9 minute read
College of Chiropractic
from Fall 2022
Dr. Ralph Barrale Retires After 40 Years of Dedicated Service
After an illustrious career spanning four decades, Ralph Barrale, DC (‘69), Logan University’s vice president of chiropractic affairs and alumni relations, retired in August 2022.
“It’s tough to pick one moment or memory that stands out to me the most, but I’d have to say I’m most proud of all the doctors we have made here at Logan,” Dr. Barrale said. “I met my students when they were budding doctors, and now they have their own practices and meaningful careers. They had a profound, positive impact on me, and the pride they all show for the chiropractic profession makes everything worthwhile.”
Upon graduating from Logan, Dr. Barrale spent 13 years in private practice but was called back to his alma mater in 1982. As an instructor, he taught body mechanics, basic correlation, diversified adjusting technique and case management. During this time, he became not only an educator but a lifelong advocate of chiropractic as a way to improve health, performance and quality of life naturally and noninvasively. Further, he represented Logan as a liaison to the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company Symposium on Malpractice and was invited as a visiting scholar to the Interdisciplinary Symposium at Los Angeles College of Chiropractic.
In 1990, Dr. Barrale was promoted to associate professor. Eight years later, he transitioned from the classroom to postgraduate education when he was appointed director of postdoctoral and related professional education. He became a dean before being named vice president of chiropractic affairs and alumni relations in 2013.
Over the last nine years, Dr. Barrale built what is now Logan’s Postgraduate Department by collaborating with chiropractic leaders to bring quality education to DCs while also meeting licensure requirements from state associations.
“Ralph has been a cornerstone of Logan University from the moment he stepped onto campus,” said Logan President Clay McDonald, DC (’82), MBA, JD. “He is a remarkable lifelong learner and educator, responsible for bringing enriching and stimulating opportunities that have not only enhanced the skills and career development of thousands of chiropractic practitioners around the world but have also helped move the profession forward. I’m going to miss him.”
Throughout his rich history in chiropractic and at Logan, Dr. Barrale has presented more than 50 seminars and lectures to various state chiropractic associations and organizations, published research in chiropractic journals, and been a member of numerous committees, boards and associations. He has also earned accolades and awards, including Logan Alumnus of the Year in 1997 and the 2010 Heritage Award, the Logan Alumni Association’s highest honor.
While he is appreciative of the recognition he has received over the years, Dr. Barrale was a humble, selfless individual whose sole focus was to advance excellence in chiropractic education.
“Ralph represents the best of Logan and humankind,” Dr. McDonald said. “His love for chiropractic and this institution, his integrity and intelligence, and his gentleness and kindness are irreplaceable in the very best way. He will be greatly missed as he departs Logan.”
Dr. Barrale’s contributions have and will continue to make a difference in the Logan University community for years to come.
“It’s been a good ride,” Dr. Barrale said.
Dr. Ralph Barrale during his early teaching career at Logan
Barb Cronin Leaves Lasting Legacy for Logan Alumni and Friends
Barb Cronin worked in Logan’s Alumni & Friends House for 24 years—to the day—before retiring in August 2022. Prior to joining Logan, Barb worked in a busy chiropractic office as the office manager.
Barb Cronin
“I was really fascinated with the chiropractic profession, and I loved my role managing a private practice office,” said Barb. “When the opportunity to do a similar job at Logan presented itself, I was excited to make a transition.”
She began her career at Logan on September 1, 1998, as an administrative assistant in the Alumni & Friends House. In her role, she supported Ralph Barrale, DC (’69), who later served as vice president of chiropractic and alumni relations. Eventually, she was promoted to executive assistant and then to director of the Alumni & Friends House in 2014.
“I liked working with the postgraduate instructors as they developed their programs,” Barb said. “I met so many fabulous people over the years, and I enjoyed working with them to come up with new ideas, events and programs.”
One of her favorite memories took place shortly after Clay McDonald, DC (’82), MBA, JD became president of Logan University.
“It was October of 2013 when Dr. McDonald poked his head in our office,” Barb said. “He told us he wanted to host an educational event where chiropractors from around the country could attend and earn all their continuing education credits for the year in order to renew their licensure.”
From this interaction, the idea for Logan’s annual four-day Symposium was born.
“We thought it was a great idea and were eager to make his vision come to life,” said Barb. “Then he told us he wanted to host the event in April, which was six months from that point.”
Dr. McDonald gave Dr. Barrale, Barb and her team his target for the number of attendees, and they got to work. When April came around, Logan’s first Spring Symposium went off without a hitch. The event far surpassed Dr. McDonald’s expectations and was a great success.
