The purpose of the Scientific Commission is to advise the Clinical Compass on issues related to searching, identifying, interpreting and compiling the scientific evidence related to chiropractic care and to collaborate as appropriate on the development, publication, dissemination and utilization of guidelines and care pathways.
COMMISSION MEMBERS

Clinton Daniels dc, ms
Commission Chair
Service since: 2016
Affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
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CLINT DANIELS DC, MS
Dr. Daniels is the Chiropractic Section Chief and Resident Director at VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He received his DC and MS degrees from Logan University. In 2014, Dr. Daniels was selected to the inaugural cohort of VA chiropractic residents and, in 2015, joined the VA Puget Sound medical staff. He is the Secretary for the Chiropractic Health Care section of the American Public Health Association and is the Research Coordinator for the VA Chiropractic Field Advisory Committee. He has 40+ publications on the topics of chiropractic integration into veteran and military facilities, postsurgical spine pain, suicide prevention, and chiropractic best practices. In 2020, he was appointed as a Scientific Commission Representative to Clinical Compass and he was appointed as the Scientific Commission Chair in 2024.

Zachary Cupler, DC, MS
Board Representative
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: VA Butler Health Care System
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ZACHARY CUPLER DC, MS
Zachary Cupler, DC, MS, is a staff chiropractor at the VA Butler Health Care System. He leads the interdisciplinary Pain Management Team and provides chiropractic and acupuncture services for acute and chronic pain conditions within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service. Beyond the clinic, he chairs the VA Butler HCS Pain and Opioid Review Committees and serves as the facility's Pain Point of Contact. Dr. Cupler’s research interest spans the evaluation and management of acute and chronic pain conditions. His investigations include systematic and scoping reviews as well as retrospective observational cohorts. He has over 15 peer-reviewed publications, and he has served as a subject matter expert for national and multinational clinical practice guideline development (American Physical Therapy Association, North American Spine Society, and Clinical Compass) for spine condition management.

Dean Smith, DC, PhD
BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Miami University
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DEAN SMITH DC, PhD
Dean Smith, DC, PhD, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health at Miami University and a chiropractor in Eaton, Ohio. He has a Master's degree in exercise science, a PhD in brain and cognitive science, and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. His research interests focus on how chiropractic and exercise affect perception and human performance. Dr. Smith is the founder and host of Chiropractic Science – a podcast dedicated to publicizing chiropractic research through interviews with leading chiropractic scientists.

Cheryl Hawk DC, LMT, PhD,
Director of Special Projects
Service Since: 2007
Affiliation: Texas Chiropractic College
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CHERYL HAWK DC, LMT, PhD
Dr.Hawk received her DC in 1976 from the National University of Health Sciences and practiced full-time for 12 years. In 1991, she earned a Ph.D. in Preventive Medicine from the University of Iowa and became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Dr. Hawk is a professor at Texas Chiropractic College and Chair of the Quality Enhancement Committee, which focuses on interprofessional education, communication, and collaboration. She is an author of over 120 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and the editor of 3 books. She has served as principal investigator for 75 research projects, 30 of which were grant-funded.
She has been named “Researcher of the Year” by both the American Chiropractic Association (2003) and the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (2005). She has been the author of more than a dozen chiropractic clinical practice guidelines and best practice recommendations. She served as Chair of the Scientific Commission of the Clinical Compass from 2007 through 2024.

Patrick Battaglia, DC
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: University of Western States
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Patrick Battaglia, DC
Dr. Patrick Battaglia is a board-certified chiropractic radiologist with expertise in point-of-care musculoskeletal sonography. With a diverse clinical background, he has successfully integrated chiropractic care into large health systems, particularly within community health centers, where he has provided direct patient care and instruction for students and residents. Dr. Battaglia is dedicated to creating diverse and immersive clinical experiences for chiropractic learners.

Jeffrey Cates DC, MS
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since:
Affiliation: Private Practice
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JEFFREY CATES DC, MS
Jeffrey Cates graduated from Palmer College in 1983. Dr. Cates completed an orthopedic diploma from National College, a diplomat from the American College of Consultants, and a master's degree in health care administration with a concentration in biomechanical trauma from Lynn University. He has worked with the CCGPP/Clinical Compass for several decades and has published works that include several guidelines and medical journal articles on quality assurance and standards of care in healthcare. Dr. Cates is in private practice at 200 N 6th St., Oregon, IL.

