Dr. Acampora |
When it comes to fostering collaborative
patient-care relations between the
chiropractic and medical professions,
few have played a more hands-on role
during the past decade than Christina
Acampora, D.C. (West ’92).
Following her graduation from Palmer’s
West Campus, Dr. Acampora maintained
a practice in Mountain View, Calif., for
nearly a decade. However, after 10 years,
a culmination of personal and professional
factors found her at a career crossroads,
which led to a position as a sales
representative for Forrest Laboratories
pharmaceutical company.
“I quickly learned (M.D.s) were good at
some things and horrible at others,” says
Dr. Acampora. “Within a month on the
job (at Forrest), I remember telling a
chiropractic friend, ‘If I only knew then
what I know now, I would have knocked
on some medical doors.’ ” In 2007, she
created Aligned Methods, which serves
D.C.s through web-based resources
and practice-tailored, evidence-based
marketing strategies.
One year later, Dr. Acampora wrote
“Marketing Chiropractic to Medical
Practices,” regarded as the first book to
provide D.C.s with effective steps for
educating the medical profession on
how to use chiropractic services for
their patients.
According to Dr. Acampora, researchdemonstrated
efficacy, consumer demands
for conservative options, and the fact that
M.D.s don’t have all the answers for treating
low back pain have opened doors of
communication, resulting in an improved
understanding of how collaborative efforts
can better serve patients.
“Chiropractors provide the first stop in
managing musculoskeletal pain, especially
of the spine—and we’re very good at it,”
she says. “Most medical professionals
want to learn
about chiropractic
care,
and most
understand
and appreciate
the value of
manipulation.
If each of us gets out and talks to even
just a few M.D.s in our communities, we
could do more for our profession than any
formal national movement. Establishing
a strong reputation and building quality
relationships will ultimately bring results.”
Dr. Acampora now resides in Illinois,
but enjoys visiting her family in the South
Bay area and making presentations at her
chiropractic alma mater. “Palmer prepared
me well for practice and has also prepared
many other graduates, who are now
leaders in the profession. For this very
reason, when people ask me what chiropractic
college I attended, I always answer
with pride: Palmer.”