Business and Professional Foundations Program at Northwestern Health Sciences University Guides Students into “Real World”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Northwestern Health Sciences University’s practice management program for chiropractic students was jump-started in 1985 by the late William Harris, DC, a long-time benefactor of Northwestern, and Jim McDonald, MBA, Northwestern’s current vice president for administrative affairs and chief administrative officer. Now, 23 years later, the program is called Business and Professional Foundations and is part of the curriculum for chiropractic students for nine trimesters. At the end of the fall 2008 trimester, McDonald turned over his remaining class (T9) to Terry Erickson, DC, associate professor and department chair of the Business and Professional Foundations Program. “I like what McDonald did with his classes – I won’t be changing much,” says Dr. Erickson. “I will be looking to him for guidance and getting his help to make a smooth transition.” “The Business and Professional Foundations Program is intended to help new graduates get off on the right foot, and convert theory into reality,” says Jerry Peterson, business owner and guest lecturer in Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Business and Professional Foundations Program. “Successful chiropractors are not only skilled in their craft, but are also lively business persons. They need to have the ability to promote and manage a business all while also providing quality service to patients.” Dave Neubauer, DC, a Northwestern graduate who lectures in the program, says, “There is nothing else like this program in the United States. Other schools are following in Northwestern’s footsteps, but Northwestern jump-started the program. They are getting students prepared for the real world. Because of McDonald, the practice management program has been a success.” The main thing McDonald will miss about teaching is the contact with the students. He says, “I really liked having the luxury of interacting with students and being around young people. I enjoyed my years of teaching.” Northwestern Health Sciences University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage and human biology. The University has nearly 900 students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minnesota.