Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services

VA Puget Sound Health Care System

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Chiropractic Integrated Clinical Practice Residency

Applications for Academic Year 2025-2026 at American Lake (Tacoma, WA)

Applications for Academic Year 2025-2026 at American Lake (Tacoma, WA) The VA Puget Sound program is funded by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations and is affiliated with University of Western States.

Mission

The purpose of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) Chiropractic Integrated Clinical Practice Residency is to prepare recent chiropractic graduates for advanced clinical practice through hospital-based clinical training, interprofessional education, and scholarly activities.

The VAPSHCS chiropractic residency program follows curricular competencies, outcomes, and assessment processes consistent with other VA chiropractic resident sites, and as directed with requirements of The Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE) accreditation. Our focus is on integrated clinical practice, with training emphasizing the provision of chiropractic care in an integrated health care system, collaborating with primary, specialty care, and other medical and associated health providers and trainees.

Resident Goals/Objectives

Residents will acquire postgraduate clinic experience in hospital-based chiropractic care by providing musculoskeletal care, most commonly spinal, to patients in a collaborative environment. They will gain experience in managing a range of complex/multimorbidity cases. Clinic duties will begin with direct observation and will gradually increase in responsibility as competencies are achieved and the attendings are comfortable with expanded resident autonomy. Residents will gain in experience in managing a range of complex/multimorbidity cases.

Residents will complete clinical rotations in primary care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, additional relevant medical or surgical specialties, and other associated health disciplines. The resident’s role in assisting care during interdisciplinary rotations will vary depending on the needs of each individual clinic and as appropriate per hospital privileges.

Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pain Clinic, Physical/Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, Rheumatology, Radiology, Spinal Cord Injury.

Residents will complete scholarly assignments, online and in-person didactic courses, and collaborate with other chiropractic residents to complete group assignments. They will attend scholarly presentations among available hospital and academic affiliate offerings. Residents may engage in research activities, will present scholarly material, and will participate in clinical workshops at VA Puget Sound and in collaboration with our academic partner. They may have opportunities to participate in research publication and professional conferences.

Program Faculty

Clinton J. Daniels, DC, MS (Director)
Dr. Daniels received a BS from Purdue University and his DC and MS degrees from Logan University. In 2014 Dr. Daniels was selected to the inaugural cohort of VA chiropractic residents and in 2015 joined the VA Puget Sound medical staff. He was promoted to VA Puget Sound Chiropractic Service Chief in 2021. He is Chair of the Clinical Compass Scientific Commission, serves on the steering committee for the VA Cancer Rehabilitation SCAN-ECHO, is Secretary for the Chiropractic Health Care section of the American Public Health Association, and is the Research Coordinator for the VA Chiropractic Field Advisory Committee. He has served on the editorial board for several chiropractic journals and has authored numerous scientific publications on the topics of chiropractic integration into veteran and military facilities, postsurgical spine pain, suicide prevention, and chiropractic best practices. Dr. Daniels sees patients at the American Lake VA Medical Center.

 Tyler Barton, DC
Dr. Barton received a BS from Pennsylvania State University and his DC degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic West. Dr. Barton is a graduate of the VA Western New York Chiropractic residency program and joined the VA Puget Sound medical staff in 2022. His clinical interests include the biopsychosocial model and its influence on chronic pain, interprofessional and collaborative management of complex spine pain, and management of spine disorders within the veteran population. Dr. Barton cares for patients at the Seattle VA Medical Center.

Kevin Meyer, DC
Dr. Meyer received a Bachelors of Science from Ball State University and his DC degree from Logan University. Dr. Meyer is a graduate of the VA Puget Sound Chiropractic resident program and joined the medical staff at American Lake in 2022. He has authored projects investigating integrative clinical opportunities for chiropractic students and chiropractic management of complex conditions. His research interests include interprofessional education, and the impact of social determinants of health on spine pain chronicity.

Brittni Partridge, DC
Dr. Partridge received a Bachelors of Science from University of Oregon and her DC degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus. Dr. Partridge transferred to VA Puget Sound in 2023 after brief employment with VA Palo Alto and VA Portland. Her professional interest include working with chiropractic students, yoga for pain management, and studying burnout in the chiropractic profession. Dr. Partridge treats patients at the Everett Outpatient Clinic.

Morgan R. Price, DC
Dr. Price received a Bachelors of Applied Health Sciences from Bowling Green State University and her DC degree from National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Price was the inaugural graduate of VA Puget Sound chiropractic resident program and joined the medical staff in Seattle in 2021 following program completion. Dr. Price is professionally involved with the American Chiropractic Association, American Public Health Association, North American Spine Society, and Forward Thinking Chiropractic Alliance, and is the External Communications Liaison for the Field Advisory Committee. She has authored numerous scientific publications on the topics of guideline recommendations for spine pain medication, suicide prevention, and case reports describing chiropractic management of complex cases.

Christopher B. Roecker, DC, MS
Dr. Roecker received a BS from Excelsior College and his DC and MS degrees from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Main Campus. He has maintained Diplomate training from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (2020), American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (2015), and American Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (2012). In 2019, Dr. Roecker joined the medical staff of Grand Island VA Medical Center and transferred to VA Puget Sound Health Care System in 2021. Prior to joining VA, Dr. Roecker was an Associate Professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic from 2012-2019. He serves on the editorial board for multiple chiropractic journals and has authored numerous scientific publications on the topics of evidence-based approach to orthopedic physical examination, chiropractic education, and therapeutic neuroscience of pain. Dr. Roecker cares for patients at the Everett Outpatient Clinic.

