Northeast College of Health Sciences will celebrate Veterans Day and its longtime partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by providing veterans with free health screenings at its outpatient health centers in Depew, Levittown and Seneca Falls, New York, throughout November.
According to a Northeast College press release, the free health screenings include spinal screenings, posture analysis screenings and blood pressure screenings.
In addition, custom orthotics are available at a reduced $90 cost ($150 value), and a New York State Department of Veteran Services representative will visit the community health centers at individualized times throughout the month to discuss veteran benefits and opportunities.
“Similar to the VA, we believe in approaching our veterans’ health and well-being by utilizing a whole-health approach to provide quality patient care with dignity,” said Daryon Ray, assistant dean of clinical education at the Northeast College Levittown Health Center. “With this initiative, veterans will receive a variety of health-related screenings and gain a better understanding of their health.”
Northeast College and its healthcare-focused students regularly attend community events throughout the year to provide veterans healthcare advice, tips and services to help manage pain and improve their overall quality of life.
In September, Northeast College Assistant Professor Brad Hopkins, DC, MS, and student chiropractic clerks from the college’s Depew Health Center participated in a suicide prevention event at the Veterans One-Stop Shop in Buffalo, New York. While there, Northeast College clerks, led by Hopkins, discussed ways to manage chronic pain and the comorbidity of mental health illness.
“As healthcare providers, we discussed proper soft tissue mobilization and stretching techniques to help veterans with their pain,” Hopkins said. “We teach veterans how to incorporate our tips and advice into their daily routines.”
In August 2024, student clerks and faculty from the Levittown Health Center also participated in VetFest at the Northport VA Medical Center, led by Ray. “Veterans, unfortunately, are sometimes overlooked or don’t have access to quick and convenient healthcare,” said Ray, currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. “At VetFest we provided veterans with information regarding our many services, including nutritional counseling, chiropractic care and massage therapy. This way they can make informed decisions that align with their specific needs.”
Longtime partnership
Northeast College of Health Sciences, with campuses in the Finger Lakes region of New York as well as a new branch campus on Long Island, has partnered with the VA for nearly two decades. Currently, Northeast has affiliations with more than 10 VA medical centers to provide healthcare services. Each VA site also has a Northeast affiliated clinical faculty member.
“Hundreds of students have attended clinical rotations at our partnering VA medical centers,” said Northeast College Dean of Clinical Education Wendy Maneri. “Our student clerks have provided thousands of chiropractic adjustments to veterans.”
Just months after the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated chiropractic as a veteran benefit in 2004, the college, known as New York Chiropractic College at the time, had chiropractic students participating in their clinical studies starting at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York.
Also prompted by the NDAA, in 2012 the college launched the first-ever VA chiropractic residency program. Maneri is the Northeast College academic affiliate with the Finger Lakes VA and works to review qualified candidates as part of the residency search committee. Northeast College is also the academic affiliate for the Western New York VA Healthcare system. Residents’ duties include working alongside the VA system’s established providers during rotations with various specialists in neurology, orthopedics, physiatry, pain management, primary care and physical therapy.
“On Veterans Day and throughout the year, Northeast College and its health centers thank our nation’s veterans for their service,” said President Michael Mestan, DC, EdD. “We remain dedicated to enhancing healthcare opportunities for veterans while training Northeast students and future healthcare professionals to provide care with compassion and dignity.”
Throughout November, free health screenings for veterans are available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at all Northeast College health centers. Information about healthcare services, including nutrition, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic, will also be available. Walk-ins are welcome, but scheduling an appointment is encouraged.
Seneca Falls Health Center
2360 State Route 89
Seneca Falls, NY
315-568-3166
Depew Health Center
4974 Transit Road
Depew, NY
716-685-9631
Levittown Health Center
70 Division Ave.
Levittown, NY
516-796-4800
For more information about Northeast College of Health Sciences and its degree programs, visit northeastcollege.edu.
About Northeast College of Health Sciences
For more than a century, Northeast College of Health Sciences has been dedicated to training healthcare’s future leaders. At Northeast, health and wellness are our central focus, driving everything we do. The College’s graduate and undergraduate academic programs in areas such as chiropractic, nutrition, human anatomy instruction, massage therapy and the imaging sciences are rooted in Northeast’s mission and commitment to academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices. From our 286-acre main campus in New York’s Finger Lakes and our state-of-the-art branch campus on Long Island to our renowned faculty of expert practitioners, Northeast College provides a transformative educational experience, 100% dedicated to health sciences.
