Pride Buzz

On the Ropes: Meeting the Challenge for Leadership, Relationship and Learning

Nine Sherman faculty members completed facilitator certification on our low ropes course September 11-13, 2009. Led by Lance Ussery, of Upper Edge Adventures in Nashville,  the participants learned through 24 hours of experience how to promote group interactions and team building, and how to encourage student engagement in activities. All pictures are courtesy of Lance Ussery.

One purpose of the training was to foster more communication between the academic faculty and the health center faculty. "It is easier to share ideas," says Dr. Castellucci, "when you know the people you work with as people as well as colleagues."  Ice-breaking activities and tasks that must be completed by the whole group create a need for communication while allowing people to call on their strengths, and get help for their weaknesses. These activities build personal relationships as well as give individuals an opportunity for personal development.

Alene Coleman directs her team.

As a result of this training, the Clinic Challenge Experience (CCX) for interns entering the health center will now be facilitated in-house. The CCX program helps students make the transition to becoming interns by building relationships with the faculty and with the more experienced interns.  "This program is simply full of opportunities for fun and personal growth," says Dr. Pat Kuhta.  "There are so many positive things I could say about the program, but to sum it up I will quote Sir Edmund Hillary by saying: 'It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.'"

Beth Roraback trusts the rest of the group to catch her
as she leans into their hands in an exercise called Willow in the Wind.

"This training taught me new techniques for working with students to get more engagement with the learning," says Dr. Mitzi Schwartzbauer. "I am excited about adding these skills to my classroom process."

"Sometimes the best leadership is quietly observing," says Dr. Beth Roraback of her experience with the CCX training. "At times a leader needs to allow those led to find the best solution.Sometimes they find a new and better answer, and teach the leader. We learn from experience how to think and solve.  When we are given the answers, we may be deprived of the opportunity to grow outside our box."

Pat Kuhta, Tim Allison, and Rochelle Delaine work on their team coordination.

"It was all about breaking free of my self-imposed limitations," Dr. Rochelle Delain says. "While I have always been a creative and outside-of-the-box thinker, I have never been comfortable to reveal that part of my personality in my actions for fear of being wrong or ridiculed. There was a certain feeling of safety in remaining quiet and letting others take the lead. For me, this weekend was about letting the creative person out and standing up and taking the lead more. I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of Lance and my co-workers whom I can now call my friends." 

They did not know that there would be a math test.

With these nine trainers, Sherman College can also offer leadership training, team building and communication exercise to groups outside the college: chiropractic offices, community groups, and businesses.  The first such opportunity will be held during Lyceum in May 2010 when alumni and other chiropractors can participate in the team building exercises with their staff.

 For information about signing up your office, e-mail Dr. Castellucci at rcastellucci@sherman.edu or call 800-849-8771, ext. 252.

Tom Ball: Mental Focus for Physical Success

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What is the most challenging thing about being a chiropractic student for exercise physiologist and cyclist Thomas Ball? Sitting down all day!  However, developing the mental focus for studying and class work helps Tom compete in cycling. He says many people don't realize how much mental focus is necessary for athletic competition.

It must work. He placed second in the South Carolina State Cycling Championships on August 29th at Fork Shoals, SC—two weeks before National Boards. "I find racing to be a stress reliever," Tom says. "You can't think about school when you are riding inches away from another cyclist around a curve at 30 miles an hour."  He was surprised to do as well as he did since he trained less than usual before a race, but he says his mental game was strong.

Sherman College is a sponsor of Tom Ball's cycling team.

To maintain a “balanced” life, Tom has chosen to take a reduced course load so that he can spend more time with his wife Clair and daughter Emily, stay healthy, and still have time to work part time. Some of that quality time he spends at swim meets where Emily is a state-level competitor. His wife, Clair, was a junior Olympic swimmer and she is an inspiration and a source of support for both Tom and Emily.

Because of his part-time schedule, Tom feels fortunate to be able to get to know students from many different quarters.

Tom trains and races with the Spinx racing team which is a group of cyclists from both Spartanburg and Greenville.  The team trains in Greenville at the winter bike league where US Pro Champion and Tour De France cyclist George Hincapie (who happens to be a resident of Greenville) often joins them through the winter months on these long (up to 100 miles) and cold training rides.

