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Shaw Chiropractic Master of Science in Biomechanical Trauma We're finally done. After two years of course work, Dr. Michael Yoel and I have completed the MS program offered through Lynne University at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Ryder Trauma Center. The Master of Science graduate program was designed for physicians and other professionals who have an interest in the field of biomechanics as it relates to trauma. The student body consisted of medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, dentists, engineers and accident reconstructionists. The instructors included world respected orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, dentists, engineers, biomechanists, PhD physical / occupational therapists, health care administrators, health care lawyers and other professionals. The two year program culminated with the presentation of original biomechanical research from each of the program participants. The research Dr. Yoel and I presented will be of particular interest to you. You may ask, "Dr. Shaw, what does this degree do for you?". The degree serves several purposes. First of all, as Dr. Yoel says "It certainly can't hurt". Beyond that, the master of science degree helps us cross the line between physician and scientist. We are now qualified by degree to report and testify on subjects previously considered to be a grey area for physicians. Doctors have always been able to discuss the diagnosis, management, and prognosis issues surrounding injured patients. However, many physicians have been limited in their scope of opinion and were not qualified to discuss other areas which tie the injury mechanism to the bodily injury. Areas such as accident reconstruction, injury dynamics, bio-engineering issues can now be addressed. The MS and DC degree combined with the board certification in chiropractic orthopedics allows Dr. Yoel and I to be the expert in multiple fields making us better qualified as both treaters and as experts. Probably most important, we are now better able to understand our patient=s injuries allowing for more accurate treatment design and improved outcomes. In an effort to share our knowledge with the legal community Dr. Yoel and I are in the process of presenting and sponsoring monthly or bimonthly educational programs. We have been told that the best day of the week is usually Tuesday in the evening at around 4:00 PM and at a central location in Hartford. The programs will probably be starting in late January and we have tentatively scheduled the first to be held at Morton=s Steak house in Hartford. In keeping with your expectations we are arranging for hor de vours and cocktails to be available. Of course, the educational material will be practical and professionally presented with all the technological flare you would expect from a professional presentation. We also plan on inviting guest speakers from around the country. We are open to suggestions for the programs so please feel free to contact us with your recommendations. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS The research for our masters thesis concerned the relationship of degenerative changes to pain on subjects with and without trauma. The paper is titled AThe Effect of Cervical Spondylosis and Trauma on Neck Pain@. We plan to submit the study for publication in a peer reviewed and indexed journal. As such, it would be inappropriate to discuss the specific contents of the investigation. However, the preliminary findings suggest two very important points. They are as follows: 1. The presence of cervical spondylosis in non-trauma subjects is not related to pain 2. The presence of cervical spondylosis
in trauma subjects results in a statistically
significant greater pain rating than non
spondyloisis subjects in similar trauma.
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