University of Western States and Legacy Health establish a partnership for a chiropractic rotation in Portland-area emergency rooms

UWS sports medicine fellows will be shadowing hospital nursing staff

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 2 – University of Western States (UWS), a leader in the education of health care professionals, and Legacy Health, the largest nonprofit locally-owned health system in the Portland-Vancouver area, have joined together in a groundbreaking partnership. The agreement enables UWS sports medicine fellows to experience observational clinical rotations in various emergency room settings in the Legacy system.

The program begins in February 2015 and is designed for sports medicine fellows who have recently completed the UWS Master of Science sports medicine degree and Doctor of Chiropractic programs. The one-year sports medicine fellowship allows graduates to gain more in-depth knowledge of the industry and practice. The year is spent observing and participating in care at a variety of sports medicine clinics, supervising students in the sports medicine program, and teaching clinical and laboratory classes. The partnership with Legacy Health allows fellows additional clinical experiences and clinical exposures.

“This opportunity is incredibly important for a variety of reasons. It allows the fellows to see medical situations beyond what is typically seen in a chiropractic office or training room,” said Sara Mathov, DC, director of the exercise and sports science department at UWS. “It also allows them to see what happens when patients are referred to the emergency room.”

About University of Western States

University of Western States provides a science-driven curriculum that delivers a solid foundation and competitive edge in preparing students for clinical practice. UWS is a regionally accredited, non-profit institution dedicated to improving the health of society through its educational programs, research and clinical services. Founded in 1904, the university offers a doctor of chiropractic degree program; master’s degrees in exercise and sports science with four new concentrations, human nutrition and functional medicine, and diagnostic imaging; a massage therapy certification program; approved continuing education programs for licensed health care professionals; and we provide clinic services in five locations through Health Centers of UWS. UWS is a founding member of the Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine, an organization that aims to advance integrative health care through education, research, patient care and advocacy. To learn more about University of Western States and its academic programs, go to www.uws.edu.