“I think it’s very important for everybody, regardless of what you do, to come at it as a mentor to help others.”
—Peggy Sherman Cochran, D.C. (`82), former adjunct professor, philosophy
Peggy Sherman Cochran, D.C. (`82) on the lessons she took from Terri Baltes, D.C. (`75)
For Peggy Sherman Cochran, D.C. (`82), Terri Baltes, D.C. (`75), embodied the kind of teacher she would strive to become. Small in stature but formidable in knowledge, skill, and expectations, Dr. Baltes taught chiropractic philosophy at Palmer, maintained a busy Davenport practice and became a mentor and friend. When she invited Dr. Sherman Cochran to work in her practice one summer, it became clear how those qualities came together. “She was one of the best adjusters I've ever been
around,” Dr. Sherman Cochran says. “She was very strong in her philosophy, and she never let up about what she expected us to know. Seeing her teach and then seeing her practice, I realized how much those things go together.” Dr. Baltes’ influence went beyond what happened at the podium or in the adjusting room. She showed that rigor matters and that a deep understanding of chiropractic philosophy, high standards, and a commitment to doing things well ultimately serve both students and patients. Her example gave Dr. Sherman Cochran a model for bringing those same expectations into her own career. It also created a bond. Long after retiring, despite living time zones apart, the two maintain a friendship through daily texts, emails, or phone calls. After graduating from Palmer, Dr. Sherman Cochran
returned to California, where she taught at Palmer West and established a practice of her own. For 18 years, she practiced alongside her husband and fellow Palmer graduate, Fred Cochran D.C. (`87). She invited students into her office, encouraged them to seek out mentors, and held regular health care discussions for patients because she believed chiropractors have a responsibility to teach people not only what they do, but why. “I think it’s very important for everybody, regardless of what you do, to come at it as a mentor to help others,” she says. “You never know who you are impacting with your words and practice, and you never know where great new ideas and inspiration will come from. Stay curious.”
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FALL 2025
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