chiropractic mission trips 2022

AS OF MARCH 30, 2024 WE COMPLETED 120 MISSION TRIPS NEXT MISSION TRIP WILL BE ON APRIL 30, 2024

Experience mission life, international foundation's mission trips, hope is where the heart is.

Upcoming Mission Trips

APRIL 2024: April 30 - May 5 Chiropractic Mission Trip

JUNE 2024: June 17 to June 23 Chiropractic Mission Trip

Mission Life International presents “ The Chiropráctic Festival”June 13 -June 16

AUGUST 2024: August 18 to August 24: Chiropractic Mission Trip

SEPTEMBER 2024: September 28- October 5, 2024

December 2024: december 15 to december 21 dominican republic & haiti mission.

DECEMBER 2024: DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 1 : DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI MISSION

Meeting dr. peter morgan, changing lives one person at a time.

Making A Difference

Mission life international inc and the public service loan forgiveness program, exciting news.we are excited to announce that mission life international, inc is “public service loan forgiveness” program compliant..

Mission Life International, Inc is the fastest growing chiropractic non-profit organization in the world. According to the Department of Education, you can have your federal student loan forgiven, canceled, or discharged!  We can help you qualify for one of these programs. You will no longer be required to repay your complete loan and interest.  These amazing programs have qualification requirements and not everyone can take advantage of this program. We can show you how you can qualify.

We never know how far reaching something we may think, say or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.

B.j. palmer.

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Cameroon, Africa

June 24th – june 30th.

Registration: $1,097/person (All Inclusive)

Price Includes: Accommodations, transportation and all special ChiroMission events. Airfare is not included

Hotel: The trip will be hosted by Madre Theodora and the nuns. We will be staying with them in Cameroon.

Payment: Once payment is received, you will receive confirmation and additional registration documents within 2-3 days.

Additional Notes: Only 7 spots available Please register by May 22nd, 2024 Please make plans to fly to Dola Airport More inquiries or questions email: [email protected]

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations up to 30 days before the trip will be subject to a $100.00 cancellation fee. Cancellation fee within 30 days of the trip will be 50% of the trip price.

We look forward to serving with you!

Please email [email protected] for registration Sign Up Now

Puerto Plata

Sept 25th – 29th, 2024.

Price Includes: Accommodations, transportation on the island and all special ChiroMission events. Airfare is not included

Hotel: Hodelpa Emotions Puerto Plata: https://www.emotionsbyhodelpa.com/puerto-plata

Additional Notes: Please register by July 27th, 2024 More inquiries or questions email: [email protected]

Sign Up Now

• Health Missions

Health Missions is a 501(c3) that was founded by Dr. Joe Esposito on the principle of spreading the word about what chiropractic can do for a person. Over the years the focus has gone from a research-based approach to an action-based approach. In 2021 Health Missions became part of the OneChiropractic family and will be an arm to help promote & provide chiropractic. It promotes the benefits of chiropractic to the underserved communities all around the world. Its focus is on low-cost or no cost community funded clinics. It does this though mission trips and the creation of free clinics around the United States. We are building a community network that serves, sees, and spreads the word on the value of chiropractic.

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Mission Trip Jamaica

April 28th - may 4th.

Are you a passionate chiropractor or student eager to make a real impact while immersing yourself in the rich culture and cuisine of Jamaica? Imagine a transformative experience that not only deepens your love of chiropractic but also leaves you with a profound connection to this beautiful island and a renewed sense of purpose.

Join us on an unforgettable journey to Jamaica, where you can harness your skills to serve the deserving people of this tropical paradise. Here's what you can expect:

1. A Life-Changing Experience: Your time in Jamaica won't just be another academic endeavor. It's a life-changing experience where you'll connect with the heart and soul of the island. You'll be part of a community that values holistic well-being and embraces the healing power of chiropractic care.

2. Serving the Deserving: In Jamaica, there are many individuals who lack access to essential healthcare services. Your chiropractic expertise will be a beacon of hope for those in need, and you'll witness the transformative effects of your care on their lives.

3. Cultural Immersion: Beyond your chiropractic work, you'll have the opportunity to dive headfirst into the vibrant Jamaican culture. Taste the world-famous jerk chicken, savor the flavors of exotic fruits, and sway to the infectious rhythms of reggae music. Experience the warmth and hospitality of the Jamaican people, who will welcome you as one of their own.

4. Breathtaking Scenery: Picture yourself surrounded by Jamaica's lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and stunning landscapes. The island's natural beauty will be a constant source of inspiration, reminding you of the profound connection between nature, wellness, and chiropractic care.

5. Renewed Sense of Purpose: As you witness the positive impact of your chiropractic care on the lives of Jamaicans, you'll return home with a renewed sense of purpose and a burning passion for your profession. Your experience in Jamaica will remind you why you chose to become a chiropractor in the first place.

6. Lasting Memories: The memories and friendships you create in Jamaica will stay with you forever. This journey will not only shape your career but also your outlook on life and the world.

Join us on this incredible adventure, where you'll serve, learn, and be transformed. Discover the magic of Jamaica, rekindle your love for chiropractic, and leave with a heart full of gratitude and a sense of purpose that will drive your career to new heights. Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the deserving people of Jamaica and in your own life as well.

To secure your spot, we offer you the option to make a deposit of $750. We understand that paying the full amount upfront may not be feasible for everyone, which is why we provide this alternative. It is important to note that deposits are non-refundable, as they are necessary to guarantee your place in this exclusive event.

The cost will include room, transportation, breakfast, and lunch. Dinner will be left open so you can choose where you'd like to dine in the evening. Transportation includes to and from the airport to and from the hotel, to all parts of the area that we will be serving, as well as to all excursions. You will need to bring your own chiropractic tables as that will not be provided for you.

We eagerly anticipate your participation! If you have any questions or require assistance with your payment, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Deposit Payment

2024 : 1. April 28th - May 4th: Negril 2. June 16th - 23rd: Treasure Beach 3. September 29th - October 5th: Kingston

Kindly note that all deposits are non-refundable, but they can be transferred to any of our forthcoming mission trips.

Also note that there is a 5% Surcharge for payment processing.

Negril Final Payment

This trip serves the following areas:

Hopewell Lucea Montego Bay Savanna la Mar Negril

We are committed to making a positive impact in these communities and the lives of the people residing there.

Please note: a 5% surcharge applies for payment processing.

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Negril Full Payment

This trip makes the following stops:

Harmony Beach Park Benta Falls Ricks Cafe

In addition to our dedication to serving the communities of Hopewell, Lucea, Montego Bay, Savanna la Mar, and Negril, we are equally committed to providing our volunteers with a truly memorable and enriching experience. We believe that our volunteers, while selflessly giving their time and expertise, should also have the opportunity to savor the beauty, culture, and spirit of Jamaica.

