019
P. 28
THISISSUE
PUBLISHER RONALD OBERSTEIN, DC
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALANA HOPE
M AN AGIN G E DITOR KATHY MIEDEMA
P.16
P.27
P.31
Staff member Andrew Herrera lends a hand before graduation.
PROOF READERS ANDREW CHAMPAGNE PALMER PEET ANATOLE BOGATSKI, PHD TOM HYLAND
FEATURES
10
EVIDENCE-INFORMED CARE A look at the research that supports vitalistic chiropractic care and what’s ahead.
18
NEW ALUMNI BOARD Meet your new president, Dr. Ankur Tayal, Life West’s philosophy chair.
DEPARTMENTS 04 HEALTH CLINIC
A new master’s in radiology program
06 CAMPUS NEWS
Student Advocacy Office
07 SPORTS PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE Summer service
08 INDUSTRY NEWS
Chiropractic research in Canada
AROUND THE WORLD
Life West opens its first international clinic, and makes plans for more.
VOLU ME 40 ISS U E 0 3 FA LL 20 19
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR KATHY MIEDEMA
PHOTOGRAPHY MEHAK KHULLAR
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS RONALD OBERSTEIN, DC DAN MURPHY, DC AUSTIN BERGQUIST, PHD ANDREW CHAMPAGNE
19 ALUMNI NEWS
TOM HYLAND
20 INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
EDITORIAL DESIGN CARLA VENINI
Dr. Willard Smith
Grateful Patient Program Capital Campaign
22 DONOR ROLL
Thank you for your support!
32
MARK ZEIGLER, DC
ADVERTISING AD@LIFEWEST.EDU
BOARD OF REGENTS
26 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
JIMMY NANDA, DC, CHAIRMAN
27 CAREER SERVICES
CAMERON HASTINGS, AASME, AASEM
Dr. Marc Behar
Q&A with Dr. Brad Glowaki
34 ATHLETICS
Rugby updates
36 CONTINUING EDUCATION
What happened at The WAVE
KRISTEN GILES, DC MARK KIMES, DC ANGEL OCHOA-REA, DC STEVEN SILK, DC SCOTT TURNER, CPA
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Mentor Dr. Mark Foullong Student Champion Kirsten Foullong An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System
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01. "Back at it again! Can’t stop, won’t stop" MS lesion in brain on left, after Chiropractic care lesion gone on right. 02. "Thank you for making the biggest sacrifices and the hardest decisions so your kids can have it all. Les amo y estoy tan orgullosa ser un Gonzales" 03. “What you tell your patients genuinely matters. If they believe you, it becomes part of their reality. Hope is an incredible gift you can give your patient.” - @heidi.haavik, PhD. 04. "Grateful to spend a life helping others fulfill their personal potential!" 05. "our former C.A. is here as a full-fledged chiropractic student!"
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SH ARI NG C H I R OP R AC T IC W I TH TH E WORLD Did you know there are less than 15 chiropractors to serve 1.3 billion people in India? Around the world, millions of people don’t have access to chiropractic care. Watch our short feature on how Life West is making a real difference in under-served populations as we organize regular service trips that help bring chiropractic to the world. Lifewest.edu/service
FROM THE PRESIDENT As I write this, I and members of the Life West executive team have just returned from our alumni and friends tour to several cities in Canada, where Life West hosted a series of President’s Receptions. I was excited to go back to Canada to talk with the many Vitalistic chiropractors there since I visited in the spring. I wanted to hear more about the issues in front of them, limiting their opportunities to advertise what they can do for their practice members, and stopping them from sharing chiropractic and its benefits with their communities. In Canada and other countries, there’s a push toward an evidence-based model of practice that’s being used to limit vitalistic chiropractic care. In this issue of Life West Chiropractic Magazine, we are examining the role of research in Vitalistic chiropractic care. What I want to spotlight at this moment is the research we are doing at Life West to show the link between ongoing chiropractic care and overall health and optimal physiology.
Right now, our own team of scientists and researchers at the college are combing through research and testing tools. They’ve found many examples of existing research and new methodologies and technologies that can help us show the impact of regular chiropractic care on the health and well-being of communities. Many of these research projects have already begun, and you can read more about that in this issue. Our goal at Life West is to share chiropractic with the world. Where the research is not clear or sufficient, we will do the work to show in research what we may already know to be true. Where the evidence is buried, we will work to bring light to scientific results. Where the sentiment is not as positive, we will work to change minds. Life West will continue to work to build our case for sharing Vitalistic chiropractic with the world. We invite you to join with us in our mission. Yours in Lasting Purpose,
#LIFEWEST | 3
HEALTHCLINIC
MASTER'S IN RADIOLOGY BY KATHY MIEDEMA Life West has begun working with the first radiology resident in a new degree program, the Master’s of Science in Diagnostic Imaging (MSDI) program. The training in the program also prepares the resident for a series of board exams to earn a Diplomate of American Chiropractic Board of Radiology, or DACBR. The MSDI program has been in the works for a while but gained new traction when Life West received accreditation approval for the radiology residency program from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in July 2018. The program will qualify the radiology resident to sit for DACBR Board exams. Training will emphasize radiographic interpretation aimed at supporting chiropractors and the subluxation-based vitalistic care they provide for their patients. The first resident, 2019 Life West graduate Michele Bahadoor, DC, is training with program director Jamie Motley, DC, DACBR.“The Master’s of Science in Diagnostic Imaging program continues to build on Life West’s mission in an effort to offer additional programs that are in alignment with the Doctor of Chiropractic degree,” said Pardeep Kullar, EdD, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Having the ability to extensively train a resident in diagnostic imaging adds value to both the profession and the college as it demonstrates expansion in the field. Dr. Motley’s knowledge and years of experience with diagnostic imaging make her the perfect choice to lead the program.” Dr. Motley, who went through similar training to earn her MSDI and DACBR in 2012, notes that Life West’s program is unique to the radiology world. Of the current diplomate training programs, only three also offer a master of science degree in diagnostic imaging along with imaging interpretation training. Life West’s program will be the fourth such program. One person will be accepted per year for the master’s degree program, beginning with the fall quarter, for an eventual total of three residents at a time. When Life West began courting the idea of starting a radiology training program, it was important that the program went with a curriculum that offered a master’s degree. Dr. Motley, who has been teaching at Life West since 2013, said most colleges want to offer more than one degree, and the MSDI program with diplomate training was a realistic choice. Based on previous plans to offer such a program as well as the existing faculty to support it, Life West recognized the present as the perfect time to pursue this opportunity. When Ron Oberstein, DC, took over the presidency of the college, Life West suddenly had a new slate upon which to lay the program. The thesis required for the master’s degree will be the real meat and potatoes of the program, Dr. Motley added. This researchbased project will ultimately culminate in a research study, and the hope is that it will be published and contribute to a greater body of chiropractic analysis.
4 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
[
[ Dr. Michele Bahadoor, DC
HEALTHCLINIC
Meet Jamie Motley Director, MSDI By Kathy Miedema
Seven years ago, Jamie Motley
became the first African-American to graduate with a master’s degree in radiology and earn her DACBR, which means she is a chiropractor who is a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Radiology. She’s still the only African-American DACBR. Dr. Motley has recently been named director of Life Chiropractic College West’s new Master's of Diagnostic Imaging Program (MSDI), which kicked off with the Fall 2019 quarter. She’s the only AfricanAmerican woman to lead such a program. So when she says she’d like the spotlight to remain on how exciting it is to see such a program come to light at Life West, Dr. Motley acknowledges that it’s hard to overlook these other important firsts. But, she says, “I’m an entity in a great program. This is a new degree program that will support chiropractic in a way we haven’t seen at the college so far. I think this will open the doors for additional degree programs in the future.”
EARLY FOCUS ON CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Motley said she knew early on that she would be a chiropractor, when she met her
dad’s chiropractor during a series of visits after he had an injury in a car accident. “As I was going with him for visits, I had the opportunity to learn more about chiropractic,” she said. “I was very intrigued by what the chiropractor did to him there, and I started asking questions. The doctor was very open to communicating to me on what chiropractic is and what chiropractic does.” That was the early education she needed, and she never looked back. “Even in my 15-year-old brain, I felt naturally this was the way to go,” she added. “This was how I can help.” Everything after that was about getting to and through chiropractic school, she said. She was the first in her family to earn a college degree, then in 2006, she started her studies at Life Chiropractic College West, near her home in the Bay Area. While at Life West, Dr. Motley said she worked up an attraction to imaging and realized as she was going through the curriculum’s X-ray classes that she could see what her teachers were talking about – she was visualizing and understanding what the X-rays were showing. She attended a conference for DACBRs and felt right at home, so finding a residency training program after she
graduated from Life West in 2009 became her next step. That led her to New York Chiropractic College for DACBR training, where she became the first AfricanAmerican chiropractic radiologist in the world in 2012. A few years later she rejoined Life West, but this time as a faculty member teaching imaging with a chiropractic lens. Like many of her colleagues who are DACBRs, Dr. Motley wears many hats. In addition to directing the new MSDI program, she’s teaching classes and leads seminars for Continuing Education credits in the field.
"I’m an entity in a great program. This is a new degree program that will support chiropractic in a way we haven’t seen at the college so far. I think this will open the doors for additional degree programs in the future." #LIFEWEST | 5
CAMPUSNEWS
STUDENT ADVOCATES BRINGING STUDENT ISSUES INTO THE LIGHT
THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY ONE OF LIFE WEST'S STUDENTS IS A KEY PART OF THEIR OVERALL EDUCATION, AND FROM TIME TO TIME, INCIDENTS OCCUR THAT ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. TO ENSURE BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THEIR SAFETY, LIFE WEST HAS PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO GET HELP FACILITATING RESOLUTIONS FOR ANY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS.
THE NEW STUDENT ADVOCACY OFFICE (SAO) is taking the lead in implementing and streamlining the student process for bringing issues to light. Modeled after the University of California Berkeley student advocacy program, Life West’s SAO is a resource for students to bring concerns to the college through their peers, in addition to seeking help from members of the administration. “The hope is that this will create a sense of safety for students and complete transparency in the process,” according to Lori Pino, Academic Counselor. “By working with a peer, students may be more likely to come forward and feel protected.” Incidents and issues might include claims of sexual harassment or assault,
6 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
discrimination, unfair application of college policy, inappropriate or unprofessional conduct, academic integrity violation, damaged or stolen personal property, or a medical emergency.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS “With the new SAO initiative, there is only one form to fill out,” says Dani Lorta, Student Life Manager. “When an incident occurs, students complete the form, and then it’s submitted through a specific student-peer point person—the Student Advocate. The advocate’s role is to help the student understand the college’s reporting procedures and college policy, and to access both college and community
resources to address and resolve a variety of issues. The Student Advocate also ensures that the incident form is routed through the proper channels while tracking the process to provide status updates when necessary.” The SAO is growing already in terms of the roles Student Advocates are playing. "As the SAO continues to mature, other ideas about how to utilize the Advocates' training and skills are surfacing, specifically around speaking to the student body on different concepts such as the bystander effect, or what constitutes harassment or discrimination," says Pino. "This kind of instruction can help students discern what incidents are actionable and what can be done to help remedy issues."
