Parker College and other Early Memories with Dr James Parker Jr DC - Chiro Hustle Podcast 670

In this powerful episode of the Chiro Hustle Podcast, host James Chester sits down with Dr. James Parker Jr. DC—a 27-year chiropractor, former President of the Parker University Alumni Association, and son of the legendary Dr. Jim Parker. They dive deep into Chiropractic roots, Parker Seminars, and the transformative philosophy that helped define the profession.

HIGHLIGHTS

● Chiropractic as Legacy – Dr. Parker Jr. shares a rare, intimate view of growing up in the Parker household, where chiropractic wasn’t just a profession—it was a way of life.

● The Origin of Parker Seminars – Discover how Dr. Jim Parker turned his own practice success into a system that empowered thousands of chiropractors through live seminars and hands-on business training.

● Simple Language, Big Impact – Learn how Dr. Jim translated the philosophy into terms laypeople could grasp, which helped build one of the largest seminar audiences in chiropractic history.

● Standing at the Crossroads – Dr. Parker Jr. candidly discusses where the profession is headed and the risks of moving toward over-integration with the medical model.

● BJ Palmer’s Influence – Hear about Dr. Jim’s time studying directly under BJ Palmer during WWII, and how those lessons shaped the direction of Parker-style chiropractic.

● Protecting Chiropractic’s Unique Identity – This episode is a call to arms for chiropractors to stay rooted in the philosophy that separates chiropractic from the medical model.

ABOUT DR. JAMES PARKER JR. DC

Dr. James Parker Jr. DC is a 27-year practicing chiropractor, the former President of the Parker University Alumni Association and Texas Chiropractic Association, District 5. He is the son of chiropractic legend Dr. Jim Parker, founder of Parker Seminars and Parker College.

DIVING INTO...

Growing Up Parker

Dr. Parker Jr. recalls what it was like to grow up in a household where chiropractic consumed every conversation. His father, Dr. Jim Parker, was relentless in his passion, devoting even Christmas Day to the cause. For listeners, it paints a vivid picture of dedication to the Sacred Trust.

The Birth of Parker Seminars

We learn how the Parker Seminars began with a group of struggling chiropractors asking Dr. Jim how he built his success. With little more than a few brown briefcases full of handouts, the Parker School for Professional Success was born—teaching practice-building principles before there were coaching programs or CEU credits.

Healing by Simplicity

"Bone out of place, pressure on nerve, nerve to lung, symptom goes away." Dr. Jim’s legendary ability to distill chiropractic philosophy into everyday language wasn’t just good communication—it was how he won over entire towns. His method taught thousands how to explain chiropractic so that patients finally got it.

Chiropractic’s Future: A Fork in the Road

Dr. Parker Jr. doesn’t hold back. He warns that chiropractors today must choose whether to maintain the profession’s identity or merge into the integrated healthcare model. He champions chiropractic neurology and performance-based innovations but urges the profession not to lose sight of its unique healing art—the adjustment.

Final Takeaway

“We are positioned to bring in all the other natural holistic modalities and offer them to the public—but without yielding to the medical model. Chiropractic stands alone. Let’s keep it that way.”

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This week on the Chiro Hustle Podcast, we sat down with Dr. Thom Gelardi, the legendary founder of Sherman College of Chiropractic. From overcoming a childhood spent in hospitals to building one of the most principled chiropractic colleges in the world, Dr. Gelardi's story is nothing short of extraordinary.

In this episode, we dive into what real chiropractic looks like, what it's drifting away from, and what it will take to bring it back. We cover philosophy, family care, insurance traps, and why mission still matters. If you've ever wondered whether your practice is as aligned as your adjustments, this conversation is a must-hear.

Our speaker today is Dr. Thom Gelardi, the founder of Sherman College of Chiropractic, located in Spartanburg, SC. Thom grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. He considers his early days some of the most fortuitous of his life. His life started with his being very sickly. His birthday is in April, and he spent his first eight birthdays in a hospital. One of those hospital stays lasted two and a half years, from when he was four years old until he was six and a half years old. It began with him having rheumatic fever, followed by many sequelae, resulting in a disabling heart murmur. When Thom was sixteen, his future brother-in-law finally persuaded him to see a chiropractor; the rest is history.

While attending Palmer, before there was such a thing as student loans, he worked at the Rock Island Railroad’s Freight Yard from eleven at night until seven in the morning. Thom graduated from Palmer School of Chiropractic in January 1957. He is married to the former Betty Bowen, a registered nurse with post-graduate study in obstetrics. They have five children, three of whom joined the chiropractic-practicing part of the family. He practiced chiropractic for fifteen years before founding Sherman College. Last year, Sherman College celebrated its 50th year.

HIGHLIGHTS

• How years of childhood illness—and one illegal adjustment—shaped a chiropractic giant
• Why Dr. Gelardi believes most DCs can’t define chiropractic today
• What BJ Palmer said that rocked him to the core
• The mission that Sherman College was built on (and how it almost didn’t happen)
• Why he refused to take insurance—and still believes you shouldn't either
• Why not every patient needs an adjustment, and what that actually means
• What the next 100 years of chiropractic might look like

ABOUT DR. THOM GELARDI, DC

Founder of Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A principled chiropractor and educator committed to preserving the Sacred Trust and the philosophical core of the profession.

STAYING TRUE TO CHIROPRACTIC PRINCIPLES

Dr. Gelardi pulls no punches: most chiropractors today have drifted so far from the profession’s philosophical foundation, they can’t even define what chiropractic is anymore. For him, it’s crystal clear: health comes from within, and chiropractic is about locating, analyzing, and correcting vertebral subluxations—nothing more, nothing less.

THE HEART OF FAMILY CARE

One of the most overlooked truths? Kids need chiropractic, too. Not because they have symptoms, but because they don’t. Dr. Gelardi talks about why whole-family care was the foundation of his office, and why checking for subluxation—even without symptoms—is essential to long-term health.

WHAT MAKES A MISSION

A powerful theme throughout the episode is this: Every profession is defined by its mission. And if chiropractors can’t articulate that mission clearly, we risk becoming irrelevant. For Dr. Gelardi, chiropractic's mission is simple:

Bill Ormston DVM, CAC, DVETHOM | A.C.E.S. (ANIMAL CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATION SOURCE)

30 years veterinarian and animal chiropractor. Animal chiropractic helped him to build a foundation for understanding the health of animals that he was eager to share with other doctors like himself. He further shares his knowledge through speaking engagements and through his book, "Yes! It's Really A Thing - An Informative Guide To Animal Chiropractic."

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2013 - Present

Animal Chiropractic Education Source, A.C.E.S., Miridian, TX

FOUNDER

Provides online educational resources for animal owners, veterinarians, chiropractors, and animal health professionals.

Founded ACES, a source for online alternative animal education for both professionals and owners. ACES courses are approved for continuing education for veterinarians and chiropractors.

INSTRUCTOR

Responsibilities include technique, pathology, biomechanics of movement, saddle fit, gait analysis, and rehabilitation.

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