Treasure Beach Full Payment

June 16th - 23rd

In addition to our dedication to serving the communities of Mandeville, Christiana, Santa Cruz, Junction and Treasure Beach, we are equally committed to providing our volunteers with a truly memorable and enriching experience. We believe that our volunteers, while selflessly giving their time and expertise, should also have the opportunity to savor the beauty, culture, and spirit of Jamaica. 

This trip will make the following stops:

Lover’s Leap Little Ochie Pelican Bar

Kingston Full Payment

September 29th - October 5th

In addition to our dedication to serving the communities of Kingston we are equally committed to providing our volunteers with a truly memorable and enriching experience. We believe that our volunteers, while selflessly giving their time and expertise, should also have the opportunity to savor the beauty, culture, and spirit of Jamaica.

Papine Mona Waltham Park Eastwood Park Clifton

Stops include:

Devon House Bob Marley Museum Hellshire Beach Port Royal

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Statement of Purpose:

The christian chiropractors association offers the, chiropractic profession a christian fellowship in which believers of, various denominations can fellowship and serve the lord jesus christ, together. we seek to gather and unify christian doctors of, chiropractic around the essentials of the christian faith, leaving minor, points of doctrine to the conscience of the individual believer., personal faith in jesus christ and his word is the basis of our, fellowship., the christian chiropractors association places world, missions at the heart of its program. now contributing to several, different mission fields, we look forward to a constantly enlarging, vision of missions that will assist in sending christian chiropractors to, many whitened harvest fields with the gospel of christ and, chiropractic before jesus returns., statement of faith:, the christian chiropractors association is conservative in, theology; believing the bible to be inspired, the only infallible,, authoritative word of god; believing in the deity of our lord jesus, christ, eternal, coequal with the father, in his virgin birth, in his, vicarious and atoning death, in his bodily resurrection, his ascension, to the right hand of the father and in his personal return in power and, glory, believing that for the salvation of lost and sinful man,, regeneration by the holy spirit is absolutely essential and is effectual, by grace through faith alone..

Alicia Smith Chiropractic

Dr. alicia smith, dc  //.

Dr. Alicia Smith, D.C. earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare and Business Studies from The University of New Orleans. Upon completion, she earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Southern California University of Health Science in Whittier, Ca. She focused on service to the community by volunteering at multiple Stand Down events providing chiropractic care to homeless veterans, and chiropractic mission trips to Bolivia and Mexico. 

Dr. Alicia’s mission is to help families in the community live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. She uses a drug-free, non-surgical approach to health by identifying and removing interference to the nervous system.

Being a military spouse, she works hard to help military personnel stay healthy and prevent injuries. She loves adjusting pregnant woman, kid and is Webster certified with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).

Dr. Alicia was voted BEST CHIROPRACTOR from EDGE of the Lake - Readers' Choice Awards (2020, 2021 and 2022) and BEST CHIROPRACTOR from Sophisticated Woman - The Northshore's Best (2019, 2020 and 2021).

What Our Patients Say  //

On top of being absolutely amazing at what she does, Alicia is so kind, warm, and welcoming!

She is always very thorough, making sure I understand what is happening and how to help myself at home with stretches! I feel 1,000 times better after seeing her and always look forward to our next visit! 10/10 would recommend to everyone .

Dr. Alicia deserves 100 stars!! Since seeing Dr. Alicia, my neck and back issues have greatly improved and I feel much better. I used to wake up with neck pain that lasted for days and sometimes weeks. After my first visit with Dr. Alicia, I felt immediate improvement. Now I only need to see her for my monthly adjustment. I recommend her to all my family, friends, and co-workers for chiropractic care

More reviews.

Contact us at Alicia Smith Chiropractic to learn more about Chiropractic care for you and your family today!

MEET DR. KRIS PETERSON

Atlanta chiropractor.

At Kindspine Chiropractic Center, we recognize the unique needs of each patient and we work accordingly to deliver the customized chiropractic care you need to achieve your individual goals. Contact us today to get started on your healing journey! Dr. Peterson 

Originally from a small town in the southern tier of New York, Dr. Kris Peterson is a third-generation Chiropractor who graduated from Life University in Atlanta with a Doctorate degree in Chiropractic.

With over 14 years of experience practicing in the Full Spine model of traditional chiropractic, Dr. Peterson’s expertise allowed him to build a successful practice in the heart of Virginia Highland, serving the Atlanta communities.

After turning 40, he began playing golf, which led to lower back problems threatening his ability to continue practicing Chiropractic. After visiting several chiropractors throughout Atlanta, the only relief he found was through an Upper Cervical Chiropractic adjustment.

This adjustment not only relieved his back pain, but also eliminated other symptoms he was experiencing including chronic sinus infections, slurred speech, headaches, and a lazy eye. Upper Cervical Chiropractic adjustment changed Dr. Peterson’s life and the direction of his future practice.

Having completed over 200 hours of advanced post-graduate training and certification in Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic, Dr. Peterson now delivers the same high, quality standard of care that led to his own recovery.

His own personal experiences have made Dr. Peterson a compassionate and understanding practitioner who recognizes the unique needs of every patient and wholeheartedly believes that the Upper Cervical Chiropractic approach can help achieve optimal healing and restore patients’ health.

Dr. Peterson is an active member of the Georgia Chiropractic Council and the International Federation of Chiropractic Organizations. He is also a strong advocate of keeping Chiropractic a separate and distinct form of healthcare and continues to promote its heritage and lexicon.

In his spare time, Dr. Peterson enjoys boating, snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing and repelling, photography, and live music. He and his wife, Tania, have a daughter, Eve.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Get In Touch

Operating Hours

Monday   8 AM – 1 PM , 3 PM – 6 PM Tuesday   8 AM – 1 PM Wednesday   8 AM – 1 PM , 3 PM – 6 PM Thursday  8 AM – 1 PM Friday   8 AM – 1 PM , 3 PM – 6 PM Saturday and Sunday  Closed

International Chiropractors Association 2022 Annual Convention

By International Chiropractors Association

First In-Person Annual Meeting Since 2019

Falls Church, VA (April 22, 2022) The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) conducted its 96 th Annual meeting in Spartanburg, SC this month in conjunction with a Continuing Education Program – Whole Person Health and Subluxation Chiropractic – the Science, Art, Philosophy, and Regulation held at Sherman College of Chiropractic April 7-9.

In addition to the conference attendees, the ICA Board, and members of the Representative Assembly, four prior ICA Presidents attended – Dr. Robert Braile, Dr. Gary Walsemann, Dr. George Curry, and Dr. Stephen Welsh.