SPORTSPERFORMANCE
HANDS-ON
from
CARE Life West Interns
Students from Life West’s Sports Performance Institute (SPI), directed by Scott Lessard, DC, were on hand this summer for Dew Tour and Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) events in California, providing care to athletes at both events. Dew Tour returned to Long Beach in June 2019 with four days of skateboarding on both street and bowl courses. The AVPFirst National Championships, beach volleyball tournaments for youths, were held in July in Hermosa Beach.
Your favorite tech without the headaches.
|7
INDUSTRYNEWS
PERSPECTIVE ON CHIROPRACTIC IN CANADA BY AUSTIN BERGQUIST, PHD
IT
is a wonderful time to be a chiropractor in Canada. The profession has witnessed a gradual increase in utilization since the 1980s, women and diverse populations represent a greater proportion of the profession than ever before, and research activity designed to understand how chiropractic works and how to make it better has never been more productive. However, low trust from the public and allied medical professions remains a major barrier to widespread chiropractic consumption. To address this issue, among other concerns, the Canadian Chiropractic Association now strongly encourages chiropractors to adopt an evidence-based practice model in their patient care. From its inception in the early 1990s, the phrase “evidence-based practice” has meant that clinical decision-making should be guided ultimately by a balance between the implicit knowledge that accumulates through clinical experience, the personalized preferences of the patient, and knowledge gleaned from outcomes of high-quality scientific research studies. However, in Canada, the balance has shifted in recent years. A disproportionate emphasis has been placed on the importance of high-quality scientific research evidence. Specifically, if a clinical decision lacks demonstrated value in the form of a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in scientific research design, then that clinical decision is considered 8 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
unsupported and falls outside the boundaries of evidence-based practice, regardless of the “lesser quality by design” literature base that may exist, as well as the personalized clinical reasoning or patient preferences that may have informed the decision. The move toward such a research-focused practice is done with the best of intentions. The scientific research process is viewed as our most reliable method of generating knowledge unencumbered by confounding variables, such as the many forms of bias that can systematically hijack the truth. However, the problem with relying so heavily on research evidence when guiding clinical decisionmaking is that most research evidence lacks the ultimate objectivity it is designed to provide and carries a number of limitations often overlooked by its advocates.
REPLICATING RESULTS Let us consider a limitation generalizable to all research. An important step in the scientific research process involves the confirmation or “replication” of research findings by others within the scientific community. Until the research finding is replicated, it is unclear whether the finding represents the truth, or whether it is a result of something unique to the scientists who conducted the experiments. Unfortunately, replication is rarely undertaken because it is not incentivised within the current research climate. Funding agencies, journals that publish research, and university or college faculties that determine which scientists are hired and which receive tenure, are only interested in who made the initial research “discovery,” not in who reproduced it.
This widespread phenomenon, known as the replication crisis, describes how only a fraction of published literature can be reproduced, calling into question the utility of research findings in clinical practice. When replication studies become incentivized and integrated more deeply into research culture, scientists will be held more accountable for their findings, and subsequently the reliability of their findings will carry more utility in clinical decision-making.
RESEARCH FUNDING IN CANADA Let us now consider a more nuanced limitation specific to chiropractic research in Canada, a portion of provincial licensing fees collected from every chiropractor is directed to the Canadian Chiropractic Association’s research foundation, the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation. The mission statement of the Foundation is to “fund research to improve the lives of people living with musculoskeletal pain and disability.” Accordingly, much of the high-quality chiropractic research coming out of Canada has taken a musculoskeletal pain-based approach. It is thanks to this work that chiropractors in Canada are becoming known to the public as back pain, neck pain and headache “experts.” Arguably, the effects of chiropractic are broader in scope than the musculoskeletal pain-based mission of the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation. Patients regularly report relief of nonmusculoskeletal pain, and even seek preventive chiropractic care to stay healthy. However, the burden of proof falls on the vitalistic chiropractor to generate research evidence. Unfortunately, research proposals investigating such vitalistic-based health outcomes are unlikely to be funded by the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, a funding body that receives funding from both mechanistic and vitalistic chiropractors.
A CATCH-22 FOR VITALISM The vitalistic chiropractor is caught in a Catch-22. Their association pushes for them to align with evidence-based practice that relies heavily on research evidence but tends not to fund research that represents their full experience in practice. The kicker is that the vitalistic chiropractor has no say how their licensing money is used and is beholden to support the mechanistic agenda of the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation; the epitome of circular logic. The problem is compounded further by the association acknowledging only research evidence generated by randomized controlled trials in the development of their clinical practice guidelines. Since there has been little research funding directed toward vitalistic-based health outcomes, there are very few randomized controlled trials investigating these outcomes. Importantly, we should remain aware that a properly conducted and objective research study of “lesser quality by design” is far more valuable than a compromised “gold standard.” At present, there is considerable opportunity to improve upon research in the vitalistic
INDUSTRYNEWS
However, when replication studies are undertaken, more often than any scientist would like to admit, published research findings are unsupported or even refuted by subsequent research evidence. The pressure to find something in academia is immense, and whether done intentionally or unintentionally, research outcomes are often subjected to the needs and desires of the scientists conducting the experiments.
...MOST RESEARCH EVIDENCE LACKS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVITY IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AND CARRIES A NUMBER OF LIMITATIONS OFTEN
OVERLOOKED BY ITS ADVOCATES.
arena and to expand the chiropractic evidence-based scope of practice as appropriate, however, we should remain cognizant that research funds are limited and that we owe it to our patients to be responsible shepherds of the funds available.
INFORMING THE ‘GOLD STANDARD’ E vid en c e-b a s ed pra c tic e ha s n ot s ol ved w h a t i t h a s intended, in large part due to the disproportionate emphasis that has been placed on the importance of only “gold standard” research evidence. Rather than do away with evidence-based practice, I support the growing movement to re-adjust the balance placed on the original tenants of evidence-based practice. In its ideal form, evidence-based practice is an iterative process, whereby clinical experience and patient preferences inform research inquiry while research outcomes inform clinical reasoning, and so on. If done compassionately with our patient’s best interests at heart, research evidence can be a valuable addition to clinical decision-making.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Austin Bergquist, PhD, earned his doctorate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Alberta (funded by Alberta Paraplegic Foundation). He has completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research). He has researched novel methods of generating fatigue-resistant muscle contractions through spinal reflex pathways in people who experience paralysis due to spinal cord injury, and he is currently studying at Life Chiropractic College West to become a fourth-generation chiropractor.
#LIFEWEST | 9
COVERSTORY
BALANCING THE
NEEDS OF
PATIENTS BY DR. RON OBERSTEIN
10 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
COVERSTORY picture, and provide guidelines for how to approach a case. But it doesn’t allow for the individuality of experience that each patient brings to a case.
An
evidence-informed approach, which gives patient values and expectations more weight, is the more practical approach. This embraces the idea of a patient-centered care model, one that makes room for humanity between the health care professional and the patient. The current model uses one’s state of health as illness or injury to drive medical care. So when there’s an absence of symptoms, does that mean you’re healthy? If the medical model is to care only for people who are in pain, we are setting the body up to continue to decline. If certain results are not documented by research, does that mean dis-ease does not exist? Research can show us part of the
RESOURCES The Myth of Evidence-Based Practice: Towards Evidence-Informed Practice Isaac Nevo, Vered Slonim-Nevo Evidence-based Practice vs. Evidence-informed Practice: What’s the Difference? By M. Gail Woodbury, BScPT, MSc, PhD, and Janet L. Kuhnke, RN, BSN, MS, ET
Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study Cassidy JD1, Boyle E, Côté P, He Y, Hogg-Johnson S, Silver FL, Bondy SJ
Chiropractic care based solely on research misses an opportunity. Clinical experience can play a role. Patient experience can play a role. Evidence-informed practices can and should play a role. Research has a valuable role to play in patient care, and there’s quite a bit of research out there already that shows the relationship between neurological function, which we chiropractors improve with a chiropractic adjustment, and overall health. But the patient experience must be an important part of the model of care. No group should discount that valuable feedback. Life West believes chiropractic research groups and associations have no business placing limits on the kind of chiropractic care that can be offered when they are not looking at all of the evidence that exists. As most practitioners know, chiropractic care, when applied with precision and thoughtfulness, supports the body in expressing itself to its fullest neurological potential. The chiropractic profession, its patients and the world deserve to know this.
The Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Chiropractic Use Among US Adults: Results From the 2012 National Health Interview Survey Adams J, Peng W, Cramer H, Sundberg T, Moore C, Amorin-Woods L, Sibbritt D, Lauche R
Improvement in Vagal Function in a Post Breast Cancer Patient Receiving Chiropractic Care: A Case Study Otto J. Janke, David Russell #LIFEWEST | 11
COVERSTORY
MEASURING THE EFFECTS OF CHIROPRACTIC By Dan Murphy, DC
as measured with levels of salivary amylase (also possible with thermography) ¡ Benefits to one’s biological age as
measured with white blood cell telomere length
PERHAPS LOST IN THE OVERWHELMING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE MUSCULO-SKELETAL BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC ARE OTHER MARKERS THAT SUGGEST THAT CHIROPRACTIC ALSO INFLUENCES SYSTEMIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. Many of these biomarkers are also being used in clinical chiropractic and supported by ongoing research publications.
T
here is so much information pertaining to the benefits of chiropractic for musculoskeletal problems and pain control that its efficacy is no longer questioned. The chiropractic approach is now routinely incorporated in clinical practice guidelines, the military, the work place (including on-site chiropractic), sports injury management and athletic enhancement, as well as narcotic (opiates/opioids) and other drug alternatives. There are many different ways to assess improvement of musculoskeletal physiology, including sensation, strength, coordination, measurement outcome questionnaires, etc. These assessments are now universally advocated and are routine in chiropractic clinical practice.
