Pre-professional programs
ENVISION Magazine, 2004

Another profession on the rise is chiropractics. On average, about 15 students enroll in the pre-chiropractic program every year and 80 to 90 percent of those go on to be accepted to a professional school, according to chemistry professor Steve Anderson, who has been advising chiropractic students for the past 16 years. He has observed an increase in the number of interested students and believes it results from greater public awareness of alternative health care plus the fact that chiropractic care is now covered by most HMOs.

After graduating from UW-Whitewater in 1977 with a degree in science and education, John Schoenenberger decided to switch his intended career in optometry to one in chiropractic.

“I had always been an athlete and was weight training with some accomplished power lifters. They all saw chiropractors to keep them in line to enable them to maximize their potential in national competitions. This intrigued me, so I applied and was accepted to Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1986,? Schoenenberger said. He is now director and chiropractor at the Family Chiropractic Clinic in Janesville and holds post-graduate degrees in spinal trauma and rehabilitation.

UW-Whitewater has an articulation agreement with Palmer College in Iowa. A student spends three years at this university and three and a half years at Palmer, culminating in a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. This route takes a full year off the length of study. – Jane Provorse