My awesome, amazing, wonderful mentors
By Jesse Hodges, Jr., D.C., M.S., M.A. (`13)
Who I am as a chiropractor isn’t entirely my own creation. It’s a collection of voices, perspectives, and lessons gathered from the people who shaped me along the way. Every mentor leaves something behind, be it a phrase, a habit, a way of seeing patients, or a way of responding when things don’t go as planned. I hear those voices every day. They energize me when I step into the classroom. They steady me in practice when I’m working through a difficult case. They remind me to lead with optimism, curiosity, and respect, especially when I’m mentoring Palmer students who are still discovering the kind of chiropractor they want to become. For me, those voices belong to Bill Sherrier,
D.C., and Michael Shreeve, D.C. (`74). Dr. Sherrier had an incredible ability to make difficult concepts feel approachable. In my very first palpation class, he made me believe I could become a chiropractor. He never treated knowledge like a secret reserved for experts. He invited us into it. Even more than what he taught, I remember how he made people feel. He had a way of creating an attitude of possibility,
of making you feel that you were capable of learning, growing, and becoming the chiropractor you hoped to be. That stayed with me. He taught me that sometimes the most important thing you can give a student is a reminder that they belong and that they are capable of succeeding. Now, when I walk into class, I greet my
students with, “Hey, you awesome, amazing, wonderful people.” It’s a way of telling every student they belong here before we even begin, and I hear an echo of Dr. Sherrier every time. With Dr. Shreeve, we didn’t always agree on
technique or philosophy, and that’s exactly why he mattered so much. He showed me that respectful disagreement is a key to growth. He always brought us back to the same question: Do we want to help the patient? If the answer is yes — and it always is — then we have far more in common than we have separating us. That lesson influences every class I teach.
I want students to understand there are many ways to think, many techniques to master, and many paths to becoming an excellent chiropractor. What matters is developing sound clinical reasoning and never losing sight of the person in front of you. Students probably know me best for one of my
own sayings: “It’s one of two things — duct tape or WD-40.” If something isn’t moving when it should, maybe it needs a little WD-40. If it’s moving when it shouldn’t, maybe it needs duct tape. It’s a simple way to get students thinking biomechanically instead of memorizing protocols. I’d like to think they’ll remember the joke, but I hope they’ll remember something more important: to stay curious, stay positive, and never forget that the best chiropractors never stop learning from others.
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Jesse Hodges, Jr., D.C., M.S., M.A. (`13), is an associate professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida , where he teaches movement science and active care classes. Dr. Hodges also maintains a private practice in Florida, focusing on musculoskeletal injuries and overall human performance.
Palmer perspective
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