Distinguished Service Award
Paul Hetrick, D.C. (`77)
For Paul Hetrick, D.C. (`77), service isn’t a single act, it’s a lifelong practice. Dr. Hetrick’s spirit of service is a family tradition that has guided his approach in the clinic and the community. Dr. Hetrick has dedicated his life to elevating the
chiropractic profession through generosity, innovation, and steadfast stewardship. “Your diploma will always say Palmer College,” he says. “With that comes a responsibility. It’s a responsibility to be the best doctor you can be, and a responsibility to give back with gratitude to the people and profession that shaped you.” That philosophy is rooted in his upbringing. Raised in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, Dr. Hetrick grew up watching his father run the local ambulance company. “I learned early that service isn’t about recognition. It’s about showing up when someone needs you — no matter the hour.” That mindset followed him into practice, where no patient was ever turned away. “Sometimes they paid with tomatoes,” he laughs, “but they were never denied care.” He says his life and career have been an evolution. Initially focused on spinal care and neurological training, he expanded his lens to include movement science, rehabilitation, and nutrition. “You start out learning about the body, and then realize the body has this incredible ability to heal,” he says. “But you must give the body the time, space, and support it needs. That holistic view shifted my practice and my outlook.” A tireless advocate for chiropractic as a distinct and
vital profession, Dr. Hetrick served as president of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and founded HydroWorx, a company pioneering aquatic therapy systems used by elite athletes and hospitals worldwide. Yet, for all his accomplishments, he’s quick to shift the spotlight. “There are so many others who deserve recognition,” Dr. Hetrick says. “I hope this award lets me share my story in a way that inspires someone else to give, to serve, to grow.” Even now, Dr. Hetrick remains focused on the future. “I
believe in Palmer’s leadership, in their mission. They’re not just preserving chiropractic; they’re pushing it forward.” And Dr. Hetrick is part of that forward momentum. His landmark $1 million endowment gift helped establish the Sports and Rehabilitation Residency at Palmer, funding hands-on mentorship for the next generation of chiropractors. (See page 9.) “This profession has given me a life of meaning,” Dr. Hetrick says with a smile.
“What better way to say thank you than to help carry it into tomorrow?”
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“There are so many others who deserve
recognition. I hope this award lets me share my story in a way that inspires someone else to give, to serve, to grow.”
—Paul Hetrick. D.C. (`77)
PALMER.EDU
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