Program/Concentration: DC, Sports Medicine
Expected Graduation Date: December 2015
Hometown: Redondo Beach, California
Prior Schooling or Work Experience: Nine years in the Navy as a helicopter mechanic prior to attending Portland Community College to complete prerequisites for UWS
1. Why did you choose UWS? Why did you choose to also do Sports Medicine? I chose to attend UWS because I wanted to go to the school that would best prepare me for the future. After careful consideration of the many other available programs and what they had to offer, I decided that the evidence-based curriculum at UWS was right for me. The fact that UWS has had the top board scores and the option to enhance my education concurrently with the ESS program helped as well.
I chose a career in sports chiropractic so that I could be a provider whom athletes could depend on for top-of-the-line conservative health care. The attention to detail in the exam process, the care for the patient as a whole person and not just an injury, the focus on getting the patient out of pain and back to activity in a conservative manner and the many other great benefits really hit home with me.
2. What has been your favorite class/instructor? My favorite class in the chiropractic curriculum is most definitely the Clin Phase series, which is taught by my favorite professor Dr. Ron LeFebvre. When you begin Clin Phase your entire thought process must be that of a critically thinking clinician rather than that of an information consuming and regurgitating student.
Dr. LeFebvre does an incredible job relaying the material and emphasizing the importance of the information he is teaching us. He is very serious about students learning the information required of the courses, as these skills will directly translate to our competency as clinicians. He can be stern at times, and may even rub people the wrong way because of that, but I can tell he’s just very passionate about his role in our education and deep down inside he’s a big, caring softy.
My favorite course in the master’s program so far is Advanced Sports Medicine I. In this course we start putting together a ton of concepts regarding the lower extremity that we have been learning and then figure out how to apply them directly to an athlete in a variety of situations. This has been a huge help in understanding how to treat athletes in a practice or competition setting.
My favorite professor in the master’s program also happens to be my favorite UWS faculty member overall, the one and only Dr. Craig Kawaoka. Anytime I need help he’s always there to do as much as he can. He truly cares deeply about student success and goes above and beyond to be of service to us. He’s always trying to learn new information and is very open-minded to new ideas and concepts. His ability to stay humble in his never ending quest for knowledge is incredible. Dr. K is a huge mentor of mine and I’m very grateful for that.
3. What is your favorite part about attending UWS as a student? My favorite part of attending UWS would definitely have to be how much I enjoy learning how to become a chiropractor. Although times may be stressful due to how demanding the program is, I still find myself as excited as ever with every new pearl of knowledge I gain. Every day we get to work on becoming leaders in the field of conservative health care!
4. What has been the most surprising part of attending UWS? The most surprising part of attending UWS has been how my progress as a student and future health care provider has helped me become an all-around better person. Much of what we learn in school has really forced me to reflect on myself and slowly but surely make the changes that are necessary to becoming a compassionate clinician. These personal changes have definitely spilled over into the rest of my life.
5. What do you hope to do after graduation? My long term goal is to become a well sought after clinician for top level athletes, such as Olympians and professional sports players. I would also really like to work with developing junior athletes. I want to be able to help young athletes reach their goals in a safe and effective manner, not only getting them out of pain when they need it but also enhancing injury prevention and performance.
6: Favorite thing about Portland? My absolute favorite thing about Portland would have to be the down-to-earth community. Portland is well known for being an eclectic and laid back city. I like the easy going attitude of the city as well as the variety of cultural aspects, such as the one-of-a-kind food carts, diners, lounges and restaurants that you can find around town.