Dr. Selina Sigafoose Jackson, current ICA Board President stated, “It is a statement to the dedication of our membership and leadership to have held such a successful gathering where the focus was on keeping chiropractic in the lane of chiropractic while working to expand the availability of chiropractic care worldwide and promoting the opportunity of becoming a chiropractor. We had four past presidents in attendance throughout the weekend, engaging with our Assembly and Board. They stayed on and attended our Continuing Education program. This level of participation is a testament to the dedication of these individuals to the ICA.”

Continuing Education Program :  Dr. Edwin Cordero offered the keynote address to launch the continuing education program, sharing words of wisdom regarding the importance of leadership, reflection on his time serving in the Navy, his roots in Puerto Rico, on increasing diversity in the profession, and integrating the philosophical principles of chiropractic into the care of patients.

The continuing education program included top experts in the profession including Dr. Selina Sigafoose Jackson, Dr. Jamie Browning, Dr. Christine Theodossis, Dr. Lora Tanis, Dr. George Curry, Dr. Karlos Boghosian, Dr. Joseph Betz, Dr. Todd McDougle, Dr. Tim Young, Dr. Michael Longyear, and Dr. Meaghan McGinnity Longyear.

ICA Board Officers Elected:   The Board conducted its elections, Dr. Selina Sigafoose Jackson continues in her role as President, Dr. Joseph Betz was elected Vice President, Dr. Brian Moriarty was elected Secretary, and Dr. Jon Stucky was re-elected as Treasurer.

Fellows of the ICA:   The Fellows of the ICA (FICA) held their annual breakfast and inducted two news Fellows. Dr. Brian Moriarty of Stuart, Florida and Dr. Edwin Cordero, President of Sherman College of Chiropractic of Orlando, Florida. They also held the vote for Chiropractor of the Year which was announced at the Saturday Evening Awards Banquet.

Awards Banquet: The ICA was honored to have Mr. Kenneth Stethem, as our Banquet Keynote. Mr. Stethem, a retired Navy SEAL and Senior EOD technician has over 40 years in the military and defense industries. Mr. Stethem is currently the CEO of Aegis Industries, LLC. The mission of Aegis Industries is to defend, protect, and preserve life.

Mr. Stethem spoke about his family’s extensive history with the U.S. Navy, the importance of duty, and the ultimate sacrifice his brother Robert made during the hijacking of TWA 847 in 1985. Mr. Stethem also spoke about the significant role regular chiropractic care has played in his life and the life of other special warfare operators as well.

Dr. Chester Wilk was awarded the Preserving the Profession Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contribution to the ICA and Chiropractic across his lifetime including never giving up in the landmark case, Wilk vs. the AMA. As we go to press, the ICA has learned from the family that Dr. Wilk passed away on the afternoon of April 21, 2022. The entire profession is indebted to Dr. Wilk and those who fought with him for 12 long years in the federal courts to finally win against the most powerful medical organization in the country who had conspired to restrain the trade of chiropractors across the country.

Chiropractor of the Year Award:   Dr. Lorenzo E. “Larry” Marchese of Nutley, NJ was awarded the ICA Chiropractor of the Year for 2022. Dr. Marchese has a long history of volunteerism within the chiropractic profession and the ICA. He currently serves on the ICA Board of Directors, where he is a member of the Executive Committee. He previously served as Chairman of the ICA Representative Assembly, having been elected by his peers when he served as the Representative for New Jersey. As Chairman, he mentored representatives from all 50 states, and over 52 countries where the ICA has membership.  A 1983 graduate of Life University Dr. Marchese is a past member of the Board of Trustees of Life University.

About the Award:   The ICA Chiropractor of the Year Award was created by ICA’s Founder  Dr. BJ Palmer in 1950 and presented annually to one exceptional individual who has distinguished themselves throughout their career through extraordinary service to the ICA and the chiropractic profession. Its recipient is elected during the annual meeting of the Distinguished Fellows of the ICA held in conjunction with the Association’s annual meetings.

Herbert Ross Reaver Award:  The ICA Board voted unanimously to award Dr. Timothy Meng the Herbert Ross Reaver Award for his more than thirty years of leadership and service to the ICA and chiropractic profession. Dr. Meng served as a member of the Representative Assembly before being asked by Dr. Sid Williams to serve as the ICA Secretary in 1982, when Dr. Williams was elected as ICA President. Dr. Meng has continued his service on the Board for most of the last 30 years, most recently serving as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. A graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College. Dr. Meng is active in his local community including on the Eagle Scout Board, and for many years he has served on the Cleveland University Board of Trustees, including as Chairman.

The Herbert Ross Reaver Award is named to honor former ICA Vice President to the first ICA President and Founder, Dr. B.J. Palmer. Dr. Reaver was known during his lifetime as the most jailed man in the history of chiropractic, having been arrested 12 times in the 1930s and ’40s. His principled focus on refusing to plead out on charges that he was ‘practicing medicine without a license’ played a pivotal role in the licensing of chiropractic across the states as a separate and distinct profession.

A number of other awards were issued during the banquet by Dr. Sigafoose-Jackson:

Dr. Irene Adamczuk of New York was awarded the Unsung Hero Award for her diligence in always showing up, always being willing to say yes when asked to serve.

Dr. Gary Walsemann of Alabama was awarded the Spirit of Chiropractic Award for 50 years of service to the ICA and Chiropractic.

Dr. Hugo V. Gibson of Missouri was awarded the Spirit of Chiropractic Award for 50 years of service to the ICA and Chiropractic.

Dr. Amit (Jimmy) Nanda of Toronto, Canada was awarded the International Missions Service Award in recognition for his service to the ICA and Chiropractic in arranging chiropractic mission trips to India.

Dr. Brant Hulsebus of Illinois was awarded the Bob Hulsebus Legislative Leadership Award in recognition of his service in advocacy for the ICA and Chiropractic at the state and federal levels. The award is named after his father who like Brant devoted countless hours advocating for state and federal legislation to improve chiropractic policies.

Dr. Robert De Bonis of the US Virgin Islands was awarded the Endless Passion Award in recognition of his significant service to the ICA and Chiropractic including years as a member of the Representative Assembly and his numerous trips to China to promote Chiropractic on behalf of ICA.

Dr. Chris Ehlich of South Carolina was awarded the Bruce Ehlich Service Award for his long and dedicated service to the ICA and Chiropractic, especially in his most recent role as Parliamentarian of the Representative Assembly. The award is named for his father, Bruce Ehlich. His mother, Dr. Judith Ehlich, a chiropractor for more than 50 years was in attendance to see her son receive the award.

Dr. Gene Cretsinger of Iowa received the ICA Perseverance Award in recognition of his service to the ICA and Chiropractic for his countless acts of service.

Dr. Claire Welsh was awarded the ICA Unstoppable Award for all her work including on the  Assembly, before her service on the ICA Board, her work with the Adam Apfelblat Development Fund, the China chiropractic promotion program and most importantly, ICA membership recruitment.