¡ Improved brain blood flow measured with
radioactive glucose and PET scans (positron emission tomography)
¡ Meaningful upregulation of the
endo-genous antioxidant array (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase)
¡ Meaningful upregulation of the
regenerative/repairing “magic you want” cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10)
¡ Improvements in heart rate variability
as assessed with upright weight-bearing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
(HRV), which is an assessment of the balance between the parasympathetic nervous system (vagus-driven acetylcholine) and the sympathetic nervous system (post-ganglionic sympathetic nervous system-driven catecholamine norepinephrine)
¡ Reductions in systolic and diastolic
¡ Chiropractic’s benefits to musculoskeletal
SOME OF THESE BIOMARKERS INCLUDE: ¡ Changes in the flow of cerebral spinal fluid
blood pressure
¡ Improvements in pulse rate (differences
between systolic and diastolic pressures)
¡ Improvements on visual acuity on
the Snelling Chart
¡ Improvements in the visual blind spot
with blind spot mapping
¡ Changes in a variety of brain
electrical activity measurements
¡ Inhibition of sustained sympathetic tone
health is undeniable. Yet, these non-musculoskeletal bio-markers continue to show that chiropractic has important benefits to the whole person and to their health.
WATCHING THE EVOLVING RESEARCH ON CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL ADJUSTING AND BIO-MARKER MEASUREMENTS IS EXCITING AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE CONNECTION TO OUR WELLNESS HERITAGE.
Dan Murphy graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in 1978 and has more than 34 years of practice experience. He has a diplomate in Chiropractic Orthopedics. For 30 years he has taught at Life Chiropractic College West, and he has taught more than 1,400 post-graduate continuing education seminars. He is a contributing author to the books Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries and Pediatric Chiropractic. From 2003-2009 he was Vice President of the International Chiropractic Association, and he was honored to be chosen as “Chiropractor of the Year” in 2009-2010.
12 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
COVERSTORY
BACKING UP THE
BRAIN-BODY CONNECTION Cutting-edge research shows physiological changes By Kathy Miedema
I
ncreasingly, policies from different chiropractic research groups and associations around the world are encouraging practitioners in the industry to focus on musculo-skeletal research to support their practice.
and disability improvements. Only the group receiving specific extension traction methods were found to have statistically significant improvement in spine alignment, neurophysiology and long-term pain and disability outcomes.
Deed Harrison, DC, is a chiropractor who has spent the last decades conducting research in the spinal-neuro space. His research highlights important spinal modeling studies that have been published, which informs directly how adjusting vertebral subluxations can improve neurophysiological conditions.
Here is a sampling of the studies Dr. Harrison recommends reading:
Dr. Harrison wrote in an email that, recently, researchers led by Professor Ibrahim Moustafa (Sharjah University, UAE) and Dr. Harrison (CBP NonProfit, Idaho) have completed a series of randomized clinical trials, which were designed to test the hypothesis that structural correction of the cervical sagittal alignment will improve pain, disability and neurophysiology measurements. Two of the studies found that restoration of the cervical lordosis toward the 20° magnitude concomitantly improved dermatomal somato-sensoryevoked potentials and the H-reflex in patients with both cervical spine and lumbo-sacral radiculopathy and chronic pain. In two trials by this team, the effect of sagittal rehabilitation of the cervical spine on central nervous system latency (velocity) and amplitude was assessed. Correction of the cervical sagittal lordosis and head posture was found to statistically correlate to improvement central conduction time (spinal cord velocity) as measured with the N13-N20 potential, he wrote. These are the first studies to identify a statistically significant increase in the central nervous system’s conduction velocity resulting from correction of the subluxated cervical spine. It’s worth noting, he added, that traditional conservative interventions did not improve sagittal alignment and did not improve neurophysiology, even though they were associated with temporary pain
DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CERVICAL LORDOSIS AND NECK COMPLAINTS McAviney J, Schulz D, Bock R, Harrison DE, Holland B CONCLUSION: We found a statistically significant association between cervical pain and lordosis < 20 degrees and a “linically normal” range for cervical lordosis of 31 degrees to 40 degrees. Maintenance of a lordosis in the range of 31 degrees to 40 degrees could be a clinical goal for chiropractic treatment. COMPARISON OF AXIAL AND FLEXURAL STRESSES IN LORDOSIS AND THREE BUCKLED CONFIGURATIONS OF THE CERVICAL SPINE Harrison DE, Harrison DD, Janik TJ, William Jones E, Cailliet R, Normand M CONCLUSIONS: The stresses in kyphotic areas are very large and opposite in direction compared to a normal lordosis. This analysis provides the basis for the formation of osteophytes (Wolff's Law) on the anterior margins of vertebrae in kyphotic regions of the sagittal cervical curve. This indicates that any kyphosis is an undesirable configuration in the cervical spine. Relevance. Osteophytes and osteoarthritis are found at areas of altered stress and strain. Axial and flexural stresses at kyphotic areas in the sagittal cervical spine are abnormally high. THE EFFICACY OF CERVICAL LORDOSIS R E - HABILITATION FOR NERVE ROOT FUNCTION, PAIN, AND SEGMENTAL MOTION IN CERVICAL SPONDYLOTIC RADICULOPATHY
Ibrahim Moustafa, Moustafa, Diab A, Ahmed A, Deed Eric Harrison CONCLUSIONS: Improved lordosis in the study group was associated with significant improvements in nerve root function, VAS rating, and translational and rotational motions of the lower cervical spine. Only in the study group were the results maintained at long-term follow-up. Implications: Appropriate physical rehabilitation for CSR should include cervical sagittal curve correction, as it may to lead greater and longer lasting improved function. DOES IMPROVEMENT TOWARDS A NORMAL CERVICAL SAGITTAL CONFIGURATION AID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CERVICAL MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME: A 1- YEAR RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL Ibrahim M. Moustafa, Aliaa A. Diab, Fatma Hegazy, Deed E. Harrison CONCLUSION: The addition of the Denneroll cervical orthotic to a multimodal program positively affected CMCPS outcomes at long term follow-up. We speculate the improved sagittal cervical posture alignment outcomes contributed to our findings.
Deed E. Harrison, DC, graduated from Life West Chiropractic College in 1996. He is President of Chiropractic BioPhysics Technique and the CBP® Nonprofit, Inc., a research foundation, and a highly respected chiropractic researcher and authority in today’s profession. Dr. Harrison has developed and researched original spinal rehabilitation procedures and has lectured to thousands of chiropractors in more than 700 educational conferences around the world. He has authored approximately 160 peer-reviewed spine-related publications, seven spine textbooks and numerous conference presentations. He directs one of the largest privately owned chiropractic facilities in the U.S.
#LIFEWEST | 13
COVERSTORY
STUDYING
BY KATHY MIEDEMA
H
ow do we know – with irrefutable research and hard data – that someone who is living the chiropractic lifestyle is, in fact, healthier than the average person who is not receiving chiropractic care?
That is the question before a small, deeply dedicated group of scientists led by Life West’s Director of Research, Dr. Monica Smith. The research team includes Drs. Dale Johnson and Chuck Henderson, who with Dr. Smith have over 50 years of experience in chiropractic and clinical research. “What we’re trying to capitalize on is current opportunity,” Dr. Smith said in a recent interview. Technology that can capture important data has advanced, as well as the science around objective measures of health, called biomarkers, that may provide the data to show how chiropractic associates with health and vitality improvements over time. “One way to think about using any of this is to think about pre- and post- chiropractic intervention,” she said. If you measure before and after a regimen of chiropractic care, what do the biomarkers look like? How long does it take 14 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
BIO MAR KERS before you see a significant difference pre- and post-measurements? Dr. Smith said most of the information about biomarkers is measuring health status in people with specific diseases. There isn’t a lot of available information about biomarker sensitivity and responsiveness in generally healthy individuals. “We need biomarkers that can tell us if otherwise healthy people receiving chiropractic care (wellness/maintenance care) experience improved vitality and resilience,” she said. “Biomarkers that give us that information will allow us to bring together our philosophy and our science.” So the Life West team is doing preliminary work “to get the juggernaut rolling,” such as conducting early feasibility studies to identify biomarkers that provide valid and reliable measures of the progress of a patient toward optimal health and vitality.
In the course of moving forward with these early “capacity building” feasibility studies, the research department is also building a solid foundation and institutional capacity for carrying out a related responsibility: to ensure that the college’s growing cadre of clinical research scientists will conduct safe, ethical and scientifically defensible clinical research that are fully in compliance with all regulation and laws at the local, state and federal levels.
RESEARCH TEAM CHUCK HENDERSON MONICA SMITH DALE JOHNSON
- Dr. Chuck Henderson
rate variability (HRV). The team recently tested devices that track pulse rate and HRV during normal daily activities. They tested a 24-hour Holter® ECG paired with an Actiwatch® accelerometer device and are researching sleep attributes such as sleep latency, duration of sleep and sleep efficiency, in combination with the subject’s HRV. Dr. Henderson said that current biomarkers tend to be disease-focused, such as blood tests for PSA or HbA1C. “We are interested in biomarkers that are sensitive to changes on the wellness side of the health spectrum,” he added.
Finding sensitive and valid measurement devices that are responsive in both the disease and wellness regions of the health spectrum is necessary to
“The science is deep and interesting,” said Dr. Johnson. “Objective measures must be found to complement the patient-reported subjective measures.” Life West’s goal is to study the role of chiropractic care in achieving vitality and maintaining wellness in one’s life. Some of the measurements that can be taken include comparing certain attributes in different populations. For example, the portfolio of biomarkers for clinical research at Life West includes telomeres, which is a part of the chromosome that indicates the rate, or pace, of cellular aging. Life West is developing a clinical epidemiology study that will compare the telomeres of those
who were raised in a chiropractic lifestyle with other groups of various populations. “This study design is looking at the group of interest, and how does that group compare to a group that doesn’t have those characteristics, or generally compare to the overall population,” Dr. Smith said. The comparison will look at age- and sexmatched controls in the general population to see how healthy the chiropractic lifestyle is in terms of telomeres, which help determine the biological age of the body as opposed to the chronological age. Other measurable attributes that the team is looking at include sleep and heart
explore the full scope of health benefits associated with chiropractic care. But that doesn’t mean the team is limited by what’s available today, because technology is moving so quickly. "Often people think about what you can measure and not measure,” Dr. Henderson said. “Science is all about what you can measure. Philosophy is about things you can’t directly measure. But there is, and always has been, an important overlap. Science and philosophy are interdependent. And, things we can’t measure today, we will be able to measure tomorrow.” #LIFEWEST | 15
COVERSTORY
“Science is all about what you can measure. Philosophy is about things you can’t directly measure. But there is, and always has been, an important overlap. Science and philosophy are interdependent. And, things we can’t measure today, we will be able to measure tomorrow.”
