18 minute read
Campus News
Transforming Clinical Education
Sherman College’s Chiropractic Health Center is transforming clinical education and changing lives.
With its focus on clinic and program enhancements aimed at providing an outstanding patient experience, the Health Center offers students a relevant professional internship that prepares them for success in their chiropractic practice after graduation.
Patients come to the Sherman College Chiropractic Health Center to experience high quality, affordable chiropractic care for the entire family, at every stage of life, from pediatric to geriatric. The Chiropractic Health Center is a teaching clinic for chiropractic interns who are in their final stage of study prior to graduation from the doctor of chiropractic program.
The teaching environment at the clinic, coordinated by licensed doctors, allows interns to practice chiropractic with ongoing mentoring for the student and effective, compassionate care for the patient. Here’s the latest news on the clinic experience and how Sherman College is preparing the next generation of doctors of chiropractic for practice.
EHR Implementation Nearly Complete
The Health Center is about six months away from completing its shift to electronic health records (EHR) with ChiroTouch. EHR allows for better reporting and easier assessment when auditing files. In addition to enhancing patient care, an electronic system also provides great insight when implementing best practices on running a clinic, offering reliable statistics for tracking, analysis and forecasting.
Health Center faculty and administration are able to select a cohort of students and compare their performance (patient visit average, dollar visit average) against the Health Center budget to see if they are meeting their financial and business goals by bringing in patients and revenue. Faculty can also analyze indicators of patient retention and new patient processes.
Rather than simply focusing on graduation requirements, interns are able to review these clinic metrics and reports during their first practice in the clinic to gain valuable insights into why such metrics are critical. What better practice for students, who will need to consider these topics, among many others, once they are on their own after graduation.
Dean of Clinics Brian Dooley, D.C., ’05, A.C.P. “Historically the clinic experience has been seen as a graduation requirement. We want to make it a meaningful experience as close to practice as we possibly can so that our interns are ready for success.”
Clinic Improvements and Patient Engagement
The college has made a number of recent improvements in both equipment and clinic environment. One recent project updated the clinic’s main sign along Springfield Road — clearly and boldly declaring the building’s purpose as a Chiropractic Health Center. Another enhancement is the addition of a new pediatric-specific room in the clinic, which includes a pediatric adjusting table, a pediatric scale to weigh infants (in some cases when we are the family’s primary provider), a changing table and a comfortable chair for feeding.
Light filters have been added to all adjusting rooms to reduce lumen output, which studies have shown can be helpful with some patients, particularly children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This change has created a better experience and a more calming environment for patients, parents and caregivers.
Additionally, the Student Clinic now has ten new adjusting tables, including one computer per table, for added efficiency when students are seeing their reciprocal patients.
Preparation for Success in Practice
Spinal screenings and health fairs offer excellent learning opportunities and are crucial to interns’ understanding of community relations and business marketing. Thanks to an increase in local events, interns have had several opportunities to represent the Health Center, share the message of
chiropractic, and bring in new patients from Spartanburg and the surrounding area.
Monthly theme days and holiday celebrations at the Health Center, such as hat day or Valentine’s Day, are popular, infusing fun into students’ day-to-day routines and modeling office events that they can reproduce later in practice.
In an effort to streamline administrative tasks for new graduates and free their time for relationship-building, the Health Center now offers its patient paperwork as a starting point for its budding chiropractic entrepreneurs. Graduating students are provided with a package of paperwork (without any collegeidentifying information or logos) that can easily be adapted and personalized for their use in practice.
New Workshops Make a Smoother Transition to Clinic Internships
Several recent clinic changes involve the academic program and administration with its faculty-driven curriculum. Assistant faculty members in the clinic are leading workshops for interns in areas of technique, practice model (how to establish an office, work as an associate, etc.), the mindset shift of entering clinic, and more. These workshops are designed to create a smoother onboarding process for students who are transitioning to their internships in the clinic.
Clinic faculty members now have the ability to devote one day each week to focus on specific projects such as research, reporting, case management, faculty promotion work and more. Clinic faculty and staff meet biweekly to ensure better communication, and enjoy quarterly team-building events like pumpkin carving and themed potlucks after entrance and exit exams.