Dr. Edwin Cordero was awarded the ICA Principled Leadership Award in recognition of his service to the ICA and Chiropractic. Dr. Cordero, US Navy Veteran, who practiced in Florida for many years has spent the last 10 years as President of Sherman Chiropractic College, where he doubled the enrollment, increased diversity of the student body population significantly, and expanded the campus.

Save The Dates:  The ICA has set the dates for the next four years Annual Conventions:

April 20-23, 2023,      April 11-13, 2024,      April 3-5, 2025

The 100 th ICA Anniversary Celebration April 16-18, 2026

ICA Executive Director, Beth Clay stated , “The ICA is incredibly appreciative of the warm South Carolina welcome we received at the Sherman College of Chiropractic, the staff and most especially, the College’s President, Dr. Edwin Cordero. Sherman’s new meeting facility was the perfect place for our continuing education program. We also appreciate the contributions of our speakers, our leadership and our honored guest, Mr. Kenneth Stethem. For those who were not able to attend the continuing education program in person, an opportunity access this will be made available in the very near future through the ICA Website.

About the ICA:   The International Chiropractors Association is the oldest continuously active international chiropractic organization. Established in 1926 by the developer of chiropractic, Dr. B.J. Palmer, the ICA represents practitioners, educators, students, and lay persons worldwide who are dedicated to the chiropractic profession. The ICA has traditionally been and continues to be recognized as representing the moderate voice of the chiropractic profession. The ICA represents and promotes the interests of chiropractic, chiropractors, and the patients they serve through advocacy, research, communication, and education. The ICA Mission is to protect and promote chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science, and art of subluxation detection and correction.

Last updated on May 9, 2022 at 4:33 pm

Read the latest updates

April 17, 2024

International Chiropractors Association Awards Three Dr. Coralee Van Egmond Student Scholarships at Annual Convention

By Taylor Carter

March 4, 2024

Registration Now Open for the 2024 Upper Cervical Forum: Connecting to the Brain

February 23, 2024

Cultural Competence for the Chiropractor: A Conversation with Dr. Charmaine Herman

Stay informed, get the latest chiropractic news, events, and more..

Pembroke 603-224-4281 | Meredith 603-677-1444 | Epping 603-679-3222 | Bedford 603-488-1100

Meet The Team

CLINIC DIRECTOR- Stephanie Ann Foisy Ryan, D.C., C.C.W.P.

Dr. Stephanie loves to spread the word about chiropractic!  She hosts a weekly radio show on 107.7FM titled “Half Hour to Health” and speaks regularly throughout the state about holistic health.  Her mission is to educate and adjust as many families as possible toward optimal health through natural chiropractic care.

Dr. Stephanie began getting adjusted at the age of 7 after years of being failed by antibiotics and surgery for chronic ear infections. With chiropractic adjustments she enjoyed better health, fewer colds, flus and ear infections. Dr. Stephanie learned first hand that health doesn’t come from a prescription, it comes from within. Now she keeps her husband Fred and four children Brooke, Emilee, Mackenzie and Brenden well adjusted!

Dr. Stephanie Foisy Ryan earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Regent’s College Summa Cum Laude.  In 2000 she graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.  Dr. Stephanie was listed on the President’s List, was named as a Presidential Scholar and was inducted into the Chiropractic Honor Fraternity.

Dr. Ryan was the first chiropractor in the state of NH to earn the C.C.W.P. credentials from the International Chiropractic Association and is certified in the Webster Technique by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Currently, Dr. Stephanie is serving on the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners after being appointed by the Governor in October of 2020. For more information on having Dr. Stephanie speak to your group or office, visit our Lunch and Learn page or click here .

MEREDITH LOCATION LEAD CHIROPRACTOR – Graham Moneysmith, D.C.

Dr. Graham is the Lead Chiropractor at our Meredith location, Crossroads Chiropractic Lakeside.  Dr. Graham is a  2007 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.  While there he was a finalist for the Virgil Strang Philosophy award and a teaching assistant in the radiology department.

In January of 2010, Dr Graham joined the Crossroads Team in Pembroke.  In August 2010, Dr. Graham worked with Dr. Stephanie to bring affordable corrective chiropractic care to the Lakes Region with the opening of Crossroads Lakeside! He is a contributing writer for the Weirs Times and a regular guest on Dr. Stephanie’s radio show on 107.7 FM, ‘Half Hour to Health.’

Dr. Graham is married to Tara and a proud father to four well-adjusted children: Elijah, Violet, Stella and George.

PEMBROKE LOCATION LEAD CHIROPRACTOR – Jennifer Phillips, D.C.

Dr. Jennifer Phillips has been passionate about health and wellness for many years. She began the journey into chiropractic as a patient herself, and after experiencing the many wonderful changes in her overall health, she decided that chiropractic was her calling. In a bold move, she made a career change from Special Education to start her Chiropractic career.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Jennifer went on to graduate Cum Laude from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC.  While at Sherman College, she traveled to Melbourne, Australia with the World Congress of Chiropractic Students.  Since graduating she has traveled to Brazil, Bolivia and Fort Peck Indian Reservation on chiropractic mission trips where she helped adjust thousands of families!

Dr. Jennifer has enjoyed practicing in several family wellness chiropractic practices in both New Hampshire and North Carolina.  Dr. Jennifer hopes to empower families to lead a life of optimal health and wellness. While not in the office, Dr. Jen enjoys spending time with her husband Jeff and their dog Grayson out in the mountains or running trail races.

EPPING LOCATION LEAD CHIROPRACTOR – David Medina, D.C.

Dr. David Medina has been in the health and wellness field for two decades and has been a chiropractor for the past 15 years. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, graduating in 2009. Dr. David began his chiropractic career in a family practice in Kentucky before joining the Crossroads team. Shortly thereafter, Crossroads Chiropractic 125 was opened in the Fall of 2014.

Dr. David has been married to his wife Heather since 2003 and they have three well-adjusted children: Caleb, Luci and Silas.

BEDFORD LOCATION LEAD CHIROPRACTOR – Brooke Mills, D.C.

Dr. Brooke is a native of Concord, NH and graduated Sherman College of Chiropractic. She was awarded the B.J. Palmer Philosophy Award, the Service Distinction Award and was named 2022 December Intern of the Month. Dr. Brooke currently serves as Miss NH and is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation Research. Fun Fact: Dr. Brooke has been the voice of Crossroads Chiropractic’s radio commercials since the age of 5!

BEDFORD LOCATION LEAD CHIROPRACTOR – John Schuessler, D.C.

