MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, DC, PhD

Dr. Schneider received his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and his DC degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1982. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on numerous NIH and PCORI-funded randomized clinical trials. He practiced chiropractic for over 25 years before transitioning into his current career as a fulltime academic researcher. Dr. Schneider is a Full Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was recently appointed as the inaugural Director of the Doctor of Chiropractic program at the University of Pittsburgh. This is the first DC program to be offered by a research-intensive public university in the U.S.

JOEL STEVANS, DC, PhD

Joel Stevans brings a diverse background to the Doctor of Chiropractic program, distinguishing himself as a clinician, educator, researcher and health care executive. As a clinician, he was an early adopter of interprofessional treatment models, working alongside rehabilitation and medical specialists. Recognized for excellence in teaching, he focuses on fostering student engagement and learning.  As a health care executive, he has led programs to increase evidence-based treatments by acupuncturists, physical therapists and chiropractors, enhancing care quality and affordability.

In his role as Associate Director of Clinical Education, Stevans brings this wealth of knowledge and expertise to student clinical placements. His goal is to provide students with an unparalleled chiropractic clinical education. Clinical experiences start in the first semester and continue every semester throughout the program. These experiences are designed to first expose students to the full spectrum of interprofessional care within the health care delivery system. From there, the clinical training progressively focuses on spine and musculoskeletal care, culminating in one-on-one mentored training by chiropractors in community health centers, the Veterans Administration and community practices.

WILL EVANS, DC, PhD, MCHES

Dr. Will Evans is professor of public health and Dean of the College of Health Sciences at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. He holds a PhD from the University of Alabama and UAB in health promotion with concentration in epidemiology and a DC from Logan University. He is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist, and a Fellow of the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute, the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program, and the Food Systems Leadership Institute. In 2020, he was named a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors, Inc. His research interests include modification of health care provider behaviors related to patient health promotion, smoking cessation research, including smoking ordinance modification, infection control measures for manual therapists, and nutrition and health behaviors in sport. In 2017, he was honored with the Sara Mazelis Award for Outstanding Practice in Health Education, Health Promotion, and Health Communication by the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section. In 2023, he was selected for Lifetime Achiever by the Chiropractic Healthcare Section as well.

ROBERT A LEACH, DC, MS, RMCHES

Robert A. Leach, author, clinician, and scientist/practitioner is the Mississippi Delegate to the American Chiropractic Association HOD and continues to advocate for a questioning chiropractic philosophy that encourages theory driven and science informed chiropractic practice. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, more than 25,000 copies of his classic textbook, The Chiropractic Theories, have been distributed since 1980. Now in its fourth edition, it is published by Wolters Kluwer—Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. In addition, he has published or presented several dozen scientific papers from clinical subjects ranging from children with attention deficit hyperactivity to correlations between pressure pain thresholds and other clinical metrics used in chiropractic practice.

In 2006 he earned a Master of Science degree in Health Education and became a Certified Health Education Specialist. Previously a recipient of numerous awards from the Mississippi Chiropractic Association, in 2007 he was named, “Health Educator of the Year” by the Mississippi Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD). In addition to continuing full time practice since 1979, Dr. Leach continues to write and lecture. His research interests in health promotion include published papers ranging from community health and advocacy for full coverage of chiropractic in the Medicare program, to support of chiropractors for Healthy People objectives and compliance with sanitation and hygiene recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. A member since 2016, he currently serves as the Chairperson for the Chiropractic Section of the American Public Health Association.

KRISTA WARD, DC, MPH

Krista Ward, DC, MPH is a Research Specialist and Research Compliance Officer at Life Chiropractic College West. Her research interests include health disparities, non-pharmacological pain management, quality of life and well-being, and educational effectiveness. She is also an experienced educator in clinical, public health, and academic settings and has developed and implemented public health, epidemiology, and research literacy courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She earned her DC degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in 2003 and then gained skills in epidemiology and biostatistics through the Master in Public Health program at San Francisco State University. Since 2019, she has served on the leadership team of the Chiropractic Health Care Section of the American Public Health Association.

