Katherine Lord '78, Science Alliance
ENVISION Magazine, 2006

Katherine Lord '78 was working as a chemist improving the coatings on pharmaceuticals when she developed a health problem that prevented her from working with chemicals.

At age 48 and in need of a new job, Lord was advised to become a chiropractor. While she disliked the idea of twisting necks and being forceful, she was willing to give the career change a shot.

“Once I started studying chiropractic methods, it made so much sense to me,” Lord said. “The body was made to heal itself.”

Lord really changed her philosophy on health care practices when she learned about the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) method, which uses X-rays to pinpoint the place where a gentle touch can align the spine and help the body restore health.

She also discovered that face-to-face contact with patients and being a part of the natural healing process is what she was meant to do.

“The core sciences I learned at UW-Whitewater gave me a foundation to build on as both a chemist and chiropractor,” Lord said.

Lord graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Ohio at age 52 and loves her new profession. She opened her own chiropractic offi ce in 2005 and is one of only nine NUCCA chiropractors in Wisconsin. – Cassandra Sura