Dr. John was recognized for Clinical Distinction upon graduation from Sherman College of Chiropractic. He grew up in Cincinnati, OH, earning his Eagle Scout at age 15. Dr. John served 6 years in the air force including one deployment. He is currently adjusting in the Pembroke location and looking forward to bringing corrective chiropractic care to the Bedford area this spring.

Brianna was born and raised in New Hampshire. She graduated from NHTI with an Associates Degree in Heath Science in August 2020. She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, as well as hiking in the White Mountains.

Madison is a New Hampshire native and is actively involved with local theatre companies across the state when not in the office! She and her husband have a rambunctious son, and she loves to spend time with her family and friends whenever she can. She has a Bachelors Degree in Communications.

Kayla has grown up in New Hampshire since she was born and has been getting adjusted since she was 10 years old! Kayla is a recent graduate of Messiah College, receiving her Bachelors in Applied Science with a concentration in Exercise Science.

Samantha has been a resident of New Hampshire her entire life. She loves spending time with her three sons– Jaycob, Benjamin and Jonathan. She believes the best part of working at Crossroads is being part of a team of people who truly care!

Vicky resides in Holderness with her husband Steve and has two adult children. She loves to visit warm climates, especially the Caribbean Islands. Among her other interests she enjoys reading, spending time at the Maine coast, and cheering on the Boston Bruins. Vicky and her family get regular chiropractic adjustments. She’s excited to help you in any way possible on your own chiropractic journey, so that you too can live your best life!

Call now for a new patient appointment

603-488-1100

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments, “it's the most important work we will ever do”: chiropractic students, servicelearning experiences at a day laborer center in california.

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Donna H. Odierna , Farida Savai , Lori L. Pino , J. David Currie , Monica Smith; “It's the most important work we will ever do”: Chiropractic students, servicelearning experiences at a day laborer center in California. J Chiropr Educ 1 October 2023; 37 (2): 98–105. doi: https://doi.org/10.7899/JCE-22-19

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From 2009 to 2019, staff, students, and faculty volunteers from a chiropractic college started Mission Trip America, later re-named Service Trip America (STA), providing monthly free chiropractic services at a hiring hall for day laborers in San Francisco until the 2020 COVID-19 hiatus. We report on volunteers' service-learning experiences.

Mixed-methods analysis comprising document review, descriptive report of site visit records, and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 12 student and faculty volunteers.

STA conducted 104 visits (8–11 per year) including 2272 patient encounters. Document review revealed an average of 22 patients per visit, with 60% to 85% return patients. On average, 3 student interns and 2 student assistants attended each visit, supervised by a doctor of chiropractic faculty member and the program director. Most commonly, interns treated 8 patients during the 4- to 5-hour visits. Patient concerns included musculoskeletal problems and other health conditions commonly seen at chiropractic offices and teaching clinics. Interns also regularly saw chronic health problems exacerbated by poor living conditions, violence, limited access to health care, low educational attainment, chronic stress, and the extreme biomechanical loading resulting from heavy labor. Interview results yielded 4 themes: learning, attitudes, challenges, and program strengths. Interviewees described opportunities to learn while working with a marginalized population and discussed long-term effects on their postgraduation practice as chiropractors.

Patients' physical, mental health, and psychosocial issues illustrated unique circumstances and profound needs of the underserved population being cared for by STA volunteers. Our findings may provide guidance for other community-based chiropractic service-learning programs in marginalized and underserved communities.

Service learning in institutions of higher learning provides students with an enhanced, hands-on, community-focused educational experience. 1 – 4   In chiropractic education, service learning often takes the form of short-term projects and international service trips in which students treat patients in locations where there is limited or no access to chiropractic care. 3 , 5 – 9   In 2009, Life Chiropractic College West launched Mission Trip: America, later renamed Service Trip: America (STA), to provide monthly free chiropractic services at a hiring hall for day laborers in San Francisco and to “extend the spirit of the school's traditional international mission trips to the American home front.” 10   STA was structured around the college's commitment to service and the program founders' social justice–based vison of health care and health promotion based on social health determinants as well as access to care. STA's mission is to promote the health and well-being of underserved individuals through service provision, cooperative learning, and collective action with local community-based nonprofit organizations. 10 , 11   STA also aims to educate the community and increase public awareness about chiropractic. 7  

From 2009 to 2019, until the 2020 COVID-related hiatus, approximately 200 student volunteers participated in STA and provided free chiropractic care to more than 700 patients during monthly site visits at a Day Laborer Program (DLP), a nonprofit hiring hall in the San Francisco Bay Area. 7   The DLP provides referrals to employment and social services to an underserved, mostly male population of low-income manual laborers, many of whom speak primarily Spanish and may be homeless or marginally housed. Day laborers often have limited or no access to regular sources of health care 12 – 15   and may perform heavy labor without the assistance of proper equipment. 16   Individuals show up at the DLP to register for work assignments that become available that day. When the STA clinic is on site, laborers can sign up to receive free chiropractic care. The number of patients seen during any given STA site visit is largely determined by the number of DLP clients and student interns who are present.

STA is staffed by a team of volunteers: the program director, a faculty member who serves as the supervising licensed chiropractor, and students who serve as assistants or interns. Students and faculty sign up for the monthly site visits. About 30 currently enrolled students are approved to participate at any given time. The team brings records, adjustment tables, and other supplies for the 4- to 5-hour chiropractic site visits. Assistants conduct outreach to DLP clients, greet and register patients, conduct orientations and give health talks, manage patient files and patient flow, conduct initial patient intake, and complete other forms as needed. Interns review patient health history, conduct physical exams and assessments, perform adjustments, and complete Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) notes. Only students who have completed the appropriate coursework and have been cleared to treat outpatients at the health center may serve as interns at STA. Students who are not yet qualified to treat outpatients may serve only as assistants. To participate in STA, student volunteers must be currently enrolled with a grade point average of at least 2.5 and trained in the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 10 , 11  

We met with the STA program director to support the program's ongoing quality improvement activities 17   and its goal of maintaining the mission of the program through continuing reevaluation. 10   This report focuses on the STA's service-learning objective of enabling students to experience service by providing free chiropractic care to underserved populations. We present information that we obtained during a mixed-methods process evaluation. 18  

Site visit summary sheets and interviews served as data sources. Records of 104 monthly site visits were recorded from 2009 to 2019. We abstracted the following information: number of student interns and assistants present, number of new and return patients treated, and types of health conditions seen by interns. Patients' presenting conditions were recorded in monthly site summary reports by type but not quantity. For example, if 4 patients presented with lower back pain, this condition was recorded only once on the summary sheet. The summaries also included comments taken from patient evaluations and staff observations and recommendations.

