If you’ve been searching “chiropractic colleges near me,” remember to look at all the things each great college is near, too. Is it near the top in terms of reputation? Is it near the forefront of research and teaching techniques? And is it near the kind of natural and cultural amenities that make for a fun, stress-reducing lifestyle during a demanding educational program?

For those from U.S.’s upper northeast region, this search will naturally turn up Northeast College of Health Sciences and its well-respected Doctor of Chiropractic program. After all, the College’s campus in Seneca Falls, N.Y., is within driving distance of key cities from Buffalo to Syracuse, Rochester, and even New York City itself. It’s also near the kind of stunning natural beauty and creative cultural offerings that appeal to students from Ontario to India, and from Pittsburgh to Puerto Rico. To find out just why this “near to what matters” location attracts chiropractic students from all over, we talked to Dr. Michael Mestan, president of Northeast College.

The beauty of studying at Northeast College of Health Sciences.

people sitting on a dock in the finger lakes

Serenity and opportunity were the two words that immediately came to mind for Dr. Mestan when talking about Northeast’s location and campus. “The serenity of the Finger Lakes area certainly balances out the rigors of the classroom and clinic,” he said. “It gives students the opportunity to interact with nature in a very cathartic way.”

He mentioned how hiking, biking or just taking in the scenery on picturesque backroads or shorelines (“like something you’d see in a painting”) promotes student wellness and health. In fact, a meta-analysis of research studies, featured in Frontiers in Psychology magazine, backs up his observation. The analysis notes that “Nature may promote learning by improving learners’ attention, levels of stress, self-discipline, interest and enjoyment in learning.”

The ever-present impact of nature starts with the Finger Lakes in Central New York state, as the College sits on the shores of beautiful Cayuga Lake. “We’re well-known here for landscape and lakes carved by glaciers,” said Dr. Mestan, pointing to one of his favorite natural features found in abundance here. “There are a lot of beautiful waterfalls around us, so anytime someone visits me, I have them jump in my Jeep and I give them a waterfall tour. Then I take them on the backroads, where the journey itself is just as exciting as any of the scenic destinations we visit.”

The benefit of being in the center of it all.

The glory of the great outdoors notwithstanding, some prospective students initially worry about being “away from it all.” But they soon find that couldn’t be further from the truth. Dr. Mestan put it this way: “Students, especially from large urban places like New York City or Toronto, may feel they’re coming to the middle of nowhere when they’re really in the center of it all. Besides the beauty and serenity here, you are surrounded by thought leaders in the chiropractic profession. You have the ability to talk and interact with them. You’re building colleagues, both with faculty and fellow students. And you’ve always got easy access to the most advanced chiropractic teaching tools in existence.”

He went on to add, “Our special environment serves you well, as your real opportunity here is to go through a transformative process — one that will keep you very busy. The beauty, the calm, the focus here help you fully embrace the opportunity and succeed.”

Besides the beauty and serenity here, you are surrounded by thought leaders in the chiropractic profession.

Dr. Michael Mestan
Northeast College President

 

 

Why students from near and far think Northeast College is close to perfect.

A college president would, of course, feel that way about his institution. But what about the students? Dr. Mestan went on to tell us, “We have a lot of students from Puerto Rico, and at our alumni events I’m always surprised to hear the Puerto Rican graduates say how much they miss campus and how they can’t wait to come back. I, of course, reply ‘You’re crazy, it’s 85 degrees in PR today!’ And they say, ‘Exactly. It’s always 85 here. When we went to Northeast College, we learned how to cross-country ski, ice fish and hike. We had four seasons!’”

Even students from big city environs fall for the charms of life in Seneca Falls. “Those who are from the city — and specifically New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut and parts of Pennsylvania — are surprised that they fall in love with this area,” said Dr. Mestan. “They come back as alums to visit and, not only that, they very often decide to put down roots here.”

A recent Northeast College graduate, Dr. Romney Leveille (D.C. ’23) from Brooklyn, New York, told us, “Being from a fast-paced city there is definitely a learning curve in moving to Seneca Falls. But you learn to slow down, learn to just take in what’s being given to you. And I found friends here who introduced me to new things. I’d never been on a pontoon boat before, or been to a wine tasting at a winery, or seen a waterfall up close and personal. You come to realize that there are so many things that encompass being alive outside of the big city — and for me, that was pretty awesome.”

A unique location to more powerfully prepare for your career as a chiropractor.

The scenery, the activities, the calm, quiet and camaraderie of Northeast College of Health Sciences are not simply enjoyable — they are key components to producing the finest practitioners in the chiropractic field. They complement, support and help students get through one of the most rigorous and respected chiropractic degree programs anywhere.


So, when you are Googling “chiropractic programs near me,” look beyond location to discover the true character of the place you’ll be living. That’s the best way to find the chiropractic education that’ll be near-to-perfect for you.

You come to realize that there are so many things that encompass being alive outside of the big city — and for me, that was pretty awesome.

Dr. Romney Leveille
(D.C. ’23)

Northeast Campus at a Glance.