Shireesh Bhalerao, associate professor in the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
Shireesh Bhalerao is an associate professor in the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Chiropractic program at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Based in Portland, Oregon, Bhalerao has been a chiropractor since 2001 and is very excited to usher in the 2025 cohort of students.
Read on to learn more about Bhalerao’s background and what makes him so excited for the new program that sets itself apart from other chiropractic schools.
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Tell us about your role in the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
As associate director of Curriculum Development, I am excited to build and support a Doctor of Chiropractic program that is evidence-based and truly clinically robust. An Achilles heel of traditional chiropractic school education has generally been a lack of access to and understanding of diverse patient populations who seek conservative care. Our program is intentionally being developed to ensure that the students get that access and understanding through robust clinical experiences starting in their very first semester and continuing through to graduation.
I am also very excited about the interprofessional educational experiences our students will have as they move through the program that will prepare them to become engaged in interprofessional relationships throughout their chiropractic career. The thought of having our students in the same room with students from other disciplines like the physical therapy and physician assistant studies programs is exciting from a training perspective, and because it fits our model of chiropractors being an essential part of health care teams of the future.
Ultimately, I am very excited to be a part of a bold, new direction for the profession in North America by providing cutting edge, evidence-based chiropractic education at a research intensive, public university and to help foster a new generation of chiropractors to carry the torch!
With our first cohort, I am most excited to see the powers of small group learning (we will have a very low faculty-to-student ratio) such as building interprofessional relationships and peers getting to feel that they are the start of something big!
How did you become interested in a chiropractic career?
Bhalerao working in his private practice in Portland called Equilibrium.
I played university soccer while in Saskatoon, Canada (where I was born and raised) and developed a knee injury. I went to the local chiropractor who helped me return to play after all other health care providers I saw were unable to, inspiring me to provide that same care to others.
What are your areas of clinical and educational expertise?
Soon after graduating chiropractic school in 2000 from the University of Western States in Portland, I became an assistant professor in Clinical Education and subsequently associate professor and chair of the Department of Chiropractic Sciences. My teaching focus areas are evidence-based practice, and the diagnosis and management of spine-related and extremity disorders.
Can you describe your private practice?
Bhalerao with his wife and son at a hockey game.
To augment my academic career, my wife and I own and operate an interdisciplinary private practice called Equilibrium where, since it opened in 2001, we treat and manage a wide variety of patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
To improve patient outcomes, I have a personal and professional interest in building bridges between our profession and other health care professions, namely medicine. I come from a medical household and respect that profession and aspire to collaborate with medical providers in improving our patient outcomes.
As such, I have been a co-investigator, and our clinic has been participating with local rheumatologists screening for an inflammatory condition that affects the spine and extremities (spondyloarthritis). It’s underdiagnosed in primary spine care settings. This unique, collaborative research will significantly help patients' quality of life as it will assist in early recognition of the condition.
What do you find rewarding about a chiropractic career?
Working in chiropractic care is deeply rewarding. From a patient perspective, I relish seeing the positive results of our work immediately. Patients need advocates in managing their health and we enjoy being there for the people who seek our help. Additionally, I have a passion for returning athletes of all kinds to play! I especially love helping someone get back to doing the things they love conservatively through the use of our hands and education.
How did your involvement with the Doctor of Chiropractic program come about?
In 2018, I shifted gears when the program’s Founding Director Michael Schneider, whom I had known for several years prior through chiropractic research, approached me to collaborate in his efforts to start a Doctor of Chiropractic program at the University of Pittsburgh— something that I couldn’t refuse! I am so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking effort!
What else would you like students to know about you?
Bhalerao's Aussie Laboradoodle named Ginger.
- I avidly play golf (I am a certified Titleist Performance Institute practitioner) and squash.
- I absolutely love watching Sidney Crosby play hockey!!! Let's Go Pens!!!
- I love the outdoors (the Pacific Northwest is a huge playground), particularly hiking, kayaking, gardening and birdwatching with my family.
- I love hanging out with my wife, son and Aussie labradoodle.
- I have additional interests in music (hip hop, funk), travel (the importance of being global citizens is in my blood), and cooking.
- Favourite colours: red and white (Did I say I was Canadian? Still spell words the British way.)
- I am a self-proclaimed foodie.
- I’m always excited to come to Pittsburgh, with all the sports and great new restaurants (I love the Strip District).
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For more information about the Doctor of Chiropractic program, visit our website, or speak with an enrollment specialist at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu today!