College Publications, Communications Honored
Five of Sherman College’s key marketing and communications projects have been recognized at the national level, with one receiving second place honors and four others taking home honorable mention prizes in the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Before advancing to the national contest, an annual competition that encourages and rewards excellence in communication, the entries won first-place honors in Media Women of South Carolina’s (MWSC) statewide contest. This year’s NFPW contest included more than 2,000 entries from across the U.S.
The college’s chiropractic career piece took second place in the nation in its category (brochure – nonprofit, government or educational). Earning honorable mentions were four college projects: Sherman Shares (writing – nonprofit, government or educational newsletter), an admissions webpage for high school students (web and social media – web copy), a series of sportsfocused ads (advertising – ad campaign), and a speech for Lyceum 2021 (speech).
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Karen Brower Rhodes, M.B.A., led the development and production of these projects in 2021 as part of Sherman College’s outreach for several departments, including Marketing and Communications, Admissions and Institutional Advancement.
This is not the first time Marketing and Communications’ has received honors from MWSC and NFPW. In 2021, the college had six entries in the national competition, all earning national honors, including a first-place prize for the Sherman College Brand Guide. Additional projects have been recognized nationally throughout the years, with a print piece for prospective students also earning top honors in 2014.
Admissions on the Road
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS JACOB HARRIS SHARED THE BENEFITS OF A CAREER IN CHIROPRACTIC WITH PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AT A RECENT RECRUITING EVENT.
The Sherman College Admissions team had a busy 2021-2022 academic year, hosting and attending recruitment events at colleges and universities across the U.S., including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Utah, Texas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee.
The college also took part in the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions annual conference in Denver this June, meeting with hundreds of health professions advisors to promote chiropractic to career advisors as the career of choice and to share information about the profession, the college and its entrance requirements.
Continuing its efforts to make the transition to chiropractic college even easier for future students, the Office of Admissions developed a Three Plus One agreement with Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio and an articulation agreement with Southwest Virginia Community College. Three Plus One agreements help students save a full year while earning their bachelor’s degree; articulation agreements help students earn their 90 semester hours of prerequisite courses for admission to Sherman.
As always, the Office of Admissions welcomes your student referrals and your assistance in developing the next generation of doctors of chiropractic. Learn more about how you can personally help build the profession by joining our Reach Out and Recruit (ROAR) Program. Working with ROAR helps you connect in your community and could position you as a go-to mentor for students in your area!
R AR
REACH OUT AND RECRUIT
Interested in being a part of ROAR? We’d love to have you join our ranks!
Visit www.sherman.edu/roar or contact ROAR program director Luanis O’Neill, D.C., at loneill@sherman.edu or 864-578-8770, ext. 343.
ROAR Members Leading and Growing the Profession
OUR IMPACT ON THE CHIROPRACTIC PROFESSION AND THE WORLD DEPENDS ON LEADERS LIKE OUR REACH OUT AND RECRUIT (ROAR) MEMBERS—AN ENTHUSASTIC COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.
More than 60 members attended the ROAR Luncheon during Lyceum in April; it was the largest membership gathering at Lyceum since the ROAR program’s inception. The ROAR luncheon offered a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and celebrate chiropractic with colleagues who are inspiring the next generation.
We heard from recent Sherman College graduates to veteran doctors, Lyceum speakers and faculty members.
We welcomed 11 new doctors to the ROAR program and shared more than 100 prospective student folders with members to have available at their offices, along with some fun ROAR swag, including golf towels and tumblers. We owe a special thanks to our Director of International Recruitment Rolando Rivera, who played a major role in the success of this event.
We are very thankful for our ROAR members and their genuine support of the college and the ROAR Program. Congratulations to our ROAR Supporters of the Year, Evan Cohen, D.C., ’87, from West Columbia, SC and
Christian Ortiz and Jennifer Sotomayor,
D.C.s, ’18, from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
We look forward to working with you and continuing to grow our support for the future of Sherman College!
A ROARing Q&A with Alejandro and Emily Elías
Alejandro Elías, D.C.
Emily Elías, D.C.
When Alejandro and Emily Elías, D.C.s, graduated in June 2021 from Sherman College, they had one goal in mind: to bring hope and healing to the world. They visited Abilene, TX, for the first time in January 2021 and immediately fell in love. “It’s a quaint yet large town, and we love the sense of community and the resilience of the people,” the couple said.
