Típicamente escribo mis artículos de QuiroHub en español, dado que es el idioma principal de esa plataforma. Hoy, escribo en inglés dado que estaré mencionando y agradeciendo a varias personas para quienes ese es su primer idioma.
This past Fall during the Thanksgiving, period my wife (Glory) and I took a long overdue trip to visit friends, family, and colleagues in the Carolinas and Georgia area. We never imagined what a powerful, educational, and inspiring experience it was going to turn out to be.
I consider it my responsibility as a senior colleague to stay connected with the Puerto Rican students at the various chiropractic schools in the USA. It has always been clear in my mind, the memories of my years in chiropractic school and how “disconnected” from the general profession in Puerto Rico we were as students. I always knew, that would it be in my hands, I was not going to let this happen to future students.
We make it a point to visit Chiropractic Schools every one or two years. Due to several events, including the Hurricane María disaster and the fire at QuiroHealth’s training center, unknowingly 8 years have passed since our last schools tour.
We started our trip visiting our good friends Brock (Vice President of CLA) and Pam Brascho, in Asheville, North Carolina. What a great time with the Brascho’s while also enjoying in amazement the natural beauty of the area.
Our next stop, one of the highlights of our tour, Sherman College in Spartanburg North Carolina.
It had been now close to a decade since Glory and I had the opportunity to visit Sherman. This institution is something for every chiropractor to be proud of. What this school, one of the few remaining straight chiropractic schools in the USA, has achieved in just a few years is simply amazing.
The campus has been totally remodeled and expanded with an admirable attention to detail. Two elements caught my attention, their new auditorium that seats 800 which certainly is going to support the institution in their future growth and reach. And the new design of both the interior and the exterior of the buildings. Where the decoration elements, and signage all support the chiropractic message.
The Sherman team set out on a mission to have someone that knows nothing about our profession, and by just walking around campus be able to learn about chiropractic, its science, philosophy, and art; and they nailed the job!
My visit to Sherman was possible thanks to Jeanmadí De Rosario, a young and dynamic chiropractic student from Puerto Rio who as soon as I approached her, immediately said yes to my request to meet the Puerto Rican students, even though she was not going to be present during my visit.
Dr. Heath Treharne (Delta Sigma Chi), Instructor of Clinical Sciences, was instrumental during our visit, not only he helped Jeanmadí in her task, but also had me share my acquired knowledge and experiences in two of Dr. Bryan Dooley’s business classes.
What a great time, those who know me know how much I enjoy sharing with both future and young colleagues, it really allows me to fulfill my professional mission.
Not to my surprise, during my presentation the Puerto Rican Sherman students they were engaged, fully interested, and participating, trademark of successful future professionals.
To my surprise and pleasure I was able to meet, interview on Facebook Live, and have lunch with my friend Dr. Jorge Campos (Chile), Sherman’s new Reach Out and Recruitment Director (ROAR). Below, link to that interview:
Also, and thanks to Dr. Treharne I was able to get evaluated and adjusted with the upper cervical technique EPIC, by its developer Dr. Stan Pierce who happened to be teaching at Sherman during the dates of our visit. What a powerful healing experienced I had after this most specific adjustment; that’s material for an entire different BLOG.
I must mention that it’s evident, by just walking through campus that Sherman has done an amazing job at adding to their academic team some of the greatest minds in vitalistic, straight chiropractic.
As if the previous was not enough, I had the honor of sharing some amazing quality time with Sherman’s President Dr. Edwin Cordero and his wife Debbie. Inspiring conversations about their chiropractic story, and Cordero’s vision of the future of Sherman, and chiropractic around the world. This is a visit that I’ll never forget, and will cherish forever.
After Sherman we were off to my Alma Mater, Life University, where today our niece Pamela V. Pagán Lugo is finishing her fourth quarter; a truly dedicated chiropractic student, whom has a bright future ahead if her.
I’m so impressed and proud to say that I’m a Life University graduate. What started as the vision of Drs. Sid and Nell Williams, and continued through the years thanks to the Board of Trustees, Dr. Guy Rickman, and now Dr. Rob Scott, is awe inspiring, and shows why Life University is the largest and most relevant chiropractic institution in the world.
What Life University has achieved is something for every chiropractic professional to learn from, be proud of, and emulate at an individual level.
The campus, the labs, the classrooms, the dorms, everything takes chiropractic and chiropractic education to the next level in education, reach, and professionalism.
Go Life!
During our first day we shared with the Puerto Rican group thanks to the President of the Hispanic Club future DC, Ambar Perez, without whom the visit would have not been the success that it turned out to be.
During my interaction with the Island’s chiropractic students I shared with them my perspective of the status of our profession in Puerto Rico as well as some pointers on what steps to take during their school years to align themselves with a successful career once graduated.
I’m impressed by the caliber, interest, and professionalism of the Puerto Rican group at Life U. I can’t wait to see this future Doctors of Chiropractic, blossom as successful professionals once back in the Island and be proud to call them colleagues.
Thanks to the Torque Release Club’s president, Trevor Seacrow I had the opportunity to present myself before the club’s members.
It fulfills me professionally to share my clinical experiences with Torque Release Technique (TRT) and its practical application in private practice. These students interested in learning TRT are in for a clinical reach with their patients that will go beyond their wildest expectations.
I return home recharged, energized, inspired and with a clear and optimistic outlook on the future of our profession in the USA, Puerto Rico, and the world, thanks to these two outstanding institutions.
After years of not visiting this two great institutions I must say that I’ve received the gift to have gone Back to Where I Belong.