The Spinx Racing Team - Tom is the second from the left on the front row.

Tom has a strong background in health and fitness with a bachelor's degree in Health Fitness, and a master's in Exercise Physiology.  Information from his master's thesis, Effects of Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Drinks Taken during Exercise, was published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition, and in Medicine Science Sports and Exercise. Lance Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael, referenced Tom’s publication in his book Food for Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right. Tom is also a certified triathlon and cycling coach with 20 years of experience.

He chose to change careers after a severe back injury (Spondylolisthesis L5), which led him to take enough ibuprofen to cause an ulcer, and forced him to give up his previous career. Tom says the injury had a limited response from other healing modalities, such as acupuncture and physical therapy. He wanted to avoid surgery on the advice of his father, a retired surgeon, so he tried chiropractic and was amazed with the results.  Tom soon developed a strong belief in the philosophical aspect of maintaining health through chiropractic.

His goal has always been to help people stay healthy, and he considered studying to be an orthopedic physician on his way to studying exercise physiology. He came to Sherman, "twice as old as half the people here, " but that hasn't deterred this driven athlete and trainer. He particularly likes the location and the weather, being near his family, and he enjoys the straight philosophy and friendly atmosphere here.

Tom has had two “wise” mentors, his chiropractor in Natick, Massachusetts, Bradley Weiss, D.C, ('85) who helped him recover his health and then encouraged him to look at chiropractic as a career, and his present chiropractor, Nicholas Wise, D.C. ('00), who helps him stay “straight” for maximuml health and performance.

Wise Chiropractic is also a team sponsor.

Join the Pride: http://www.sherman.edu/future

Survey rates chiropractors as top practitioner, 59 percent "highly satisfied" with the care received
http://ping.fm/IScaE

Dr. Sarah Farrant: The Vital Truth

All new employees at Sherman take a philosophy class to learn more about chiropractic in general and in the vitalistic philosophy in particular. Dr. Bill Decken taught the class I took, and the required textbook was Dr. Farrant's The Vital Truth. The book is very accessible for lay people although it is  aimed helping chiropractors reconnect with their philosophy. While I have heard some of these ideas before, she explains them clearly and with compelling evidence. The book is well worth the read, and she recommends giving it to patients to help them understand vitalistic philosophy.

I got to meet her and speak with her this week before she did her presentation on the "Male" Problem for our student assembly on Wednesday. She is a lovely person, genuine and clearly committed to sharing her passion for chiropractic and healing. Her presentation focused on how each of us can clean up our act by looking at ourselves when we see something we don't like in others.  It's clear that she has done this work herself, and she is an excellent role model for any woman, any aspiring  chiropractor, and any leader in any field.

She has a blog at http://www.drsarahfarrant.com/ and you can follow her on twitter @in8 and see her updates on facebook: Sarah Farrant DC

New Interns Complete the Clinic Challenge

This quarter we have a new crop of 19 interns entering the Health Center: Brook Algarin, Jason Argo, Tapiwa Chiwawa, Yvette Coll, Keith Ebner, Keron Frederick, Shannon Hall, Mohamed Ibrahim, Stephanie Johnston, Courtney Jones, Kevin Lewis, Tiffany Mitchell, Bibi Nguyen, Meagan Pearce, Zachary Slone, Jennifer Staples, Blake Tishman, Jonathan Vu and Teng Xiong.

The Clinic Challenge Experience is designed to help students make the transition from student to the much more active role of health care provider. They learn that cooperation is important, and they bond more closely with others in their program.

The Challenge has tasks that are challenges not only for the less athletically gifted, but for those who excel at working alone or for those who have not tested their limits emotionally.

Students must work together to solve the challenges, and they develop an appreciation for inter-dependence and cooperation. The two days of the Clinic Challenge opens their awareness so that they have a wider perspective in the Chiropractic Health Center.

 

Congratulations to Mark Simmonds, Scholarship Winner

Mark Simmons, a fourth quarter student from Washington, is the winner of the Missouri State Chiropractic Association Scholarship for the Spring 09 Quarter. Mark met the GPA requirements and had two letters of recommendation, one by a Sherman faculty member. According to Kathy Wilson, “Mark is a super nice guy with a genuine desire for chiropractic.  He is a dedicated student, and one that is very deserving of this scholarship.” Mark builds our Sherman Pride. 

