the entire curriculum, which will result in primary care providers who are not only extremely competent in their discipline,
but also have an understanding of various complementary
approaches, including chiropractic, naturopathic medicine,
nutrition and acupuncture, which they can ultimately discuss
with their patients as treatment choices. We have also developed
new undergraduate programs in the health sciences, including
a collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UConn) on
pharmacy education, a medical laboratory sciences program,
and we are also developing a new Masters in Public Health and
a Doctorate in Health Sciences that are minimum residency
programs, allowing students and health professionals from
around the country and world to experience what is happening
here at UB. It also allows our students to cross-train and to
participate in dual
programs, leaving
UB with multiple
degrees and career
opportunities.
BRADY: It definitely helps increase the awareness of chiropractic globally. Through collaboration with UB, we have
seen international programs in chiropractic developed by our
UBCC graduates, such as the chiropractic program at Hanseo
University in Korea. We also have UBCC faculty members
involved in helping chiropractic programs flourish in Spain.
As more people are exposed to chiropractic from around the
world, it helps raise the profile of awareness of chiropractic
internationally. That is a good thing.
TAC: Do you know of any other person trained as a doctor of
chiropractic that is in a position such as you? That is, overseeing
an entire division of health sciences representing a multitude
of health care disciplines, at a full spectrum university such as
UB with programs
as diverse as engineering, education,
music, business, design, etc?
BRADY: To my
knowledge, I am the
first and, at present,
only. However, I believe my training in
multiple disciplines,
and not only chiropractic, has allowed
me to prepare for
this responsibility
and to do a better job
as a result.
TAC: Wow, all of
that sounds wonderful. How do you
have enough time
in the day?
BRADY: It is
sometimes not easy,
but it is a labor of
love, as I have gotten to see the strides
we have made and
what we have become over my 14
years here at UB. I also just love to see positive changes for
the students that study here. We have really moved this division forward by virtue of our collaborations. One example is
how we were able to open up new clinical experiences for our
chiropractic and naturopathic medicine students in the form
of hospital-based rotations, which were made possible by the
relationships that were formed during the development of the
Physician Assistant program with St. Vincent’s Hospital in
Bridgeport.
TAC: How does being Vice Provost at a comprehensive university and a chiropractor at the same time help the UBCC program?
BRADY: I think that my training as a DC helps me to better
understand the needs of the College of Chiropractic as we devise
strategies for the continued development of the Division of
Health Sciences. It should be noted that I came from the ranks
of the UBCC faculty and worked in that capacity for almost 10
years. My chiropractic background also helps me to articulate
what chiropractic is all about to many different decision makers
within and outside the University, as well.
TAC: How is the exposure to chiropractic to UB students from
all around the world affect the future of global health care?
TAC: Tell us a little
more about your training across these various disciplines?
BRADY: Well, believe it or not, my undergraduate training
was in electronics engineering technology and I worked for the
computer division of the aerospace company McDonnell Douglas. I worked with computer aided design systems, including
those used in the biomedical design and production of total joint
replacement technologies. This brought me into contact with
orthopedic surgeons and biomedical engineers at the Hospital
for Special Surgery in New York City and sparked my interest
in applying my engineering knowledge to the human body.
This eventually led me into chiropractic, as the biomechanical
education in chiropractic training is substantial. I trained at
Texas Chiropractic College in the Houston area, graduating as
Valedictorian in 1991. During my time at TCC, I was able to
participate in a multitude of hospital rotations in the colossal
Houston Medical Center. This allowed me to learn a lot about
not only chiropractic, but also allopathic medicine, from many
different specialists' perspective. I learned how to work and talk
with medical doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and hospital
administrators and experienced a model of collaboration and
cross training that I believe helped me in creating some of
what we have accomplished at UB. During these experiences,
I always felt that I was able to bring a positive message about
