Home » Life West News » A New Legacy in Chiropractic Education – January 2018

A New Legacy in Chiropractic Education – January 2018

Life West has a proud history of providing excellent chiropractic education and leadership. We have nearly 5,000 graduates who practice in locations around the globe and serve hundreds of thousands of patients every day.

At Life West, excellence doesn’t happen by accident. We look beyond the traditional needs of chiropractic education. We look forward in order to lead and secure the needs of future generations of chiropractors in an ever changing healthcare marketplace.

Dr. Ron Oberstein – President of Life West

Extraordinary chiropractic education requires extraordinary chiropractic leadership, and we are confident we have found exactly that unparallelled leadership in our newly appointed third president of Life West, Dr. Ron Oberstein.

In August 2017, Dr. Ron Oberstein was named the president of Life Chiropractic College West after an extensive search process. Dr. Oberstein brings vast experience and vision to the Life West community. Dr. Oberstein was a member of the Life Chiropractic College West Board of Regents from 1991 to 2016, including two years as the Chairman of the Board.

One of the reasons the Life West board selected Dr. Oberstein was because of his ability to look at chiropractic education from the inside out — from the perspective of a chiropractor, with 37 years of practice experience. He carries a crystal clear vision for Life West and for the future of chiropractic.

When Dr. Oberstein looks ahead – he not only sees the opportunities to make chiropractic education better than it has ever been — he also has the skills to rally and empower a team that can action that vision. Under the steady guidance of such an experienced chiropractic statesman, we know the vision is obtainable.

A CHIROPRACTIC LEGACY IN THE MAKING

Dr. Oberstein discovered his purpose in chiropractic when he was in his early twenties. He injured himself playing basketball in Europe and came home to meet with orthopedic doctors and sort out his recovery path. His life changed forever when a high school friend called to check on him. This old friend was going to school at Life College and he was eager to share the chiropractic story. While Dr. Oberstein had been a regular chiropractic patient since the age of 13, no one had ever explained the chiropractic principles.

Dr. Oberstein had always planned to pursue a career where he could help people — maybe social work. But this new conversation woke something deep inside him.

“He put the words to the tune that was playing in my head,” explains Dr. Oberstein. “He hit me with the right intention, at the right time and right place. I knew then and there that I was called to be a chiropractor.” The rest is history. Ron Oberstein began his journey into chiropractic.

After Dr. Oberstein graduated from Life Chiropractic College (now Life University) in 1981, he went on to own private practices in Boston and San Diego. He was in practice for a total of 37 years and his focus was always centered on family wellness care.

The chiropractic community is well acquainted with Dr. Ron and his wife, Dr. Mary Oberstein, who have practiced together since 1986. They have been a continual force of leadership and determination in principled chiropractic. They have served on boards and given countless hours and dollars to supporting the work needed to create shared vision and action in chiropractic leadership.

The Obersteins are a chiropractic family. Two of Dr. Oberstein’s brothers are chiropractors. Lauren, Ron and Mary’s oldest daughter, is a chiropractor (graduated in 2014) and she is also married to a chiropractor, Matt Pennetti. Their middle daughter, Morgan, graduated from Life West in 2015 and practices in Union City, CA. Sydney, the youngest, will graduate with her fiancé, James Hook, from Life West this spring. She and her fiancé, plan to practice together in San Diego.

Dr. Oberstein is incredibly proud of his family legacy in chiropractic. “It means so much to Mary and me that our kids followed in the footsteps of their parents. I can look at the years of service to humanity just within my own family — and I am humbled by the number of people who have been under our care. The impact we are able to collectively make — in big and little ways — is one of my greatest joys.”

Dr. Ron and Dr. Mary have always felt called to serve the future of chiropractic by recruiting the next generation of principled chiropractors. Many years ago they began flying groups of students up for special open house days at Life West. Soon other doctors were inspired to begin helping in the effort. “It is our responsibility to guard the sacred trust of chiropractic by filling it with students that we have mentored and can assist,” explains Dr. Oberstein.

ON BECOMING PRESIDENT OBERSTEIN

Dr. Oberstein has a unique perspective as a chiropractic college president. With three children so recently in school and starting practice, he is very aware of the current state of chiropractic education and what it takes to build a practice from scratch today. He has seen first-hand what gaps exist in the current chiropractic education model and it drives him to find solutions. His keen business mind connects to his compassionate heart — resulting in innovation that will make an incredible impact for the students he serves.

Dr. Oberstein has delayed his plan for retirement for this new calling as the president of Life West. He had imagined himself and Mary splitting time between their new home in Montana and their life in Southern California — but now he is working more hours than he has ever before in a very busy career. And he loves every minute of it.

Dr. Mary Oberstein explains, “Our whole family is excited for Ron to be at the helm of Life West. He has devoted much of his life to promoting and protecting chiropractic. This new position will be an excellent vehicle for him to continue serving the profession.”

Dr. Oberstein sums it up, “We all know the universe works in mysterious ways. It was serendipitous that the interim presidency gave me the chance to see Life West in a new light. When I got involved from the inside — I saw the commitment of the faculty and staff and the passion they bring to their work. I experienced the dedication of the students. The people of Life West touched my heart and anchored me to this college in a new way.”

