News / Profession

U. of Colorado is 1st American Med. School to Offer Rotations to Chiropractic Residents

Editorial Staff

As reported in the Rocky Mountain News,1 the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver, the state's only medical teaching hospital, has had a DC on staff the past six months, Donald Corenman, DC, MD, who practices in the department of orthopaedics.

Dr. Corenman, a 1978 graduate of LACC who earned his MD and specializes in orthopedic surgery, along with Alfred Traina, DC, FACO, chairman of LACC's clinical sciences division, have helped pave the way to admit DCs from LACC's clinical sciences residency program into the University of Colorado Medical School Hospital's residency rotation program.

The hospital's residency rotation program will be headed by Dr. Corenman. "The orthopaedic department backs me up 100 percent. Others (MDs) are either positively curious or negatively worried. A lot of guys are just scared of chiropractors." Dr. Corenman said he "hopes to build a bridge between the medical and chiropractic communities in a way that benefits the patient."

Brad M.T. Smith, DC, will begin the second of his three-00year LACC clinical sciences residency as the first chiropractor to join the U. of Colorado orthopaedic medical residents in all aspects of the hospital's residency program: including surgical procedures, consultations, and experiencing all aspects of spinal care from the hospital perspective. Dr. Smith will also be an observer in the Spine Fellowship program, which involves participation in spine research and spine trauma. Dr. Smith holds an undergraduate degree in biology from the Univ. of Calif. at Irvine, and received his chiropractic degree from LACC in 1990. He practiced in California for three years prior to beginning his residency in clinical sciences at LACC.

While there is still much bridge building to be done between practitioners of both professions, Dr. Smith is optimistic: "The college's (LACC) ability to advance the role of chiropractic in the U.S. health care system at this site is evidence of the growing acceptance of the benefits of chiropractic among the medical community and the general public. I look forward to taking part in this program."

The collaboration between LACC and the University of Colorado has taken quite a bit of work, but the labor has been worth it. "LACC has long recognized the need to bring advanced interdisciplinary learning opportunities to the doctors of chiropractic enrolled in our postgraduate residency program," said Dr. Traina. "LACC's outstanding reputation for its evidence-based, problem-centered approach to chiropractic education was instrumental in helping officials at the U. of Colo. to understand the significant role of chiropractic in the care and treatment of patients in the overall scheme of health care."

Chiropractic's presence at the University of Colorado Medical School was not only featured in Denver's Rocky Mountain News, but also got mention from Paul Harvey on his syndicated national radio program. He lauded the collaboration between medicine and chiropractic.

---------------- "CU Hospital to Offer chiropractic Care" Rocky Mountain News Friday, January 12, 1996.

February 1996
print pdf