Parker Alumni Association elects board members

September 3, 2011 — The Parker Alumni Association re-elected Dr. Scott Garber ’02 and selected two new members to serve on its board of directors including Dr. Alan C. Smith ’01 and Dr. Carol L. Watkins ’11. The three will work to continue the vision, leadership, and legacy that has been established throughout the years.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Garber has traveled the world to bring chiropractic care to people in Czech Republic, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, and more. In 2006, Garber and his wife Greta self-funded and created the first chiropractic mission to Sri Lanka.

He spent many years in Australia practicing chiropractic before returning to the United States and setting up his clinic, Chiropractic Works, in Lenox, Mass. He is currently spearheading the New England chapter of the Parker Network, which enables alumni and friends of Parker to remain connected to the institution and active within the chiropractic community. Garber is a member of the International Chiropractic Association, World Chiropractic Association, and Chiropractic Association Australia. He became a Lifetime Member of the Parker Alumni Association in 2008.

“I consider it a privilege to be able to be part of, and serve, the greatest chiropractic university today,” said Garber. “I want to continue to support and serve in any way Parker needs me to help build and carry on the dream of Dr. Jim. Service to my community, alumni, and family is my priority, and that path has allowed me to grow as a person and a professional.”

Smith moved to Fort Collins, Colo. after graduating from Parker and opened Pivotal Chiropractic. With a wellness mindset behind each adjustment he performed, his patients’ overall health began to improve and his practice started to expand. Many of his patients began asking him about nutrition, exercise, massage, and other wellness areas and how all of these could help them benefit from chiropractic, which is where the vision of a complete wellness facility began.

One year later, the vision became a reality and with a lot of work and determination, Smith founded Pivotal Wellness. He says that having an all-encompassing wellness center has helped his patients understand how focusing on their wellness as a whole, instead of simply one aspect, will help them achieve optimal health.

In 2007, the Parker Alumni Association recognized him as the Young Alumni of the Year for his dedication to Parker and success as a recent graduate. Since 2009, he has served as a regional representative to the institution by supporting various efforts in his local community. Recently, he sold his Fort Collins practice and moved to Florida to be closer to his family. He recently opened Axiom Wellness Center in Jacksonville, Fla. He became a Lifetime Member of the Parker Alumni Association in 2007.

“I believe the purpose of the alumni association is to recognize that the influence and patronage of those who have graduated from Parker constitute a powerful source,” said Smith. “If properly encouraged and thoughtfully directed, this resource can be applied to protect and strengthen Parker, shoring up the investment each alumnus has made in himself or herself. Therefore, each alumnus will find the value to being active in the Parker family. I want this value to become an unquestioned reality for all alumni.”

A recent Parker graduate, Watkins, opened her first practice this May in American Fork, Utah. Her practice, Health Body Chiropractic, allows families to function at their highest potential.

As a student at Parker, Watkins worked her way up the student government ladder to become the president in 2010. While serving as the student senate president, she held a seat on the Parker Alumni Association Board of Directors where she became the voice of the students within the association. Watkins was also a Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) delegate in Washington DC during the National Chiropractic Leadership Conference for two consecutive years. Prior to graduating, she became a Lifetime Member of the Parker Alumni Association in 2011.

“I appreciate the education I received at Parker and I’ve always worked to serve my fellow classmates and the student body,” said Watkins. “I am honored to continue that service as a member of the alumni association board of directors.”

Source: Parker University, www.parker.edu