THE NEXT GENERATION The de Wet tradition at Palmer might be continu- ing. Dr. Gina recently took her children — 10 and 11 — for a tour of Palmer West. “We’ll see if this sparks their interest to attend Palmer in Davenport or Florida someday,” she laughs.
BUILDING A CAREER… AND SHAPING A COMMUNITY For Gina de Wet, D.C (`03), Palmer is synonymous with family. Her father, Gary de Wet, D.C. (`66), was a Palmer graduate and faculty member at Palmer West. He was still teaching when Dr. Gina came to campus in 2000. “Tat’s not an experience many get, having
their father as their teacher,” says Dr. Gina. “I loved it. Getting to see him in his element and his passion for chiropractic and for teaching really inspired me.”
Dr. Gary stood among the many giants of
chiropractic who taught at West during this time. “Dr. Souza, Dr. Cooperstein… I could go on and on,” says Dr. Gina. “Tese people literally wrote the books we were studying. And they were all as supportive and approachable as they were brilliant. Nowhere but Palmer would you be able to learn in an atmosphere like that.” Dr. Gina flourished in that atmosphere. She
excelled as a student and was engaged on campus. In 2001, Dr. Gina directed the construction of the famous Palmer Spine featured in Silicon Valley Turkey Trot events and parades for more than a decade. Te Spine introduced countless community members to Palmer, and it unified the campus in a common celebration. “At Palmer, I saw the value and power of
community,” says Dr. Gina. “Tat’s something that has guided my career.” In 2024, de Wet Chiropractic was named Best Chiropractor in Napa, California. Te award honors Dr. Gina’s commitment to the region where she has practiced her whole career. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to become part of this community and serve the patients here. Palmer gave me such a strong foundation. Tey also taught us that it’s our responsibility to adapt and connect with the environment we’re working in.”
GINA DE WET, D.C.
“Palmer gave me such a strong foundation. Tey also taught us that it’s our responsibility to adapt and connect with the environment we’re working in.”
—Gina de Wet, D.C.
A BADGE OF PRIDE WE ALL WEAR If Joel Adkins, D.C. (`01) is anything, he’s thorough. Aſter earning an undergraduate degree in sports medicine and exercise science, he wasn’t sure what to do next, so he interviewed more than 100 medical professionals about their work. “Without fail, I was drawn to the
chiropractors and their passion for their work,” says Dr. Adkins. “Tey were comfortable, happy and excited to share their story. Tat wasn’t the case when I talked to people in other fields. I knew it’s where I wanted to be.” Tat revelation brought Dr. Adkins — a
lifelong Alaskan — to San Jose and Palmer West. In the close, collaborative atmosphere he found a home along with a network of friends that remains intact today. Dr. Adkins graduated from a cohort of 47 students, and he remains in contact with nearly all of them to this day. “Palmer attracts a certain kind of person,” says Adkins. “Te people I connected with and
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