Navigating Cost, Innovation, and Leadership Changes in Chiropractic Education

Navigating Cost, Innovation, and Leadership Changes in Chiropractic Education

Everybody’s talking about the future of chiropractic… But almost nobody is talking about the REAL issue: The economics no longer make sense. In this thought-provoking episode of the Built to Scale Podcast, Dr. Alan Miner and Dr. Mark Mouw dive into the recent developments surrounding Parker University, including the administrative leave of Dr. Bill Morgan and what the school’s financial challenges may reveal about the future of chiropractic education as a whole. But this conversation goes way deeper than one university. It opens up a much bigger discussion around the pressures building across the profession: ⚠️ Rising student debt ⚠️ Declining enrollment ⚠️ Schools struggling financially ⚠️ Associate salaries that don’t match the investment ⚠️ And a profession being forced to evolve in real time Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: If students are graduating with $300K+ in debt… …but entering a market where many jobs still offer $80K salaries… eventually something breaks. At the same time, clinic owners across the country are desperately searching for great chiropractors. So where’s the disconnect? Dr. Allen and Dr. Mark unpack the operational, educational, and economic shifts they believe the profession must address if chiropractic wants to continue growing over the next decade. Including: ✅ Why schools may need to completely reinvent their model ✅ Smarter and faster pathways into practice ✅ How AI and virtual learning could reduce overhead ✅ Why real-world clinic experience matters more than ever ✅ The importance of building profitable clinics that can support higher salaries ✅ And why the profession needs stronger leadership—not more politics They also share firsthand observations from Parker, UAC, and conversations with clinic owners and leaders across the profession about what’s really happening behind the scenes. And despite the challenges… There's still a massive opportunity for chiropractors willing to adapt. Because thriving clinics still exist. Great businesses are still being built. And patients still desperately need what chiropractic offers. But the future won’t be saved by wishful thinking. It’ll be built by doctors who understand business, leadership, systems, and value creation. If you care about the future of chiropractic, this is a conversation worth hearing. Hiring:  Build your dream team to help more people and make more money.  Click below to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call for:  Associate DC Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-call-scheduler/]  Chiropractic Assistant Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/chiropractic-assistant-hiring/] Virtual CA Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/schedule-a-call-hire-a-virtual-ca/] Get Hired:  Want a better job? Submit Your Resume [https://chiromatchmakers.com/submit-a-resume/] (no cost, no obligation) Check out our Job Board [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-chiropractic-positions/] with over 100 open positions paying $85K+  Let’s Connect on Social (we’ll follow you back!)  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chiromatchmakers/] |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ChiroMatchMakers/] |  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiro-match-makers]

From Gas Money to Multi-Million Practice

They weren’t getting paid enough to live… They were surviving off a mileage check. Let that sink in. In this episode, we flip the mic and put Dr. Mark in the hot seat—and what comes out is one of the most raw, real journeys we’ve ever shared. From grinding through underpaid associateships… To building a clinic from ZERO… To scaling multiple locations and teams… This is what it actually looks like to earn your way up. No shortcuts. Here’s the part most people don’t see: 🚗 3 hours of driving every single day 📍 Screening patients in a mall just to hit quotas 💸 Getting paid so little that gas money paid the bills 📈 Still pushing to 500+ visits per week No complaining. No backup plan. Just execution. And then came the turning point: 👉 “We’re done. We’re building our own.” Two weeks’ notice. No safety net. No guarantees. Just belief—and a willingness to bet on themselves. Here’s what we break down in this episode: ✅ The reality of starting out broke (and why it’s not a disadvantage) ✅ What working under bad leadership actually teaches you ✅ How to scale faster the second time by learning the first ✅ Why most clinic owners stay stuck in “job mode” ✅ The shift from technician → true business owner ✅ How to build a practice that doesn’t depend on YOU This isn't a theory. It’s what happens when you outwork your circumstances and refuse to stay small. Hiring:  Build your dream team to help more people and make more money.  Click below to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call for:  Associate DC Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-call-scheduler/]  Chiropractic Assistant Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/chiropractic-assistant-hiring/] Virtual CA Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/schedule-a-call-hire-a-virtual-ca/] Get Hired:  Want a better job? Submit Your Resume [https://chiromatchmakers.com/submit-a-resume/] (no cost, no obligation) Check out our Job Board [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-chiropractic-positions/] with over 100 open positions paying $85K+  Let’s Connect on Social (we’ll follow you back!)  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chiromatchmakers/] |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ChiroMatchMakers/] |  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiro-match-makers]

The Chiropractic Industry Is Changing Fast—Are You Ready?

