Dr. Teri Payton Dexter teaches students to ‘be humble and confident.’
Teri Payton Dexter, B.A, D.C. (Main, ’86), has taught more than 4,500 students during her combined 25 years of teaching technique courses at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s main campus and Palmer Florida. Besides effective technique, she also teaches that success comes from being humble and confident.
“It’s been surreal to go from being a student at Palmer College to teaching,” Dr. Payton said. “Students need to have someone in front of them who enjoys teaching. I get to see students early on in their time at Palmer and then I’ll see them walk across the stage. It all goes by so fast. I’ve taught long enough that we’ve hired people I taught. You want to make a difference for these students.”
Dr. Payton didn’t always know she wanted to become a chiropractor or a professor, but she did know about Palmer. Growing up in Davenport, Iowa, she could see the college from her house. She received her first adjustment at Palmer when she was just five years old, and while she was a patient throughout her youth, she never considered becoming a chiropractor. It was a Palmer student who gave her the inspiration to pursue her doctor of chiropractic degree.
“Dan Tyndal (Main, ’83) was my clinic intern. Chiropractic was his second career. He attended Palmer with a background as an engineer. He knew that I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and said to me, ‘Why don’t you come to Palmer?’ That moment really made an impact on me.”
After graduating from Palmer she was a clinical-teaching resident. Drs. Virgil and Victor Strang gave Dr. Payton her first office space at 1506 Brady Street.
Besides teaching technique courses, she encourages humbleness and confidence to thrive in the profession.
“We need to be humble. We need to take in everything our patients give us so we can give them the best care possible. We need to ask questions. We need to trust our training and be confident. We need to put in the work because you can’t be a mediocre doctor.”
Dr. Payton hopes students take away more than their chiropractic skills and knowledge when graduating. She hopes they do good for the world.
