TCC – Leading the Way in Chiropractic Education and Research
We have but one vision at TCC – to become a leader in the advancement and discovery of new knowledge that supports the scientific foundation of chiropractic care and enriches patient care by translating evidence in a meaningful way and applying the information appropriately.
Texas Chiropractic College performs research in a variety of fields, including biomechanics, falls prevention, the contribution of chiropractic care to healthy aging, and epidemiological investigation of the relationship between chiropractic care and overall health. The College’s practice-based research assesses health outcomes in communities, aided by information provided by participating chiropractors practicing across the country.
Researchers
Shari Wynd, DC, PhD
Professor
Dr. Shari Wynd was born in Canada and became a US citizen in 2018. She graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and practiced as a chiropractor in the multidisciplinary clinic of the University of Calgary while completing her Ph.D. Dr. Wynd has a background in mechanical engineering (undergraduate), and her Ph.D. was in biomedical engineering, where her dissertation focused on robotic assessment of cervical spine motion during cervical spine manipulation.
She has been working for Texas Chiropractic College since 2009 and teaches spinal and lower extremity biomechanics, soft tissue techniques, and clinical reasoning (including biostatistics).
She has published several articles ranging in topics, from assessing the safety of cervical spine manipulative therapy (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23527121/)
to addressing the biomechanics of planar tissues such as the diaphragm (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28903915/). Her current research interest is in the mechanics of the thoracic vertebra and costovertebral joints during respiration in patients with COPD.
John Ward, DC, MA, MS
Professor
Dr. John Ward recieved his B.S. from the University of Texas and his M.A. from University of Houston - Clear Lake. Then, in 2002, he recieved his D.C. from Texas Chiropractic College. After this, Dr. Ward returned back to University of Houston - Clear Lake, and recieved his M.S. in 2005.
Dr. Ward teaches Spinal Anatomy, Human Neuro Anatomy, Case Management, and Differential Diagnosis and Management.
Dr. Ward's research interests include, the impact of spinal manipulation on visceral function (heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, blood lactate, exercise performance) and biomechanics; older adult use of chiropractic care.
Cheryl Hawk, DC, LMT, PhD, CHES
Professor
Dr. Cheryl Hawk received her DC in 1976 from the National University of Health Sciences and practiced full-time for 12 years. In 1991, she earned a Ph.D. in Preventive Medicine from the University of Iowa and became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
Dr. Hawk is a professor at Texas Chiropractic College and Chair of the Quality Enhancement Committee, which focuses on interprofessional education, communication, and collaboration. She has also been Chair of the Scientific Commission of the Clinical Compass since 2007.
She is an author of over 120 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and the editor of 3 books. She has served as principal investigator for 75 research projects, 30 of which were grant-funded.
She has been named “Researcher of the Year” by both the American Chiropractic Association (2003) and the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (2005). She has been an author on more than a dozen chiropractic clinical practice guidelines and best practices recommendations.