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 and physical therapy. 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:
- Top quality care of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
- Education of chiropractic and medical students and physicians regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
- Research to enhance the understanding of patients with non-surgical back pain, neck pain and headaches.
The Rhode Island Spine Center utilizes a variety of methods of diagnosis and treatment for non-surgical spine disorders. The approach taken has been published:
- http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2474-8-75.pdf
- http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/pdf/1746-1340-16-7.pdf
The methods utilized include diversified and Gonstead manipulation, McKenzie, neural mobilization, stabilization exercise and patient education according to the biopsychosocial model of spine disorders.
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 work at the Spine Center, assisting with patient evaluation and care within the bounds of their ability and state law. They observe and take part in the process of diagnosis and management of patients from history taking to clinical exam to treatment and rehabilitation. This includes reading and interpreting tests such as MRI. They also attend Grand Rounds at the Neurosurgery, Neurology and Orthopedics departments of Alpert Medical School of Brown University and attend any medical lectures Dr. Murphy happens to be giving during the time of the externship. In addition, they 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 are looking for is one who is excited about 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, other physicians and medical residents and students, 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.
How to apply
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. These should be sent to: rispine@aol.com
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 Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 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. He has published dozens of articles in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals and trade publications. He has written and edited a book entitled Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes, published by McGraw-Hill. He has contributed several book chapters and has lectured to chiropractic and medical audiences around the world regarding various topics related to non-surgical spine care.