The chiropractic profession isn’t dying. But it is changing—fast. And most clinic owners aren’t paying attention. In this episode of the Build to Scale Podcast, Dr. Allen Miner and Dr. Mark Mouw talk about what they saw after 4 straight weeks on the road—between Parker, UAC, TRP, and conversations with leaders across the profession. Behind the scenes? There’s a very real shift happening. Fewer students are entering chiropractic. Some schools are struggling to stay open. And for the first time ever, major organizations are being forced to work together just to stay relevant. That should tell you something. But here’s the part no one wants to say out loud: 👉 The future of chiropractic won’t be saved by politics. 👉 It will be shaped by profitable, well-run clinics. Because if clinic owners aren’t winning… * Associates won’t stay * Students won’t enroll * Schools won’t survive * And the profession shrinks It’s that simple. But there’s also a flip side most people are missing: We’re still seeing clinics doing $5M–$8M+ per year. We’re still seeing doctors paying $100K+ salaries. We’re still seeing massive growth—if you know how to play the game. And when we stepped into a room full of future chiropractic students? The energy was unreal. They’re not the problem. They’re waiting for a profession worth stepping into. Here’s what we unpack in this episode: ✅ What’s really happening behind the scenes at major events ✅ Why chiropractic enrollment is dropping (and what it means) ✅ The economic pressure shaping the profession ✅ The disconnect between struggling clinics and thriving ones ✅ Why profitability is the responsibility of every clinic owner ✅ The mindset shift that separates growth vs. burnout You can look at chiropractic and see decline. Or you can see opportunity. But you don’t get both. Hiring:  Build your dream team to help more people and make more money.  Click below to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call for:  Associate DC Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-call-scheduler/]  Chiropractic Assistant Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/chiropractic-assistant-hiring/] Virtual CA Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/schedule-a-call-hire-a-virtual-ca/] Get Hired:  Want a better job? Submit Your Resume [https://chiromatchmakers.com/submit-a-resume/] (no cost, no obligation) Check out our Job Board [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-chiropractic-positions/] with over 100 open positions paying $85K+  Let’s Connect on Social (we’ll follow you back!)  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chiromatchmakers/] |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ChiroMatchMakers/] |  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiro-match-makers]

Proven Strategies for Recruiting Experienced Chiropractors Who Deliver Results

Hiring isn’t about filling a position. It’s about protecting your future. And most clinic owners are underpaying their way into mediocrity. In this new episode, Dr. Allen Miner and Dr. Mark Mouw break down what actually separates A-player associate hires from the revolving-door hires that quietly drain your clinic. They’ve launched 9+ clinics in under 18 months. They’ve had 4 failures. They’ve paid the tuition of doing it wrong. Now they’re sharing what actually works. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: If you’re offering $80–90K and “great bonuses,” you’re not attracting A players. You’re attracting whoever’s available. A-players don’t scroll job boards. They’re already producing. They already know their value. And they expect to be paid like it. Here’s what we unpack in this episode: ✅ Why you must pay 6-figures to access top-tier doctors ✅ The hidden cost of hiring “cheap” associates ✅ Why experience beats “potential” in scaling clinics ✅ The leadership lens you must screen for in interviews ✅ How job-hoppers quietly destroy growth ✅ Why failed practice owners can become your best hires ✅ The difference between employees who wait to be told… and leaders who take ownership If you want time freedom… If you want to open multiple locations… If you want to step out of adjusting every day… You need someone who can run the clinic like it’s theirs. And that costs money. But here’s the math most owners miss: That extra $20,000 in salary? It’s about $1,300 per month. An A-player will be 10x that in production, retention, and leadership. Cheap hires cost you: • Patient experience • Reputation • Growth • Time • Sanity The real bottleneck in scaling isn’t marketing. It’s leadership. And leadership isn’t found on Indeed. Hiring:  Build your dream team to help more people and make more money.  Click below to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call for:  Associate DC Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-call-scheduler/]  Chiropractic Assistant Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/chiropractic-assistant-hiring/] Virtual CA Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/schedule-a-call-hire-a-virtual-ca/] Get Hired:  Want a better job? Submit Your Resume [https://chiromatchmakers.com/submit-a-resume/] (no cost, no obligation) Check out our Job Board [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-chiropractic-positions/] with over 100 open positions paying $85K+  Let’s Connect on Social (we’ll follow you back!)  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chiromatchmakers/] |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ChiroMatchMakers/] |  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiro-match-makers]

From $1M to $8M: The Real Financial Shift Most Chiropractors Avoid

You can’t build a $7 million clinic on $40 visits and you definitely can’t attract A-player doctors, fund real marketing, and scale multiple locations without understanding economics. In this episode, Dr. Allen Miner and Dr. Mark Mouw break down what they’re seeing inside high-level rooms like Ultimate Achievers Club, at national events like Parker Seminars, and in daily conversations with clinics across the country. They share a rare inside look at how $5–8M practices are actually built — and why most clinics cap out at $1–1.5M. Here’s what we unpack:  ✅ Why “straight chiropractic only” models often hit a revenue ceiling ✅ How multi-service clinics are increasing impact without abandoning philosophy ✅ The real cost of attracting A-player associate doctors ✅ Why digital marketing alone won’t scale your clinic ✅ How per-visit averages determine your future ✅ The mindset shift required to charge based on value, not fear ✅ Why patients WILL pay — when certainty and results are clear This isn’t about abandoning chiropractic principles. It’s about strengthening them with smart economics. The clinics winning right now: • Support the adjustment with complementary services • Invest heavily in marketing • Pay top talent appropriately • Build systems that allow growth beyond one doctor If your per-visit average is $35–$40, scaling becomes math you can’t outrun. Profit fuels marketing. Marketing fuels growth. Growth fuels impact. Ignore the economics — and you limit your future. Hiring:  Build your dream team to help more people and make more money.  Click below to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call for:  Associate DC Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-call-scheduler/]  Chiropractic Assistant Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/chiropractic-assistant-hiring/] Virtual CA Hiring [https://chiromatchmakers.com/schedule-a-call-hire-a-virtual-ca/] Get Hired:  Want a better job? Submit Your Resume [https://chiromatchmakers.com/submit-a-resume/] (no cost, no obligation) Check out our Job Board [https://chiromatchmakers.com/associate-chiropractic-positions/] with over 100 open positions paying $85K+  Let’s Connect on Social (we’ll follow you back!)  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chiromatchmakers/] |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ChiroMatchMakers/] |  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/chiro-match-makers]