Palmer Chiropractic College

Palmer College of Chiropractic is a private chiropractic college with its main campus in Davenport, Iowa. It was established in 1897 by Daniel David Palmer and was the first school of chiropractic in the world. The college's name was originally the Palmer School and Cure and later became the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Most early chiropractic schools were founded by Palmer alumni.

History

The Palmer School of Chiropractic was begun by D. D. Palmer, who is the Founder of Chiropractic. D.D.'s son, Dr. B.J. Palmer, is considered the Developer of Chiropractic because he greatly expanded the scope of the school and laid the foundation for the campus and profession that exists today. He assumed responsibility of the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1904. According to the Palmer College website, B.J.'s "contributions included extensive research, improved methods of spinal adjusting and analysis, higher standards for chiropractic education, and increased appreciation for chiropractic worldwide."

After B.J.'s death in 1961, his son Dr. David D. Palmer became president of the school and changed its name to Palmer College of Chiropractic, which was one of the steps leading to the school's accreditation. Dr. Dave, as he was known, modernized the campus, established non-profit status for the college and organized the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association. The College received accreditation from the Council on Chiropractic Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools largely through his leadership, but not until after his death in 1978.

The college opened campuses in San Jose, California in 1980 and in Port Orange, Florida in 2002. The College was once encompassed by the Palmer Chiropractic University System. While it is no longer a university system, Palmer is one college with three campuses, with the main campus located in Davenport, Iowa, and branch campuses (the San Jose, Calif. campus and the Port Orange, Fla. campus). The College is a non-profit organization governed by a single Board of Trustees.

Davenport, Iowa campus

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research was established in 1995 and is also located on the Davenport, Iowa campus in the William and Jo Harris Building. The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research is the largest and most highly funded research effort in the chiropractic educational community. The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research encompasses all three Palmer campuses and employs a Vice Chancellor of Research and Health Policy, a research director, 10 full-time faculty, 8 associate faculty and 23 administrative and professional staff with a total annual budget of approximately $5 million per year, much of which is supported by grants and contracts.

The campus consists of new as well as historic buildings. The Palmer College of Chiropractic Academic Health Center (opened in 2007), which contains the College's outpatient clinic, welcome center, Clinical Radiology Department (featuring digital radiology), Chiropractic Rehabilitation and Sports Injury Department, and the Clinical Learning Resource Center. Other buildings include the David D. Palmer Health Sciences Library, the Memorial Building (the oldest building on campus), Campus Center, B.J. and Mabel Palmer Residence, Vickie Anne Palmer Hall, among others.

Port Orange, Fla. campus

Palmer's Florida campus is located in Port Orange, Fla.

San Jose, Calif. campus

Palmer’s West campus is located in San Jose, Calif. The San Jose Campus will close on June 2025, The Palmer board decided mid March 2022 to close the campus due to "escalation of the building lease, the high cost of living, the employment market, and the college's cost to deliver the program in California compelled the decision to phase out the West campus".

Accreditation

The Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Program of Palmer College of Chiropractic’s campuses are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).

Palmer College of Chiropractic’s campuses are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Athletics

Palmer College Dragons Hockey

Palmer College of Chiropractic men's hockey team, known as the Palmer Dragons, are part of the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II.

Palmer College Rugby Football Club

Palmer College Rugby Football Club (RFC) was established in 1960. Palmer College RFC offers both partial and full Rugby scholarships for tuition.

Men’s Rugby Team

Palmer College of Chiropractic men's rugby team, known as Palmer College Dragons, plays in the competitive Midwest Division I conference.
:National Titles: 1972, 1973, 1978, and 1979
:Final Four USA Rugby Championships : Fourth place in 1995, 2001, 2010 and third place in 2011 and 2012.

Women's Rugby Team

Palmer College of Chiropractic women's rugby team, also known as Palmer College Dragons, plays in the competitive Midwest Division II conference.

Intramurals

Intramurals sports, available to the Palmer Community, include flag football, softball, basketball, bowling, pickleball, and volleyball.

Outreach clinics

Palmer College of Chiropractic has Palmer Community Outreach Clinics, at all campus locations, to serve economically and socially disadvantaged community members at reduced or no cost expenses (who meet financial need requirements). The Quad Cities (IA/IL) area has two outreach clinics located in Davenport, IA and Moline, IL. The Daytona Beach area has one outreach clinic located in South Daytona, FL. The South Bay area has five satellite outreach clinics. These outreach clinics improve opportunities for student interns and provide chiropractic services for patients visiting the facilities.

Notable alumni

* Sylva Ashworth, chiropractor, who played a significant role in developing the chiropractic field
* Frank Farkas, former member of the Florida House of Representatives
* James A. Glisson, state legislator in Florida
*Clarence Gonstead, creator of Gonstead technique, and founder of one of the largest ever chiropractic clinics in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
* Mabel Heath Palmer, first female chiropractor, author of first anatomy textbook for chiropractic students, and founder of Sigma Phi Chi, the world's first chiropractic sorority
* Forrest C. Shaklee, creator of the first multivitamin in the US, philosopher, and entrepreneur
*Ben Tapper, social media influencer and chiropractor

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer College of Chiropractic
Chiropractic schools in the United States
Education in Davenport, Iowa
Buildings and structures in Davenport, Iowa
Educational institutions established in 1897
Tourist attractions in Davenport, Iowa
Universities and colleges in Volusia County, Florida
1897 establishments in Iowa
Private universities and colleges in Florida
Private universities and colleges in California
Private universities and colleges in Iowa