When I received the email that I had matched with VA Boston, I immediately started jumping up and down with excitement. I was eager to continue learning, develop my clinical skills, and grow into the chiropractor I hoped to become. What I did not anticipate was how quickly residency would teach me about myself, adaptability, and the importance of collaboration in health care.
Moving to a new city and adjusting to an unfamiliar professional environment challenged me in ways I had not expected. Much of the first month was spent finding my footing and establishing a routine. By my second month, the physical therapy residents had begun their residency, and I made my first friend in the program: a neuro physical therapy resident. The Boston VA has three PT residency programs, recruiting five residents per year.
Having other residents to learn alongside has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. When we are not seeing patients, we practice cranial nerve examinations, discuss differential diagnoses for low back pain, review exercises for cervicogenic dizziness, and share clinical perspectives. Once per month, I attend a skills lab with the orthopedic PT resident, where we review orthopedic testing and treatment for various musculoskeletal conditions. These conversations have reinforced the value of learning from colleagues who are equally motivated to grow.
Learning Across Disciplines and VA Locations
Interprofessional observational rotations are a standard part of residency. Within my first few months, I have had the opportunity to rotate through outpatient physical therapy, aquatic physical therapy, inpatient physical therapy, and outpatient occupational therapy. These experiences have broadened my understanding of the roles different healthcare professionals play in patient care and how their expertise can complement chiropractic treatment.
One particularly impactful experience was my inpatient physical therapy rotation in acute care and acute rehabilitation at the West Roxbury VA. In acute care, physical therapists evaluate patients’ mobility and functional needs and collaborate with the medical team and family to determine the most appropriate discharge setting. Acute rehabilitation provides continued, intensive rehabilitation to help patients regain function.
At the West Roxbury VA, I observed patients recovering from strokes and spinal cord injuries and learned about the resources available to help veterans safely return home. These can include lifts, grab bars, and ramps to improve accessibility and support independence with daily activities. Seeing patients make progress with walking and activities of daily living was incredibly inspiring. These experiences also helped me appreciate how recovery extends beyond individual treatment sessions. Working alongside physical and occupational therapists has given me new ideas for therapeutic exercises and a better understanding of when patients may benefit from additional services or referrals.
One of the most important clinical lessons I have learned is that available services can vary by location. Not every specialty is offered at every site, and some veterans travel considerable distances to access the care they need. This has challenged me to think beyond an individual treatment plan and consider how to make the most of each appointment while helping patients navigate the broader healthcare system.
My current schedule includes two days at the Lowell Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), two days in Jamaica Plain, and one day in West Roxbury. Although navigating Boston-area traffic took some getting used to, traveling between these locations has been well worth it. Each clinic has its own resources and patient population, giving me a broader perspective on veterans’ access to care.
For example, at the Lowell CBOC, access to physical therapy may be more limited because of the availability of on-site providers. As a result, I emphasize therapeutic exercise and patient education to help veterans continue making progress between visits. At other locations, where additional services may be more readily available, I may recommend a referral when a patient could benefit from more extensive rehabilitation. Some veterans may have longer commutes to Lowell for their initial chiropractic appointment when appointments at other locations are unavailable. In these situations, I work with patients to make each visit as productive as possible and consider whether follow-up care at another location could improve outcomes.
These experiences have taught me that clinical decision-making does not happen in isolation. A treatment plan must account for a patient’s condition, goals, access to services, and ability to follow through with care. Learning to navigate referrals and coordinate across facilities has become just as important as developing my hands-on clinical skills.
In January, I will transition from the Lowell CBOC to the Brockton VA, marking another new chapter in my residency. Beginning at another location will bring its own challenges, as I work under a new attending, navigate a new schedule and clinic location, and adapt to services available. The logistics of working across multiple sites brings on its own challenges; however, I anticipate the transition to be smoother as I continue to feel more confident in my residency role.
I am learning that growth requires stepping outside my comfort zone and adapting to unfamiliar environments. I look forward to learning from another team, meeting a new patient population, and continuing to build my clinical skills during the second half of the program.
Looking Ahead
As I continue through residency, I am learning that growth as a clinician involves much more than mastering examination techniques or learning new treatments. It requires adaptability, collaboration, resourcefulness, and an understanding of the systems in which we practice. Being VA Boston’s first chiropractic resident has made this experience especially meaningful, and I am grateful to the healthcare professionals who have welcomed me into their clinics and shared their knowledge. I look forward to building on these experiences throughout the remainder of residency and continuing to grow as a clinician while providing the best possible care for the veterans.
To learn more about the VA Chiropractic Residency Program, click here. Applications for the 2027-2028 cohort will be accepted through Jan. 22, 2027 (check individual VA sites; deadlines may vary).
