A Masters Degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from the National University of Health Sciences

Posted On: August 26, 2014

I am Dr. David A. Johnson and I am licensed as both a chiropractic physician and as a physical therapist in Illinois. I own and Direct North Shore Spinal & Sports Rehabilitation located in both Highland Park and Lake Bluff.

On August 14, 2014 I graduated with a Masters Degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard Illinois. The courses I took to achieve this degree included advanced classes in physical diagnosis, neurology, advanced imaging, laboratory diagnosis, nutrition, pharmacology and research methodology.

I took the course to advance my knowledge and to better serve my patients. Over the years I have taken a lot of classes to this end. I originally received Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the Logan College of Chiropractic. I went on to receive my Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from that institution. I completed a course to become certified as a Chiropractic Sports Physician from the Northwestern College of Chiropractic, a course to become certified as a Diplomate in the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists at the National College of Chiropractic, I received my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from the Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences, an Advanced Certification in Whiplash and Brain Injury Traumatology from the Spine Institute of San Diego. This list does not include a lot of weekend seminars I have attended again mainly to advance and serve.

This time it was different. During the masters degree course I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a squamous cell carcinoma of my left tonsil that had spread to the regional lymph nodes of my cervical spine. I underwent a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the University of Chicago and to date I am happy to report I am cancer free as of January 2013.

I am afraid that I scared some of my classmates, dropping from 203 pounds to 153 pounds, losing my hair and having a feeding tube hooked up during the lunch breaks to nourish myself. To them I apologize and send out my deepest gratitude for them being witness to some of the ordeal. I had to continue to attend class and graduate to show them I was really healthy again. My fondest memory was completing the online research discussions with classmates while being in a hospital bed and having an IV tube pumping poison into my system. Believe it or not it gave me purpose and kept me going through the ordeal. Thank you Dr. Cambron for putting together such a great class.

I of course could not have completed therapy were it not for my wife driving me to and from the University of Chicago and I wouldn’t have been able to complete the course without her willingness to take me to Lombard on the weekends I had class. Thank you Caroline, I love you and you’re the best.

I also want to thank all of the staff at North Shore Spinal & Sports Rehabilitation for keeping the practice going in my eight-month absence. You guys are the best, thank you.

So what did I learn? I learned how to be a good patient. I learned to rely on others. I learned greater compassion for those suffering and greater respect for those who serve. All and all I would say it was a pretty good course.

To learn more about our practice visit us at www.northshorerehab.com. To schedule an appointment, please call our Lake Forest, Lake Bluff office at 847.295.0920, or our Highland Park office at 847.432.4077. 

You may also use our online Request an Appointment form.