Robert Dahl: The ‘Grandfather of Chiropractic’ in Flagstaff, AZ
Robert Dahl, DC will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his graduation from NWHSU in 2025, and still enjoys the work of chiropractic and his patients. He credits his high school “adversary” in track and football (who in college at UMD, became his teammate and a best friend), Richard (Dick) Fisher, DC ‘68, for introducing him to chiropractic.
Dr. Fisher’s dad was a chiropractic patient, which inspired him to become a chiropractor. As a chiropractic student Dr. Fisher shared the chiropractic philosophy: “make the body work right and it makes its own chemicals,” which was reaffirmed for Dr. Dahl in one year of pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Minnesota.
Still, Dr. Dahl pursued pharmacy and homeopathic medicine, then encouraged his two younger brothers to attend chiropractic school, before he himself enrolled at Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1972. He made the choice after being rear-ended by an intoxicated insurance salesman and being treated seventy miles away by Dr. Fisher.
He noted that Northwestern was different.
“It was ‘you need to know this. Grasp it. Own it,’” he recalled. “There was a loving, giving, caring spirit in the school.” After graduating, he practiced in Spring Lake Park and was an instructor at Northwestern for three years.
Building a Thriving Career in Flagstaff
Then, the mountains and elk hunting called Dr. Dahl, and he moved to “Heavenly” Flagstaff, Arizona with his two brothers. He built a thriving career and practice, at its peak employing 30 people across seven clinic locations.
“This whole journey with chiropractic, I follow the way the river bends,” he shared. “There’s a pot of gold at every bend.” He gave his time to his profession as a delegate, treasurer (5yrs) and president (3yrs) of the Arizona Chiropractic Association. As president, he and Dr. Allen Fuhr (legislative chairman) obtained two of the most influential sponsors (Senator John McCain and Senator Dennis DeConcini) on the Armed Services committee for the ACA bill admitting Chiropractic in the military for the first time.
Dr. Dahl’s patients come from all walks of life, from people with multi-million-dollar mansions to underserved families.
“He built a great relationship with many Navajo and Hopi people including providing chiropractic care at his five clinics surrounding and on the Navajo Reservation,” said Jason R. Hamm, DC ‘95, who worked for Dr. Dahl from 1997-2001. “His impact on me as a chiropractor remains with me today in a sense that through him and practicing in the region of Northern Arizona I learned how to care for people of all cultures and backgrounds.”
A Mentor and Valued Doctor
“My patients won’t let me quit,” Dr. Dahl laughed, when asked why he continues to work.
People ask if I’m still practicing. I haven’t ‘practiced’ in 30 years; I know what the hell I’m doing. But I’m still learning.”
In addition to Dr. Hamm, other NWHSU graduates he employed and mentored (and who still practice in Arizona) were his son, Michael Dahl, DC ‘94, Brent Moseng, DC ’94, Bruce Moseng, DC ’98, Mark Burdorf DC ’87 and Troy Freihart DC ’87. Many refer to him as the “Grandfather of Chiropractic.”
“Dr. Robert Dahl was and is an excellent chiropractor and he instilled confidence in me, especially when it came to patient management,” said Dr. Brent Moseng, who worked for Dr. Dahl from 1994-1998. “He was certainly ahead of his time. Dr. Dahl was a good teacher and mentor and I’m thankful. And by the way, he still hits the golf ball down the middle of the fairway!”