There is a logical progression in this chiropractic story. Dr. Oberstein began with a commitment to send hundreds of student to school (which he still does), then began shepherding the school from his seat on the Life West Board, and now is shaping the day to day projects on campus as the third president of Life Chiropractic College West. He was called every step of the way.

He sees this same calling for every chiropractor who connects to the principle of Lasting Purpose — to give, to do, to love, to serve, from our own abundance. “I believe it is the goal of all principled chiropractors to make sure that chiropractic is available to every woman, man and child on the planet. We simply need more chiropractors. We need more chiropractors who own the salutogenic model. Though I might not see this in my life, I want to know that I did everything I was called to do in my time — to be sure this will happen in my children’s time. No chiropractor can truly rest until they have fulfilled their legacy to chiropractic.”

WHAT IS NEXT FOR LIFE WEST

With new leadership comes new ideas and a new focus. At Life West — the new focus is practice success. We envision a college where every class is taught with a mindfulness of the chiropractic clinical experience as the center of intention.

Right now, education is changing — and the chiropractic colleges must catch up. Gen Z and Millennial learning styles require new approaches, new technology, new leadership and new thinking. Our goal is to lead the way in meeting the learning needs of the next generations and focus on practice success for these new generations.

The new approach we are building at Life West will disrupt clinical education as it has always been known. Our mission is to create a lasting legacy focused on real world clinical excellence and success.

Disruption occurs when someone comes in with a new perspective and a new focus — outside the status quo. Disruption is hard because it takes incredible time and energy. It takes patience. It takes clear communication and shared vision. The vision which drives this innovative disruption is focused on what our students need to thrive and lead chiropractic in today’s healthcare market.

Do we need disruption in chiropractic education? Disruption is part of a dynamic and healthy ecosystem. Our bodies go through disruption as part of the healing process. The chiropractic profession has always disrupted old ways of thinking and being. When we disrupt together — we create incredible opportunities.

This innovation is centered on need. “We need more chiropractors, MANY more chiropractors. We need chiropractors who are prepared to bring all the best of our profession — the message, the principles, the adjustment and the vision to every corner of the planet,” explains Dr. Oberstein.

The Life West Board of Regents and the Life West leadership team, headed by Dr. Oberstein, believe that it is time to move forward — and that Life West is ready to lead this change.

THE LIFE WEST LEGACY

Life West has been built upon a strong history of great chiropractic technique taught with an undiluted focus on the principles of chiropractic philosophy and a driving vision to serve humanity with chiropractic.

We succeed when we work together. That has always been the special sauce at Life West. Life West is not about any single person or project. It is our shared passion and purpose that makes us extraordinary.

Life West is embarking on a thrilling new journey by disrupting the old patterns of the past and building a modern chiropractic college that honors our prevailing principles and creates new bridges to successful thought leaders and change agents across the globe. We are honored to share this journey with you — our alumni and friends.

Dr. Oberstein sums it up perfectly, “Life West is ready. We have the right people with the right skills and the right intentions. We can all be proud of how we have served the Life West students and the chiropractic profession for many years. And together — we are ready for even more. I am proud to lead this team of brilliant hearts and minds into the next era of innovation and lasting purpose.”

WE ARE LIFE WEST

Written By: Mary Lucus Flannery

 

The Life West Value Proposition

OWNING THE PRINCIPLES OF CHIROPRACTIC AND SALUTOGENESIS

Our greatest value is in our “why”, which always inform our how and what. We are committed to focus on translating our principles and philosophy into everyday tools for chiropractors and patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE We must graduate students who are practice ready. It is our clinical expertise and confidence that allow us to thrive in business and life. The new Life West Bridge will put our students in the clinical setting earlier and for more hours than any other college.

BUSINESS READINESS

We are creating a Career Center and Chiropractic Business Institute. These programs will allow us to place students into offices across the globe as associates and independent contractors and to be there to support the students as they transition out of Life West.

CULTURE OF LOVING SERVICE

When we serve from our own abundance we find the lasting purpose that sustains a culture of lifelong learning and giving back. The millennial generation greatly values altruism and is perfectly aligned to thrive in a marketplace that cares about purpose.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We value every voice and every experience. We hold space and seek out new demographics because these new voices will make us better chiropractors. When we find ways to celebrate our uniqueness we connect to people and are able to have a greater impact.

STUDENT FOCUS SYSTEMS

At Life West, our number one goal is to meet the needs of our students. We do this by creating accessibility and clarity of process and functions. The president’s office has an open door policy and hosts regular student forums. Our motto is “hard in the classroom — easy on the campus.”

SECURING OUR EXCEPTIONAL CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

Life West is famous for our unique ability to form a close knit community and a family away from home. We do this with our commitment to each other and to a life-long journey of continuous improvement. This is one of our most special traits and we are committed to keep it intact as we innovate.

Enjoyed this article?

Maybe these would interest you!

Share This Post
Have your say!
00