Neuroanatomy

We are applying the principles of neuroanatomy these days in our neuromusculoskeletal courses. This involves grasping the foundations of all the different tract types that convey information from the environment to the central nervous system and back via the spinal cord. The details can be a bit daunting but applying it via physical exams on each other, lodges the information deep in our brains nicely in multiple ways.

We are in our infancy of understanding how to weed out an upper motor neuron lesion from a lower motor neuron lesion. There are many screening exams that we are learning and ones we haven't learned. In conjunction to these neuro-exams, we are learning muscle tests that will help determine how to properly diagnose the problem and approach the patient's treatment. The orthopedic exams will help us figure out whether the problem is at the nerve root, the joint capsule or soft tissues. Everything I am learning is legit stuff. Our school is not teaching any fluff associated with questionable diagnoses or treatments. The information we are learning is the same information medical doctors, osteopaths and physical therapists learn.

Many professionals see chiropractic as an equivalent degree as an MD or DO. For instance, I went to the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon pre-med group last Tuesday with my friend and I was treated respectfully as a colleague. I felt compelled to thank the lead doctor for his professionalism and courtesy in regards to the interactions that took place during the meeting through writing him a nice email. He responded with similar professional courtesy and invited me to attend the other scheduled meetings this year.

I felt proud to represent chiropractic in this manner and in return for this effort, I opened a door to many future possibilities. My hope is that by reaching out into the community like this I will start to redefine the profession as conservative orthopedics and wellness based health care. My hunch is that there isn't many people in the profession who make the effort to do this. Instead, they sit around and focus only on their own world. Granted, we are in school and time is limited for this kind of work. However, we live in a city that houses education opportunities for practically every health discipline, which is quite rare.

Tonight there is a meet and greet function put on by all of the health care schools that will allow students and faculty to network. I find this so critical in redefining the profession of chiropractic. I and everyone else are working way too hard to be disrespected as care provider. It really is our responsibility to get out there and share what we are learning with them and the public. If I felt what we are learning is unworthy of sharing, I would have quit DC school a long time ago. It seems like our school doesn't provide nearly enough opportunity to collaborate with other disciplines. There is nothing to hide and there is no reason for us to be defensive about our entitlement. Until we change the approach to proactivity and move away from being defensive, we'll always be seen as lesser providers. And this is not my definition of professional pride.

All for now.