What Diversity Means to Me - Exit Essay

Submitted by Ryan Schroeder D.C., Diversity Scholarship Recipient.

Dear members of the diversity commission:

I first of all must say that I cannot thank the diversity commission enough for the opportunity that was afforded to me through receiving the diversity scholarship.  Through my experiences of being a part of this commission, I witnessed a strong desire to bring diversity to Northwestern and to bring Northwestern to places of diversity and need.  In the course of these experiences a deeper prospective was instilled upon me. 

When I applied for the diversity scholarship, I did it under the broader understanding of what diversity means to me.  I believe true diversity includes race, religion, marital status, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation and importantly to me… age.  As I later discovered, a broad definition similar to this had already been established by the diversity commission. 

Being a white male many classmates, friends and relatives were utterly shocked at the news of my receipt of a diversity scholarship.  As I stated in my application, I believe for the chiropractic profession to truly serve all, it must broaden its treatment reach farther than upper-middle income white females.  To accomplish this I was not suggesting that we should focus our time and attention on the males in that category.  My desire was to bring chiropractic care to the doors of our senior population.  Through my experiences I saw the neglect that many of our parents and grandparents receive in regards to their health care once they enter and prior to entering elder care facilities.

In my own experiences working in an assisted living facility I saw dietary deficiencies, food intolerances, strong emotional behaviors, and numerous biomechanical problems that went untreated.   My goal then and now is to better equip doctors of chiropractic to work with these individuals.  Also we must do a much better job at developing rigorous scientific studies on the impact chiropractic can have on the health and well being of this population.  Through this research we will be able to educate industry and government that controls many of the health options for elder populations.            

I leave Northwestern with my doctor of chiropractic degree committed to treating the senior population and I hope to enter into a clinical agreement with elder care facilities in my eventual practice location. 

Prior to finding this practice home my family and I will be taking a minor detour.  While searching for that perfect practice location both my wife and I felt called to serve the ‘least among us’.  We began looking into foreign missionary work and we found that the need was great.  We moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras May 13th to work with an organization called World Gospel Outreach.  World Gospel Outreach organizes weekly medical missions that include medical doctors, nurses, dentists and optometrists.  These clinics see nearly 1500 patients per week.  They have had a couple weekly chiropractors and they are interested in expanding this aspect of their clinic.  My family and I will be here for a year to serve the poor population in Tegucigalpa and bring much needed chiropractic care to these people and this mission.  I can see as many patients as my hands can take, so the harvest will be great!

Because this is a volunteer position, I will not receive a salary and we must raise our own funds to pay for airfare and cost of living for my family and I while we are there.  I do not know if we would have accepted this calling if it had not been for the diversity scholarship.  The year that we are away my student loans will be on deferment collecting interest.  I feel that is a very acceptable due to the fact that my student loan debt is lower due to receipt of the scholarship.

It has been an honor and privilege working with the commission and I wish you the best in continuing to meet the ever changing diversity needs of the university and the surrounding community.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely in warm regards,

Ryan Schroeder D.C.