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The Rhode Island Spine Center Chiropractic Externship Program
Director: Donald R. Murphy, DC, DACAN
The Rhode Island Spine Center is a spine specialty facility that includes chiropractic, physical therapy and massage. It functions in an interdisciplinary environment, with the majority of patients referred by medical doctors, including internists, family practitioners, orthopedists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, OB/ Gyn, ENT and rheumatologists. The motto of the Spine Center is "Clinical Excellence in a Caring Environment" and its purpose is threefold:
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Top quality care of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
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Education of chiropractic and medical students and physicians regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
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Research to enhance the understanding of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
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Purpose of the Externship:
The purpose of the Rhode Island Spine Center Chiropractic Externship program is to provide experiential training for chiropractic externs in the diagnosis and management of spine related disorders in a hands-on, practical environment.
Duration:
The duration is one semester or trimester, though it can be longer or shorter depending on individual circumstances.
What the student can expect:
Externs will work at the Spine Center, assisting with patient care within the bounds of their ability and state law. They will also observe the process of diagnosis and management of patients from history taking to clinical exam to treatment and rehabilitation. This includes ordering and reading tests such as MRI. In addition, they will take part in research activities, which may involve assistance in data gathering, writing papers, or other activities, depending on the projects that are currently underway.
What type of student should apply:
The type of student we would be looking for would be one who is interested in learning to become a top-quality non-surgical spine specialist, interacting with other specialists in the management of patients with spine related disorders. Only those who are serious about "clinical excellence in a caring environment" should consider the externship.
Students would be expected to behave in a most professional manner, as they will be directly involved in the management of patients in an environment in which they are representing the profession to other professionals. They would also be expected to have a personable manner with patients, as well as being responsible and punctual.
What is required of the student:
There will be a paper requirement that will be assigned separately to each student. This may be in the form of an original research project, if one is underway, a case report of an interesting patient that comes into the Spine Center, or a literature review. This will be coauthored with one or more staff DC and, if it is of high quality, may be submitted for publication.
To apply for the program, the candidate must supply a Curriculum Vitae and a letter expressing specifically his or her practice interests and goals for his or her education.
About Dr. Murphy:
Dr. Murphy is a chiropractic physician with postgraduate training in neurology and holds a Diplomate from the American Chiropractic Academy of Neurology. He is the Clinical Director of the Rhode Island Spine Center, Providence, RI, and is on the Clinical Faculty of the Brown University School of Medicine. He has been appointed to the Postgraduate Faculty of New York Chiropractic College, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and Anglo-European Chiropractic College. Since 1990 Dr. Murphy has studied under Vladimir Janda, M.D. and Karel Lewit, M.D. in the U.S. as well as in Prague, Czech Republic. He studied Spinal Stabilization with Dennis Morgan, PT, DC, developer of this method of spine rehabilitation and Gwendolyn Jull, PT. He has published dozens of articles in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals and trade publications. He has recently written and edited a book entitled Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes, published by McGraw-Hill. He is widely published the scientific literature and has contributed several book chapters.
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