Two Palmer alumni are carving out a new field for chiropractors.
Have you heard the one about the chiropractor on the halfpipe?
No, it’s not a joke — it’s the life of Anne Sorrentino, D.C. (`88) and Karson Mui, D.C. (`08), two Palmer College of Chiropractic graduates now traveling the world and managing medical teams at a range of high-octane sporting events, including, yes, Olympic skateboarding.
Dr. Sorrentino studied at Palmer as the field of sports chiropractic was being formalized, and her passion for working with athletes has guided her practice ever since. From ski patrol, to EMT, and eventually to the USA bobsled team, Dr. Sorrentino has been working in the field with athletes her entire career.
“I love being outside,” says Dr. Sorrentino. “I love being able to work with athletes from the moment of the injury and managing their course of treatment. It’s exciting work, it’s collaborative, and it’s a field where chiropractors can make a difference.”
Today, Dr. Sorrentino maintains a private practice in McLean, Virginia, and is senior director with WMI Global, which provides medical teams for sporting events around the world, as well as five disciplines of the Olympic games.
Dr. Mui, whose journey began at Palmer Florida, is a senior manager at WMI. He splits time between his Boston, Massachusetts-based practice and overseeing medical teams at high-profile sporting events, including the Boston Marathon and Olympic qualifiers.
“Palmer is my foundation,” says Dr. Mui. “My time there gave me a perfect mix of science, philosophy, and technique — all taught to the highest standard. Having a Palmer degree gave me so much confidence as a young doctor. Our campus was smaller at that time, and our class was incredibly close, always pushing each other to be better.”
Dr. Mui’s adventurous attitude has taken him to motocross events, BMX (freestyle and supercross) Olympic qualifiers, ski and snowboard Olympic qualifiers, Major League Rugby championships with the New England Free Jacks, and Olympic skateboarding qualifiers, to name a few. Since 2012, he has led medical teams at the Boston Marathon, overseeing more than 130 medical volunteers and 30,000 runners. He’s already got an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to run the medical systems for a few of their venues.
“When I began, there were questions about a chiropractor leading these medical teams that include everyone from EMS and physical therapists to MDs and dive teams,” says Dr. Mui. “But Palmer prepared me for both the care aspects and the leadership and management requirements for what I do. With my knowledge of anatomy and physiology, I can make quick decisions on the care that athletes need and make sure they are being seen by the right person.”
Dr. Sorrentino has seen the field of sports chiropractic grow by leaps and bounds. Now, together with Dr. Mui, she’s hoping to take the field to the next level by launching WMI Academy, an online program to train chiropractors interested in sports medicine and management.
“Chiropractors are uniquely suited to lead in field-of-play medicine,” says Dr. Sorrentino. “We want to give young docs the tools and confidence to step into that space. WMI has decades of experience in this setting, and I’m so excited to share what we’ve learned.”
