Photo gallery: http://www.palmer.edu/gallery/WestCCGallery0311/index.html
Healthcare advisors from colleges located throughout
the Western United States visited the West Campus recently to attend Palmer
Connection. The event was designed by Palmer’s Admissions Department to promote
career opportunities in chiropractic—and to show how Palmer College has earned
its place as The Trusted Leader in
Chiropractic Education.
”Palmer Connection was created with healthcare
advisors in mind, since the event showcases Palmer’s D.C. Dual Degree Program,”
says event organizer Sandy Miller, Admissions. “In their roles as academic
advisors, science educators and career advisors, these individuals make a
significant impact on the career development of thousands of young people.
Palmer Connection provides an effective forum to provide comprehensive and
current information about a career in health care as a Doctor of
Chiropractic.”
Representatives from the following colleges attended
the March 5 event:
- Carroll College (Montana)
- California State University-East Bay
- California State University-San Diego
- Eastern Washington University
- Mesa State College (Colorado)
- Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho)
- St. Mary's College (Moraga, Calif.)
- University of Colorado (Boulder)
- University of California-Irvine
- University of North Texas
- Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, Calif.)
- Western State College of Colorado
The daylong program
featured presentations on admissions procedures (Julie Behn, West Campus
enrollment director); the Palmer dual-degree program (Kaitlin Thompson, Palmer
Admissions); and the history of the chiropractic profession, and chiropractic
research (Dr. Bill Meeker, West Campus president).
The Interactive
Classroom portion of the event enabled Palmer Connection guests to get a
first-hand—and hands-on—look at the Palmer curriculum, by attending sessions
with West Campus faculty in classroom, clinic and lab settings.
Interactive Classroom
participants included: Anatomy - Hong Zhang, D.C.; Clinic/Patient Care – Greg
Snow, D.C., West dean of Clinics; Clinic/X-Ray – Russ Wilson, C.R.T.;
Nutrition-Susan St. Claire, D.C.; Palpation – Makani Lew, D.C.; and Philosophy –
William DuMonthier, D.C., West dean of Student Academic Affairs.
In addition to learning
about the educational process of becoming a doctor of chiropractic, Palmer
Connection guests gained insight into the daily aspects of managing a
chiropractic practice during a special panel session that featured West Campus
alumni Jack Bourla, D.C., ’97; Sherry McAllister, D.C., ’95; Brant Pedersen,
D.C., ’04; and Lisa Stein, D.C., ’88.
“With health career advisors from a dozen colleges
located in six states throughout the western United States, and based on the
positive feedback they provided at the end of the day, I thought our first
Palmer Connection went very well,” says Julie Behn, West Campus enrollment
director. “Our goal was to provide the attending advisors with a taste of the
Palmer Experience, and we achieved that goal, thanks to the collective efforts
of many people within the West Campus community, from the members of the West
enrollment team, in particular, Michael Hinojosa; to our Campus Guides, and West
alumni panel members; and, especially, the faculty participants.”
“(Palmer Connection) was
one of the most informative health career advisor presentations that I’ve ever
attended,” says Daniel Nogales, Ph.D., pre-med advisor from Northwest Nazarene
University in Idaho, who enjoyed talking with West Campus Guide Mike Larson, a
NNU alumnus. “I learned a lot about Palmer, and about the chiropractic
profession. I work with a lot of students who are interested in health care, but
don’t want the lifestyle of an M.D. Palmer’s research-based/research-supported
curriculum, coupled with its distinguished history and well-respected name
recognition, is just the type of program for students who fall into this
category.
“In
particular, I was impressed by Palmer’s dedication and commitment not only to
their students’ academic success, but also to their overall well-being,"
continues Dr. Nogales. "The fact that Dr. Meeker was present and accessible from
start to finish impressed me a lot; but, equally impressive, I found that level
of dedication and commitment to be evident with virtually everyone, from
students to faculty, with whom I spoke throughout the day.”
“The Palmer Connection
event was, quite simply, more than the sum of its parts,” said Dr. Meeker. “I
was inspired myself by the comments of Palmer’s participants, especially by our
panel of alums. Based on the feedback I received from the representatives from
almost a dozen universities and colleges, I know we made a significant
difference to the understanding and appreciation for the chiropractic profession
and for Palmer’s leadership role.”
Plans are in the works for scheduling a future Palmer
Connection event. If you know of a healthcare or career advisor whom you think
might be interested in attending, please forward the person’s name and their
contact information to Sandy Miller, Ext. 5704 or by e-mail: sandy.miller@palmer.edu.