Many who’ve chosen a healthcare career say they felt “called to a patient care profession.” Those choosing to pursue the Doctor of Chiropractic degree seem to agree there’s something quite compelling about maintaining, restoring, and optimizing health through natural methods. Chiropractic, you see, is from the Greek term for done by hand. Chiropractors use manual techniques to ensure the body’s systems are working as they should.
Doctors of chiropractic are healthcare professionals who focus on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Central to the profession’s approach to patient treatment, health, and well-being is the proper relationship between structure (primarily the spine and musculoskeletal system) and optimal function, as coordinated by the nervous system.
In addition to manual treatments, chiropractors help patients by analyzing and correcting posture, gait, and range of motion. They also are trained in recommending constructive exercise, nutrition choices, and lifestyle and occupational counseling. Chiropractors also refer their patients to other healthcare professionals if indicated during their initial assessment.
Talk to any number of chiropractors, and each will have somewhat varied reasons they chose the chiropractic profession over other options.
Dr. Breanna Bezona Rodriguez
Dr. Bezona Rodriguez says she knew early in her life she wanted a healthcare career but wasn’t sure which profession.
“So, I knew I needed to get somewhere that would offer me that chance to start caring for people. All through high school and in college, I had been seeing a chiropractor, and for my college graduation, you had to do an internship.”
“I did a full internship with a doctor of chiropractic. Working with him was really what made me want to be a chiropractor because I got to see firsthand what it was like in the office, how things went, how he interacted with patients, and how he got to care for kids. He was also working with athletes, which gave me an awareness of the whole spectrum of people I could serve.”
Dr. Justin Grabowski
Dr. Justin Grabowski says earning a chiropractic degree felt like the right fit, and he knew that was where he needed to be.
“Most of us (chiropractors) didn’t choose chiropractic; chiropractic chose us. And most students, or future chiropractors, have a unique blend of inner drive with a selfless nature. People are coming to us for a certain condition or a certain issue, and we have an opportunity to make their day better than it was when they walked in. There’s no better feeling.”
Dr. Taylor Frederick
Dr. Taylor Frederick, like many chiropractors, discovered chiropractic after experiencing an injury when he was younger and struggled to recover completely.
“Following a concussion, I had speech and memory issues. Luckily for me, I went to a chiropractor for the first time, and within six weeks, my memory and speech started returning to normal. I remember thinking, ‘this is too cool not to do!’ That same semester I transferred colleges and changed career paths to become a chiropractor.”
Dr. Michael Gampolo
Dr. Michael Gampolo, in an interview about the profession in careersinhealthcare.com, noted other positive aspects of his career choice.
“The general environment for a chiropractor’s office is uplifting, happy, and therapeutic both physically and mentally. This career is rewarding and fulfilling because you get to help someone all day, every day.”
To apply for a chiropractic degree program, students need a minimum of 90 semester hours of college courses. A 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in college is expected. In a review of several chiropractic colleges, the average GPA for newly admitted students was 3.37.
Many students who apply already have their undergraduate degrees, often in biology, human biology, kinesiology, or another pre-health profession major. Minimum requirements to be admitted to a chiropractic degree program, as set by the Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE):
Students lacking 24 semester hours of science credits can sometimes take courses online or remotely at their intended chiropractic college. Thanks to today’s interactive technologies, students can often complete classes such as anatomy and physiology remotely.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas, a large suburban city within the Kansas City metro. (Check out its awards for livability and amenities!)
Most students earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) in 3.3 years through a year-round, trimester schedule.
Points of distinction for the CUKC chiropractic degree include:
Request information about our Doctor of Chiropractic degree here, and be sure to get the free eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession. Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
