Becoming a Doctor of Cause
Having had severe, debilitating asthma as a child of Puerto Rican parents living in New York City, Melvin Ruiz Miranda, D.C. (Main, ‘79) recalls being hopelessly desperate for air. He and his parents tried everything — inhalers, injections, medications and even moving back to Puerto Rico for one year. “I remember being upset even at 11 and 12 years old at these medications and failed treatments,” he said. A friend suggested that his mother take him to a chiropractor, something she wasn’t familiar with, but she took him anyway. To everyone’s surprise, Dr. Ruiz’s asthma went away over time. “It was magical to me as a kid and I was so impressed and intrigued that I decided my career path as a future chiropractor right then and there,” he recalled.
Dr. Ruiz was accepted to three chiropractic schools but the choice was easy. Not only did Palmer College of Chiropractic have the best programming available, but Dr. Ruiz’s own chiropractor had graduated from there and his son was currently attending. By this time, he was living in Puerto Rico, but once his decision was made, he was fully committed to moving to Iowa and staying until he graduated.
Dr. Ruiz became immersed in his work and his Palmer pride was contagious. He was a campus guide in his free time. As the only Spanish-speaking guide at the time, he was called upon to give a tour to a potential student from South America who spoke very little English. He recalls being so passionate and excited for every tour he gave, but this tour had a unique outcome that he’ll never forget, and the unexpected call from admissions several months later still resonates with him today.
The person he’d given the tour to was the daughter of a prominent medical doctor in a country where chiropractic care didn’t exist and she’d visited the United States looking for a field in which to study. She was so impressed with Dr. Ruiz’s tour that she decided to bring chiropractic care to her country. Dr. Ruiz recalled a quote by B. J. Palmer, D.C., that he’d seen on the campus cafeteria walls, “We never know how far-reaching something we may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.” That phone call helped him understand the quote.
Today, Dr. Ruiz would tell you that he cares for the nerves, muscles and bones of his patients but also their life problems (he’s a certified master trainer in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and a clinical hypnotherapist). He believes chiropractic care goes beyond adjustments and says, “It’s important to learn the skills but also fully understand how the body works at its root. Every patient is an investigation! Become a D.C. — Doctor of Cause.”
Dr. Ruiz considers it a blessing to have become a chiropractor and encourages people to consider providing chiropractic care as a great service to humanity. He encourages you to put your personality toward something that’s easy to be passionate about. He’s been so inspiring that his son is studying at Palmer Florida and his daughter will soon join him there!
Palmer College of Chiropractic is the first and largest chiropractic college. More chiropractors have graduated from Palmer than any other chiropractic institution. Interested in learning more about attending Palmer College? Visit palmer.edu.
