New NWHSU Business Learning Modules: Practice Ready Essentials
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Last updated: March 5, 2026
Northwestern Health Sciences University recently launched a new curriculum to support NWHSU students and alumni in beginning their new healthcare practice. This project has been developed with support from National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC) and designed to help with business readiness.
This article will explore:
- What are the Practice Ready Essentials modules?
- Who are the modules for?
- What will students and alumni learn?
- How do alumni access the modules?
What are the Practice Ready Essentials modules?
NWHSU designed the Practice Ready Essentials Modules, a collection of on-demand resources, to elevate your professional image and empower you to launch and grow your own professional practice. These Modules provide essentials such as:
- Define the “Brand” of your Practice
- Develop a Business Plan
- Build a Professional Network
- Strengthen Financial Skills
A research team designed the modules for busy early professionals. You pick and choose what you want to learn about. Plus, you can study up whenever you have time, and can go at your own pace.
Who are the modules for?
The team designed the modules for busy early professionals – this includes NWHSU alumni and students!
Students are introduced to the modules via their curriculum, addressing feedback from graduates 3-5 years out from their respective programs. Recent graduates expressed the need for increased business preparation, helping to influence the content of the modules.
While NWHSU has a plethora of on-demand resources for alumni, this module content is geared toward recent alumni who are looking to build a successful practice.
What will students and alumni learn?
Recent graduates can save the modules and refer to them to later. This helps to reinforce the lessons learned and provide an opportunity to review previous topics.
The modules can be useful for any healthcare practitioner. Chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists will benefit most from the modules, but the lessons all include foundational information that is not discipline-specific. The first three modules: “Align your Values, Goals and Growth,” “Showcase Your Professional Self” and “Connect and Communicate Professionally” can apply to any student or early professional, not just those who want to open a practice.
One of the common themes that came up for researchers when asking alumni for input was the value of networking. A notable lesson addressing this need is Module 2, Lesson 3: “Networking Necessities.” After reviewing resources on the importance and mechanics of networking, the lesson concludes with two activities to help you prepare for a theoretical networking event. The activities are PDFs that can be downloaded and used whenever you need to prepare to attend an event.
The later modules are more specific to opening and running a business, including a variety of practical activities and checklists. These modules include, but are not limited to: sample business plans, designing a marketing strategy, a guide to contract negotiations, and more.
How do alumni access the modules?
If you’re a graduate of NWSU, you’ll gain access to the Practice Ready Essentials Modules at CE symposium events, and through alumni communications. NWHSU is working on a new alumni portal, Aluminati, that will make accessing alumni resources, including these modules, even easier. Current students will gain access through the curriculum.
Need access or have questions? Get Help Here.