from the faculty

Becoming a Chiropractor

I always knew that wanted to be in health care. I just wasn’t sure what form of health care I should go into, until I became a chiropractic patient. I was working part time in a restaurant while in high school and would come home every night with terrible pain in my middle and lower back. I was also having trouble with my stomach during that same time. My parents took me to a medical doctor who wanted to prescribe medication and do some pretty invasive tests in order to diagnose my stomach problems. As you can imagine I wasn’t crazy about the thought of having that done, so I decided to wait on the medical testing until I got the problems with my back taken care of.

I went to a chiropractor who was highly recommended by a friend of the family. He also happened to be a Sherman graduate. He was really nice and explained the chiropractic adjustment to me. He adjusted my spine for several weeks and I was amazed that my back problems were gone and so were my stomach problems. When I told him this he smiled and said “I’m not surprised. It’s amazing what your body can do when it’s free of nerve interference from vertebral subluxation.”

He explained the chiropractic philosophy to me and at that moment I knew that I was meant to be a chiropractor, and not just a chiropractor but a Sherman College chiropractor. The chiropractic philosophy completely resonated with me. I never dreamed that there was a whole profession full of people who believed the same things that I had always innately believed in. It was clear that I was destined to become a Sherman College graduate.

Patricia Kuhta is an associate professor of clinical sciences, Director of the X-ray Department, and a member of the health center faculty. She has a D.C. from Sherman College (1994) and a B.S. from Excelsior College (2001). She teaches X-Ray Analysis and Atlas Orthogonal and has been with the college since 1994. She enjoys working out and traveling. "If individuals want to learn dentistry, they should go to dental school," she says. "If individuals want to learn medicine, they should go to medical school. If individuals want to learn specific straight chiropractic, they should come to Sherman College. BJ Palmer once said, 'Chiropractic is specific, or it is nothing.' Sherman College is the home of specific straight chiropractic."

It's all about tone

Blogging. This is a whole new concept to me. I would explain it as being a journal that I write in and the entire universe is invited to read it. Wow! It’s really immense. Maybe I could really start something here. BJ Palmer said: “You never know how far reaching something you think, say or do today, will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”

Today I’m writing about this ongoing question that I have in my head about TONE. Tone is what DD Palmer said that chiropractic was founded on. However, it’s rare that you actually hear about the concept anywhere else in the profession. So, how is it that chiropractic was founded tone and now it’s nowhere to be found?

I first got going on this question last year when I went through the Academy of Chiropractic Philosophers (ACP) program held here at Sherman College. We needed to pick a topic and write a thesis on it. I choose tone. I physically turned in the paper and so called finished it, but in my mind I’ve only begun. This is one of the first of DD’s explanations that I read:

Tone is the normal degree of nerve tension. Tone is expressed in functions by normal elasticity, activity, strength and excitability of the various organs, as observed in a state of health. Consequently, the cause of disease is any variation of tone—nerves too tense or too slack.
(1910 – The Chiropractor’s Adjustor)

It led me to look further for the definition of tone, since this explanation left me hanging. What is tone? And how does it really apply to the body?

Think about it and I’ll write again soon. I welcome dialogue. E-mail me at mschwartzbauer@sherman.edu.

Mitzi Fox Schwartzbauer is an assistant professor of clinical sciences. She holds a D.C. from Sherman College (1996). She joined the faculty in 2004 and is the lead instructor for classes in Palpation, Toggle and Chiropractic History. She practiced at Schwartzbauer Straight Chiropractic Center in Mahtomedi, MN, for six years with her husband, Jon Schwartzbauer, B.S., D.C.

Epiphany with a Medic: What I want to impart to my students and my patients

Greetings to all! It is a wonderful day to be a chiropractor. Every day we get to touch people and change their lives. Every day is another opportunity to make a difference. Subluxation correction in its pure, unadulterated form is a very special and unique way of life. And yet, even those of us who have been in the field for a while sometimes forget how special and unique we are.

