Mary M. Tuchscherer, DC, PhD

Mary M. Tuchscherer, DC, PhD joined the faculty at Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1985. She has taught courses in Histology, Pathology, Neuroscience, Neurodiagnosis and Chiropractic Philosophy. She has been the Chair of the Basic Sciences Department since 2002. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1987.

Her dissertation was on various aspects of peripheral pain transmission; and her current areas of interest are studying the neurological basis of manual therapies, the effects of subluxation on inflammation, and the science of applied kinesiology. Dr. Tuchscherer earned her D.C. from Northwestern Health Sciences University, then named Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1991, graduating summa cum laude. She is currently the President of the Faculty Senate, a post she has held four times since 1991, and has been named Professor of the Year four times at NWHSU.

In addition to her work at NWHSU, Dr. Tuchscherer has a private practice in Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Northeast Minneapolis.

Session

Lecture: “Where Are You??” Only Your Proprioceptors Know for Sure!

We are constantly being engaged both consciously and unconsciously by our proprioceptive system. This system is managed by very specific peripheral receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints. The cerebrum and cerebellum have roles to play in this system, as well. We will briefly discuss the neuroanatomy of these systems and then review some pathology associated with these systems. Concussion and TBI can impact these systems. Some simple functional tests can be used to assess the loss and progress following treatments, and we will practice some of these.