STA volunteers were informed about this project by the program director through the STA program email list volunteers. Anyone interested in participating contacted us directly. We obtained informed consent and conducted 30- to 45-minute semi-structured interviews using interview guides that evolved iteratively throughout the project. 19   We asked participants to describe their experience in STA: what was learned and how the program affects students, faculty, and the larger community. We also asked about the program's strengths and challenges and for suggestions going forward. We spoke minimally and probed as needed for more detailed information and conducted interviews until saturation. 20   Interviews took place via GoToMeeting teleconference (LogMeIn Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA). The software provided transcripts, which we then checked against the audio recordings and corrected as needed.

Data Analysis

We tallied yearly averages of the numbers of patients and volunteers, the percentage of new and repeat patient encounters, and the average number of patients seen by each intern per site visit. Although we did not have patient frequency data on presenting conditions, we reviewed the summary forms for the different types of conditions noted each month and grouped them into categories.

Three authors (FS, MS, DHO) read through 3 transcripts to develop a coding scheme for thematic analysis. 19 , 21   We used deductive and inductive processes to develop a codebook with main categories (themes) and subcodes. We had biweekly team meetings and made adjustments, then double-coded 2 additional transcripts. We achieved thematic concordance of 80%. Two authors (FS, DHO) then single-coded and discussed the remaining transcripts and selected typical and contradictory quotes, which were organized into a tabular matrix of quotations. 22   We resolved differences by consensus.

We did not access or use HIPAA-protected patient health information or Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act–protected personally identifiable student information in this study. All interviewees provided informed consent. The project was reviewed and approved for exemption by the Life Chiropractic College West institutional review board.

Document Review

From its inception in 2009 until 2019, the last year before the 2020 COVID-19 hiatus, the STA staff produced summaries of 104 site visits comprising 2272 patient encounters, including 3 DLP pilot site visits and 1 pilot visit to the Women's Collective at the DLP site. The number of site visits per year ranged from 8 to 11, and the average number of patients per site visit was 22. Return patients made up 60% to 85% (median 71%) of patient encounters ( Table 1 ).

Distribution of 2272 Patient Encounters per Site Visit, 2009–2019

On average, 2 assistants and 3 interns attended each site visit, along with 1 licensed chiropractor or faculty supervisor and the program director. Interns treated a median of 8 patients (range 4–9) during the site visits ( Table 2 ).

Patient Encounters per Intern, 2009–2019

Day laborers in the DLP are typically male, but they are invited to bring family members to STA for chiropractic care. DLP female and male staffers are also encouraged to attend. Patient gender was not regularly recorded on the site summary forms until after the evaluation project began. In 2019, the only full year for which this information is available, 14% of patients were recorded as female (not shown in tabular form).

The presenting complaints of patients ( Fig. 1 ) consisted mostly of musculoskeletal (MSK) issues, with many of these being assessed by interns as radiating from spinal involvement and responding favorably to chiropractic adjustment. Other physical health problems were also commonly reported. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, which are routinely seen at chiropractic offices and teaching clinics, at the DLP site interns also saw chronic health problems exacerbated by such social health determinants as poor living conditions, violence, limited access to health care, chronic stress, and the extreme biomechanical loading resulting from heavy labor. These contributing factors were expressed in many of the functional-based presentations described during the history taking and in a basic neurologic analysis and review of systems. The physical, mental health, and psychosocial issues recorded on the site summaries illustrated profound and unique circumstances and needs of the population being cared for at the DLP by STA interns. This was further elucidated by program volunteers as they recalled examples during our interviews with them.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) and other conditions reported seen by Mission/Service Trip America volunteers.

We interviewed 3 members of the faculty who served as supervising DC supervisors, and 9 former and current student volunteers. Four of the students served in the role of assistant only, and 5 as intern or both intern and assistant. All but 1 of the respondents attended multiple site visits, from 3 to more than 30. Eleven of the respondents characterized their experience as positive; 1 respondent was strongly critical. To protect confidentiality and reduce the risk of deductive disclosure, we do not report respondents' gender, current/past volunteer status, or the number of site visits they attended. Our analysis yielded several themes: learning, challenges, program strengths/benefits, and respondents' attitudes. We also report participants' advice for STA going forward. We present typical quotes from all of the individuals whom we interviewed. Unless otherwise noted, quotations represent the views of multiple participants.

This overarching theme was by far the most discussed by respondents and fell into 3 subcategories: knowledge/skill building, patients, and tasks. These were interconnected, and we present them together.

Assistants and interns performed educational and administrative tasks including outreach and patient intake. “We're from Life Chiropractic College West. We're offering chiropractic care. This is what the adjustment does. It's a basic intro.” Another explained, “We get the participants from the day labor program to come in and actually receive care. So, we have to communicate with those people … and we have to make sure that all of the paperwork is done according to … the guidelines of the program.” They also said that they gained valuable experience in maintaining records, assuring confidentiality, applying rules and guidelines, and clinic management.

Interactions with patients of low socioeconomic status and who spoke little or no English were described by half of the respondents as opportunities for learning how to communicate effectively with culturally and economically diverse patient populations. An intern who, like most of the volunteers did not speak Spanish, said, “You're learning how to communicate differently so [the patients] understand what you're saying … which then in turn was also a benefit for me because I had to really understand the concepts of what I was saying.”

Students [who do not speak Spanish] can learn to communicate with the patients in other ways … seeing how the patients are responding like using some of the things that are non-verbal that they learned about in examinations. I think that's going to really help them when they're out in practice and seeing a wider variety of patients. (Faculty)

When you're talking with someone who has limited vocabulary due to their particular level of education, then you're going to express certain things using words that they will understand that will make sense to them. Avoiding overly technical jargon, for example. (Student)

Eleven of the 12 respondents said that at STA, interns see conditions that would not normally be seen at the college health center. These comments were consistent with the summary sheet information about conditions, shown above, that interns treated. A faculty supervisor said, “In this environment [students are] getting a chance to work with some very acute patients. We've had patients who have talked about things like suicide.” Another said, “A lower income population …, workers who had never had chiropractic care before but yet had a history of trauma or multiple traumas … an experience that [students] might not get at the health center at the college.”

Everything I learned in setting up a clinic … creating standardized paperwork and proper documentation, scheduling with the site … I then [applied] that to my clinic. It's also probably some of the best experience I could ever get, with supervising doctors working through advanced cases or complex cases. (Student)

Most students seemed particularly sensitive to patients' lived experience. This was reflected in comments such as, “[The patients] tell you about their daily life, which from some of the stories they told it was not a pleasant scenario for a lot of them,” and “a fair number were cut off from their families.” Most of the students we interviewed commented on what they described as effects of the lack of access to care. Typical comments included, “The most eye-opening thing was that in some cases we were the only type of health care that these people receive,” and “They were generally middle-aged men who have been doing physical labor for years and they had all kinds of injuries, … they have chronic issues, there things that they haven't gone to go see a doctor before.”