This morning I was reminded of the importance of what we do by my son’s pediatrician. No, he did not extol the virtues of chiropractic -- but what he said made me appreciate my life as a straight chiropractor. This morning, my 6-1/2 month old son woke up with a fever. Now, I know that fever is the immune system’s way of dealing with harmful pathogens and is actually a good thing. As a chiropractor and educator I had preached this to parents for years. And then… I became a parent myself and my world was turned upside down (in a good way). As a parent I want so much to be a good mother and to nurture and protect my son, and I find myself feeling things I have never felt before. Suddenly, I am scared. I know fever is good but what if…? All sorts of possible diagnoses begin to bombard my mind. Finally, I broke down and called the pediatrician.

Thankfully everything checked out fine and the doctor said he probably just has a sinus infection. Then he said something that jolted me back to myself. “Ma’am,” he said, “I have to tell you, I am very conservative when it comes to prescribing medicine… because for one thing, I don’t think it does very much good. In most cases the child’s body handles the illness and it goes away on its own. As far as I’m concerned your baby’s body is doing what it is supposed to, so lets just leave it alone and I’ll see him in a week to check his progress. It appears to be nothing major. In fact, he is playing and smiling and not even acting sick. He is the happiest little guy I’ve seen all day.”

As I drove home I thought, “Isn’t this what we do as chiropractors?" The goal of correcting the subluxation is to restore nervous system integrity and allow the body to do what it was designed to do. In this regard, even the symptoms we fear and try so hard to get rid of can be good in that many times these are signs that the immune system is at work.

I left there actually feeling good. Yes my son still has symptoms, but I know that his body is doing what it designed to do, and I am thankful that I am a part of that as a chiropractor and that his being under regular chiropractic care is the right thing to do.

Students and fellow chiropractors, I encourage you to never ever forget how special you are and what a gift you are to the world. Don’t be tempted to settle into the role of merely relieving back pain and neck pain. Don’t let anyone convince you subluxation correction is narrow-minded, outdated or backward. The creative ways that exist to correct subluxation are almost limitless, and there is much to learn. So learn all that you can in order to practice skillfully and to do so with love and passion.

This is what I want to impart to my students and desire for them to take with them when they leave. It is my desire for them stand out as chiropractic beacons of light and specificity in a world where many in our profession seem just as confused about what they do as the public they serve. This is my goal here at Sherman College and why I decided to return some 11 years after graduation. Have a blessed day.

Rochelle Delain is a 1992 Sherman College graduate who returned to the Sherman family as a faculty member in 2003. She is an assistant professor of clinical sciences and a member of the health center faculty. Dr. Delain also has an A.A. in medical sciences from Wesley College and a B.S. in biology from Excelsior College. She was in private practice in Anderson, SC, for nearly 5 years and currently practices part time in Spartanburg and Inman, SC. Dr. Delain is certified in the Webster technique, and specializes in adjusting pregnant women, infants, and children. She enjoys writing and publishes the bimonthly health center newsletter, “Straight to Your Health.” She also enjoys music (playing violin and singing), reading, cooking and entertaining, traveling, outdoor activities, church activities and spending time with her family.

Meet Steve "in person"

From Steve the Library Guy

Hey everyone. This is my first blog, so this could be interesting and maybe even a good laugh or two!! Being the librarian at a chiropractic college is quite intriguing. One never knows what each day will bring. Some days, not a lot happens, then boom, everyone wants the same book, the same DVD or the same journal article.

Thankfully, we have the capability to duplicate DVDs and photocopy articles. Libraries normally don't carry much more than 2 or 3 copies of any particular monograph (book) so we use the Reserve Shelf so that more students can have access to limited copies. Sometimes, it’s like a wild rollercoaster ride as the staff attempts to have the materials available for the students. 

All in all, it’s a great place to be, as I learn new things everyday and hopefully, teach others new stuff about research and using a library.

Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!
Steve the Library Guy

Stephen M. Whitaker is director of learning resources and teaches the Library Resources course at Sherman College. He has an M.L.I.S. from the University of South Carolina (1996), an M.Ed. from Converse College (1979) and a B.A. from Wofford College (1974). He has been with the college since 1994 and enjoys sci-fi literature and all sports -- particularly, baseball and college football. He plays tennis and computer games and is a "War between the states" buff.