From the Sidelines to the Boardroom: Lasting Impact of Two-Time Grad Dr. Rick Rosa

For more than 25 years, Dr. Rick Rosa (D.C. ’96, M.S. ’25) has been positioned at the forefront of sports recovery and chiropractic care. A proud two-time Northeast College graduate, Rosa built a career defined by resilience, purpose and innovation – qualities that continue to inspire the College community today.

Nearly three decades after earning his chiropractic degree, he returned to his alma mater to complete a master’s in nutrition, a testament to his lifelong commitment to learning and to transforming lives through integrative healthcare. And in 2024, Rosa was elected to a second term as chair of the Northeast College Board of Trustees. Rosa is the first in the College’s history to hold the position twice.

“Dr. Rosa is an outstanding leader,” said Northeast College President Dr. Michael Mestan. “I have greatly appreciated his vision and counsel and look forward to continuing to work with him closely as our college grows and evolves.”

A Global Leader in Sports Recovery

Owning 13 multidisciplinary healthcare clinics in the Washington, D.C. area, Rosa also serves as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. And as a former Northeast faculty member himself, Rosa’s leadership continues to shape the institution’s future.

Internationally recognized in sports chiropractic, Rosa has trained amateur, professional and Olympic athletes, authored The Six Pillars of Sports Recovery, and was the first chiropractor ever to corner a professional boxing match. Most recently, he consulted for boxing icon Mike Tyson ahead of his widely-watched 2024 fight with Jake Paul. Rosa’s entrepreneurial ventures include founding Accessible Beltway Clinics and Quantum Movement, both dedicated to injury-free training, recovery and peak performance.

Inspiring Courage, Vision and Purpose

At Northeast’s Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony, Rosa not only addressed graduates as keynote speaker but also crossed the stage himself to earn his master’s in nutrition. President Mestan introduced him by celebrating his “ever-better” philosophy and his devotion to Northeast, noting that Rosa “has NYCC in his heart and #NortheastBlue in his veins. He truly loves this College.”

In his address, Rosa urged graduates to embrace courage and vision: “I challenge you—rise up and break the chains. Break the chains of doubt, break the chains of fear, break the chains of complacency and in their place build a life of courage, of vision and of purpose. The world does not need you chained—it needs you free.”

Rosa reminded the Class of 2025 that true success in healthcare—and in life—comes not just from knowledge, but from perseverance, resilience and the drive to serve others.