A tribute to
Dr. Jeanne Ohm
About Dr. Jeanne • Born in Rockville Centre, New York in 1956 • In 2nd grade, Jeanne and Tom meet • 1981 Jeanne and Tom graduate from chiropractic school • 1983 Drs. Jeanne and Tom open a family practice in Media, Pennsylvania • 2002 Dr. Jeanne steps up to help run the ICPA, becoming Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor of Pathways to Family Wellness magazine • 2012 She joins the Life Chiropractic College West Board of Regents 16 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
ALUMNINEWS
By Kathy Miedema
An
outpouring of emotion and gratitude has come from all corners of the chiropractic universe after the recent passing of Jeanne Ohm, DC. Dr. Ohm was a member of the Life Chiropractic College West Board of Regents, and a leader in the pediatric and Salutogenic health care movement. Dr. Ohm, called an inspiration by many in social posts on her Facebook page, transitioned Sept. 26, 2019. “Dr. Jeanne Ohm was a leader in the profession, and her contribution to the elevation of pediatric, pre- and postnatal chiropractic care has taken our profession to another level,” said Life West President Ron Oberstein, DC, in a Life West statement the next day. “Her commitment to the health and well-being of everyone from children to adults is unmatched.” A longtime resident of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ohm was an instructor, author and innovator. In a recent Life West podcast, she talked about how she came to chiropractic. “I grew up in a pretty medical household,” she said. “I had three major surgeries by the time I was six years of age.” Her family went to the doctor for everything. But at age 19, she fractured her spine while she was hang gliding. She ended up in the hospital, and after a year of treatment, asked why her back still hurt. “Honey, you’re going to have a bad back for the rest of your life,” the doctor told her. “I remember telling him, ‘No, I’m not,’ and I left,” Dr. Ohm says in the podcast. She walked into a chiropractor’s office shortly after that. He helped her understand the nervous system in a new way and created a health care plan for her. It didn’t take long for her and Tom, her partner, to start looking at chiropractic school.
The pair chose the brand-new ADIO Institute of Straight Chiropractic, which later became Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic, started by Drs. Reggie and Irene Gold, and began their studies in the fall of 1978. The school was still trying to get certified, and Dr. Ohm laughed as she said they graduated with more of a receipt than a diploma, which made getting a license a bit difficult. But they did get those licenses, and that wasn’t the only license they had when they walked away from chiropractic school. When Tom and Jeanne applied for school, a discount for married couples was being offered. They told Dr. Reggie they were “like married,” Dr. Ohm said. They wanted that half-price discount. But he wanted the certificate, and he told them, “No certificate, no half-price!” They got married at the courthouse, and they got the discount. The two, who had known each other since attending Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School together in the second grade, were married for more than 40 years. They also attended high school together and completed their associate's degrees at Nassau County Community College. After chiropractic school, the pair started a family practice. They had six kids – “we wanted a big family,” she said – and integrated their practice with family time. Her son, Dr. Justin Ohm, wrote a moving tribute that was reposted several times on his mother’s Facebook page. “Jeanne always had time for family,” he wrote. “Yes, she traveled often and was busy effecting a change in the world, but she always found time for us. She was the first call you would make when you needed advice. She was there in a minute when you needed help. Her certainty in life gave us all strength.” In an email, Dr. Justin wrote: “The ICPA was Jeanne’s passion, and expanding the chiropractic family lifestyle was her mission.” She began to help run the ICPA
in 2002, moving the daily operations into her home at first and then into “the barn” on her property. Under her leadership, the pediatric chiropractic group grew to one of the largest membership-based organizations in chiropractic. The ICPA now has 10 on-site employees, 19 instructors, 6,000 members, more than 150 seminars every year and a quarterly magazine with more than 7,400 subscriptions. Peter Kevorkian, DC, Board President of the ICPA, noted in a statement that “Jeanne touched tens of thousands of people with her vision and passion. Her legacy will live on through the ICPA. No one can replace Jeanne Ohm. We can each take a piece of her that has impacted our soul and bring that into our circles.” Dr. Oberstein said many people have reached out to him to find out what happened. “Jeanne lived her life through a Salutogenic lens, always seeing the ‘creation of health’ everywhere she turned and in her own life,” he wrote in a personal Facebook post. “Thus, I can safely say she would not want any of us putting a label, pathology or disease name to her passing. Simply put, her body was not able to adapt to its current environment. Knowing what I know about Jeanne, she clearly chose her new path of light and well-being.” Dr. Ohm had been a member of the Life Chiropractic College West Board of Regents since July 2012 and served as the Chair of the Life West Board’s Academic Affairs Committee. "We will miss Dr. Ohm's guidance and advice, not only at the Life West Board, but throughout the profession," said Jimmy Nanda, DC, and Chair of the Life West Board of Regents. If you’d like to reach out to the family with your thoughts and memories, messages can be posted at:
lifewest.edu/jeanne-ohm #LIFEWEST | 17
ALUMNINEWS
F R O M T H E A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Dr. Ankur Tayal San Mateo, CA
VICE PRESIDENT
Dr. Geraldine Mulhall-Wright Pleasant Hill, CA
It is my honor and privilege to serve as the President of the Life West Alumni Association. As both a 10-year alumnus and the Life West Philosophy Department Chair at the college, I am pleased and excited to serve you, the alumni, in whatever capacity I can. At a fundamental level, we are the Life West Family. I just recently spent a weekend in San Diego, and that sentiment was reinforced when I was able to spend time with not only some of my fellow graduates, but also some of my students who have recently graduated. I loved â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so much â&#x20AC;&#x201C; being able to sit together and discuss chiropractic philosophy and how it can be applied in practice for better patient results. The overwhelming feeling was that they wanted more: More gatherings. More discussions. More family. More Life West! When I meet with alumni, they seem to tell me that they want the same things:
1) 2) 3)
They want access to more (and cheaper) CE. They want help in practice-building systems and success.
They want the school to thrive and be sustainable.
18 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
SECRETARY Dr. Rich Doss Poway, CA
During the next term, the Alumni Board wants to rebuild our organization with a focus on these three things. We look forward to working with you wherever possible. If you need something from us or would like to help contribute, please feel free to drop me a line at atayal@lifewest.edu or alumni@lifewest.edu.
Dr. Ankur Tayal
Alumni Association President
BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Katie Schlein
San Diego, CA
Dr. Julia Pinkerton
Austin, TX
Dr. Joe Ibe
San Leandro, CA
Dr. Jeremy Steel
Moraga, CA
Dr. Skylar Gemmer
Kent, WA
Dr. Eric McKillican
Sacramento, CA
Dr. Brandon Roberts
Antioch, CA
Dr. Tom Oliver
Stockton, CA
Dr. Ken Moger
Sacramento, CA
ALUMNINEWS
W S Oakland-based chiropractor Dr. Willard Smith,
Life West was inspired to honor Dr. Smith
who received the 2018 Service to Humanity
for his perseverance and representation
award at The WAVE 2018 in Oakland from Life
of African-Americans in the chiropractic
West President Ron Oberstein, died recently.
profession. Life West President Ron Oberstein (left) and Dr. Willard Smith
#LIFEWEST | 19
INSTITUTIONALADVANCEMENT
GRATEFUL PATIENTS A LIFE WEST OUTREACH PROGRAM
BY TOM HYLAND
WHAT IS THE LIFE WEST GRATEFUL PATIENT PROGRAM?
WHY WOULD PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO CHIROPRACTIC?
Chiropractic patients appreciative of the care they have received may be interested in supporting chiropractic education, clinical adjustments, research, philosophy or the spread of chiropractic throughout the world. The Grateful Patient Program at Life Chiropractic College West is a thoughtful approach to assisting in educating potential donors and facilitating their desire to make voluntary contributions.
Donors contribute to fulfill their own needs to give back, build better communities or leave behind a lasting legacy. People who appreciate chiropractic care may be motivated to help others in the same way chiropractors embrace precepts of lasting purpose to give, do, love and serve from one’s abundance.
HOW WILL THIS MANIFEST ITSELF ON CAMPUS AND BEYOND?
A key component for all chiropractors in this process is to become active listeners. If a patient says, “Chiropractic has changed my life; I wish I could do something for others,” a variety of responses may include:
The basic principle in the Grateful Patient Program is to develop and sustain a culture where concerned parties such as faculty, students, staff, alumni, and practitioners and their staffs are knowledgeable about Life West’s institutional goals, alert to opportunities and supportive of philanthropic efforts. Other wellness professions have adopted ethical best practices that enable them to develop and expand their missions and institutions. Life West also has many of these components in place through the President’s Office and the Office of Institutional Advancement. The Grateful Patient Program will provide members of our extended chiropractic community with a roadmap for adoption and success.
WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL CHIROPRACTOR DO?
¡ “My alma mater, Life Chiropractic
College West, is a leading institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of chiropractors. You might consider supporting their efforts. Here is a Hands of Life Program brochure.”
¡ “Life Chiropractic College West
conducts several service trips abroad each year so people who are not normally exposed to chiropractic can receive adjustments, often life-changing. You could contribute to that effort.”
West. Let me put you in touch with the College’s Institutional Advancement Department.” HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ARE REQUIRED? Very little of either. We have developed a Hands of Life Program outreach kit that consists of a small counter top or a wallmount brochure display. Place these in your waiting area, and patients can take brochures and proceed as they like. The Office of Institutional Advancement will take it from there. This generally involves an official acknowledgement from Life West for the donation, inclusion of the donors’ names in our Honor Roll of Donors, and periodic communications from the college as appropriate. Chiropractors who wish to become more directly involved in the donor cultivation process are welcome.
For more information contact Institutional Advancement Director, Tom Hyland thyland@lifewest.edu
¡ “Scholarships to support deserving
chiropractic students are always welcome at Life Chiropractic College
give.lifewest.edu/handsoflife
People can be very generous when contributing to causes near to their hearts. In 2017, the last year for which records have been tabulated in just the United States, a new record of $410 Billion was donated to various causes. Other countries also have similarly high rates of philanthropy. A large portion of donations are directed to education and healthcare-related areas. Statistically, 70% of annual donations come from individuals. Up until now, the chiropractic community has not enthusiastically engaged the donor community on a large scale, but it never hurts to ask. 20 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
WANT TO HELP?
HOW DO WE KNOW PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT SUCH EFFORTS?
PROMOTE THE HANDS OF LIFE PROGRAM WITH THESE IDEAS ¡ Integrate the Hands of Life materials into your clinical environment
¡ Educate support staff about the program and Life West goals and aspirations
¡ Provide Life West with space in online newsletters
¡ Represent the Hands of
Life Program at your state chiropractic organization, local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary or community event
¡ Add a line to the footer of your billing statements
CAPITALCAMPAIGN
the
GOAL
405K
$
REACHING for the GOAL
65%
As of
11/1/19
250K
$
Life West wants to share some great news!
