
Episode #43
How Chiropractic Schools Build Board Ready Graduates with Dr. Deb Bushway
What should a chiropractic education guarantee when a student finally walks across the stage: seat time, or real competence? We sit down with Dr. Deb Bushway, president of Northwestern Health Sciences University, to get specific about what “practice-ready” actually means and why outcomes like graduation rates and chiropractic board pass rates are still the clearest promise a program can make to students and the public. Along the way, we talk candidly about how easily education can drift into tradition instead of measurable skill. We also go straight at a pain point every new chiropractor recognizes: business readiness. Great clinicians can still struggle with pricing, cash flow, staffing, and the day-to-day reality of private practice. Dr. Bushway explains an approach built for how people learn and when they need the information: online practice management modules reinforced throughout school, plus free access after graduation when the lessons finally feel urgent and practical. Then we zoom out to the bigger system shaping chiropractic training: the relationship between academic programs, accreditation, licensing boards, and the NBCE. We discuss why standardization matters, why hours are a shaky proxy for learning, and how competency-based education could raise clarity and quality across the profession. We also share a powerful VA story that shows how integrative care can shift minds fast when results are undeniable. If you found this useful, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show






