Cover Story – Different Paths, Common Goal

Chiropractic students face many challenges.

Your support helps lighten the load. Giving to one of our many scholarship funds is a great way to encourage and support students’ hard work and dedication.

The following scholarships support Sherman students:

• Beane Family Scholarships • Samuel & Sandra Berkowitz Memorial Scholarship • D.E. Warriors Scholarship • Ted Hartley Memorial Scholarship • C.G. Haynes Scholarship • Rex Mumford Kasler Memorial Scholarship • Michigan Chiropractic Foundation Scholarship • John H. Porter Jr. Scholarship • Lyle W. & Eula M. Sherman Scholarship • John Yglesias Scholarship

“The honor of receiving the John H. Porter Jr. Scholarship is not only confirmation that I must continue to pursue my education with humility, service and zeal, but it is a gift that will help me reach my ultimate goal of sharing the greatest gift with my community — chiropractic.”

— Teresa Echols Porter Scholarship Recipient

Snap code above to donate or go to

https://www.sherman.edu /dr-porter/

Different Paths, Common Goal

Sherman College is home to more than 400 students hailing from 40 states and 14 countries. Students from diverse backgrounds have taken many different paths to find their way to Sherman. Their paths were uniquely different, but they all have converged on our campus in pursuit of their common goal of bringing chiropractic to their communities and helping people live to their fullest potential. On the following pages, you’ll hear from five chiropractic students who share some of their experiences on their path to Sherman and what drives them to pursue a future career in chiropractic. You’ll hear from a student who has been connected to chiropractic since childhood, a student who embraced chiropractic mid-career, an international student, a traditional student seeking a healthcare profession, and a student who aspires to develop an international chiropractic chain. We hope you enjoy hearing their stories about how their different paths led to their shared goal at Sherman College.

From Wastewater to Chiropractic Gerald Kirk II

What led you to such a dramatic change in careers?

I was previously a water and wastewater treatment operator. I have a chronic illness that was getting worse with the amount of physical exertion necessary for the job as an operator. I knew I had to make the decision to continue advancing my career at the expense of my health or make a drastic change to protect my health. I come from a family of nurses, so I always was very interested in healthcare and wanted to find a profession where I could directly help people.

Why did you choose the chiropractic profession?

I didn’t know anything about chiropractic, but I saw a healthcare profession that looked like it would be a lot less stressful and physically demanding than water treatment operations. I looked into chiropractic and discovered that there was a school right here in my state. One very hot, smelly day in June 2019, I remembered a Facebook video I saw years ago that featured a series of adjustments. The Facebook friend who posted the video turned out to be Charles Tucker, D.C., a 2020 Sherman graduate. We had actually never spoken at that point, but I find it absolutely amazing that I was introduced to chiropractic, through a friend of a friend, who now is a practicing chiropractor. I fully take that phenomenon as my innate intelligence leading me here to chiropractic.

How has chiropractic changed your life?

Chiropractic aligns with the principles by which I live my life. At the time of my diagnosis, I was more than 300 pounds and not generally healthy. I have put in a tremendous amount of effort to proactively improve my health including changing my diet, losing 130 pounds, and managing my stress. All of these avenues line up with the chiropractic approach to healthcare – that if you desire to be healthy, a change must be necessary.

How was the transition from your previous career to chiropractic college?

It was surprisingly smooth. Wastewater treatment is all microorganism management, and my experience was very helpful in microbiology class. Industrial water treatment works similarly to the filtration of the kidney, so the concepts in GI/renal aren’t new to me. In the cadaver lab, I am one of the more comfortable students in my class because I have seen, worked in, and sometimes splashed with things a lot worse than cadaver fluids.

Why did you choose to attend Sherman College?

I attended Showcase Sherman Weekend in November 2019. I arrived with an understanding that chiropractic was a mechanistic discipline that treated neck and back pain. When I got here, though, I heard about vitalism, innate intelligence, and neuroplasticity. Director for Scholarly Activity Christopher Kent, D.C., J.D., A.C.P., spoke about his personal experience with chiropractic and presented data that showed how you can affect your body at a cellular level to promote health. Associate Professor of Basic Sciences Charles Kenya, D.C., ’06, A.C.P., spoke about healing people with just his hands as tools. My mind was absolutely blown, and I applied to Sherman that weekend.

