Leading Pediatric Researcher Appointed Chair of Pediatric Research @ Life Chiropractic College West

The Chiro.Org Blog


Hayward, Calif., — On Thursday, September 1, 2011, Joel Alcantara, D.C., a prominent chiropractic researcher, joins the research team at Life Chiropractic College West as the newly appointed Chair of Pediatric Research.

Dr. Alcantara is one of the rising stars in chiropractic pediatric research. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Calgary and graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in 1995. Prior to his appointment as Research Director of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), he was on the research faculty at Palmer West and Life West. He lectures internationally on pediatric chiropractic and has numerous peer-reviewed publications and a contributing author in textbooks such as Pediatric Chiropractic, Somatovisceral Aspects of Chiropractic and Fundamentals of Chiropractic.

Dr. Alcantara returns to Life West in a new partnership with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). ICPA Director, Dr. Jeanne Ohm says “We welcome the collaboration with Life West, wholeheartedly, and applaud Dr. Kelly’s vision for research including the essence of family care, quality of life and nerve system function. Life West’s direction is congruent with Dr. Alcantara’s accomplishments with the ICPA, having presented or published over 40 papers in the last two years alone and in developing and sustaining the largest Practiced Based Research Network in the profession with recognition from the National Institute of Health’s Agency for Healthcare Research. Our united goals and now collective resources for research will establish a new level of accomplishment in evidenced based research and practice in the profession.”

In early 2011, Dr. Brian Kelly joined Life West as the new president of the College (formerly President of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic). Dr. Kelly recently laid out the new research agenda at his inauguration held in early August. He stated, “At a time in history when chiropractors are being challenged about taking care of children, if the chiropractic profession doesn’t do pediatric chiropractic research, who will?” This appointment helps Life West realize its three goals in the areas of research, namely investigating the chiropractic effect on the nervous system, pediatric chiropractic and quality of life issues.

Life West, established in 1976, is an accredited non-profit institution of higher learning. Over 4,500 graduates of Life West are now providing chiropractic care worldwide. The college’s Health Center, a public outpatient facility staffed by approximately 150 senior interns who are guided by licensed doctors of chiropractic, provides affordable health care to more than 1,500 patients per week in the city of Hayward, California.