A historic meeting between chiropractic and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) leadership took place on March 10th, 2026, in Washington, D.C., featuring representatives from chiropractic national organizations, professional associations and policy principals. The collective goal: advancing the role of chiropractic in improving the health of Americans. Meeting participants focused on long-standing issues that have affected the chiropractic profession for decades, including access to care, reimbursement parity, and ensuring DCs have an appropriate role in national health policy discussions.
| Digital ExclusivePalmer College of Chiropractic West
Peter Fysh, DC, was the commencement speaker.
Winter Commencement
Sixty students graduated March 13th from Palmer College of Chiropractic West (PCCW), the 52nd graduating class. The ceremony, held at the San Jose Convention Center, honored PCCW senior faculty member Dr. Richard Brown with a fellowship into the Palmer West Academy of Chiropractic. Dr. Peter Fysh, a PCCW faculty member and clinician for seven years, presented the commencement address.
Mary Ford and Robert Magner graduated as co-valedictorians, and Janet Rosenfeld was the class salutatorian. "Clinical Excellence" awards went to Lori Carrillo, Guy Clark, Maria Cruz, and Randall Hensley. Pam Woodward received the "Student Council Recognition" award. Mary Ford, Audra Herbstman, Robert Magner, and Janet Rosenfeld graduated magna cum laude. Paul Anatasio, Lynette Brink, Gil Cromshaw, Maria Cruz, Wilhelmina Gotuaco, Randall Hensley, Nadine Hirokawa, and Patricia Schaller graduated cum laude.
Student Officers Elected
Sherry Mattern, a native of Alberta, Canada, was elected president of PCCW. Larry Maddalena, from Portola, California, is the new second vice president. Treasurer Michael Pesta hails from San Jose, California; incoming Secretary Kim Mazar is from Alberta, Canada. Provo, Utah native David Heaton was elected athletic director, and Patrick Ryan, the newly elected newspaper editor, is originally from Fresno, California.
Student Qualifies for Nat'l Weightlifting Championships
Palmer West student David Conragan finished second in his weight division in the California Weightlifting Championships held in Fresno. A competitive weightlifter for five years, the California Championships marked Mr. Conragan's first event in nearly five months, due to surgery and subsequent rehabilitation of a torn rotator cuff. His cumulative total for the snatch and the clean and jerk was 635 pounds. His showing qualifies him for the National Championships this month.