“Planning events like Spring Symposium was one of my favorite parts of my job,” Barb said. “I loved finding new ways to improve them or incorporate new elements to better serve our alumni and friends.”
In addition to Symposium, Barb was responsible for coordinating several alumni events, including the annual Winter Warm Up, a happy hour for Logan’s faculty and staff. She and her team also facilitated license renewals for Logan and other vendors and partners in addition to a variety of other tasks.
“As the face of Logan’s continuing education efforts, Barb has been an integral part of the university’s advancement and success,” Dr. McDonald said. “She has cultivated and maintained relationships with thousands of members of the Logan community and beyond. Barb is incredibly organized, professional and service-oriented, but above all else, she is one of the kindest people I have ever known.”
One of Barb’s favorite parts about working at Logan was all the incredible faculty, staff, alumni and students she met over the years.
“Without a doubt, I miss the people the most,” Barb said. “I loved interacting with my team as well as so many other departments each day. I made some true lifelong friends thanks to Logan.”
Now, Barb is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with her family.
“This is such a bittersweet time,” Barb said. “I will miss being at Logan each day, but I am also excited for what my retirement holds.”
Preceptorship Program Bridges Classroom and Real-World Experience
Qualified Logan University Doctor of Chiropractic students can spend their final trimester working in a clinical setting, which helps them make a smooth transition from student doctor to graduate. Logan’s Preceptorship Program matches students with practicing chiropractors who are living the dreams students envision for themselves, which makes reaching their own goals more attainable.
Vice Chair of Logan’s Board of Trustees Allen Hager, DC enjoys sharing with students his experience working at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota, a multidisciplinary health system. He also likes imparting learnings amassed throughout his diverse career, which include establishing chiropractic clinics and continuing education programs in Scotland, as well as insights he gleaned from working on the insurance side of health care at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
As a member of Logan’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Hager brings executive leadership skills he honed at elite programs offered at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. Under the direction of Logan President Clay McDonald, DC (’82), MBA, JD, the board has identified preceptorships as a priority to prepare students for practice.
“Dr. McDonald has been instrumental in moving the university forward in myriad ways,” said Dr. Hager. “He recognizes the need to diversify Logan’s program offerings and prepare students to not only pass exams but also to make the transition into private practice or integrated models of care.”
Accordingly, Dr. McDonald invited Dr. Hager to consider serving as a preceptor for Logan’s student doctors. Dr. Hager enthusiastically accepted and is now mentoring trimester 10 student Nicole Wurtzberger in the 15-week Preceptorship Program.
“I’m always amazed at how students come out of chiropractic school with this tremendous command of the science behind the practice of chiropractic,” said Dr. Hager. “But historically, there has been a gap between the knowing and the doing. Learning the art of talking to a patient also takes practice. Not just asking, ‘Where does it hurt,’ but knowing how to best position questions to elicit meaningful answers that help guide us to determine the root of the problem and identify the best course of treatment.”
Dr. Hager added that for students obtaining their DCs, the patients they work with during their clinical rotations do not typically exhibit the complex cases they are likely to see once they start practicing, especially if they are serving in a hospital or other multidisciplinary setting.
“From the very beginning, I saw Nicole’s confidence increase as a result of the experiences she has gained through this preceptorship,” Dr. Hager said.
Dr. Hager also believes chiropractic’s expansion into integrated models of care is increasing awareness of the profession, which has driven the need for more chiropractors like Nicole.
“When I started at Essentia Health, I was the only chiropractor on staff,” Dr. Hager said. “Today, we have five. The more people who see and experience what we can do, the role we play and the value we provide, the more referrals we get, which increases the demand for the care we give.”
This shift is well-timed for Nicole, who has always wanted a profession that is hands-on and helps to improve health naturally and noninvasively.
“I love working with Dr. Hager at Essentia Health because I have had the opportunity to see a variety of patients with simple and complex cases,” Nicole said. “I’m also surrounded by great people who help me grow both professionally and personally.”
Ninety-five percent of Logan’s trimester 10 DC students seek and are accepted for placement in fast-paced clinical settings. They can interact with 300 or more patients per month. These invaluable experiences are made possible by preceptors like Dr. Hager who are driven by a desire to help nurture the next generations of chiropractors to carry on the work of those who came before them.
“This opportunity provides a bridge between school, where we learn things, to here, where we figure out how to use that knowledge on a day-to-day basis,” Nicole said.
Trimester 10 DC student Nicole Wurtzberger and Dr. Allen Hager