Charlotte Babb is CURED!!! CSI Game Winners!

The case study diagnosis of Lumbar Canal Stenosis with Neurogenic Claudication was the winning entry for CSI team of Brian Filter, Jeff Franco, David Croxford and Courtney Bond, who will be sharing the $200 prize.

The runner-up team, who were the last game's winners, will share $100: Shavahn Whetstone, Anthony Witherspoon, Brittany Toole and Jessica Howard.

The big winner was Brittany Toole, who won the drawing for an adjusting table.

Seven teams competed by gathering clues and doing an analysis, about 20% of the students at Sherman.

Gail Pittman won a $40 llunch ticket in the drawing for staff memebers who scored !00% on the CSI awareness  survey .

Winner of Adjusting Table : Brittany Toole.

SABCA Elegance and Enjoyment

On April 18, 2009, the First Annual SABCA Ball was held at the Summit Pointe Hotel. The event started at 8:00 p.m. promptly, in which students dressed in their most elegant and formal attire and danced the night away to the tunes of the deejay (even formed a SoulTrain line). Fresh fruit kabobs, dip, and drinks were served and the night was filled with laughter and enjoyment until midnight. SABCA ball booklets were made and given away as souvenirs for this all night event.

The purpose of this event was to further enlighten the community on the benefits of chiropractic and to also mingle amongst fellow students and doctors in a non-professional setting in which interns can relax and converse without the paperwork.

Part of the proceeds for this event will go to a charitable organization and also help members of SABCA prepare for their National Convention in June. SABCA would like to extend thanks to everyone who helped support this event and made it a success.  This event is an annual event and will only get better each year.

Look for future SABCA events such as the SABCA/ WCCS Golf Tournament on  May 2, 2009 and Bake Sale coming soon. See you next year for another night of Elegance and Entertainment.

New Bloggers: Stephanie, Meghan & Pauley

Welcome new Bloggers!

Stephanie Johnston is a Jersey girl whose native tongue is sarcasm. She says an eclectic and random past has led her to chiropractic, and that moving to South Carolina and enrolling at Sherman was “the best move I ever made for myself.” Chiropractic “found” Stephanie while she was deciding between applying to law school and getting a real estate license.

Meghan Luttrell has two blogs, her own perspective on life as a chiropractic student and the Spizz, the student newspaper for Sherman college. Meghan has a BA in English, but has turned her attention and writing skills to spreading the word about chiropractic. Her father and oldest brother are both doctors of chiropractic, though Meghan is the first in the family to attend Sherman College. Sherman’s appeal, she says, is in its small size, close-to-home location and “infectious” enthusiasm for students and the profession.

Pauley Polak is a sports enthusiast, following the Penguins, the Steelers and Penn State. He knows the value of building a community and of providing excellent care to that community. He also plans to add to the body of knowledge of chiropractic research. Paul feels fortunate that the events in his life have helped him discover chiropractic and looks forward to “helping as many people as I can to live healthy lives.”

We are so glad to have these new bloggers to share their perspective as they complete their chiropractic education. We don't edit or censor their thoughts and we encourage them to build their writing skills and their marketing skills through the blogging process.

SABCA & WCCS are Working the Networks

The students of Sherman's chapter of SABCA are developing their social networking talents in the old (and may I say high-) fashioned way in the next few weeks. Marketing is all about building relationships, and relationships come from getting to know people. The events below are planned to let Sherman students build their social skills in professional environments while having fun.

While many of us are learning online social networking, the face to face activities are still the best way to get to know people and to make the contacts and relationships that build our businesses.

First is the SABCA Night of Elegance and Enchantment, the first annual Masquerade Ball to be held at Summit Point Conference Center on April 18th, 9-12 pm. Tickets are $15 for singles, $25 for couples.

Come  enjoy the music while you mingle.

Then they team up with WCCS to sponsor a Golf tournament at the Creek Golf Club on May 2nd at 1pm. Entry fee for non-student teams is $300, for student teams $200, for non-student singles $75, and for student singles, $50. Prizes will be awarded.

Please come out and support SABCA and WCCS.