Palmer College of Chiropractic

Chiropractic History

Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida History

Port Orange, Fla., extended a city proposal to the Palmer Chiropractic University System in May of 1999 regarding the opening of a chiropractic college in the city. Visits were made by city officials to Davenport and Palmer officials to Port Orange. The City of Port Orange later leased the Allen Green Civic Center to the College for use as its first classrooms and administrative offices.

Groundbreaking took place in October 2002, and the first wall of Building Two was erected on Feb. 17, 2003. The first of the new buildings for the Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida campus was officially opened on Oct. 4, 2003. The campus plan called for three buildings situated on the north and east ends of the lagoon.

Accreditation was celebrated on Aug. 5, 2004, by those instrumental in reaching that milestone, including Chairman of the Board Vickie Palmer; Senior Campus Administrator Donald Kern, D.C.; Vice Mayor Mary Martin;  Interim VPAA Jean Murray, Ph.D.; then Academic Dean Gloria Niles, D.C.; Dean of Planning Douglas Hoyle, Ph.D.; alumnus Denny Acquaro, D.C.; and Assistant City Manager William Whitson.

Today, the Allen Green Civic Center serves the school and community as the outpatient clinic.

In 2005, the Palmer University System was reorganized to one Palmer chiropractic college with three campuses that same year. Peter Martin, D.C., was named President of both Palmer West and Palmer Florida.

The first class of 36 students began on Oct. 4, 2002, and just over three years later, Class 054, finished up their clinic requirements in preparation for their December 2005 graduation.