Editor’s Note: Q&A submitted by Logan University. Part 2 is scheduled to appear in the May issue.
Martin Camara, DC, ICSC, MS, enters the clinic for the second time to see his 4-week-old patient with nursing challenges who’d been referred by a pediatrician. He was pleased to hear that after last week’s treatment both nursing and weight gain had improved, leaving Dr. Camara once again thankful he’d chosen to become a specialist in pediatric chiropractic.
Pediatric chiropractic care is becoming increasingly popular, yet remains widely misunderstood by both chiropractors and the public. Although pediatric care is included in most chiropractic curriculums, developing the knowledge and skills needed to safely and effectively support children’s health needs in today’s world requires dedicated and advanced training.
Educational options for obtaining such training have matured as the chiropractic profession has matured. Chiropractors can now advance their pediatric skills through several diplomate certifications and by pursuing a master’s degree.
Traditional pediatric diplomate certifications typically include 200-400 hours of postgraduate education over two to three years, a good option for chiropractors in private practice who seek advanced training. A master’s degree in chiropractic pediatrics offers a more extensive, university-level curriculum with hybrid coursework and annual hands-on training for both private practitioners and chiropractors seeking to expand their careers into integrative healthcare settings.
Both pediatric diplomate certifications and master’s degrees offer valuable opportunities for chiropractors to enhance their expertise and improve outcomes for young patients. Diplomates are a strong option for those wanting their specialization to be recognized within the chiropractic profession, whereas master’s degrees, since they are fully accredited, allow degree holders’ specialization to be recognized beyond chiropractic, creating broader career opportunities including hospital and multidisciplinary settings, university-level teaching and research. Some master’s programs also qualify degree-holders to sit for a diplomate certification exam as well.
In the following Q&A, three graduates of Logan University’s Master of Science in Chiropractic Pediatrics (MSCP) program – Jay Harthun, BS EXIP, M. Chiro, MS, from Australia; Ashley McCool, DC, MS, from the United States; and Dr. Camara, from the Philippines – share their views on modern pediatric chiropractic care and why high-quality pediatric chiropractic education matters.
Q: What do you think is the value of pediatric chiropractic today versus 10 or 20 years ago?
Dr. Harthun: Pediatric chiropractic has always faced scrutiny and that may continue for some time. However, acceptance of our work is steadily growing. Today, there is far greater recognition of the importance of pediatric healthcare and a clearer understanding that children are not simply small adults.
With the rise of social media and the abundance of information available online, parents are more informed, curious and open than ever before. This creates an opportunity and a responsibility for us as chiropractors to deepen our education so we can effectively sift through the noise, provide clarity and help families understand the value of preventative care utilizing chiropractic.
Dr. McCool: Pediatric chiropractic has always held a special place in caring for children, offering gentle, nurturing, hands-on support. What’s different today is the awareness and openness families have toward conservative care. Parents are seeking second opinions that feel aligned with their instincts and options that honor their child’s natural ability to heal before moving to medication or more invasive approaches.
In that way, pediatric chiropractic has become a comforting bridge for families. It offers clarity, reassurance and a whole-body perspective that work together with allopathic medicine. So, while the heart of this work hasn’t changed, its role in the lives of families has grown, becoming a trusted, wellness-centered first step for parents who want gentle, thoughtful support for their children.
Dr. Camara: The healthcare world is becoming more specialized and more integrated at the same time. Maintaining health has also become more complex with increasing exposure to environmental toxins, changes in our food sources and an overreliance on pharmaceuticals.
In the past, general chiropractic practice was often enough. Today, however, with the volume and depth of information in so many different fields, a provider really has to focus their learning in a particular area – such as pediatric chiropractic care – to truly maximize outcomes.
We now have far more information not only on the art and philosophy of chiropractic as it relates to spinal and cranial work, but also on related domains like microbiome health and environmental disruptors. What began as a specialty certification course [at Logan] has now grown into a master’s degree program to accommodate all these learnings and ultimately help optimize health outcomes for the youngest members of our community.
Q: Why did you seek the opportunity to further your knowledge in pediatric care?
Dr. McCool: I wanted to provide care that is both highly qualified and truly specialized for children, and to ensure I had the training and expertise to meet those needs safely and effectively. Like Dr. Harthun mentioned earlier, children are not simply small adults. Their bodies, nervous systems and developmental needs are unique.
Dr. Camara: I love kids and at the time, no one was serving them in my country the way they deserved. There was a clear, unmet need that wasn’t being addressed optimally.
When the opportunity came to specialize in pediatric care, it felt almost impossible not to pursue it. It was a direct way to serve a vulnerable population and make a meaningful impact on their long-term health and quality of life.
Dr. Harthun: I wanted to practice with genuine confidence and clarity. I needed to know when I could help a child, how I could help, and when it was in their best interest to co-manage or refer out. That level of clinical certainty only comes from deeper, specialized training.
After a lot of research, I found Logan University’s MSCP program, and it aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. The curriculum was practical, thorough and designed to be directly applicable in day-to-day practice. Throughout the program, I gained not only tools and frameworks I still refer back to, but also a stronger understanding of development and how children present at different stages.
Most importantly, the training gave me the confidence to communicate clearly with parents, make informed decisions and work collaboratively with other professionals when needed. That was the foundation I was seeking: an education that empowered me to provide safe, effective and well-reasoned care for children.