What is the most challenging thing about changing careers, and how has the Sherman community helped?

The most difficult thing has been returning to the mindset of a full-time student. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, and outside of professional licensing, I haven’t done anything academic in several years. The faculty, however, have been pretty outstanding in terms of providing help. My student advisor, Moses Rivas, has been an invaluable source of information to get help since I have been here. Student tutoring was also extremely important for me as we returned to campus. I may not have passed Biochemistry I and Musculoskeletal without my student tutors, Edwin Sierra and Bernardo Perkinson. The motto of striving for student success is very true here at Sherman.

Growing Up with Chiropractic Madison Hoag

In what ways were you connected to the chiropractic profession before becoming a student?

My younger brother, Jordan, and I grew up getting adjusted, and we stayed under wellness care. My father, though not a chiropractor, has been working in the profession for more than 20 years. I am from Ohio, where he was the executive director of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association for a few years before creating his dream company devoted to advancing chiropractic by working directly with doctors, clinics, and students. Because of my father, I was blessed to be able to connect with chiropractic influencers, travel the country to look at schools and, most importantly, gain a very strong chiropractic foundation prior to beginning school at Sherman.

How did growing up around the profession impact your decision to become a chiropractor?

My brother and I are now both going to school to become chiropractors, but I will be the first in our family lineage. It was important, though, for us to choose chiropractic for ourselves and form our own “why.” My passion, and a major impact on my decision, was discovering animal chiropractic. I grew up riding horses, and at a young age, I knew I had a calling to work with animals. Animal chiropractic is my calling, and I could not be more excited for what the future holds for me, my human patients and my animal patients!

What does chiropractic mean to you?

Chiropractic to me means HOPE. Our profession is starting to shift, and the public is beginning to hear our message. People are realizing we are more than back pain and headache specialists. Chiropractic can give that mother who is exhausted and sleep-deprived hope of her baby breastfeeding easier on both sides rather than just the left. Chiropractic can give a young girl movement in her arm for the first time since being ejected from a vehicle at age three. It can save the elderly, beloved family dog from euthanasia after falling off the bed being unable to walk on its hind legs. These are all cases I have seen or heard firsthand. I am ready to see the day that I can be the person to directly restore hope and quality of life into my patients, families, and furry friends.

What made you choose Sherman College?

Because of my early decision to become a chiropractor, I had plenty of time to prepare and travel for school visits. I also knew that every chiropractic school is unique in what it offers and has different vitalistic/ mechanistic views. I looked at Sherman several times and loved it more and more each time. With the gorgeous renovations, welcoming student ambassadors, and amazing faculty, it made my decision for attending Sherman easy. Also, South Carolina’s weather is a lot better than Ohio’s!

How would you describe your experience at Sherman?

My experience here at Sherman has been nothing short of amazing. For a girl from the small town of Mount Vernon, who has never left Ohio, moving to Spartanburg alone was a big change. In the last year and half in South Carolina, there has been a lot of laughter, tears, coffee, successes, failures, and lessons. I could not, and would not, be where I am today if it were not for all the amazing support at Sherman from classmates, teachers, and mentors.

How has chiropractic impacted your life?

Chiropractic has not only impacted my life, but it has been my whole life for the last few years. To become a chiropractor, we invest a lot of time, effort, and money into fulfilling our dream. I am now in year six out of eight years of education before I can truly begin building my practice, home, family, etc. But, we would all choose it again, because we all can’t wait to be a part of something bigger and change lives. Chiropractic has allowed my family and me to remain strong, healthy and nerve interference-free. I know this is what I’m called to do in life, and I couldn’t be happier!

Leaving the Comforts of Puerto Rico for the Mainland José Luis Torres Rivera

Why did you choose the chiropractic profession?