Zachary Scott, DC
Dr. Scott received a BS from Chico State – California State University and his DC degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus. He is a 2024 graduate of the VA Puget Sound chiropractic residency program. His clinical and research interests include conservative management of rheumatological conditions, chiropractic profession burnout, and stroke. He serves on the policy committee for the Chiropractic Health Care section of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Scott is a part-time fee consultation provider at the American Lake VA Medical Center and Silverdale Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

Nick Sharma, DC
Dr. Sharma received a BA from George Mason University and his DC degree from University of Western States. Dr. Sharma is a graduate of the VA Connecticut Chiropractic residency program and joined the VA Puget Sound medical staff at American Lake in 2023. Prior to Chiropractic training, Dr. Sharma served in the Peace Corps in Rwanda. His clinical and research interests include interdisciplinary care, exercise rehabilitation, and social determinants of health. He has contributed to projects presented at national conferences.

Carina Staab, DC, MEd
Dr. Staab received a BS and MEd from Wichita State University, and her DC degree from University of Western States. Dr. Staab is the first chiropractor to be accepted into the three year NIH T90 funded University of Washington BRIDG (Building Research Across Interdisciplinary Gaps) fellowship program. Prior to enrolling in the BRIDG program, she was an instructor at University of Western States. Her clinical and research interests include complementary and integrative health approaches to the management and treatment of pain conditions, particularly in relation to underserved or vulnerable populations. Dr. Staab is a part-time fee consultant provider at the Seattle VA Medical Center.

Location

Training takes place at VAPSHS American Lake (9600 Veterans Drive, American Lake, WA) and Seattle (1600 South Columbian Way, Seattle WA) campuses. VAPSHCS has academic affiliations with the University of Washington, and over 150 other health professional schools including University of Western States. Through these academic affiliations VAPSHCS host more than 2,100 trainees annually including more than 800 physician residents and 275 associated health trainees.

Clinical Facilities

The American Lake chiropractic clinic is composed of three exam/treatment rooms furnished with state-of-the-art exam/treatment tables, workstations, and other essential equipment.

Program Duration

Full-time (40+ hours/week) for 12 months, from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. The schedule consists of 10 hours a day for 4 days a week. Additional weekly time may be needed for scholarly or other training activities.

Number of Positions

One resident position each year

Compensations

The resident stipend is $51,761 per year. The resident receives paid Federal holidays, and accrues vacation and sick leave. The resident is also eligible for life and health insurance. The resident is protected from personal liability while providing professional services at a VA health care facility under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act, 28 U.S.C. 2679 (b)-(d).

Certificate of Completion

Upon satisfactory completion of program requirements, the graduate will receive an official Certificate of Residency, and records will be maintained at the VAPSHCS and the VHA Chiropractic National Program Office.

Applicants must hold or be scheduled to receive a DC degree from a CCE-accredited school prior to the start of the residency program. A cumulative GPA of ≥3.0 out of 4.0 in the DC degree program is required. Licensure is not required prior to the start of the program. Accepted residents, prior to program completion, must obtain a full, active, and unrestricted chiropractic license in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the US, or in the District of Columbia. Applicants must meet all VA employment requirements including US citizenship, and Selective Service registration when applicable.

The VAPSHCS Chiropractic Residency participates in the national chiropractic residency common application and match process. For further information and to apply go to Chiropractic Residency Match.

The application process opens the first week in January each year. Applicants are assessed on characteristics such as academic background, relevant experience, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and telephone, video, and/or in-person interviews. Applicant rankings are made by a review committee including the residency director, DC faculty, and current DC resident.

The VAPSHCS chiropractic residency program received its initial accreditation status with The Council on Chiropractic Education in July 2022. The next currently scheduled comprehensive site visit is Spring 2025.

For additional information contact: Clinton.daniels@va.gov

• Daniels C, Pham A, Miller J, Williamson T, Shannon Z. Investigating the productivity of American Public Health Association Chiropractic Health Care section members between 2014 and 2020. (Manuscript in Preparation) 2024.
• Scott Z, Meyer K, Wahl E, Daniels C. Management of Patients with Axial spondyloarthropathy: A Report of 3 Cases (Manuscript in Preparation) 2024.
• Partridge B, Scott Z, Roecker C, Walters S, Daniels C. Burnout Amongst Chiropractic Practitioners and Trainees: A Scoping Review. (Study in Revision) 2024
• Trager R, Scott Z, Daniels C, Casselberry R, Perez J. Pregnancy and Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection in the United States: A Propensity-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease. 2023;32(11):107384
• Ho H, Barton T, Speckman R, Daniels C. Chiropractic Management of Acute Low Back Pain in a U.S. Veteran Patient with Transtibial Amputation: A Case Report. (Manuscript in Submission) 2023.
• Meyer K, Al-Ryati O, Bonavito-Larragoite G, Daniels C. Clinically Integrated Educational Opportunities Offered Through United States Doctor of Chiropractic programs. Journal of Chiropractic Education 2023; 37(2):90-97.
• Meyer K, Price M, Page S, Daniels C. Chiropractic Management of a U.S. Veteran with Myofascial Pain and Concurrent Distal Bimelic Amyotrophy: A Case Report. Journal of Canadian Chiropractic Association 2023;67(1).

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