When asked why they participated in STA, 8 students and 2 faculty said they were motivated by their desire to help underserved populations or that they were committed to community service in general. Four students said that they wanted to gain real-world experience and the accompanying skills. One student said they joined STA to fulfill an academic requirement. Two of the faculty said that they wanted to enhance their teaching. A student assistant said, “To me it's the most important work we will ever do … the exact kind of work that I want to do as a chiropractor,” and another said, “[The experience] helped boost my confidence … I have to go with my instinct and trust that my fingers palpated something and that chiropractic works.” A faculty supervisor said, “It was great to serve that population. You know chiropractors in general are in service. And so it was very rewarding to be able to serve a population that otherwise probably wouldn't get the treatment,” while another commented, “This is my opportunity for me having trained these interns earlier … it's a great joy to see their growth … really rewarding personally and professionally.” Most of the students described their interactions and the DLP patients with compassion and understanding. A student said, “A lot of the people that were the patients in the clinic, were extremely hard-working some were homeless … it helped me empathize and just understand that people come from all walks of life.”

There's a certain amount of guard that [the patients] have up. They see that [we] are in there to help and then they relax for a second and they're able to you know, smile and laugh even and tell you about their daily life…. People that are living in healthy conditions have somewhere to turn to that they can get help. Whereas these people don't have anyone to turn to. (Student)

Comments about working with severely marginalized patients were not all positive. A student expressed wariness about working with homeless individuals: “Where [I live] there's 10 homeless people outside my house so, you know … we always kind of got to be on guard with them.” One said that patients “who are off the streets” might bring in “drugs or other harmful things.” Another said that some homeless patients' personal hygiene was an issue, but said, “I have made this commitment to be here and be a service. I want to give them chiropractic care. I'm going to do my best to serve.” More often, students said that they were grateful for the experience:

[The patients] are just grateful to get any type of relief that you can give them … I'm just grateful that they allowed me to work on them, even at the level of an intern, at that time. I felt like it was reciprocal. (Student)

I'm out there … giving service to real people … that struggle to make it through the day. Most of the world is low income, and we … have the good fortune to go to an expensive school are very, very, very privileged, and, for some people, perhaps, it's a reality check to get out of that bubble. For me, it's liberation. (Student)

One faculty supervisor and 5 students said that their experience at STA either had or would influence their interactions with patients in their current or future practice, with 4 saying that they were committed to providing pro bono or affordable services.

[It] really affected me. I've been practicing [since graduation] for a couple years now. I see people who can afford it, and I can see people who just scrape enough money to make it to my visit and are thankful for it. It's made me think about my pricing, something that I feel like is fair for me, but also still doable for you. (Student)

Participants identified challenges that included the constricted physical space, language, and culture barriers, some of which were identified by faculty and students as contributing to the learning experience. Eight said they thought the program was underresourced, mentioning inadequate promotion at the school and lack of support for materials, parking, and administration. A student said, “Limited resources and things like that [are challenges] but truthfully I kind of feel like that kind of enriches the experience,” and another commented that “it's just a really great experience for everyone; [to learn] how it can be difficult to communicate if you're communicating with somebody that speaks a different language.” The bare-bones setup for the clinic was mentioned by 7 participants as challenging; 3 of these said they benefitted by this as well. A student said, “Sometimes the space is a challenge, [but] it's a great opportunity to see that really all you need is a broom closet and table to provide chiropractic care really, if you've got to make it work.” One student presented a more negative perspective:

You're having an open bay-type environment where there's two or three or four tables in the middle and there's like 50 people aligning. This is a lot different from what you experience at the health center, a nice front desk … x-rays, MRIs if needed. [At the health center] I might see a patient two or three days later because they might have an adverse reaction…. Mission trips are great but they relax the standard of care.

Seven of the 12 interviewees described language as a challenge for patient-practitioner communication, with 4 commenting, unprompted, that this challenge proved to be a benefit in that they found effective work-arounds or learned other, nonverbal ways to communicate. Two of the remaining 5 said they were fluent in Spanish, and the rest either did not mention language issues or said it was not a substantial issue. Other frequently mentioned challenges were lack of adequate resources and the difficulties maintaining consistency with an all-volunteer team. A faculty supervisor explained that at the college health center, “an intern gets to work with the patient over time and gets more and more familiarity with the patient and the patient's condition, this is often a 1-time treatment between the intern and a patient.” A student said she should have more support from the college: “There's so much more she might like to do but it's just not possible with her two hands and two legs alone and her one brain.” Faculty supervisors and students mentioned times that site visits did not take place because there were no faculty or student volunteers, and at 2 visits, the faculty supervisor was there alone and treated all patients.

Program Strengths

The ongoing presence at the DLP of the STA clinic, which took place 8 to 11 times/year, was repeatedly mentioned as a strength. A student said, “I think the fact that it was a monthly thing was really important … it offered access to healthcare to a lot of people that didn't have other than perhaps an ER.” Another pointed out the long-term nature of STA:

I think that one of the strengths of the program is that it continues. So for the most part as long as people are willing to show up the people at the Day Labor Center, they have somebody who they can come see and they see familiar faces and they you know it we have their records…. Its consistency and the continuity.

This consistency was ascribed to another program strength: the good leadership provided by the program co-founder and director who, like everyone else at STA, was a volunteer and who was present for 103 of the 104 site visits. A faculty supervisor said, “It takes a leader to keep this going. Applauds to her and she should be commended for her good and consistent work in maintaining this program.” Participants also talked about the benefits of STA for students, patients, and the larger community. Six respondents said that STA would benefit current students or had benefitted graduated students and their patients as they establish their own practice.

As chiropractors they should be adapting to their patients' comfort levels, their patients' thoughts on things, rather than their own stuff and I think you really pick that up when you're on site. I've always been of the mind that the biggest hole in a chiropractor's education is real world clinical experience … and then if you extrapolate off of that if we're sending out better chiropractors then it benefits everybody out there. (Faculty)

Suggestions

As part of the evaluative process, we asked respondents for advice about STA going forward. Suggestions included upgrading the facility, expanding to other community-based service organizations, increasing the frequency of site visits, providing transportation to the site, increasing outreach to garner more volunteers, providing more support to the STA administrator, and dedicating more institutional resources to the program. One student suggested partnering with other schools, including chiropractic, acupuncture, and others, to deliver integrative health care to underserved populations.

STA presents student volunteers with a wide range of real-world learning opportunities, including clinic management, navigating cultural and language differences, and experience working with patients and health conditions not often seen in the college health center. As is typical of chiropractic offices and chiropractic teaching clinics, presenting complaints of DLP patients consisted mostly of MSK types and other health problems that might or might not be related to MSK issues but are familiar to many practicing chiropractors as patient presenting complaints or comorbid conditions. These conditions were largely assessed, diagnosed, and treated during the patient encounter/visit within the chiropractic clinic. However, STA patients, as is typical of day laborer populations, 12 – 15 , 23   experience health and social disparities related to social conditions, discrimination, documentation, anxiety, stress, and cultural factors.