The pair opened Victory Spinal Care in Abilene in December 2021, aiming to shift the perspective of health to raise up healthy families in the community. They also held fast to their appreciation of Sherman College and soon after graduation joined the Reach Out And Recruit (ROAR) Program.
We asked this young chiropractic power couple to share why the ROAR program is important to them and how it helps them support the future of chiropractic education. Here’s what they had to say:
Q: What do you enjoy most about having students shadow in the office?
We love when students shadow our office! It is a great reminder of where we came from, often shadowing doctors every opportunity we could. Students challenge us with thought-provoking questions, helping us to recenter and refocus on WHY we do what we do. Of course, we hope to inspire students to figure out their best path in life, their purpose, and to see if chiropractic is a viable option for them as a profession. Then we tell them how amazing Sherman College is in hopes that they will also attend.
Q: Why do you choose to support Sherman through student referrals?
Sherman College has given us so much. We met on orientation day and from then on, we were inseparable. So, we are super grateful that Sherman College brought us to each other. Beyond that, we have received a top-notch education from a chiropractic school that remains grounded
Emily and Alejandro Elías enjoy having prospective students visit their office to shadow. They recently welcomed Joe Gilligan, a Hardin-Simmons graduate and avid CrossFitter who loves learning about the human body. He is considering a career in chiropractic, and the couple enjoyed showing him the power of proper alignment and a clear nervous system.
Ready to ROAR? Join Us!
in philosophy. Since being out of school and being exposed to other chiropractic colleges and regions in the U.S. that don’t truly know what chiropractic is (let alone principled chiropractic), we see the challenges and negative effects of going to a school where you are not taught the principle of straight chiropractic. If we can inspire people to attend Sherman College and get exposed to what chiropractic is all about, we know we can help to change that many more lives!
Q: How do you inspire others to become interested in chiropractic?
To inspire others about chiropractic, the most powerful thing we can tell them are our stories! We love to share how chiropractic changed our lives and then, in turn, what we have done to help our patients. We love to talk about how a clear nervous system can be a game changer! We recently met a young couple, and the husband wanted to become a chiropractor. We offered him the opportunity to shadow and told him he’s more than welcome to stop into the office. Not only did he become a long-term patient, but he also asked Emily to adjust his baby right after birth! And after that, he made the decision to attend a Showcase Sherman Weekend. We believe if we can plant these seeds early, more people’s lives will be changed—and that is our ultimate goal!
Employee Updates
Alan Brewster, D.C., ’89, A.C.P., has been appointed assistant director of the Center for Scholarly Activity. Brewster joined Sherman College in 2017 and was recently honored as Faculty Member of the Year. Along with teaching in clinical sciences, he will also be working closely with the center’s director, Christopher Kent, D.C., A.C.P., J.D., in advancing the mission of the college in the area of scholarship, research and evidenceinformed practices.
With her recent promotion to teaching and learning specialist, Keely English has joined the team in the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. English came to Sherman College in 2018 as a temporary employee in Student Affairs and was then hired to the full-time position of student activities assistant. She was promoted to student activities coordinator in 2019. During her tenure in Student Affairs, English gained invaluable experience with the campus learning management system, and her knowledge of ADA compliance in higher education has served as a springboard to assist faculty in preparing accessible course content and creating innovative projects in the campus studio.
Foster Named Director of Continuing Education
Rozelle Foster has been promoted to director of Continuing Education. Foster joined the college in June 2021 as CE seminar application specialist and has been working with current and new CE clients to ensure continuing education credit at in-person sponsored events. Her strengths in customer service, attention to detail, management, along with state boards experience in her previous role, made her a perfect fit to lead all aspects of the CE department, including the college’s annual flagship event, Lyceum.
Angel Radick has been promoted to director of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness. Radick joined the college in 2018 as coordinator for academic affairs and has readily accepted increasing levels of responsibility. She is currently pursuing an M.B.A. in business analytics at the University of North Carolina Pembroke and will graduate later this year. In her new role, Radick will assume responsibility for course evaluation administration, NBCE reporting, constituent surveys, and increased levels of accreditation reporting and support.
