Distinguished Service Award


Honoring alumni who have shown exceptional dedication and service to Palmer College over time


Michael Cafaro, D.C. (`04)


Long before he became a leader in chiropractic, an alumni ambassador, and one of Palmer College of Chiropractic’s most visible champions, Michael Cafaro, D.C. (`04), learned a lesson that continues to shape everything he does. It was when Palmer’s then-President Guy Riekeman, D.C. (`72), walked a young Dr. Cafaro through the Palmer Clinic and pointed to the words carved above its entrance: “Enter to learn how.” Then, at the exit: “Go forth to serve.” “For me, that’s Palmer,” Dr. Cafaro says. “You come here to learn, but


your purpose is what happens after you leave.” More than two decades later, he is still living those words. For Dr. Cafaro, service has never been something reserved for the


latter part of a career or measured by titles held. It is woven into the way he practices, leads, and stays connected to the institution that shaped him. Whether caring for patients at Meridian HealthCare in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, representing Palmer at chiropractic conferences across the country, or mentoring future chiropractors, he approaches each role with the same belief: that a Palmer education carries a responsibility extending well beyond the clinic. “I live and breathe Palmer purple,” he says. “I fell in love with the College, the community, and what Palmer stands for. It’s why I’m so proud and happy to represent the school, build bridges with alumni, and bring new people to our mission.” After graduation, the connection never faded. Dr. Cafaro returned


for Homecoming, volunteered whenever he could, and eventually became an alumni ambassador, representing Palmer at state association meetings and professional conferences throughout the country. Those experiences have given him a unique perspective on the profession and reinforced what he values most about his alma mater. “You hear people say they’re Palmer docs,” he says. “It’s a universal language. It’s a family.” His commitment to service extends to his work as president of the Ohio


State Chiropractic Association, where Dr. Cafaro has worked alongside colleagues to strengthen and advocate for the profession, believing that chiropractic continues to move forward because practitioners are willing to invest in something larger than their own practices. The call informing him that he had been selected for the


Distinguished Service Award came while he was attending a chiropractic conference alongside the Palmer team. Chancellor and CEO Dennis Marchiori, D.C., Ph.D. (`90), couldn’t resist pointing out the timing. “He said, ‘It’s fitting that I’m calling while you’re doing exactly what you’re being recognized for,’” Dr. Cafaro recalls. The honor was unexpected but meaningful because it came


from the institution that shaped his career and from colleagues who understand why he has remained so deeply involved. “I never expected anything like this,” he says. “I do it because I love Palmer and I love chiropractic. Palmer has given me so much, and giving back has always felt like the natural response.”


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“I fell in love with the College, the community, and what Palmer stands for. It’s why I’m so proud


and happy to represent the school, build bridges with alumni, and


bring new people to our mission.” —Michael Cafaro, D.C. (`04)


PALMER.EDU


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