The Gross Anatomy Lab Capital Campaign has hit 65% of its goal, thanks to grants from the William M. Harris Family Foundation and from the Transformation Trust, two long-time Life West benefactors, as well as donations from generous individuals. Life West’s goal is to raise $405,000 from donors to pay for improvements in the college’s labs. You can be a part of Life West’s efforts to create the best chiropractic basic sciences learning environment in the Western United States. This capital campaign is raising money for these items: ¡ Four digital dissection tables by Anatomage to improve teaching and learning outcomes ¡ New cadavers and cadaver bone sets to ensure tactile appreciation of anatomical uniqueness ¡ High-definition digital recording equipment and display monitors in the labs ¡ An upgraded laboratory environment ¡ An originally produced video recording of a complete dissection procedure
0
$
Support the Gross Anatomy Lab Capital Campaign with a one-time contribution or a multi-year pledge. Learn how you can be listed among the donors who will make this campaign a success online. Anatomage Table
give.lifewest.edu/anatomy
#LIFEWEST | 21
DONORROLL
CORPORATE & FOUNDATION DONORS $10,000+ Alarcon Bohm / Abbey Carpet California Capital Invetment Group Chiropractic Leadership Alliance ChiroTouch Clearlight Infrared Sauna Erchonia Foot Levelers, INC General-Agriculture Inc. Insight Terminal Solutions (ITS) Konica Minolta Healthcare America 20/20 Imaging Maximized Living, Inc.
MyOvision NCMIC Insurance Standard Process Titronics Transformation Trust Turner Construction VOXXLife William M. Harris Family Foundation $5K - $9,999 Biotics Research Corp. California Capital & Investment Group - MKSI CBP Seminars ChiroSecure Foster Interstate Media, Inc.
Rapid Release Technology The Joint Corporation $1K - $4,999 American Life Insurance Co. Amped Now, Inc. Andersen Family Chiropractic Ball Chiropractic Center California Professional Insurance Services Cash Practice Systems Cervipedic Neck-Relief Chiromatrix Cranial Facial Release Current Naturals LLC Designs For Health
Doctible INC Doctor Multimedia DoTerra Emerson Collective Excite Medical Family First Chiropractic Geico Hall Clinic Insight Terminal Solutions (ITS) Jane.App Lakeway Wellness, Pllc Litecure LZR7 Laser Therapy MedPro Group Microbiome Labs Mission Federal Credit Union
More Ideal Patients MUFG Union Bank Multi Radiance Medical MychiroPractice, Inc. New Patient Maven North Carolina Masonic Scholarship Foundation Nutragen O'Hara Chiropractic PEMF Solutions Performance Health Pillowise Prime Kinetix Rye Neck Chiropractic Schillinger Chiropractic & Wellness Center Schofield Chiropractic Training
The Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Circle are individuals committed to seeing Life West flourish and spread the principles of this great profession. Every dollar donated goes directly to the student experience. LEADERSHIP | $10,000+ David M Amaral DC '88 and Mary Amaral Caren B. Cole DC '87 and Emil L. Gluekler, MD Manjit Gauba MS, DC and Mrs. Reena Gauba Brad Glowaki DC David Marcarian Patricia McLean DC Robert and Michele Moberg Ralph Ortiz DC Phil Tagami Eric Jon McKillican, DC, LCP FICPA, DPhCS '93 and Nancy McKillican+
PLATINUM | $5K - $9,999 Elizabeth Greene Deed Eric Harrison DC '96 Steven Silk DC '91 and Raelynn Michele Cancel DC '90
DIAMOND | $2,500 - $4,999 Sebastian Ewaldh DC and Clemence Hupays DC Paul Hodgson DC '10 and Gina Illia DC '10 Geraldine Ann Mulhall-Wright DC '97 Sukhjinder Singh Daniel Murphy DC and Michelle Schaer DC Sandra Hanna DC Frederick Schofield DC and Susan Schofield
EMERALD | $1,200 - $2,499 David Acosta DC Steven J Adams DC '99 Cheryl Anderson DC Rob Anderson DC Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock DC Claudia Anrig DC Michelle D. Arietta DC '02 Andy Armor DC and Kailey Armor DC Derek Atchley DC Sergio F Azzolino DC '95 Nick J Baker DC '07 Carol Ball DC and Joseph R. Ball DC David Basista DC and Grace Lau-Basista DC
Marc Behar DC '84 Ronald M. Benson DC '86 John Bergman DC Ken Bergquist DC Sean Beukelman DC Sundeep Bhasin DC '99 Lisa Bilodeau Anatole J Bogatski PhD George C Casey DC Drew Clark DC and Kanema Clark DC Christopher M Colgin DC and Sandra Rocco Lona Cook DC Rodnick B Corey DC Nenos Damerchie DC
Ian Davis-Tremayne DC '08 Robert A Davison DC '87 Andersen Darcy DC Barry Decker Danny Desaulniers Dc Geert de Vries DC Adam J. Del Torto DC Jeff Devine DC Michael B. Dibley Jay Dhaliwal Philip C Dieter DC '06 Scott F Donaldson DC Richard Doss DC '16 Sean D Drake, MS, DC, CCSP, ICCSP Kerri L Duggins-Rames DC '86 Raleigh C Duncan DC '00
22 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
Barbara Eaton DC Kari Figone DC Clifford Fisher DC Dr. David Fletcher and Mrs. Nancy Fletcher Steven Gall DC Scott Garber DC Skylar Ryan Gemmer DC '09 June Victoria Gentle DC '94 Aaron Gillespie DC Kristen Giles DC and Paul Ruscica DC Brad Glowaki DC David Gustitus DC G. Miguel Gracey DC '81 Carolyn Griffin DC and Martin Griffin Shad James Groves '00 David Anthony Guzzardo DC '86 Terri Alane Hamilton DC '93 Curtis Han DC '98 Darren R. Hart DC B. J. Hardick DC Cliff Hardick DC Donald E. Harte DC Cameron W. Hastings James Hawkins and Kathleen Hawkins Shawn Ivan Hayes DC '89 and Cynthia Hayes Jeremy Hess DC and Amanda Hess DC Leah Hetebrueg DC Leslie Anne Hewitt DC '99
$500 - $999 New York Chiropractic Council Women Chiropractors
Peter Hinz DC Bharon Hoag DC Stuart Hoffman DC Peter D. Holt Brian Hooten DC Alvin Hsu DC '11 Marc R. Hudson DC Ryan J. Hulsebus DC '08 Joseph Bassig Ibe DC '10 Selina Jackson DC and Kevin Jackson DC Jeffrey D Jacobs DC Dale Johnson Ph.D Amyas Kabir DC Peter J. Kevorkian DC Victor Krapiva DC Armen R Kendig DC and Janet Kendig Mahsa Khodabakhsh DC '10 Mark S. Kimes DC Peter G. Klein DC Alain Kolt DC MacKenzie A Kolt DC '15 Kyle Konas DC Darrel Kopala DC Jen Kordonski DC ’04 and Mark Kordonski DC ’04 Victor Krapiva DC Daniel Kraus DC R. Steve Kreutz DC and Christine Kreutz Pardeep Kullar Ph.D Jordan Kurbs DC Brian Lieberman DC Maxwell R M Lippman DC ‘09 Noel Lloyd Mary J Lucus-Flannery DC Christie MacDonald DC Don MacDonald DC
$100 - $499 All-Gentle Chiropractic Pa Aloha Family Chiropractic Alpha Medical & Spinal Care, LLC Amazonsmile Foundation Anonymous Donations Christian Chiropractors Association Evolve Your Sleep Foic Charity Heffernan Insurance Brokers Palmer Chiropractic Clinic, P.S. Process Green USA Rugby
$50 Hanover Family Chiropractic Moore Chiropractic Office DONOR ADVISED FUNDS Marc N. Behar Donor Advised Fund
Kaci Madden DC and Nicholas Madden Suzane J. Mansour David Marcarian Thomas Marshall DC Siobhan Martin Robert Martines DC and Sherri Tomlin DC Diana Martinez DC Kale Matovich DC Eric Jon McKillican, DC, LCP FICPA, DPhCS ‘93 and Nancy McKillican+ Christina Meakim DC David Melendez DC and Lorraine Melendez DC Ronen Mendi DC Scott Mindel DC Michael Moore DC and Donna Moore Peter H. Morgan DC Michael Morris DC '98 Sue Virginia Mullen DC '97 Christopher Andrew Murphy DC '10 Jimmy Nanda DC '03 Bradley Brian Nelson '88 Sarah B. Newman DC '05 Mitchell M. Newman DC '05 Paul Newton DC '04 Ronald Oberstein DC and Mary Oberstein DC Lawrence Brian Oberstein '84 Angel Gerardo Ochoa-Rea DC '14 Takeshi Ogura DC '98 Shannon O'Kelly Vendrame DC and Christian Vendrame DC Benjamin Ozanne DC Thomas Clark Oliver DC '98 Henry Alphonse Oyharcabal DC '92 Niraj Patel DC
DONORROLL
Southern California Rugby Football Union The Humboldt Foundation The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation Varsity Technology Weave Winners Edge Consulting Zingit Solutions
CORPORATE PARTNERS California Capital & Investment Group, Inc. Standard Process USA Rugby PLATINUM | $20,000+ Phil Tagami Standard Process Turner Construction GOLD | $5K - $19,999 Elizabeth Greene SILVER | $200 - $499 Claire-Marie Holman DC '86 USA Rugby
Arthur Patterson DC Palmer Peet DC Cheryl Lynn Perry DC '92 Brooke Peters DC Jess Matthew Pontious DC '87 Kendall Price Vikas Puri DC Romain Riberou DC David Ridos DC Brendan Ryan Riordan DC '12 and Amanda Elizabeth Halstead DC '11 Brandon Louis Roberts DC '01 Martin Rosen DC Russell Rosen DC Justin Roth DC Kristopher Royal DC Gregg Rubinstein DC Teresa Gail Saenz DC '86 Susan Salem DC '93 and Mr. Serge Merlin Walter Sanchez DC Scott M. Sawyer DC Timothy Schaub David K Scheiner DC Mark Schillinger DC Bruce Schneider DC Jeffrey Scholten DC & Mylene Renee Hopf DC '10 Tristan Schwab Scott A. Schwager DC Robert P. Seiler DC '97 Reuben R. Sendejas DC '96 Laura Ann Sheehan RN, DC '02 James M Siller DC Stephen J Simonetti DC Jean-Marc Slak DC and Linda Slak DC Christopher Small DC Candice Tin Oi So DC '10
Raj Sohal DC Christian Vendrame DC Jerry and Violet Sousou Jeremy Alexander Steel DC '10 Brian Stenzler DC Jason Edward Stockton DC '97 Rick Swecker DC '03 Hosam Talhami DC '94 Ankur Tayal DC '09 Larry J Thill DC '91 Neil Thompson DC Jeffrey Trinka DC '98 Scott Turner Erik James Van Slooten DC '09 Rod S. VanBuskirk DC '87 Frank Vaught DC Michael Viscarelli DC Gary Walemann DC and Susan Walsemann DC Dawn Watkins DC Nicole M. Watson DC '05 Robin Welch DC John Wendt DC Stephanie C.N. Williams-Libs DC '13 Heather Wolfson DC and Jack Wolfson MD Robert Marlin Woolery DC '92 and Dorrin B. Rosenfeld DC '92 Christine Y Zapata DC '07 Mark T Zeigler DC Miaken L. Zeigler DC Rion Zimmerman DC
#LIFEWEST | 23
DONORROLL
SUPPORTERS There are many opportunities to help Life West support the profession objectives and make thoughtful, tax-wise contributions. Learn more about how to help on the Life West website at
lifewest.edu.