I wanted a change in my life, and this was the right decision to fulfill my great purpose. That purpose is to educate and prepare myself to become a doctor of chiropractic by serving a vulnerable population with the aim of [enhancing] well-being while respecting the wisdom of the human body through science, art, philosophy, and focusing on the analysis and adjustment of vertebral subluxation.

What impact has chiropractic had on your life?

Chiropractic has helped with my health and has allowed me to better understand the innate intelligence of my body. It has changed my lifestyle to one much healthier.

How did you learn about Sherman College?

I learned about Sherman because I had very close friends of mine study here, Jeimmy Liz Sanchez Guzman and Jessenia Liz Pratts Santiago. I contacted Rolando Rivera and Will Tucker in the Admissions Office to learn more.

What convinced you to leave Puerto Rico to study at Sherman?

I decided to come to Sherman in search of better quality opportunities and to represent the Latin community worldwide. In addition, I want to guarantee the best to my patients through the education I will obtain at Sherman.

How was Sherman different than other schools you considered attending?

One of the things I love about Sherman College is the people, the fact that almost everyone knows each other, the willingness of the students to help you, and how the professors care about your process of learning. In addition, the diverse faculty with teachers from different countries, and the sensitivity and cultural competence of our campus is something unique.

What is the most challenging thing about being so far from home, and what makes it worth it?

Something challenging about being far from home is missing my parents. It was not easy, because I left my family and established myself here. It was a long process in terms of sorting out apartment rent, a car, bank account, car insurance and more… and then adapting during my first quarter of studies. I left Puerto Rico to join the world with a view to new horizons that guarantee me stability, where effort is appreciated, and where I can move forward and continue growing.

Upon graduation, what do you plan on doing?

My plan right now is to develop a chiropractic chain with offices in Puerto Rico and the (continental) U.S. “This was the right decision to fulfill my great purpose … to educate and prepare myself to become a doctor of chiropractic by serving a vulnerable population with the aim of enhancing wellbeing while respecting the wisdom of the human body through science, art, philosophy, and focusing on the analysis and adjustment of vertebral subluxation.”

—José Luis Torres Rivera

Finding Purpose in a Healthcare Profession Tina Tang

Why did you choose chiropractic as a career?

I actually was on track to go to pharmacy school. I had an opportunity to intern, and I realized the lifestyle that career path was promoting was not something I practiced personally. I spent some time in limbo, unsure of what I wanted to do career-wise, and then I met a chiropractor at a community event and literally kept meeting other chiropractors. I began shadowing D.C.s, started working in offices, and now here I am! So, I guess as cliché as it sounds, chiropractic found me.

Why did you choose Sherman College of Chiropractic?

I chose to attend Sherman College because of the family feeling I experienced during Showcase Sherman Weekend. I have always had a close-knit family (maybe too close!) so I was super hesitant… and afraid of having to move away from that comfort. After Showcase, I realized I wasn’t going to lose a family but rather gain an even bigger family.

"It’s a roller coaster of emotions and growth. And like roller coasters, there are also other people, both strangers and friends, screaming alongside me, uniting us all.”

—Tina Tang

How would you describe your experience at Sherman?

The best way to describe my experience at Sherman is that it’s a roller coaster of emotions and growth. I’m so happy to be on this journey working my way up to this amazing profession, but I’ve also cried from the stress and excitement of getting to the top. And like roller coasters, there are also other people, both strangers and friends, screaming alongside me, uniting us all.

How has chiropractic impacted your life?

Chiropractic has given me a purpose. I don’t have a personal amazing health story, but hearing how chiropractic has impacted other people’s lives has continuously pushed me to be a better student and strive to be a better doctor of chiropractic.

What are the best and worst part of being a chiropractic student?

The best and worst part is having to practice patience on this journey. Knowing the power of chiropractic, it almost gives me an antsy feeling and I think, “I’ve done enough school. I’m ready to graduate. I’m ready to change lives. I want to change lives now.” I entered clinic this past quarter, and this new side of the curriculum has humbled me. It has reminded me that I’ll always be a student, and it’s with patience that I can not only deliver patients care, but deliver the BEST care.

Overcoming Fears, Embracing a New Country and Profession JP Credali