National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) has partnered with University Hospitals (UH) to offer Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC) students the opportunity to participate in a three-month clinical internship as part of a multidisciplinary care team. NUHS students will complete their internships within the UH network at one of three locations: Connor Whole Health, Parma Medical Center, or UH Westlake Health Center. The program is currently available to DC students, with plans to expand to naturopathic medicine and acupuncture programs in the near future.
University Hospitals is an academic medical center and community hospital network located in Cleveland, Ohio, with a network of 21 hospitals, over 200 physician offices in 16 northern Ohio counties and more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities.
“We look at preceptorships as an extension of NUHS education,” Dean of Clinics Theodore Johnson, DC, MS, said. “It’s important that our preceptors align with our mission and educational goals, and UH is a perfect fit. They provide students with opportunities beyond their main clinic assignments, allowing them to gain valuable experience and work with patients they might not otherwise encounter.”
Students are expected to see approximately 25 patients a day, including general patients, athletes, individuals with chronic pain, pediatric patients and pregnant women. This program consists of three major components including experiential learning, didactic education and interprofessional observations.
“This kind of experience is unmatched by anything students will get in their clinic assignment,” Dr. Johnson said. “The volume, variety and complexity of patients, even just observing how things operate, go far beyond what they might have imagined. It broadens their perspective and introduces them to entirely new educational avenues. We create these opportunities for students because we know they significantly enhance their training and education prior to going into the real world.”
Students can start applying as early as their ninth trimester as long as they’ve completed all graduation requirements to be eligible for placement. Students can complete the application on the Ohio eLicense Portal with a minimal fee of $75, a background check and FBI fingerprinting.
For more information, email Dr. Johnson at [email protected].
