I have been a chiropractor working with patients since 1996. I completed my undergraduate degree at Purdue University and my doctorate degree at Life College of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia. I’ve been serving Hoke County since 1998 at Family Chiropractic Center in Raeford.
My experience includes more than 178,000 patient visits and analyzing over 60,000 X-rays and MRIs combined. I am honored to have a team of three chiropractic assistants with over 75 years of combined experience serving patients for better health in our community. I have been on the FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Campus Board of Advisors since 2013 and have served the Raeford Kiwanis Club for 25 years.
The roots of chiropractic date back to its discovery on Sept. 18, 1895. Chiropractic was discovered by Daniele D. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Its premise was that correction of misaligned spinal vertebra would reduce nerve interference, increase joint mobility, untorque the disc and restore normal muscle tone, and help restore proper nerve function. With proper nerve flow, the body would then begin to heal better.
In the state of North Carolina, one must have a four-year degree in sciences and four years of postgraduate studies in chiropractic from an accredited college. Some of the courses of study are biochemistry, spinal anatomy, osteology, gross dissection, orthopedic diagnosis, X-ray interpretation, neuroanatomy, microbiology, endocrinology, nutrition, radiology, immunology, obstetrics, gynecology, geriatrics and pediatrics. The chiropractic student has about two years of clinical internship with a public outpatient chiropractic clinic prior to graduation. Four parts of the national board exams must be passed, as well as a state clinical board exam. These are required for licensure. Once licensed, the chiropractor is required to take a minimum of 18 credit hours of continuing education each year for renewal.
There are over 70,000 chiropractors in the United States today. Chiropractic has been a choice for over 130 years to help relieve headaches, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, disc problems and symptoms resulting from sports injuries, slip and falls, and car crashes. It is a noninvasive, gentle, safe way to better health.
I’m looking forward to covering multiple avenues of better health in this monthly column in the Hoke County Edition of North State Journal.
