The Importance of Infrastructure in Chiropractic Careers

As new chiropractors enter the profession, they are often faced with a lack of clear pathways and support systems to help them transition from student to practicing clinician. During a recent meeting, Dr. Phil Dieter, the President of the California Chiropractic Association, highlighted this critical issue facing the chiropractic profession.

We lack infrastructure in the chiropractic profession. We lack residency, as some people might say. Franchise opportunities have created a level of infrastructure for our profession that's hopefully going to perpetuate. When you go to medical school, you're going to go to do a residency to figure out how to adjust people, how to diagnose, how to manage cases. The chiropractic profession does not have that.

This lack of structured training and mentorship programs can make it challenging for new graduates to confidently enter the workforce and start building their careers. However, organizations like Chiro Jobs are working to fill this gap by providing associate opportunities and support systems to help chiropractors get established.

Dr. Dieter praised the efforts of leaders like Dr. Kevorkian, Dr. Oberstein, and Dr. Klum, who are "preparing students to get out into practice as soon as possible and giving them that opportunity." He emphasized the value of this infrastructure, noting that it allows new chiropractors to "go to graduation and work in the morning, seeing patients" - a crucial step in gaining real-world experience.

As the chiropractic profession continues to evolve, building a stronger foundation of training, mentorship, and career support will be essential for attracting and retaining top talent. By addressing this infrastructure gap, the field can ensure that the next generation of chiropractors are set up for long-term success.