Treharne Named Chair of Business Department
Heath Treharne, M.S., D.C., has been appointed as chair of the Business Department and also serves as assistant professor of clinical sciences. Since joining the college in September 2018, he has worked diligently to serve students and faculty members in the business department and through the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
Employee Service Milestones
Each year, Sherman College recognizes employees who have reached milestone anniversary dates. The college is fortunate to have loyal employees, including many who have dedicated sigificant portions of their careers to our college and who continue to make great contributions to Sherman College and the chiropractic profession.
35
YEARS
25
YEARS
Bill Decken, D.C., ’86, L.C.P., D.Ph.C.S. Bill Fehl, D.C., ’83 Laura Greene-Orndorff, D.C., ’95
15
YEARS
LaShanda Hutto-Harris, M.S.W. George Luo, M.D., Ph.D.
10
YEARS
George Auger, D.C., ’93 Angela Thrift
FIVE YEARS
Dan Becker, M.Ed., D.C., ‘00 Michelle Gregory Christopher Kent, D.C., A.C.P., J.D. Armand Rossi, D.C. Kendra Strange Nick Watson
ONE YEAR
Samantha Attaway, Ph.D. Tim Guest, D.C., ’86 Moses Rivas Will Tucker
Meet Our 2021 Employees of the Year
Sherman College recently honored two outstanding employees in appreciation of their contributions, time and commitment to the college and its students.
—Vice President for Academic Affairs Joe Donofrio, D.C., ‘94, A.C.P.
FACULTY MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Alan Brewster, D.C., ’89, A.C.P.
Alan Brewster, D.C., ’89, A.C.P., is known throughout campus for his positive outlook and dedication to students. Vice President for Academic Affairs Joe Donofrio, D.C., ’94, A.C.P., said the honor is well deserved.
“Dr. Brewster serves the campus community on so many levels, but he is most well-known for going the extra yard for students,” Donofrio said. “He is a course instructor, researcher, tutor and cheerleader. In his four years at Sherman College, he has easily put in eight years of work.”
Brewster is a 1989 summa cum laude Sherman College graduate who was valedictorian of his class and earned philosophy, clinical and academic awards at his graduation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences-physiology from Cook College at Rutgers University (1986). Before joining the college faculty in 2017, Brewster practiced chiropractic for more than 25 years in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
He served on the Sherman College’s Board of Trustees from 20092012 and is a long-serving member of the Regent Program, a group of leaders and advocates who give visibility and stature to the college as well as provide financial support. At Sherman College, Brewster teaches courses in Full Spine, Palpation, Clinical Applications of Evidence-Informed Practice, and Neuro-Functional Assessment. He is also active in conducting chiropractic research. The college honored him with the Spirit of Sherman College Award in 2019 and the Service to Sherman College Award in 2011.
—Billie Harrington, Ph.D.
STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Amy Carlson
Amy Carlson was named Staff Member of the Year, an honor she also received in 2019, in recognition of her unwavering commitment to supporting the needs of the Sherman College academic community.
“Amy has a heart for service, and her dedication to supporting our faculty and students helps us create a culture of ongoing faculty development with a focus on excellence in teaching and learning,” said Director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning Billie Harrington, Ph.D. “She has built strong connections with faculty and students and collaborates with many departments on campus.”
Carlson joined the college in 2018 and has made an impressive impact in a short period of time. In her role at the college, she provides functional and technical support for programs directly related to classroom instruction, including the college’s iPad program, iBook development and operational support, the Schoology learning management system, electronic testing and more.
Carlson has extensive experience in adult education, training, teaching, course and curriculum development and creating training resources. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Lander University and has an elementary education teacher certification from Clemson University.
Dill Elected Board Chair; Campanale Chairs Presidential Search
The Sherman College Board of Trustees elected new officers as part of its May 2022 meeting. Shawn H. Dill, D.C., was elected to serve as board chair; Matthew McCoy, D.C., M.P.H., will serve as vice chair; and Lisa Lanzara-Bazzani, D.C., will serve as secretary. Frank J. Hahn, D.C., was elected to a second term.
Past officers Judy Nutz Campanale, D.C., A.C.P., and Linda Giuliano, M.B.A., remain on the board to continue their terms and will lead the Presidential Search Committee as chair and vice chair, respectively (see page 27 for search updates). Additional board members include Richelle Knowles, D.C., and José Salgado León, D.C.
Shawn H. Dill, D.C. Matthew McCoy, D.C., M.P.H.
