Source PR NewsWire
WHITTIER, Calif., Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS) is proud to announce its participation in the first ever VA chiropractic residency training program. On December 6, 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unveiled its plan to initiate a pioneering chiropractic residency program beginning in July, 2014.
The focus of each VA residency program is Integrated Clinical Practice, with training that will emphasize the provision of chiropractic care as an important part of an integrated healthcare system. These hospital-based training programs will also expand each resident’s ability to collaborate with other healthcare professionals through interdisciplinary rotations. Residents will develop their knowledge of hospital practice, policies and procedures, and will be better prepared for future positions in VA, other healthcare systems, and/or academic settings.
After a highly competitive application process, only five VA medical centers and four academic affiliates were chosen nationwide to pilot this program. Several competing VA medical centers and academic institutions attempted to earn this distinction and as one of the four chosen academic affiliates, Southern California University is honored to partner with the well-known and well-respected VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS).
“To our delight, today’s healthcare environment continues to moves towards interdisciplinary practice and team care,” said Dr.Melissa Nagare Kimura, Chief Clinical Officer and Associate Vice President for SCU Health System. “SCU prides itself in cultivating an environment of evidence-informed inter-professional education and practice, and this is just one reason why the university is thrilled to be a part of such an innovative program.”
This new residency will provide advanced clinical training in complex case management, allowing recent chiropractic graduates to increase their scope and depth of clinical knowledge, experience and acumen. Residents will be mentored by senior VA chiropractors who are national leaders in integrated chiropractic practice. These clinicians will share their expertise in patient care, academics and research to provide a robust educational experience.
According to Dr. John Scaringe, President of Southern California University of Health Sciences, “This is not only exciting news for SCU, but also for chiropractic doctors and students nationwide. This opportunity, created by the Department of Veterans Affairs, shows that the VA embraces chiropractic as a specialty and should be viewed as a pioneering effort. Everyone at SCU could not be more pleased to be a part of this program launch and could not be more honored to be working as the academic affiliate for the distinguished VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System.”
ABOUT VA CHIROPRACTIC RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
The programs will be administered nationally by VA’s Office of Academic Affiliations and locally by each individual participating VA facility. Each VA facility partners with its affiliated Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) accredited chiropractic school in conducting the program.
where do I apply, he asks semi-seriously.
If this “residency program” only entails simply putting a chiropractic extern into a VA hospital where they can, “to collaborate with other healthcare professionals through interdisciplinary rotations. Residents will develop their knowledge of hospital practice, policies and procedures, and will be better prepared for future positions in VA, other healthcare systems, and/or academic settings.” Then, they are definitely not the first. Palmer West has been doing this for the last 3 years. Additionally, there has been an externship program at the Naval base at Bethesda in Maryland with Dr. William Morgan for some time now.
Have said this …..this is Awesome! We definitely need more of this. It will inevitably improve the image of the profession as other physicians get the experience of working with us, and us with them.