BARBARA ERNY, MD

Barbara Erny, MD, got her BA at Cornell University. She completed her medical school and residency training at Stanford before practicing as a board-certified ophthalmologist for over 25 years.  As an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Erny is a founding member of Stanford Climate Learning Initiative in Medical Education (CLIME), leading efforts to integrate climate change education into medical school curricula and all levels of physician training. She complements this work as a steering committee member with The Global Consortium on Climate Change Education.  Dr. Erny is on the editorial board of the Journal of Climate Change and Health, and she currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Medical Societies Consortium on Climate and Health representing the ophthalmology. Dr. Erny co-founded and is on the advisory board of EyeSustain, an initiative, website and app for decreasing waste in ophthalmology. She is also a member of the Climate Action Working Group of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and is a faculty fellow with Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Global Health. She has been volunteering in global health throughout her career and served as the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation Medical Liaison for International Programs.

THOMAS R VENTIMIGLIA, DC, FACC

A graduate of New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) and Fellow of the American College of Chiropractors, Dr. Ventimiglia served as dean of NYCC Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education. In addition, he has served as the chairperson of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, subcommittee on Postgraduate Education.

Dr. Ventimiglia coauthored "The Wellness Consultation: A Communication Model for Improved Patient Outcomes." That was presented at the NYCC Research Symposium in 2018. He was the principle investigator/conference director for the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine R-13 Conference Grant on "Conference on Chiropractic and Allopathic Integration."

Although retired from a private practice after 40 years, he remains active in the profession as a member of the NCMIC Speakers Bureau., the American Public Health Association's Chiropractic Health Care section and the Federation of International Chiropractic Sports.

JEVINNE KHAN, DC

Jevinne Khan is a chiropractic physician and clinical instructor at Logan University, with advanced post-graduate training in integrated healthcare. In her role as an educator, Dr. Khan guides chiropractic students on the critical role of chiropractic care in public and community health. Her professional practice spans Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Community Health Centers. She specializes in the management of chronic pain and neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, placing a strong emphasis on addressing social determinants of health to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.

As a vital member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, Dr. Khan works in close collaboration with primary care providers, social workers, and behavioral health specialists to deliver holistic and coordinated treatment. This team-based approach aims to reduce health disparities and improve clinical outcomes. Dr. Khan’s unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based care reflects her belief that equitable and compassionate healthcare is a fundamental right for all individuals. 

KELSEY LEWIS, DC

Dr. Kelsey Lewis is a chiropractic physician practicing in integrated, federally qualified community health centers in the city of St. Louis. After graduating from Logan University, Dr. Lewis completed a residency in Integrated Spine Care where she went through a year of rigorous advanced clinical training, research, and developed an understanding of how the healthcare system works for the safety-net population. In her current role as staff chiropractor at Logan University, Dr. Lewis provides direct patient care and student and resident instruction. Additionally, as adjunct faculty, she participates in student didactic education as the lead instructor of 2 courses.

Dr. Lewis is passionate about improving access to, and providing, high-value, evidence-based, non-pharmacologic care for underserved patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions. She is dedicated to providing students with diverse and rigorous community-based clinical training experiences. 

CHRISTIE KWON, DC, MS, MPH

Dr. Christie Kwon is a faculty member and Research Chair at Life University, and she has dedicated her career to serving the chiropractic profession through conducting, teaching, and supporting efforts in subluxation-centered research. She serves on the Alumni Council of Johns Hopkins University, and on the Boards of Directors of the Australian Spinal Research Foundation (ASRF), Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation, the Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice. She is also engaged with the Chiropractic Health Care section of the American Public Health Association.

Dr. Kwon’s research focuses on studying the epidemiology of vertebral subluxation as well as chiropractic and public health research on health equity and maternal and child health outcomes. She completed her DC degree within the Research Track at Life University, with Pi Tau Delta honors. She holds B.S. Biomedical Engineering and M.S. Biotechnology degrees from Johns Hopkins University, and an MPH from Emory University. Her research background includes work with the Emory Child Health and Mortality Prevention Study (CHAMPS). In 2021, she was named Chiropractic Researcher of the Year by the ICA’s Upper Cervical Council, and Chiropractic Researcher of the Year by the FVS in 2023. She has presented her work to chiropractors, educators, and other healthcare professionals from a diverse array of disciplines all over the world.