Joseph Zappy, DC - EXTON, PA

While earning his Doctorate of Chiropractic medicine (DC) at New York Chiropractic College, Dr. Zappy became very involved in his studies. He became president of the Sports Science and Human Performance club, representative for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, and with the help of Dr. Craig Liebenson started a program at New York Chiropractic College called Rehab to Performance (R2P). Here, he would teach his fellow classmates many of the techniques and assessment methods he picked up from educational seminars outside of the curriculum including fascial release, functional movement assessment, rehabilitative exercises, neuromuscular re-education techniques, and biomechanical evaluations. In addition to the doctorate and extra-curricular activities, Dr. Zappy also obtained a Master's Degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition. The education in Chiropractic Medicine, Exercise Therapy, and Nutritional Counseling allow for a well-rounded experience at The Wellness Center.

Dr. Zappy's experience treating various conditions comes from his internships while attending school. He volunteered at a community service clinic in Rochester, NY called the Mercy Outreach Center, a hospital in Rochester, NY called Monroe, a Veterans Administration Medical Clinic in Bath, NY, and the St. John Fisher College's Wellness Center.

More on Mercy: Mercy Outreach Center provides access to primary health care, dental care, and advocacy services to the uninsured and the under-served. The Center also provides referral services, legal services, housing information and volunteer income tax assistance. Community support services include AA and NA meetings. The Center was established in 1977 and is now a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy. Mercy Outreach Center exists because of the generosity of many people who give their time, talents and treasure to help achieve their mission to meet the basic health care needs of those in the community who are denied access to medical, dental and advocacy services because of their lack of financial resources. This was a valued and humbling experience for Dr. Zappy.

More on Monroe Hospital: Interns are actively engaged in the care of inpatients at this facility that is located within a consultative clinic (alongside dental, podiatry, and ophthalmology) in this long-term care hospital setting. Patients present with a host of co-morbidities such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, etc. This setting provides an opportunity for administering multi-disciplinary care in a unique environment. The chiropractic services are offered 3 days per week under the supervision of Dr. Miller. Other rotations complement the experiences offered at Monroe, including Grand Rounds and Journal Club within the hospital setting, rotations within the hospital's Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy departments, and various other rotations affiliated with Strong Memorial Hospital. The majority of patients seen here are elderly with terminal conditions.

More on the Bath Veterans Administration Medical Center: These facilities provide opportunities for interns to experience treating patients with complex musculoskeletal and neurological conditions (such as post-laminectomy syndrome, spinal stenosis, traumatic neurological injuries, and post-stroke patients). The patient base suffers from a host of co-morbidities which complicate their cases including physical illness (such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and Crohn's disease) as well as significant psychosocial conditions (such as a history of substance abuse, homelessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder). The ability to work with this population not only allowed Dr. Zappy to further his knowledge base, but provided the opportunity to work with - and give back to - a group of fine people who have served our nation.

More on St. John Fisher College's Wellness Center: St. John Fisher Wellness Center is dedicated to helping their students achieve movement awareness and injury prevention in their sport programs. This opportunity allows interns to experience common sports injuries in generally healthy populations. Additionally, this population gives the intern exposure to patients which typically have postural disturbances from studying and being in class for extended periods of time. Working with a younger crowd offers a new perspective on the abilities of Chiropractic care.

His passion for manual therapy aside, Joe finds time to enjoy life. He likes being outdoors, hiking, camping, hunting, and worshiping God. Strong Italian influences gravitate him to the kitchen. Paternal roots in Staten Island raised him as a New York sports fan cheering for the NY Mets and the NY (NJ) Giants. Dr. Zappy enjoys family time above all else. There is nothing better than the comfort of our loved ones.