ATHLETICS DONORS Standard Process Claire-Marie Holman DC '86 Elizabeth Greene Phil Tagami Rodolfo C. Alba and Imelda E. Alba
GOLF DONORS Big White House Winery Clearlight Infrared Jacuzzi Saunas Elliston Vineyards Marijo Adamcik Jacalyn G. Buettner DC George C Casey DC John M Clark Clint Clifford Gerard W. Clum David J Currie DC Huong Thi Ly Danh DC Robert A Davison DC Fredrick James Dietzen DC Sean D Drake, MS, DC, CCSP, ICCSP William Michael Gazdar DC Tom Hyland Joseph Bassig Ibe DC Dale Johnson Kathleen King Robert Roland Logan DC Wyland E.K. Luke Eric Jon McKillican, DC, LCP FICPA, DPhCS '93 Kevin Mansour Marc Martin MUFG Union Bank Namir Adibe Moussa Geraldine Ann Mulhall-Wright DC '97 David Matthew Palomares Jess Matthew Pontious DC '87 Pucci Foods Brian ReVeal Loren Keith Roberts DC
GOLD | $500 - $1,199 Claire Amos Angela Boyazis DC Matthew Green DC '02 Kristine A Hicks DC '96 Darrel Kopala DC Jennifer Padrta DC '02 Charles M. Prins DC '86 Jennifer Rozenhart DC Stephanie Rozenhart DC Eric Rubin DC '03 Steve Tullius DC Richard Westbrook DC Jessica Virginia Franco, DC, MA CCSP, CCEP '13
SILVER | $300 - $499 Kristen Zawada Brownson DC Sean Carey Brian Flannery, DC DPhCS, MBA Steven D Funk DC '97 Becky Holm-Johansen DC and Jon-Eirik Holm-Johansen DC Karen Krieg DC Deena L. Riggins DC '02
BRONZE | $50 - $299 Nikoleta D. Alexander DC Jordan Jacob Arbit '91 Gena Bofshever DC Drew R. Boster and Mary T. Boster Steven Marc Bretow DC '88 Rebecca Brouillette Jonathan A. Budihas DC Frederick A. Carbone DC '91 Robert Dan Chatfield III DC Michael Coon DC and Deborah Coon Chris Corrales Huong Thi Ly Danh DC '10 Oliver Dawson DC Janet Garcia Misty Renee Gargan '01 Aram Omar Gomez Mendoza John Joseph Guilford DC '86 Robin Hale Marilyn J. Hammer '98 Andy Hawkins Thomas James Hendrickson DC '86 Kevin G Hearon DC Claire-Marie Holman DC '86 Thomas Hyland Amanda Johnson DC R. Lee Kane DC '87 Kayla Kurdyla Kyle LeDuc DC
David Libs DC Judy Lum Melissa March '04 James McCallister DC '82 Daniel McCoy Michael F. McMurray DC Mary Ellen Moore DC Michael Mundy DC and Theresa Mundy DC Ashly Ochsner Nancie M. Odbert DC '99 Carrie A. Ousley DC '01 Alison Pellicane DC '04 Sara Perry Philip Rodger Navpreet Saini Michelle Schwenn Peter Seguinot DC '05 Diane Sherwood-Palmer DC Ramandeep Sidhu Joseph Smola DC Abraham Talledos Timothy Earl Talmage '98 Paige Thibodeau DC Jennifer Trendt Alok Trivedi Michael Eugene Troncoso DC '86 Tan Minh Vuong '00 Heidi Wroebel DC '05
IN KIND DONORS
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Thank you for helping us make our chiropractic community stronger.
24 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
Paula Mendell DC Richard Olree Jr., DC Suzanne L Ray Corey B Rodnick DC William James Ruch DC '86 Robert Sinnott DC Jonathan Trevor Smith DC '14 Joanne Somerville '84 John W. Strazewski D.C. Justin Toal Nikita Vizniak DC Krista Ward Kirk Charles Wentland '83
ALUMNISPOTLIGHT
DR. MARC BEHAR
FIRST-TIME WAVE PARTICIPANT BY KATHY MIEDEMA
This year Life West alumn Marc Behar, DC, made his first trip to The WAVE, Life Chiropractic College West’s annual chiropractic conference held in the Bay Area every August. He’s celebrating 35 years since graduating from Life West this year. So perhaps it’s fitting that one of the things he noticed about The WAVE was the Life West students. “It was nice to see all these excited students,” he said recently. “A lot of doctors go to seminars and continuing education, and you don’t see students there. It was nice to see students and young chiropractors attending an event – their enthusiasm as they are about to embark on their careers.” Dr. Behar remembers the early 1980s at Life West with enthusiasm as well. “It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “I specifically chose Life West. I graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in physiology, and I chose Life West because of the small classrooms, the number of students in the classroom, and I had a brother living in California and decided it would be nice to live close to him.”
At that time Life West was called Pacific States, but Dr. Behar said he knew when he applied that Life University in Georgia was helping Life West work toward accreditation.
“The atmosphere of the school was just a friendly place to be,” he said. “It was very welcoming for students – our classroom only had about 25 students in it!” In fact, Dr. Behar stayed in the Bay Area once he had graduated, until a friend from Life West who was both a medical doctor and a chiropractor invited him to visit in New Orleans. “He and his wife moved to the New Orleans area, and they must’ve been lonely because they kept calling me and telling me how wonderful it was,” he said. “I came with a 5-year plan, then I was definitely leaving.” The friend later moved to Mississippi, but Dr. Behar is still in the New Orleans area after 30 years, practicing in the same building since 1987. “Since that time I’ve served on the chiropractic association of Louisiana’s board, I’ve been active in local politics and legislative issues, and I am the CCA’s liaison for the New Orleans area as far as handling bills and meeting with legislators to garner support for our issues,” he said. His activity in local politics has been aimed at helping the chiropractic association, encouraging other chiropractors to get involved and strengthen the association so they can mount an opposition against bills that limit chiropractic services. Dr. Behar was an active leader during his student years at Life West, too. As then-President Gerry Clum’s assistant, he helped organize the first graduation ceremony for the college, as well as various school activities. He was involved in student government and also acted as the school activities director for a time. “That gave me the basis for my civic activity now,” he added. He’s on the parish executive committee, similar to a county position here in California, and runs for office every four years. He’s held the post for 27 years now. His ties to Life West go deep – Dr. Behar went to school with the current college president, Dr. Ron Oberstein. “I knew him when he was 13 years old,” he said. “I’m very impressed with him and what he is doing. I’m glad to support him and this school as it continues to expand and honor the chiropractic profession.”
ABOUT DR. BEHAR
¡PRACTICES AT AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC IN NEW ORLEANS
¡GRADUATED FROM LIFE WEST IN 1984 ¡VP OF JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS
¡MEMBER, LIFE WEST PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE ¡ELECTED TO ORLEANS PARISH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SINCE 1992
¡FORMER CHAIRMAN OF STATE’S
LGBTQ ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
americanchiroclinic.com 26 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
CAREERSERVICES
Q + A with Dr. Brad Glowaki By Andrew Champagne
Often
The golden rule is that you have to stay in agreement. when you lose agreement, you lose the ability to influence.
referred to as “Dr. Glow,” Brad Glowaki, DC, manages a million-dollar practice in Seal Beach, California. His honors include the 2012 Parker Seminars Chiropractor of the Year award and the 2008 California Chiropractic Association (CCA) Doctor of the Year award. Among his patients are world-class athletes such as three-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor and baseball stars Christian Yelich and Josh Hamilton, and he has amassed more than 10,000 hours of public speaking at conferences and seminars. Recently, Dr. Glowaki was a guest of Life West at both the college’s weekly seminar and a special discussion with students eager to learn more about the business side of chiropractic. The speaking arrangements, facilitated by Life West Career Services, serve a mission to help new and soon-to-be graduates be truly practice-ready when they graduate.
What do chiropractors need to know on Day 1 of having a practice? Dr. Glow: The golden rule is that you have to stay in agreement. When you lose agreement, you lose the ability to influence. Influence is all about coming from a place of agreement, finding common ground and expanding those borders. However, if you crash into somebody’s belief systems, you lose the ability to influence, and now you’re in an argument and the odd man or woman out of the conversation. Chiropractors need to learn to stay in agreement and have the ability to influence. What do chiropractors need to know on Day 2?
Between his two engagements, Dr. Glowaki took some time to answer several questions about practice management and communicating with new and potential patients.
Dr. Glow: My philosophy is, “create buyers.” We need to stop the push, the sell, the grind. It’s not doing our profession any good. Package it in a way where you can package against objections. Their objections need to be your objectives. We already know what they are. They’re usually time, energy and money. You need to package against the objections and go with a mindset that you’re creating buyers. Make it an appealing process.
What skills does a prospective chiropractor need in order to be a good communicator?
What do you wish you knew when you were starting out?
Dr. Glow: What they really need is a willingness to learn. Communication is not a born talent for everybody. It’s a skill, and I would say that you’re not a hostage to your talent. Be willing to learn, because anyone can be taught.
Dr. Glow: Work is required, but struggle is not. You get to work, and practice gets fun really quick.
#LIFEWEST | 27
the
boosting body
FEATURESTORY
DOES BIOHACKING TECHNOLOGY HAVE A PLACE IN THE CHIROPRACTIC INDUSTRY? By Andrew Champagne
M
aybe you’re looking for a way to boost your body’s performance. And keep performing at that higher level. And you don’t mind pulling in technology to help you do that. This is called biohacking. Defined by Bulletproof Nutrition Inc. founder Dave Asprey, biohacking centers around using science, biology and self-experimentation to take control of and optimize one’s body. “People want to be able to do a lot of things,” Asprey said in a 2018 Forbes article, “whether it’s to look or feel a certain way, to run faster, to lift heavy things, to have enough energy to play with one’s kids after a full day of work, or be able to run a company and then be able to go to sleep at night.” “Life is about making choices,” said Jeffrey Tucker, DC, in an article published
28 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
recently in The American Chiropractor. “Biohacking is using cutting-edge information, ancestral living, technology and assessments about yourself to make choices and consider the best approach to improve your overall health and well-being.” In this article, we look at how the principles behind biohacking may or may not fit in with vitalistic chiropractic in particular.
