Doctor of Chiropractic Program Director Michael Schneider demonstrates a hands-on technique for stretching the neck and shoulder muscles.
Another first: The only Doctor of Chiropractic program at a research-intensive, public university.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, more than 35 million Americans see a chiropractor every year. That’s a good thing. Chiropractic care can alleviate back and neck pain, improve a person’s physical activity and endurance, get them back to work or school sooner, and perhaps most importantly, reduce dependence on opioid drugs. But until now, training for chiropractors has been limited to private, specialized institutions. With the new, eight term Doctor of Chiropractic program in the Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Science, future practitioners will have the distinct advantage of learning in a research-driven environment supported by health care professionals from many related disciplines. They will learn to be essential members of a health care team and leaders in their own field. What’s more, they will begin seeing patients in clinical settings during their first semester.
Pitt’s Doctor of Chiropractic program will be the first ever housed in a research-based public university and the only one in Pennsylvania.
According to Professor and Doctor of Chiropractic Program Director Michael Schneider, the coursework will be rigorous. The curriculum will focus on spine and musculoskeletal treatments and care that is supported by a wealth of scientific evidence. It will follow a biopsychosocial model that includes diagnostic courses as well as communication skills courses. Students will learn under the guidance of a multi-disciplinary team of health care professionals, including chiropractors, physical therapists, medical doctors and other practitioners.
Schneider shows a student basic anatomy of the spine.
Having a curriculum that trains the practitioner to use scientific evidence to see the bigger picture, that’s a game-changer in chiropractic education,” says Schneider.
Gwendolyn Sowa, chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is an advocate for this program. “This new program will support capacity building for clinicians rigorously trained in evidence-based treatments, which is much needed for spine and other musculoskeletal conditions,” she says.
Schneider, who began developing this program more than 10 years ago, says the time is right for Pitt to usher in a new era of chiropractic training.
Integrated, Not Alternative Medicine
“Statistics show that approximately half of the population with back pain seek the care of a chiropractor, second only to their primary care physician,” says SHRS Dean Anthony Delitto. “This tells us that the consumer is choosing to elevate chiropractic care to an important position in the health care landscape.”
“There is a wealth of scientific evidence showing that chiropractic care is a safe and effective approach to the treatment of back and neck pain,” says Schneider. “The evidence also shows the important role chiropractic care can play in mitigating opioid use for back and neck pain.”
In the past, many viewed chiropractic as an alternative approach to health care. The new Doctor of Chiropractic program demonstrates that it is an effective option—not an alternative approach—and a fully integrated part of a patient’s health care plan.
“Chiropractic training has a place at Pitt in SHRS,” adds Delitto. “We are uniquely positioned to educate a new generation of chiropractors who will be at the leading edge of science for spine and musculoskeletal disorders. We’re very excited and supportive of this program.”
“The strongly collaborative environment at Pitt will ensure that students have excellent mentors and role models in team-based care. This will enhance our ability to deliver value-based care to our region and beyond,” adds Sowa.
Adjunct Faculty Frank Imbarlina demonstrates a method of examining the joints and muscles of the neck.
Delitto cites an ongoing partnership between physical therapists and chiropractors at SHRS. “Back in 1990, we created the Spine Center, and more recently initiated the Primary Spine Practitioner Certificate, a post-professional program that trains both physical therapists and chiropractors to be responsible for the front-line diagnosis, management and care coordination of patients with spine-related disorders.”
“Leveraging the University’s reputation for academic excellence and collaboration across disciplines, the chiropractic program can offer rigorous academic training, clinical experiences and research opportunities, ensuring that graduates are well prepared to excel in their careers,” says Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the Health Sciences and the John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine.
Bold Move to Overcome Barriers
Prior to 2017, chiropractic students in Pennsylvania were not permitted to perform any physical manipulation or treatment on patients. This created a barrier in clinical training that limited students’ experiences prior to graduation.
Adjunct Faculty Kevin S. Mathers demonstrates a hands-on method for stretching the hamstring muscle.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of Schneider and a team of lawyers from the University of Pittsburgh over a period of three years, the Pennsylvania legislature passed an amendment to the Chiropractic Practice Act, allowing chiropractic interns and students to receive clinical training and perform chiropractic activities under the supervision of a licensed chiropractor.
In the new Pitt program, students will begin observational rounds in their first year of training. During their final semester, they will participate in a full-time chiropractic clinical experience in an integrated health care system or private chiropractic clinic.
Valuable Partnerships
Like future practitioners in other SHRS programs, Doctor of Chiropractic students will gain clinical training at UPMC hospitals, clinics and private practices. They will also have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside a multidisciplinary team at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS).
Schneider, who helped to introduce chiropractic services to the VAPHS in 2015, states this will enable Doctor of Chiropractic students to gain experience they might not have when treating civilian populations.
“Veterans often have distinctive chiropractic needs due to their military experiences that require them to carry heavy gear for several miles through challenging terrain, be in confined spaces such as Humvees, and wear body armor,” explains Shelley Kay Nulph, public relations and community relations manager, VAPHS.
At the VAPHS, veterans between the ages of 55 and 78 frequently request chiropractic treatment for chronic low back pain.
“Many of our veterans also present with complicating factors such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, musculoskeletal deconditioning, diabetes, depression, COPD and other complex conditions,” adds VAPHS Chiropractic Section Chief and Adjunct Faculty Kevin S. Mathers.
“With Pitt’s reputation and notoriety, this program will change the scope of how chiropractic care education is disseminated here at the VA Pittsburgh and elsewhere.”
(Left to right) Adjunct Faculty Kevin S. Mathers, Program Director Michael Schneider and Adjunct Faculty Frank Imbarlina.
Mathers says the role of chiropractic providers at the VAPHS is to provide non-pharmacological interventions such as spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise and education on healthy choices to improve the overall health of veterans and enable them to return to a healthy life. That aligns with the goals of the chiropractic program at Pitt, as well.
Mathers and Schneider plan to collaborate on the development of a chiropractic residency for Doctor of Chiropractic students at VAPHS in the near future.
“A nationally-funded residency program would increase the amount of valuable chiropractic services we could offer our veteran patients,” says Nulph.
“Educating and training health professionals is one of the VA’s statutory missions,” continues Mathers. “Not only are Pitt and the VA Pittsburgh neighbors, but we have shared missions. Our respective specialties complement each other and enable us to maintain productive and successful partnerships.”
Applications Open This Fall
The application period for the Doctor of Chiropractic program opens Aug. 1 with the first cohort of students starting in fall 2025.
“Given the selective nature of this Doctor of Chiropractic program, we envision welcoming a highly qualified, evidence-driven group of students who will become future leaders in the field of chiropractic care,” says Schneider.
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The Pitt Doctor of Chiropractic application is open now—from August 1, 2024 - February 1, 2025! Classes start in August 2025. Apply now!
Learn more about the Doctor of Chiropractic program by visiting our website or reaching out to our enrollment specialist at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu today!
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