Recognizing the newest fellows inducted into the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic
In 1963, David D. Palmer, D.C., established the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic (P.A.C.) to formally recognize outstanding supporters of Palmer College of Chiropractic. Founded on the four principles of leadership, recruitment, philanthropy and service, the P.A.C. awards Fellowships to individuals embodying those principles and showing extraordinary dedication to Palmer College.
Fellows are selected after a careful review of nominations from current Fellows, Trustees, the Chancellor and CEO, and other senior college leaders. Palmer Proud asked nominators and fellow alumni to honor Fellows and Alumni Award winners with essays about what makes each of them exemplary.
Read more about the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic Fellows
Mark Houk, D.C. (Main, ’80)
by Marie Kelly, Director of Development
After years of exasperation with medical treatments for a chronic sports injury in high school, Mark Houk sought care from a chiropractor. This decision changed his health for the better and sparked Dr. Houk’s passion for helping people through chiropractic care.
Since graduating from Palmer College, Dr. Houk has been an active alumnus and contributor to the chiropractic profession. He’s served on the Washington State Chiropractic Association Board of Directors and is an active Palmer alumni representative. Beyond providing many seminars for D.C.s on a wide range of chiropractic topics and principles for success in practice, Dr. Houk hosts a 30-minute radio program, “Back to Better Health,” as a public service, educating people about chiropractic. He is also a Governor’s Advisor-level ACA member and long-standing supporter of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.
Promoting Palmer and chiropractic to students by guest speaking, he has inspired or influenced dozens of students to attend Palmer College. What’s more, he speaks at Palmer College in the Center for Business Development, philosophy classes and for “Spizz Nights” for Palmer’s main campus and Palmer West.
Dr. Houk believes we truly “receive by giving and not by getting.” He demonstrates philanthropic leadership in numerous ways, including making challenge gifts on the College’s Giving Day and supporting Palmer at the Founder’s Circle level every year. Most recently, Mark and his wife, Inez, made a generous gift of $100,000 to support campus facility enhancements, and they have made an estate commitment that will come to Palmer after their lifetimes.
Not stopping there, he’s always looking for ways to further advance Palmer College and is eager to take on any opportunity to showcase his Palmer pride. Dr. Houk clearly demonstrates the pillars of the P.A.C. as established by Dr. David D. Palmer: leadership, service, philanthropy and recruitment.
Elizabeth Kressin, D.C. (Main, ’86)
by Lance Vanderloo, D.C. (Main, ’74)
Dr. Elizabeth Kressin was born, raised, educated, married and now practices in Iowa. She attended Iowa State University and Buena Vista University for her undergrad before enrolling at Palmer College in 1983. She worked as a C.A. for Kenneth Zelm, D.C. (Main, ’72), in Algona, Iowa, and met her husband, Rex Jones, D.C. (Main, ’74), at a Parker Seminar in Dallas. They wed in 1980 and have an adopted son named Sergei.
In 1987, Dr. Liz was named “D.C. of the Year” for the Pinnacle Management Group. She served many years on countless committees on the Iowa Chiropractic Society and led as president from 2005 to 2006. She served for three of her nine years as chair of the Iowa Chiropractic Board of Examiners and as the Iowa representative for Palmer alumni for the past five years.
Dr. Liz looks for the “better mousetrap.” She inspects what she expects and has a remarkably functional, effective and systematic practice. She’s always more than willing to help anyone with any problem. Dr. Liz’s passion and commitment to promote, perform and profess chiropractic is second to none. Be proud of her qualifications as a Fellow, which elevate us all.
Sherry McAllister, D.C. (West, ’96)
by Mickey Burt, D.C. (Main, ’73)
I was introduced to Dr. McAllister in 2006 while attending my first Palmer West Homecoming as the executive director of alumni for Palmer College. Even though my introduction and meeting were short in duration, I was impressed with her warm, inviting and self-confident manner.
As we moved forward with the development of Palmer’s alumni program, it was suggested I invite Dr. McAllister to play an integral part. Over the next several years, I witnessed just how smart and talented Dr. McAllister is. She quickly became Palmer’s go-to person to handle alumni and student recruitment events in Canada, California and other locations.
Her performance was always outstanding.
As a chiropractor for the past 47 years, I’ve had the privilege of becoming friends with many of chiropractic’s icons. I’ve known Dr. McAllister as a highly energetic chiropractor whose love for chiropractic has taken her from graduation to private practice while she serves the profession as an educator and a volunteer for a number of chiropractic organizations.
Currently, Dr. McAllister serves as the president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is positive press for chiropractic. As president of that organization, Dr. McAllister has opened more doors and introduced chiropractic to more organizations outside of chiropractic than anyone I know, and she’s just getting started — all while balancing a private practice and family life.
It’s a privilege to call Dr. McAllister my friend and to be able to say she’s one of chiropractic’s true super stars. Once you meet her, I believe you’ll agree with me — she is a warm, inviting and self-confident person. She represents everything a Palmer Fellow is made of.
New Alumni Awards
2021 Bright Beacon Award
Brant Hulsebus, D.C. (Main, ’02)
by Patrick Downing, Director of Development
If you’re like me, you cannot help but feel enthusiastic about chiropractic after spending a few moments with Brant Hulsebus, D.C. (Main, ’02). As a new member of the Palmer College staff, I was introduced to Dr. Brant during Palmer Main’s career fair. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that I was speaking not only with an outstanding chiropractor who cares deeply for every patient but also with one of Palmer’s proudest graduates.
Dr. Hulsebus is an inspiring example of how our alumni continue to be active in the College community after graduation. He refers and encourages potential students to become chiropractors and strengthen our profession. He philanthropically provides for Palmer’s future, maintains a strong network of influential chiropractic connections and promotes Palmer College whenever and however he can. His “Palmer Proud Friday” posts on the Hulsebus-Rockford Chiropractic Facebook page are always a delight to see!
When thinking about what it means to be daring and driven, one can easily look to the legacy of the Hulsebus family. Brant is a third-generation Palmer chiropractor from a family that dared to expand and grow chiropractic care in Illinois and beyond. Continuing the commendable work of his father, Michael Hulsebus, D.C. (Main, ’75), and his grandfather, the late Robert Hulsebus, D.C. (Main, ’49), Brant is driven to fulfill our collective aspirations of a world of unlimited health and human potential.
2021 Referrer of the Year
Daniel Warner, D.C. (Florida, ’08)
by Skye Corken, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Each week, usually on Thursdays, I set aside special time just for writing thank-you letters to alumni from all over the world who refer students to Palmer College. I started writing these letters shortly after I began working at Palmer and just before the global pandemic. However, with the world on pause, I thought my letter writing would also be on pause.
You can imagine my surprise when, at the beginning of the new year, we had over 365 alumni referrers from all corners of the globe listed as referrers of students for the last year.
Dr. Dan Warner was on that list – and still is. A 2008 graduate from Palmer Florida, Dr. Warner’s name is one I’ve come across many times. He has referred 62 prospective student, 25 of whom have already graduated. That’s why I’m excited to see that Dr. Warner has been honored with the inaugural Referrer of the Year Award. This honor recognizes a graduate who has supported the College by recruiting future generations of Palmer chiropractors.
READ MORE from Palmer Proud Magazine
