Chane Donnelly• University of St. Thomas• Graduation: May 2015• I intend on becoming a

Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) after receiving my undergraduate degree.

Personal Statement

“The human connection and ability to affect another human beings life was unlike anything I had ever witnessed. Occupational therapists at Gillette’s Children’s Hospital perform remarkable and inspiring work. Improving quality of life is a top priority of mine, however physical therapy wasn’t quite what I was looking for. Therefore I began searching for other professions in the same field.”

Interview ExperienceFor my professional interview I got the opportunity to interview Dr. Lesley Scibora. She is currently a professor at the University of St. Thomas. However, before she worked for UST, she was a practicing chiropractor. This was a great opportunity for me to learn about my intended field because she gave me information from the perspective of a professor as well as a chiropractor. I learned the geriatric aspect will be increasing the most over the next five years due to the ageing baby boomer population. Also, she encouraged me to visit other chiropractic schools, instead of having my heart set on one in particular.

The Field of Chiropractic

Why am I interested in the Field of Chiropractic?

What Makes Me a Good Candidate?

• Ever since my first injury playing high school sports I have been enthralled with the sports medicine field.

• I want to make a difference in peoples lives while helping them recover from ailments in a drug-free environment.

• Able to get hands-on work in the medical field while connecting with patients.

• After my internship with DeltaTech Controls, I enjoy and am skilled at working with my hands.

• Working for the University of St. Thomas Call Center has provided me with the skills to communicate with people and handle pressure filled situations on the fly.

• I excel at problem-solving, as needed when diagnosing new patients.

• I have witnessed the hard work and perseverance needed to work with people when attempting to diagnose and advise a healthy lifestyle.

• Having been injured playing sports and gone through the rehabilitation process, gives me familiarity of working in the field.

The Field of Chiropractic

State Chiropractic

Employment

Annual Mean Wage

California 2,070 $88,000

Florida 1,870 $76,050

Texas 1,740 $58,990

Illinois 1,650 $87,820

Michigan 1,520 $76,530

Career Setting• Majority of chiropractors

work in solo or group practice. They typically work in offices, while some work in hospital settings. (Handbook, 2014)

• Many are self-employed. (Handbook, 2014)

Growth Potential• Chiropractor job outlook is

expected to grow 15% in the coming decade. With an increase in working in hospitals and in a clinic based setting. (Handbook, 2014)

• Patients seeking chiropractic care because they perform treatment without surgery or prescribing drugs. Most patients will be able to pay with health insurance companies since most insurances cover chiropractic care. (Handbook, 2014)

Career Salary (Handbook, 2014)

• National median annual wage:$66,160

• Bottom 10% wage:$31,030

• Top 10% wage:$142,950

States with Highest employment level with this occupation

(Wages, 2014)

Career Education Requirements

Chiropractic Pathway

Undergraduate Degree – 4 years (American Chiropractic, 2014)

• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree – 4 years (American Chiropractic, 2014)

• One-year minimum clinical-based program dealing with patient care

• Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)• License and Certification from American Chiropractic

Board (ACB)Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (American Board, 2014)

• 100 Hours attending program• Pass comprehensive written examination

Total Education = 8 – 9 years

Conclusion

Completing this power point was very eye-opening. It allowed me to research important topics of the chiropractic field. Also, I was introduced to different distinctions that I was originally unaware of. Becoming a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician is my goal, because I want to specialize in sports medicine and physical fitness. I now know the necessary education that is necessary to accomplish my goal. Since I am about halfway done so far, I believe I have the ability to make it the rest of the way. With determination and hard work I know I can fulfill my dreams.

In high school I got the opportunity to job shadow an occupational therapist at the Gillette Children’s Hospital. This was an eye-opening experience I’ll never forget. I got to witness real world healing first hand. There were two young boys who left an impact on me. One was an adolescent car accident victim who was cheerful about his situation, trusting his therapists could help him get through his situation. The other was a young boy with a leg disability. He battled his heart out attempting performing his rehab. His mother graciously thanked the therapist and her team for their hard work and patience. The human connection made me want to be apart of something while helping others in the medical field.

Gillette Children’s Hospital

In college I had the opportunity to accept an internship with DeltaTech Controls in Shakopee, MN. DeltaTech is an engineering firm for which I performed research. At the time, I wanted to open my eyes and see what other career opportunities were in the medical field. I created my own research plan and conducted the research. I compared pupil dilation size to cognitive workload. I found a positive correlation between the two. With my findings, DeltaTech was able to purchase eye-tracking glasses which their clients wear when testing out their various products. This was a great experience for me, I learned a tremendous amount while getting the opportunity to work with my hands. However, I would enjoy working with people and getting the chance to communicate with them.

Deltatech Controls