Supporting Chiropractic Interns Toward Success

Rob Karwath for NWHSU | April 11, 2018

Dr. Christopher Jo knows that supporting chiropractic interns is good for his profession. But the benefits, he is quick to point out, flow many ways. Yes, to the interns. Yes to the profession. But also to him and his practicing colleagues.

But the benefits, he is quick to point out, flow many ways. Yes, to the interns. Yes to the profession. But also to him and his practicing colleagues.

“For us, it has been a tremendous experience,” he says. “They keep us young, and they keep us thinking with all of their good questions.”

He adds: “To anybody who asks me, ‘Should I take an internship,” I say, ‘Absolutely.’ But in my opinion, they teach us, too. And that’s the really great part for us.”

Jo knows. He and his partners at 50th & France Chiropractic & Wellness in Edina estimate that they have had at least 100 interns pass through their practice since Jo and Dr. Carrie Clark purchased the practice in July 2000, shortly after both graduated from Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Their interns come from Northwestern. And in Jo’s practice, they have the unique opportunity to add significant real-world learning to their studies.

For his commitment to supporting the next generation of chiropractors through the strong internship program, Jo received the Humanitarian of the Year Award recently from Northwestern. The honor is “extremely humbling, and something I am quite grateful for,” Jo said. “It doesn’t seem like I am going significantly out of my way to do what I am doing.”

But having 10 to 12 interns at any one time, most of whom stay for eight months to a year, is a commitment. Jo and his colleagues, however, wouldn’t trade for anything. At this point, it has become a part of their practice.

“We love working with interns,” he says. “The funny thing about interns is they are always 25. When we were all 32 or 33 years old, there was only seven or eight years of difference in our ages. Now there’s a 20-year gap. So interns always stay the same age, but we have gotten older.”

He adds: “They start out as your student, and they become your peer. Hearing and seeing all of the hard work they do, you want them to succeed. I want to make this an environment that keeps students excited and allows them to maintain their enthusiasm when they begin their practices. That’s how we give our patients the best care.”

Dr. Christopher Jo (top row, second from left), of 50th & France Chiropractic & Wellness in Edina, poses with some of his current interns from Northwestern Health Sciences University. Since graduating from Northwestern himself, Jo has made it a priority to always have Northwestern interns working and learning at his practice.