Wait...biohacking in chiropractic? There are parallels that can be drawn between biohacking principles and those of vitalistic chiropractic care, says Sean Drake, DC. Biohacking approaches
provide ways for the body to perform at its optimal potential, and chiropractic adjustments that remove subluxations have the same general goal. Dr. Drake founded the Life Chiropractic College West Sports Performance Institute in 2016 and now serves as Performance Director at the Titleist Performance Institute. He believes a merger of ideas from the fields of biohacking, body hacking and chiropractic could change the lives of those receiving chiropractic care and make it easier for everyone to operate at full capacity. “There are four pillars that chiropractic can approach when looking at body hacking,” Dr. Drake said. “There’s an assessment for specific human movement, nutrition, equipment and technology, and mental well-being.”
“The brain runs everything,” Dr. Drake said. “The mind is huge, and there is so much scientific data coming out right now on virtual reality, visualization, meditation and mental stimulation.” Life West teaches that innate intelligence encourages every action in the body, always pushing the body toward healing and wellness. When vertebral subluxations exist, the nervous system can become compromised by the resulting interference, meaning the entire body operates at less than its full potential. In the vitalistic model that Life West builds its philosophy around, frequent adjustments ensure that subluxations are removed often, so that the nervous system can operate without interference and at its full potential. Biohacking practices also aim to push the body to perform at its full potential.
Dr. Peet added that the removal of subluxations through adjustments is the core tenet of vitalistic chiropractic. He believes that is the primary responsibility of a practicing chiropractor, and external tweaks to the system seem unnecessary. “A common saying we have is that nature doesn’t need any help, just no interference,” he said. “We are to remove interference from the nervous system. That’s what chiropractors do.”
“We’re using our educated minds to separate ourselves from nature,” Dr. Tayal said. “The more we do that, the more we’re making a mistake. The more we use it to find
wisdom that is contained innately and in nature, the more concepts like biohacking appeal to me.” —Dr. Ankur Tayal
Dr. Drake said advancements in biohacking technology could revolutionize chiropractic care. He thinks chiropractors should embrace such tools and specialize in an aspect of care that will thrive when such technologies become more common.
“Brain mapping, body morphing, imaging and assessments will all become more advanced in time,” Dr. Drake said, adding that chiropractors could specialize in areas such as sports performance, brain performance and human performance.
Getting back to a Vitalistic philosophy Thoughts about biohacking vary widely, however, even within the Life West community. Life West Director of Alumni Relations Palmer Peet, DC, said some biohacking principles go against those of vitalistic chiropractic. “Vitalistic chiropractors are of the belief that we are already perfect, and that we don’t need to be hacked, unhacked, stimulated or inhibited,” Dr. Peet said. “We just have to normalize function.”
FEATURESTORY
Monitoring specific movements and nutrition, Dr. Drake said, allows for the body to prepare for certain stresses in athletics and leisure activities. Equipment and technology such as specialty socks or chiropractic tools target specific areas of concern, while assessments for mental well-being help patients understand how to use the body’s innate intelligence and promote wellness.
Ankur Tayal, DC, the head of Life West’s philosophy department, believes that there might be a middle ground between using biohacking principles to guide health potential and avoiding all biohacking technology in favor of pure vitalistic practices. His views stem from the relationships between universal, innate and educated intelligence, which he says are constantly evolving. “Universal intelligence is that which transcends the world,” he explained. “Innate intelligence is found in a living being or vessel, and educated intelligence is a further subset, as some living beings have nervous systems and the capacity for rational thought.” Educated intelligence has developed over time with advanced technology, as well as knowledge of both the world around us and social norms accepted by society. While Dr. Tayal acknowledged that certain biohacking concepts such as meditation take place with innate intelligence in mind, practitioners must be careful not to contradict the philosophies that vitalistic chiropractic is built on.
“We’re using our educated minds to separate our-selves from nature,” Dr. Tayal said. “The more we do that, the more we’re making a mistake. The more we use it to find wisdom that is contained innately and in nature, the more concepts like biohacking appeal to me.”
Drawing a line Some definitions of biohacking and “body hacking” involve the use of technology implants and machinery. This can include implanting cameras into one’s head, for example, or the use of lights underneath the skin. The existence of an ongoing conversation about biohacking and body hacking serves as a reminder that people will exercise many methods to boost and maintain performance. In chiropractic, finding the level at which one is comfortable with biohacking principles is informed by personal chiropractic philosophy as well as comfort with available technology. #LIFEWEST | 29
LIFEWESTGRADUATION
Life Chiropractic College West graduates and projected graduates from Spring and Summer 2019 celebrated at a commencement ceremony on campus in June. “Tonight is a very special evening, one that has been greatly anticipated by our graduates, faculty, staff and administration,” Life West President Ron Oberstein, DC, said at the ceremony. “We are celebrating the culmination of years of study, tests,
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RECENT GRADUATES
patient care and hard work by our graduates, and we can finally see the finish line.”Several students received additional honors: Tyler Terry was honored as valedictorian, Kyle McGibney and Timothy Arena were recognized as salutatorians, and Braken Wooden and Sean de Lima Thiel were given Life West Presidential Awards.
SPRING 2019
Alisha Freydenfeldt
Michele Bahadoor
Hector Garcia
David Barton
Cindy Guizar
Allison Beardsley
Steven Herting
Joshua Beltran
Hailey Hirata
Catherine Benson
Adrian James
Charlie Brennan
Sulakshandan Kathireson
Garrett Brown
Arnold Koo
Janessa Brown
Chee Kue
Corey Burt
Sohyoon Lee
Kristan Cassady
Lars Lucear
Willson Chan
Wyland Luke
Gordon Chen
Alycia Marsili
Marlvin Chidziva
Acacia Mason
Lauren Davis
Gianna Mautone
Hali Deters
Kyle McGibney Salutatorian
Ryan Stroh
Anthony Carrillo
Natalie Noack
Erin McGonigle
Tyler Terry Valedictorian
Matthew de Lima Thiel
William Raines
David O'Malley
Diana Wang
Sean de Lima Thiel Presidential Award
Jose Rodriguez
Karen Pazera
Alaina Wischmeyer
Danielle Gonzales
Zachary Peters
Braken Wooden Presidential Award
Kamelia Habina
Jimmy Ramil Nathaniel Rossi Kate Russell Lauren Schreiber Hojin Seo Joshua Sharpe Kevin Slocum Vivek Soham
Derek Woodman Shaylee Yano Man Hin Yeung Catherine Zabelin SUMMER 2019 Patricia Andreiuk Mercedes Antonini
Julie Soloduka
Timothy Arena Salutatorian
Kyle Spartveit
John Bulmer
A. Raymond Highsmith McKenzie Hollyoak Aubrey Huey Tyler Hutcherson Rupina Khanna Morgan Kumpula Jacquelyn Lewison Matthew Lowe Camille Masica Lisa Nhu
Nicole Rodriguez Luke Roller Anne-Marie Rouse Mark Samson Holly Shonberger Rahil Seth Donovan Smolich Martin Soares Jeffrey Sweet Regina Thompson Alec Verkuilen Samuel Wardell
#LIFEWEST | 31
FEATURESTORY
All in One Clinic
in India Flourishes By Kathy Miedema
A partnership with a mission in India means Life Chiropractic College West has opened an international clinic.
The Oneness Chiropractic Clinic opened July 24, said Scott Donaldson, DC, Vice President of Clinical Operations. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been overseeing the India clinic, which opened with new Life West graduates Dr. Rachel Knopf and Dr. Hector Garcia. Dr. Erin McGonigle joined the staff in early September. 32 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
FEATURESTORY
The clinic is in the same building as the Sant Nirankari
Mission’s hospital, Life West’s partner in this venture. The Sant Nirankari Mission is also the partner for regular service trips that Life West students can take to India. “We have access to trained medical specialists to consult on cases when needed,” Dr. Donaldson said of the arrangement. In addition to the doctors, the clinic has a staff of three: a receptionist, a back office/translator and an office manager. The facilities include a reception and waiting area at the front of the building, a back waiting area and three adjusting or exam rooms, with a total of six tables. In just the first full month of operation, more than 700 patients visited the clinic. During the second month, patient visits topped 1,100, Dr. Donaldson said. “We’re seeing everyone–kids, the elderly, people with pain and people with severe debilitating disease–a wide variety of cases,” he added. In January, Life West will send another doctor with the experience to oversee Life West’s preceptor interns. The doctor will do a rotation at the clinic of one year, and preceptors will practice for three months. “To me, the exciting part of this is that our interns can go over and practice for three months as part of the Life West education,” Dr. Donaldson said. Plans to open a clinic in Tonga are also in motion. Students already visit three times a year in March, June and September.
“...the exciting part of this is that our interns can go over and practice for three months as part of the
“The goal is to also open a clinic there, like in India, where we can provide consistent service and opportunities for interns and local patients,” Dr. Donaldson said. Life West is also working with potential partners to create a similar process in Panama. In each of these places, the intention is to create partnerships, provide service in either under- or non-served populations, and build relationships through service trips to ultimately build a clinic. Learn more about service trips by contacting Dr. Donaldson at sdonaldson@lifewest.edu
Life West education.” - Dr. Scott Donaldson
#LIFEWEST | 33
LIFEWESTATHLETICS 34 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
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Life West's Nicole Strasko moves the ball upfield during 7s action this past summer. The Gladiatrix advanced to the National Semifinals.
Tavite Lopeti looks for a teammate during the USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship.
LIFEWESTATHLETICS
RUGBY
ROUNDUP BY ANDREW CHAMPAGNE
PHOTOS NORMA SALINAS PHOTOGRAPHY
LIFE WEST
sent a pair of rugby teams to the USA Rugby Club 7s National Championship in August in Kansas City, Missouri. The Gladiators and Gladiatrix both performed admirably, with the men finishing second and the women advancing to the semifinals. The Gladiators qualified for nationals with a win in the Western Open earlier this summer and went 2-1 in the first day of competition. Life West then topped the Westside Ronins in the quarterfinals and the Schuylkill River Elites in the semifinals, which set up a clash with Washington Athletic in the Cup final. Life West scored the first seven points of the contest but ultimately fell 24-7 to the Athletic, who earned the title of tournament champions. Meanwhile, the Gladiatrix qualified for nationals with a second-place finish in July’s Pacific North Championship. Life West’s women went 3-0 in pool play, allowing just 17 points in those matchups, and rolled to a 26-7 triumph over Phoenix Rugby in the quarterfinals. That sent the squad to a national semifinal clash against the San Diego Surfers, in which the Gladiatrix fell 19-14 to the eventual tournament winners.
