Dr. Plaugher Rejoins Life West
Gregory Plaugher, BS, DC, a 1986 graduate of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, is returning to Life Chiropractic College West as an associate professor. He previously taught at the college from 1987-1991.
Dr. Plaugher will teach courses on spinal biomechanics, the Gonstead technique, examination procedures, and public health. Aside from his teaching duties, Dr. Plaugher will continue his work as director of research for the national Gonstead Clinical Studies Society.
Dr. Plaugher is the editor and co-author of Textbook of Clinical Chiropractic, and also the co-editor and a contributing author of the recently-published textbook Pediatric Chiropractic.
Before rejoining Life West, Dr. Plaugher served as an assistant professor and associate professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic West.
Darren Hines, a fifth-trimester student at Cleveland Chiropractic College-Los Angeles, has been awarded the $7,500 Chiropractic Academic Research and Excellence (CARE) scholarship.
Darren was awarded the scholarship for the paper, "The Role of Chiropractic in the Health Care System of the 21st Century," along with meeting the criteria for the CARE scholarship: full-time enrollment; a minimum GPA of 3.0; extracurricular activities; and having at least one academic year remaining in the program of study.
"It is an honor that a Cleveland student has received this substantial award," said Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, president of CCCLA. "Darren is most deserving of this award and is a true leader within the CCCLA student community."
Darren has helped develop CCCLA's sports programs, and served as co-coordinator and college representative to the 1997 California Games while participating as a team member and coach of the men's basketball team. He was also a co-coordinator for the 1997 Chiropractic Olympic teams and currently serves as the student intramural coordinator for the sports program.
He is also a co-founder and student coordinator of the CCCLA Community Service (America Reads) program, and coordinates the after-school program at Dayton Heights elementary school. He is a student mentor, president of the Student American Black Chiropractic Association, and is listed in Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities. He is also a member of the Society for Achievement in Science and the Delta Tau Alpha service fraternity.
"Darren is in our office every day, quietly and effectively working on a sports or community service project," said Georgeanne Gaulden, the college's director of student services. "I genuinely appreciate his dependability (and) dedication."
Life Chiropractic College West's student body has elected student council officers to serve a three-quarter term.
This term's officers are:
President -- J. Michael Shaw II is a sophomore from Rushville, Indiana who has a BA in speech from Wabash College. He received the "student of the quarter" award during his freshman year, and was a member of Life West's 1997 chiropractic Olympic basketball team.
Vice President -- Michael Weiskopf is returning for a second term as vice president. A junior from Robbinsville, New Jersey, he was president of Life West's Delta Sigma Chi fraternity, and was listed in the 1997 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Michael is an active member of the Student International Chiropractors Association.
Secretary -- Elizabeth Hesse is a sophomore from Yakima, Washington who earned a BS in biology from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. She is the co-founder of the Life West chapter of the World Congress of Women in Chiropractic, and has served as a reporter for LifeLines, the college's student newsletter.
Elizabeth has also been involved in the student International Chiropractors Association, and the college's 1997 chiropractic Olympic volleyball team.
Treasurer -- Bruce Rizzo earned bachelor's degrees in business and Spanish from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire before entering Life West. A sophomore, Bruce recently earned a Chela scholastic award for his exceptional accomplishments in school and his generous contributions to the community.
Parliamentarian -- Donald Clum has returned for a second term as the council's parliamentarian. While this is a voluntary and nonelected position, Donald's role with the council is to help the elected members stay within the council's expressed rules and procedures.
Dr. Edward Horowitz knows what it's like trying to juggle an academic schedule with raising a family. A 1980 graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College-Los Angeles, Dr. Horowitz attended college and received his chiropractic degree while supporting a family of four.
As a way of giving back to the school, Dr. Horowitz, his wife Vera and his family created a $1,000 annual family scholarship. The qualifications for the family scholarship include a minimum GPA of 3.4, and being the head of a family (with at least one child).
The recipient of this year's scholarship is 10-trimester student D'Anira Wiseman, a mother of three children, who has maintained a high scholastic standing while commuting to college from Ojai.
"Although this gift is exciting for the recipient, it is the donor who receives the greatest blessing," said Dr. Horowitz. "Both Vera and I are pleased to present this year's award to a single-parent mother."
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
