OM DENNE EPISODE
What if chiropractic is more than a career?
What if one adjustment could completely change the way you understand the profession?
In this episode of Rip It, Dr. Steven Baker sits down with Dr. Jack Bourla, DC, ACP, president of Sherman College of Chiropractic, for a powerful conversation about chiropractic philosophy, innate intelligence, vertebral subluxation, chiropractic education, and the future of the profession. Dr. Jake
Dr. Bourla did not originally plan to become a chiropractor. His background included cell and molecular biology, teaching, biotechnology, business, and entrepreneurship. At 39 years old, after witnessing a chiropractic experience that dramatically changed his wife's condition, he decided to enter chiropractic school. Dr. Jake Dr. Jake
But one of the most defining moments of his chiropractic career came years later during the birth of his son.
After a difficult delivery, his newborn son was taken toward the NICU in serious distress. Dr. Bourla describes evaluating his son's upper cervical spine and applying gentle sustained pressure. When he returned approximately 45 minutes later, his son was crying, moving, breathing, and reportedly had an Apgar score above nine. Dr. Bourla explains why that experience took his conviction in chiropractic to an entirely different level. Dr. Jake Dr. Jake
Dr. Baker shares a remarkably similar experience from the birth of his own son, Isaiah, and how that moment helped shift his understanding of chiropractic from neck and back pain toward human function, potential, and purpose. Dr. Jake
They also discuss why chiropractors must do a better job communicating what chiropractic actually is, why the profession should not be reduced to pain care, and how innate intelligence and the body's internal organization remain central to chiropractic philosophy. Dr. Jake
The conversation then turns to Sherman College of Chiropractic. Dr. Bourla explains why Sherman emphasizes the philosophy, science, art, and business of chiropractic, with the goal of graduating chiropractors who are competent, confident, certain, and committed to serving humanity. Dr. Jake Dr. Jake
Meet the Guest
Dr. Jack Bourla, DC, ACP is the president of Sherman College of Chiropractic.
Before entering chiropractic, he worked in education, biotechnology, and business. He later practiced chiropractic for approximately 25 years before moving into chiropractic education and leadership. Dr. Jake
At Sherman College, Dr. Bourla is focused on preserving chiropractic philosophy while preparing the next generation of chiropractors in philosophy, science, technique, business, and service. Dr. Jake
Key Takeaways
- Chiropractic is more than a job. It can become a calling.
- Chiropractic should not be reduced to neck pain and back pain.
- The profession must do a better job explaining what makes chiropractic different.
- Innate intelligence is foundational to traditional chiropractic philosophy.
- Great chiropractors continually practice and refine their craft.
- Experience can transform belief into certainty.
- Chiropractic schools should develop both technical skill and a heart for service.
- Philosophy, science, art, and business all matter in practice.
- Chiropractors should put the patient's needs above their own ego.
- The profession needs more confident, competent, principled chiropractors.
If you are a chiropractor, chiropractic student, or someone considering entering the profession, this is an episode worth hearing.
Share it with someone who needs to understand that chiropractic can be about far more than neck pain and back pain.
Tune in to Rip It for more conversations about chiropractic philosophy, innate intelligence, leadership, practice, purpose, and the future of the profession.