LifeWestRugby.com
@LifeWestRugby.com
Life West’s rugby programs were strong in 2019. Both men and women swept the Northern California Rugby Football Union tournaments in San Jose, and the Gladiatrix also took the top prize at the Santa Barbara “Sevens by the Sea” tournament. The men’s fifteens team rebounded from a three-win season in 2018 to win the 2019 Pacific Rugby Premiership title and advance to the USA Rugby Men’s Division I playoffs.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||| GLADI AT RI X I N WOM E N’ S PR E MIER LEAG U E The fall season is a big one for the women’s fifteens team. The Gladiatrix have debuted in the Women’s Premier League, which is the highest level of competition in the country, after winning three consecutive national championships at lower levels. Under new head coach Dev Ferris, who took the helm earlier this year, the Gladiatrix have gotten off to a fast start, winning their first four contests. The WPL champion will be crowned following the playoffs in November. Follow Life West and Life West Rugby’s social media platforms for updates on all of the action.
@LifeWestRugby
#LIFEWEST | 35
CONTINUINGEDUCATION
Ted Carrick, DC
Colin O'Brady
THE WAVE 19
Presidential honors
Del Bigtree
WRAP-UP Life Chiropractic College West’s annual conference, The WAVE, promised world-class speakers, valuable learning opportunities and chances to network with friends and colleagues. More than 1,000
Exhibit Hall
Lona Cook at the Bookstore
conference-goers ventured from various countries to the Oakland Marriott City Center to enjoy the festivities, which lasted four days and were packed with different events.
The theme of The WAVE, “The Science, Philosophy and Art of Chiropractic: The Salutogenic Model,” provided the framework for speakers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as they discussed research findings and the latest news from within the profession.
Dan Murphy, DC
36 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
MENTOR DOCTOR
LIFEWESTCHAMPIONS
MARK FOULLONG, DC PAYING IT FORWARD By Andrew Champagne
Dr. Foullong has enjoyed a long career in chiropractic. He has practiced for more than 20 years in his native Canada and has at least one child following in his footsteps. Through it all, he has been quick to display gratitude to mentors who helped him get to where he is now. Growing up, Dr. Foullong said he knew he wanted to pursue a career in health care. He spoke with multiple professionals before opting to pursue a career in chiropractic.
STUDENT CHAMPION
KIRSTEN FOULLONG Interview by Andrew Champagne
What was your first experience with chiropractic? My first experience with chiropractic was through my father. I kind of took it for granted my whole life because I didn’t realize how people without chiropractic lived. It was truly apparent when I got into high school and I realized other students were taking more days off from school because they weren’t feeling well. My dad told us growing up, “If you’re sick, your body’s expressing your health.” I thought it was weird at the time, but now I’m realizing how true that is. What inspired you to study chiropractic? As a young child, I went, “I want to be just like my dad.” There are photos of me 38 | LIFEWEST.EDU/MAGAZINE
adjusting Elmo at the office. It was really funny. As I got into my teen years, though, I thought, “I don’t need to be a chiropractor.” I explored other options but knew I wanted to be in the health care field. I explored optometry and a bunch of different things, but I kept coming back to, “I want to see my dad’s office as a professional and see how it runs.” I started working at his office as a CA at the front desk. Through that experience, I saw patients coming in, excited to see their doctor. They were coming out even happier, and lives were being changed. Why do you like to be a mentor for your peers? A big thing in my life has always been to lead by example. My dad told me, “Whatever the rest of the population is doing, do the opposite.” As soon as I got here in first quarter, I was one of the only students in my household to join a bunch of clubs, get involved and meet people. I showed up to everything I could. Every event that happened on campus, I just showed up, and people came to know me as the person who was always showing up to things. I put in extra effort throughout school, and people noticed that.
“I’m a huge believer in the ‘pay it forward’ mentality,” he explained. “There are so many doctors that took me under their wings with open arms. They taught me a mindset of, ‘we don’t have to do this, we get to do this.’ Why wouldn’t you pay that forward?”
After deciding to go into chiropractic, the young Foullong shadowed Tracey Drynan, DC. He credits Dr. Drynan with fueling his desire to be a chiropractor and enabling him to change the lives of those undergoing care.
Dr. Foullong stresses the importance of giving aspiring chiropractors opportunities to shadow and volunteer at local offices. He adds that doing so provides a window into how professionals run their businesses, which can be incredibly valuable for those still in school.
“I’d watch her adjust somebody,” he recalled. “She’d introduce me to the patient, and then she would leave. The patients would give me testimonies of what changed, and it was awesome. I went, ‘wow, so your kid’s asthma got better when they got adjusted?’ I decided this was it for me, and I never looked back.”
“I would go to one place, and I’d learn about other places,” he said of his time visiting offices while in chiropractic school. “I started to see what the light was at the end of the tunnel. It can be tough when you’re in school and have exams, deadlines and clinic, but I tell students to see what it’s like after you cross the finish line.”
Dr. Foullong also credits Peter Amlinger, DC, Jim Thompson, DC and Brett Moore, DC, among others, for teaching him valuable lessons on his chiropractic journey, which included his graduation from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1995. He has practiced at Dufferin Family Chiropractic in Orangeville, a suburb of Toronto, for 24 years, and he takes pride in being a mentor for others.
Dr. Foullong has four daughters, and the oldest, Kirsten, is a Life Chiropractic College West student. Dad says he’s incredibly proud of his daughter and has confidence that she will turn into a fantastic doctor of chiropractic.
What do you look for in a chiropractic mentor? The first question I ask is, “Are they happy?” You can tell by how they’re living their life, what they’re emitting to the world, and how they’re carrying themselves. That’s kind of what I look for immediately. It’s cool to notice their happiness first. I also look at how I can pick things I’m passionate about and dive into those, so I can be as happy and confident as they seem to be. Why did you apply to become a Student Champion? After going to Champions Weekend and seeing other prospective students out there, my initial fear was, “The Student Champions must be ahead of the game. I’m not that.” After having individual conversations with them away from panels, I realized they were just like me. They were passionate about chiropractic. I realized I needed to take challenges for what they are and step into that role, even if it might be unknown and I think it’s something I’m not prepared for. In third quarter, I applied to be a Student Champion, and I have not regretted it. I’ve made so many connections and gotten a job working in Enrollment just because of that.
"To be a great chiropractor, you need to step into uncomfortable zones." Use one word to describe your Life West experience so far.
Connection.
LIFEWESTCHAMPIONS
“I was fascinated by the chiropractor I shadowed,” he said while remembering a career day where he also met a medical doctor. “He was passionate about what he did, and his description of health and helping people resonated with me. The next year, I picked the same professions and got different professionals, but it was the same story.”
“She loves the principles and loves helping people,” Dr. Foullong said. “She has it in her heart to make a huge difference, which to me is the greatest compliment as a chiropractor and as a father.”
LIFE WEST MENTOR DOCTORS Thank you for your generous student referrals! Life West continues to grow because of your thoughtfulness and kindness. Ken Cooper, DC Ray Daniels, DC Billy DeMoss, DC Michael B. Dibley, DC Andrew Downey, DC Ethan Feldman, DC Cliff Fischer, DC Brandon Frankel, DC Brad Glowaki, DC Carolyn Griffin, DC David Gustitus, DC
Joshua Haggard, DC Jessica Hanley, DC Chris Harlan, DC Martha (Maddie) Hayes, DC Amanda Hess, DC Jeremy Hess, DC Austin Ivans, DC Marina Kimball, DC Sarah McArthur, DC Tyler Meier, DC David Melendez, DC
Lorraine Melendez, DC Pete Moncado, DC Michael Moore, DC Charlene Poderoso, DC Brian P. Rector, DC Raymond Rickards, DC Brian Stenzler, DC Michael Viscarelli, DC Jon Wilhelm, DC Jerry Weider, DC
KNOW A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT? Champions Weekend is the perfect opportunity for future chiropractors to explore chiropractic and Life West. Send prospective students for two days with Life West as a special guest, immersed in our world, to find camaraderie and mentorship. Champions Weekend is held four times a year (January, April, July and October) on the Life West campus in Hayward, California.
go.lifewest.edu/champs
#LIFEWEST | 39
BOOKREVIEW
AN ELEGANT
DEFENSE THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW SCIENCE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: A TALE IN FOUR LIVES WRITTEN BY MATT RICHTEL, 2019 Reviewed by Dan Murphy, DC
My entire career, I have had an interest in chiropractic and the immune system, sparked by seeing published anecdotes, journal studies and my own clinical experiences. When I saw this book profiled in The Wall Street Journal, Science News and Scientific American, I quickly picked it up. As always, I read this book with an eye toward chiropractic applications, and I found three that are noteworthy:
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This is consistent with chiropractic concepts and teaching on innate intelligence.
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Unnecessary and overuse of antibiotics is not only bad for the person, but bad for all of humanity; it accelerates the evolution of pathogens by billions of years, putting all humans and all future generations at risk from bacterial diseases that are untreatable. Richtel notes:
It seems that everyone is obsessed with enhancing immunology. Yet, Richtel thoroughly explains that the most important immunology problem today is an immune system that is working too well, overworking, resulting in the escalation of autoimmune diseases. He attributes this to the “hygiene hypothesis,” noting that a lifelong adequate immune response requires that humans actually be infected early in life. Over-cleanliness and other infection suppression efforts damage the immune system. He notes:
“There is arguably no more powerful medicine on earth than antibiotics. They are vital for our survival. Full stop. But their widespread use also threatens now to cause the evolution of bugs that will make past plagues look like the common cold.” “We are pulling back sharply on the use of antibiotics so that the element that saves us doesn’t lead to civilizationthreatening pandemics.”
DAN MURPHY, DC
“The hygiene hypothesis stated that our environment has become so clean that it has left our immune system insufficiently trained.” “What does an immune system do when it’s not properly trained? It overreacts,” accounting for the rise in autoimmunity.
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Once again, this is consistent with chiropractic concepts and teaching on innate intelligence. Why does the subluxation exist as a mechanical phenomenon? It exists because humans evolved to use inflammation to survive infections, and that the resolution of inflammation is fibrosis. Richtel notes: Inflammation is defined as “a curative reaction of organisms.” “Pathogens, unlike the healthy cells in our own bodies, don’t like to stay in a particular area. They are built to cross borders, push into virgin tissue, spread, eat, and replicate.” Pathogens initiate inflammation and inflammation initiates fibrosis. Fibrosis is the border wall: “As the fibroblast cells come together, they form connective tissue, a bridge between the new and old tissue. At the wound site, the new tissue takes on a granular quality, hence its name granulation tissue. A kind of a tenacious web forms, a fibrous matrix that protects against invading pathogens.” This fibrous matrix occurs in both infection and non-infectious inflammation, such as in mechanical injury or stress. This fibrous matrix will “limit the mobility of joints,” [Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease], creating the need for chiropractic mechanical care. For everyone interested in the newest information on the immune system with clear chiropractic applications, this is a great book.
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