Faculty and students alike commented on trauma-based conditions, mental health issues, and complex cases as unique components of their teaching and learning experience. Language barriers and cultural differences presented volunteers with opportunities to learn about the role of understanding and cultural competence when working with a severely marginalized population. The beneficial effect of real-world experience on students' knowledge, skills, and social understanding appears to be a frequent hallmark of service-learning programs. 1 – 5   Others have found that service learning has been associated with higher grade point averages and increased graduation rates. 24 – 27   We did not access student records and cannot comment on the effects of students' participation in STA on academic achievement. However, it appears that for some students and faculty, the experience was profound. Consistent with others' findings that students in service-learning programs report an increased sense of civic responsibility and commitment to volunteerism and community service, 1 , 4   STA volunteers said that they were committed to working with underserved communities after graduation or that they had already incorporated community service and/or fee structures into their practice. For years after their participation in STA, graduates continued to contact the 2009–2019 program director Lori Pino, a co-author of this paper, about replicating STA in their area. Hopeful about the spirit of the program continuing much in the way it was originally intended, she sends a digital package of STA policies, procedures, and templates that could be modified and improved upon for years of dedicated service to come. Similarly, co-author and STA faculty supervisor David Currie reports that 3 of the college's graduates who were involved with the program have sought his advice and assistance to create a similarly designed outreach program for students and doctors to work with underserved populations in China in coordination with local hospitals. They deliver integrative health care comprising chiropractic, medical, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Limitations

Our convenience sample of interviewees was small, but our findings are consistent with other reports that service learning supports students' understanding of social and contextual issues that affect marginalized communities as well as their commitment to volunteerism and expanding access to care. 1 , 24   The information we abstracted from the program documents was not collected to be used as research data. We understand and acknowledge the challenges of assessing information that was not collected for research purposes. Due to concerns about meaningful consent and community mistrust of research, 28   we did not examine medical charts or interview patients, nor did we access the evaluation forms that were collected from patients during each site visit, so we cannot comment on the patients' perspective in this report. Despite these limitations, we believe that there is value in reporting on this unique program that was founded in love and compassion, with the intent of providing services to severely marginalized populations with little access to health care. As service trips restart, the institution plans to work with the program coordinators to collect information for future analysis and evaluation while being mindful not to interfere with the delicate balance that can exist when working with marginalized and immigrant communities. 29  

STA volunteers typically described their teaching and learning experience to be profound and in some instances transformational. In addition to the MSK and conditions commonly seen in chiropractic offices, students often worked with patients and conditions that they did not normally see at the college health center. Caring for the day laborers engendered a sense of being seen, heard, and validated not only for patients but also for those providing services. Although not generalizable, the results provide guidance for service trips going forward and for other community-based chiropractic service-learning programs serving marginalized and underserved communities.

We thank Carlos Lapresca for research assistance and categorization of conditions seen at STA.

FUNDING AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All authors are or were at the time of this project employed by Life Chiropractic College West, which had no part in the design, conduct, or analysis of this article. Two authors (JDC, LLP) participated in STA. The authors have no other competing interests to declare. This project received no external funding.

Author notes

Donna Odierna (corresponding author) is a research specialist in the research department at Life Chiropractic College West (25001 Industrial Blvd, Suite 138, Hayward CA 94545; [email protected] ). Farida Savai is with the research department at Life Chiropractic College West (25001 Industrial Blvd, Suite 138, Hayward, CA 94545; [email protected] ). Lori Pino formerly an Academic Counselor at Life Chiropractic College West, is a holistic life coach and reiki therapist at Lasting Purpose Healing Arts ( [email protected] ). J. David Currie is a professor in the Technique Department at Life Chiropractic College West (25001 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545; [email protected] ). Monica Smith is the director of research, Research Department at Life Chiropractic College West (25001Industrial Blvd, Suite 138, Hayward, CA 94545; [email protected] ).

Concept development: DHO, MS, JDC, LLP. Design: DHO, MS. Supervision: MS. Data collection/processing: DHO, MS, FS. Analysis/interpretation: DHO, MS, FS. Literature search: DHO. Writing: DHO, MS. Critical review: LLP, FS, JDC.

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Our Atlanta H2H Wellness Centers Chiropractor, Dr. Latrice Jordan, is originally from Connecticut. In 2016, she relocated to Atlanta from Chicago where she was the Clinic Director of wellness-based family practice.

Dr. Latrice received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Prairie View A & M University. She is a proud alumnus of Life University where she graduated with honors with a Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree. Eager to refine her chiropractic skills, Dr. Latrice participated in an externship in Zigong, China that focused on high volume and eastern medicine.

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The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians themselves and for visitors from abroad....

• Schedule Daily 10:00 - 17:00

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was here that Donskoi celebrated his victory over...

• Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Saturday 11:00 - 18:00

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra) was built in the first half of the 1340s by...

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic gothic style. The complex includes a landscape...

• Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 - 17:00 Saturday 11:00 - 19:00 Sunday 11:00 - 18:00

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history dates back to 1715, when the village of Kuskovo...

• Schedule Monday, Tuesday not available Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone centuries. You will get to know the story...

• Schedule Daily 10:00 - 19:00

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy and his family including books and personal...

• Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Thursday 12:00 - 19:00

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's collection includes more than three thousand...

• Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12:00 - 19:00 Thursday 14:00 - 21:00

Express to Russia specializes in Moscow city excursions, an essential part of your Moscow travel itinerary. We offer a large variety of day excursions throughout Moscow and its suburbs. From  Red Square  and the  Kremlin  to a city tour of Moscow’s  Old Arbat Street  or the  Moscow metro , an excursion specializing in Stalin and the KGB and much more. No travel to Moscow is complete without taking a few of our day tours that most meet your interest in Russia.

Moscow City Tours

Our Moscow day excursions can be organized on foot or with transport. All of our excursions are led by an experienced guide, specializing in the subject matter of the tour. Excursions are privately run and can be booked for 1 traveler all the way up to large groups of travelers. We run our Moscow city tours in every season. This is because travel to Moscow is excellent in any season. In the summer take a stroll through  Gorky Park  or take a riverboat tour along the Moskva River. In the winter, see Moscow’s winter wonderland of ice and snow and then settle in for a cozy lunch or dinner with a hot bowl of borsht. In winter, spring and fall, you can beat the crowds at all of Moscow’s main attractions and museums. Regardless of when you come, Express to Russia will make sure that your trip is one of your best vacations ever.

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Express to Russia

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