University of Western States has been at the forefront of chiropractic education for 120 years. On this milestone anniversary, we spoke with Dr. Martha Kaeser, dean of the College of Chiropractic, and Dr. Stanley Ewald, associate dean, about how the Doctor of Chiropractic program at UWS is more vital than ever.
What is the need for chiropractors in health care today?
DR. EWALD: There’s a great need. Chiropractic medicine is an underutilized discipline in health care. Many people are either unfamiliar with chiropractic medicine or have misunderstandings about chiropractors and what we do. I think that’s improving. People understand the chiropractic approach better. The more that understanding grows, the more people will seek chiropractic care.
UWS is at the forefront of whole-person health and wellness. How do you define whole-person health care?
DR. KAESER: Whole health is looking at a patient not as a collection of separate areas. If a patient comes in, and their chief complaint is a headache, I’m going to look at this person as a whole person, not just a head or not just a spine if they’re complaining of some kind of back pain.
DR. EWALD: Chiropractic is about addressing patients’ primary issues but it also prevention. We ask questions such as, “How can we implement exercise to strengthen this patient and prevent future injuries or health problems? What does this patient’s nutrition look like? How is this patient’s mental health? I believe the whole-health approach influenced other disciplines of health care largely because the public saw it already happening in chiropractic.
A lot has changed over 120 years. How has the College of Chiropractic changed to address modern needs?
DR. EWALD: The fact that we’ve been successful for 120 years is a testament to UWS’ ability to adapt. We’ve had visionary leadership over 120 years, leaders who have kept pace with the changing health care and educational landscapes. Education today is vastly different than it was 20 years ago.
DR. KAESER: We’re using learning management systems now. Students don’t have to get all the material at once, but they can come prepared to a lecture. For instance, they may watch a 60-minute video or a 20- or 30-minute video. When they come to class, the instructor will have them working through cases, and they’ll apply the information they attained through the video in preparation for class. We use that same way of learning in our lab classes.
DR. EWALD: We have software that breaks down anatomy. Students can go online and see these anatomical breakdowns active and in 3D. They can see the actions of muscles, the effects they have on joints and bones. It’s phenomenal.
What soft skills will define the next generation of chiropractors? In other words, who is the ideal student for the doctor of chiropractic program?
DR. KAESER: I like a student to ask a lot of questions, to be resilient, and to be a good communicator, someone who not only is able to communicate with peers but with team members when they get into a clinical setting. I like a student who understands that, after UWS, learning does not stop, because things are going to be changing all the time. I encourage students to be in this for the long haul as far as lifelong learning.
DR. EWALD: I believe the definition of a good doctor should include compassion. Thus, the students who are best equipped for success are those who come to UWS with a compassionate mindset, who approach their studies with that mindset, and who seek to serve others with compassion, empathy, and kindness.