A graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College, Dr. Richard Brassard is a Past President of the Texas Chiropractic Association, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the ACA Council of Delegates, as well as a Past Chairman of TCC’s Board of Regents. He was elected Vice President of the ACA in September 2003.
Dr. Brassard practiced in Beaumont, TX, for over 35 years, until January 2002, when he became TCC President-elect. He has served as TCC’s President since January 2004.
Q: What are TCC’s areas of greatest strength for the chiropractic student and the profession?
Texas Chiropractic College has offered, since 1985, a Hospital Rotation Program that places interns in approximately thirty clinics and major hospitals in Southeast Texas, including the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. Often, during these rotations in specialties like orthopedics and neurology, interns work alongside medical school students, where a greater understanding and appreciation of integrative medicine is developed among all participants. Texas Chiropractic College’s science-based curriculum provides the foundation upon which our graduating doctors are fully capable of serving as portal-of-entry health care providers.
For the past few years, TCC has also given renewed support to its Research Department. Several noteworthy projects are currently underway, and the department’s chair, a nationally recognized expert in pain management, has actively and successfully applied for grants in support of the department’s efforts.
Finally, perhaps our greatest strength lies in what we fondly refer to as our “TCC family”. Numerous students have told me that the reason they chose to attend TCC was because of the attitude of our administrators, faculty and staff. The pervasive friendliness and willingness to meet the needs of the students is readily apparent to anyone who visits the campus. Our smaller class sizes also allow for more individualized attention—a definite plus considering the challenging curriculum.
Q: What are your plans for the future of the school with regard to chiropractic?
We have developed more stringent academic requirements in order to assure the competency of our students upon graduation, as they enter the arena of integrative medicine. An on-going review and revision of our curriculum creates a dynamic learning environment, thus attracting well-qualified faculty and the best and brightest students, who will be tomorrow’s leaders in the profession.
This is also essential to our goal of affiliation with a State university system. Historically, optometry and osteopathy faced similar barriers to such affiliation as we are currently encountering. They were successful in their quest, just as chiropractic will be. It almost happened in Florida, and it just happened in Europe, where the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Great Britain has partnered with Bournemouth University to provide public funding. Because of Texas Chiropractic College’s academic excellence and financial stability, joining a State university system will be a winning situation for both institutions.
Q: Where do you see the chiropractic profession headed?
It is the undeniable right of the chiropractic physician to fully become a part of integrative healthcare in this country and abroad. An important prerequisite of this affiliation has been and is, still, to carry out the research necessary to validate the effectiveness of chiropractic medicine. Eventually, every large university will have a college of chiropractic, and Doctors of Chiropractic will take their rightful place as primary care providers. Much has yet to be accomplished, though, before these goals are realized. I believe that a unity of purpose among all chiropractors would advance the profession exponentially.
Facts about Texas Chiropractic College
Established: Texas Chiropractic College is the third oldest chiropractic college in the nation. It was founded in 1908 in San Antonio, TX, and moved to its present location in Pasadena, TX, in 1965.
Current enrollment: 517
DC Curriculum Duration: 5 years accelerated to 3 1/3 years.
Other Programs: TCC offers accelerated undergraduate studies in order for students to meet the science prerequisites of the Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Program. The college also offers a Bachelor of Science degree with majors available in Human Biology or Public Health.
Contact Info: Sandra Hughes, D.C., Director of Admissions, 5912 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX 77505; www.txchiro.edu.
Office of Admissions: (800) 468-6839; [email protected].
Continuing Education Department: (800) 533-9822; [email protected].
Alumni Association: (800) 822-2586; [email protected].