Cleveland Chiropractic CollegeKansas City

Chiropractic at the Nation’s Premier Military Hospital
Interview with Sarah Potthoff, DC

Interview by Daniel Redwood, DC

(pdf) (160.9 KB)

Sarah Potthoff, DC, with William Morgan, DC, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Sarah Potthoff, a December 2011 graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College – Kansas City, served as a chiropractic intern at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland. In this Health Insights Today interview, she shares her enthusiasm for the remarkable learning opportunities she experienced during this internship.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa prior to enrolling at Cleveland, Dr. Pothoff served as Vice President of the World Congress of Chiropractic Students, President of the Cleveland Chiropractic College Student Council, and National Events Coordinator for the Integrative Committee of the Student American Chiropractic Association.

What were you hoping for when you applied for the fellowship at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda?

I remember hearing Dr. Morgan speak at the first National Chiropractic Legislative Conference that I attended. I was floored because I never knew such an internship existed. My only knowledge of chiropractic (and granted, I was in Trimester 2 at the time) was private practice, not associated with a hospital at all. So I was really motivated. I came up to him after the talk and said that I wanted to know more about it and he sent me some information. Then I had two good friends who went through the program. I called them up, Skyped with them, and learned as much as I could from them about their experiences. They were very helpful and that solidified my intentions. I wanted to go through those experiences as well.

Do you feel that your hopes and expectations been fulfilled?

Yes, yes! It’s an honor to be able to treat patients who have done so much for our country. I can’t say enough how my patriotism and my respect for the men and women who serve our country have grown since I’ve been here. My father and grandfather both served in the military—my father in Vietnam and my grandfather in World War II. Even with that, I don’t think I ever understood the dedication that these people give.

At our clinic, when we joined up with Walter Reed [the Walter Reed Army Medical Center recently merged with the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda], now our waiting room is shared with the Center for Orthotics/Prosthetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation—departments whose main patient base is wounded warriors. So when I go out to pick up my patients, I always see someone who is missing a limb. And as I look out the window right next to my office, I see people learning how to walk with their new prosthetics. It’s a constant reminder that didn’t only dedicate the time when they were over there, but they are dedicating every second of their lives.

I knew I wanted to take an active role and give back in some way. I had no idea it would be so rewarding until I got here. Also, I have been able to look at the different sectors of medicine and really dive in. The interprofessional communication has also been wonderful, learning more about medicine and chiropractic and where we can fit in. I love the rotations. I rotate two days a week and then I treat three days a week.

Did your education at Cleveland Chiropractic College – Kansas City prepare you well for this fellowship at Bethesda?

Oh, most definitely. Even in neuroradiology, I would know a lot of the MRI of the low back or of the brain, for example. When we had a case where we were talking about tumors in those areas, people said “You learned about that?” And I said, “Yeah, we learn about that stuff too, guys.” So I would say my education at Cleveland definitely prepared me.

What kind of mentorship and supervision have you received at Bethesda?

Dr. Morgan is great. He challenges me on a daily basis, but at the same time, he’s been supportive in helping me with my confidence, and teaching me how to communicate better with patients and other professionals. This is really something I wanted to take back with me, since I want to practice in an integrative setting. So it’s been great. Dr. Morgan definitely requires a lot, and that challenge has been very good. He provides me with information, as well. He gives me research articles to read and projects to work on. Right now, I’m working on a frozen shoulder e-book, for the rehab of frozen shoulder and exercises I can provide my patients.

You’ve already answered this in part, but could you tell us more about the kinds of patients you see at the hospital.

I see active military only. We’re starting to see more and more wounded warriors, with the integration of Walter Reed and with our close proximity to the orthotics department. I’m sure that will continue to increase. We also see the men and women who work at the Pentagon, the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the Public Health Service.

What would you say is the most important thing you have learned in your experience there?

I’ve learned that there are a large number of sick people. I ride my bike to work and the only bike ramp is at the other side of the hospital. So I walk through the full length of the hospital in the morning. And I’m only going to be here for a little while, so I really want to take everything in. When I walk in the morning, I see all of these patients, and I look at them, and I can tell that they’re tired and they’re sick. I’ve never been in a hospital this much before, to be around people who are suffering. And you can tell that people want help.

In my rotations, the most frustrating cases I see are the patients say, “I’ve been everywhere, to all of these doctors, and I’ve had no help.” I’ve seen lots of those. They’re getting lost in our medical system, slipping through the cracks, and people don’t know what to do for them. I’ve become more compassionate and sensitive to the fact that there are a lot of sick people out there.

One other important thing I have discovered is the lack of complementary and alternative medicine. Throughout my rotations I have noticed is that the mindset of other practitioners is quite different from my own chiropractic background. The suggestion or consideration of less invasive treatments than the particular department’s specialty—whether it be prescribing medication, injections, or surgery—usually does not occur as part of their clinical thinking. I believe it is a result of their training, another reason why hospital-based settings are in need of the chiropractic dynamic. 

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"As I look out the window right next to my office, I see people learning how to walk with their new prosthetics. It’s a constant reminder that didn’t only dedicate the time when they were over there, but they are dedicating every second of their lives."