The Value of a Strong Professional Network
While the academic aspects of getting a graduate degree are certainly crucial, just as important are the networks you join and the connections you make along the way. At Northeast College of Health Sciences, students study with faculty who are preeminent professionals in their fields, and who are eager to provide mentorship to the future professionals they help train.
Additionally, Northeast has a vibrant network of alumni around the globe who stay tightly connected by their shared commitment to health and wellness. As students train for their successful careers, they also become part of these vibrant professional communities, forging impactful bonds that support them during their studies and beyond.
Mentorship.
Northeast faculty members are in the classroom (face-to-face and online), working directly with students every day. And a big part of that work with students is mentorship. As one professor in the College of Chiropractic, Dr. Brian Cunningham, eloquently put it: "What I like best about teaching is watching the students grow. I appreciate the fact that everyone who comes through our classes eventually treats patients and all of us on the faculty have made a small contribution to that."
Even as Northeast faculty are noted as outstanding academic instructors, they are also highly experienced and respected professionals in their respective fields. They conduct research, write papers, and present at national and international events. As well, they serve in leadership positions in some of the industries' most prominent professional organizations, such as the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), and the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). And they encourage students to get involved as well, helping them gain important experience and build lasting relationships to take forward into their professional lives.
Northeast students' mentors are found outside of our excellent faculty, as well. Through our clinical hub and spoke model, chiropractic students are also able to get hands-on experience in clinical settings such as Veterans Administration medical centers; community care centers; College-run health centers; hospitals and residential centers; private clinics, and more. In these settings, students often discover valuable mentorship from experienced practitioners willing to offer career support and guidance to the still-learning future professors.
Networking & Alumni Connections.
Northeast's alumni network is far-reaching, both in terms of geography and specialties. Over the course of their graduate educations, most students build close relationships with their classmates — and this is certainly true at Northeast. The bonds formed hold firm throughout the course of many students' careers, providing a great network to which to turn when brainstorming new techniques, seeking consultation on a challenging case, or even facing difficult business decisions.
The College also provides a robust online career development center, where graduates can be matched to associate openings, practices for sale, and active jobs. This portal also features mapping of alumni across the country and world, so that graduates can better visualize where pockets of their peers are located. This can be a help when determining a region in which to practice, and in finding local colleagues with whom to connect.
Between these excellent tools and the strong alumni network, recent graduates are well positioned to truly thrive once they enter the chiropractic profession.
Intrigued by the prospects of a thriving alumni network and top-notch mentors? Time to prepare your grad school application! Check out our Grad School Checklist and download it today to get started.