Chiropractic Medicine Student – Robin Roecker
“My Dad wanted me to be a chiropractor since I was little. He and my mother are farmers and often had back pain due to the type of labor they do. They use chiropractic to help. My Dad always told me, ‘Robin, you should be a chiropractor. They help people and they make good money.’ I would laugh it off as a joke, but something stuck!” says Robin Roecker.
In college, Robin “shadowed” a chiropractic physician, watching her treat patients. Robin saw first-hand what the life of a chiropractic physician is really like. “The DC I shadowed helped me choose National,” says Robin.
“I’m really happy here. The kind of education that National offers is something I’m really excited about. We get to learn a lot about primary care. When I graduate, I won’t only know how to adjust the spine, I’ll know so much more. Some schools don’t really offer that kind of education, so you have to choose wisely.”
“When students shop for the right chiropractic school, first they have to understand the difference between philosophy-based versus evidence-based schools. That will help you decide what you want and set one school apart from another. They are often referred to as the ‘straights’ versus the ‘mixers.’ ”
“Mixer” schools are those that expand their teaching of chiropractic to include primary care medical diagnosis and evidence-based treatment options (meaning scientifically or clinically proven treatments). “Straights” offer a more philosophy-based curriculum that views the chiropractic adjustment alone as the focal tool of chiropractic and may avoid primary care modalities.
In addition to her studies, Robin volunteers to give presentations in the gross anatomy laboratory to visiting high school biology students. Robin is also a member of the Applied Kinesiology Club and Lambda Chi, an on-campus sorority that focuses on adjusting practice for members.
What are Robin’s final words to those considering a degree in chiropractic? “Shadow different chiropractors. Shadow a mixer and a straight. If you already go to a chiropractor, ask them about their school. Call up several DC offices and put yourself out there and learn what works for you.”