As I think back to my days in chiropractic college, I find it hard to believe that I have been in chiropractic now for 11 years.

I graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, Calif. in 1996. When I left school, I started practicing part time, working for another doctor and teaching at the college. I discovered there was a learning curve to run a successful practice.

Looking back at that learning curve, I have developed a short list of habits you may want to cultivate now to make your transition to practice easier.

1. Reality check: Your future is much more than studying for the next test. When I was in school, I was focused on getting straight A's all the way through my 12 quarters. I was proud of myself when I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. However, not one patient in practice has ever asked me what my grades were.

What patients care about is whether you can help them with their problems. Studying hard is important. You should try to do well, because your classes are a foundation for your practice knowledge.

However, realize that although academics are important, picking up practical knowledge that will serve you well when you get into practice is equally as important. Don’t get so stuck in the books that you say “no” to other opportunities.

2. Take as many technique electives as possible in chiropractic college. If you have the opportunity to take classes or electives on specific techniques, take as many of them as you can. You may not be to use this information daily, but someday you might.

You may find that you like a certain type of technique. You may also find that you don’t like a particular technique, and this all helps shape the doctor you will eventually become.

3. Learn from your student clinicians. By the time you hit student clinic and begin “playing” doctor, you will have a clinician who will oversee your cases. Be a sponge and learn everything you can from him or her.

Usually, these doctors have had or currently have a practice. They deal with patients every day, so they bring “real-life” knowledge to you and help you learn to treat common conditions.

Ask your clinician questions about practice setup, techniques, office staff, and anything else you are curious about. You will be amazed at what clinicians will teach you if you just ask. You may not like or agree with everything your clinician says, but you can learn a lot if you keep an open mind and ask questions. Your clinician will help mold you into a competent chiropractor.

4. Go to as many professional chiropractic seminars as you can. As students, you have access to all types of chiropractic seminars — at a fraction of the cost. This resource becomes especially important once you have entered clinic and are treating real patients.

You can listen and learn from the profession’s great authorities and go home with a note packet to use in your own treatment protocols.

5. Volunteer in various chiropractic clinics. Volunteering in various types of practices allows you to see how they are organized.

Working in someone’s office gives you a taste of what a real practice is like. You can observe patient flow, front-desk operations, patient-response to treatment plans, and much more.

6.  Consider working for an experienced doctor. After you graduate you may have a period before you actually receive your license to practice in your state. You can use this time to go to work for a doctor with an established practice and begin learning how to work with patients. This allows you to get your feet wet and begin practicing under someone else’s license.

Once you have obtained your license, you have options. Some of you plan to open your practice right out of the gates from school; more power to you. Consider that working for an established doctor as an associate will allow you to gain quite a lot of experience under someone else’s roof.

As a student, you need to manage your time wisely and balance your learning about technique and practical matters in order to be successful. Fortunately, you have a multitude of tools at your disposal right now that you can use to get ready for the real world. The most important thing is to be as prepared as you can for practicing chiropractic. Adopt these six habits now to start on your path to success.

Kevin Wong, DC, is a 1996 summa cum laude graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, California. In 1997, he was named Clinician of the Year by Palmer College of Chiropractic West, where he has taught chiropractic technique. He practices in Orinda, Calif., and is a speaker for Foot Levelers seminars. He can be contacted by e-mail at drkevinwong@gmail.com.

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