Clinical Sciences Department
Courses in the Clinical Sciences Department build upon Basic Science courses and serve to move our students from “textbook learner” to Health Center clinician. Assisting patients can be tricky, and every patient is different. Courses help students expand upon the basic knowledge of disease and dis-ease and focus on the patient as a whole person in conjunction with the philosophy of chiropractic.
Department Chair: Jeana Edwards, DC
Jeana Edwards, DC
A Jane-of-all-trades, Dr. Edwards grew up in Texas and fell into the workforce straight out of high school. It was after working a multitude of jobs in several fields that she found herself in a chiropractic office. Initially, Dr. Edwards was just an independent contractor with a massage therapy license, but she gradually moved into an inpatient/outpatient physical therapy hospital and became a chiropractic assistant and an office manager before deciding to go to college.
At the age of 33, Dr. Edwards stepped into her first college class with one goal: To become a doctor. Her academic education started at a US-based college in Singapore and finished in the Bay Area with a focus in Human Sexuality and World Religion…and a plethora of Basic Science courses!
In December of 2016, she accomplished her goal and walked across the stage to meet Dr. Oberstein for that rolled tube of paper (the real diploma came weeks later). In January of 2017, she accepted an adjunct position with Life Chiropractic College West, and in August of 2017, she purchased a mentor’s chiropractic clinic. Dr. Edwards aims to shorten the learning curve every day through communication, listening to our faculty, and working with administration to form a cohesive unit in education. She strives to be the best human being she can be every day.
Q + A with Dr. Edwards
Q: How do classes in the Clinical Sciences Department tie into the Health Center?
A: Clinical Sciences has the courses that bridge the textbook, notes and PowerPoint slides and how to apply what is learned to the actual patient. The courses are built to bring real world adventures into the classroom for better knowledge of how and when to execute the adjustment. Confidence in supporting your patient’s journey through health starts by practicing how to ask the right questions, at the right times, for the best outcomes.
Q: I just need to know what’s on the boards exam. All the extra stuff isn’t chiropractic. How does this help me?
A: While every student must pass all four board exams, it is imperative to teach above and beyond the basic competency. The art of being a practice-ready chiropractor is not just about when to adjust the patient, but also when not to adjust the patient. By being thorough in your examinations, applying great sleuthing skills and truly getting to the cause of the subluxation, the student will learn to formulate the best plans for care.
Q: My goals go beyond being the doctor in a clinic. Am I supported in finding my place?
A: Absolutely! Courses in Clinical Sciences will allow you investigate detailed blood labs and explore how to shift dysfunction. There are also courses that explore how supplementation can assist the patient when they are in crisis, which allows adjustments to have greater effects on the body.