Ron Farabaugh, DC
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2005
Affiliation: Advanced Medicine Integration Group, LP
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RON FARABAUGH DC
Dr. Farabaugh has been in practice in Ohio since 1982. He was appointed by the Governor in 1994 to serve on the Healthcare Quality Advisory Council to help design managed care programs for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), specifically Qualified Health Plans (QHP). He is a past President of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association and the Ohio Chiropractic State Board. He is on the ODG-Board of Advisors (Official Disability Guidelines) and currently serves as VP and National Physical Medicine Director for Advanced Medicine Integration Group, LP (AMI). He is a former Chairman of Clinical Compass, was recently appointed to serve on the Scientific Commission of the Clinical Compass, and has published over a dozen papers on clinical practice guidelines in peer-reviewed journals.

Jordan Gliedt DC
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2016
Affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin
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JORDAN GLIEDT DC
Dr. Gliedt is a chiropractor who specializes in the care of patients with spinal conditions. The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin SpineCare Program is a transdisciplinary program consisting of rehabilitation professionals, physiatrists, neurologists, spine surgeons, chiropractors, and spine interventionalists. Dr. Gliedt is currently pursuing a PhD at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dana Lawrence DC, MMedEd, MA
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since:
Affiliation: Parker University
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DANA LAWRENCE DC, MMEDED, MA
Dr. Lawrence is the Senior Director of Faculty Development and Special Projects at Parker University; Dr. Lawrence was previously the Senior Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Palmer College of Chiropractic and, before that, was a member of the research department. Prior to coming to Palmer, Dr. Lawrence spent 23 years at the National University of Health Sciences. He is a past editor for several professional scientific journals, including the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, and is currently editor of the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. Dr. Lawrence is a past member of the Board of Directors for the World Federation of Chiropractic.

Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Private Practice Northwestern University of Health Sciences
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MICHELLE MAIERS DC, MPH, PhD
Michele Maiers is the co-director of the RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health Institutions (REACH) Center. Maiers is also the executive director of research and innovation at Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU), supporting the mission of providing evidence-based solutions to the healthcare community through its research and policy efforts. In her role as co-director of the REACH Center, Maiers will facilitate research activity both within and across participating institutions and develop strategies for advancing the Center.

Morgan Price, DC
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
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MORGAN PRICE DC
Morgan Price is a staff chiropractor at the Seattle Division of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Prior to this, she was VA Puget Sound’s inaugural resident through the VA Chiropractic Residency Program. She now enjoys serving as an attending for the residency program and providing clinical education for chiropractic, medical, and therapy trainees. She serves on a number of committees, including the American Chiropractic Association, the North American Spine Society, the American Public Health Association, and the National Quality Forum. Her research interests include evidence synthesis and case reports focused on elements of practicing in a multidisciplinary setting.

Eric Roseen, DC, MSc, PhD
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Boston University
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ERIC ROSEEN DC, MSC, PhD
Dr. Eric J. Roseen is an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and director of the Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Disparities at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Roseen’s research focuses on the effectiveness of yoga and other nonpharmacological therapies for low-back pain and the implementation of effective pain treatments in low-income communities. He is a member of the Dissemination and Implementation Task Force of the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine and a senior editor at the journal PM&R. Dr. Roseen received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the University of Western States, a Master of Science in epidemiology from the Boston University School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Philosophy in rehabilitation sciences from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions.

Stacie Salsbury, PhD, RN
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Palmer College of Chiropractic
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STACIE SALSBURY RN, PhD
Stacie A. Salsbury, PhD, RN, is a clinical and health services researcher. Her research interests include the comparative effectiveness and safety of complementary and integrative health interventions, patient and provider perspectives of chiropractic and collaborative care, integration of chiropractic services in conventional medical settings, and the treatment of musculoskeletal pain in veteran populations.

Alec Schielke dc
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2020
Affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System
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ALEC SCHIELKE DC
Since graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic (PCC), Dr. Schielke has developed his career within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He completed the VA residency in 2017 in upstate New York and has been at VA Palo Alto ever since, where he is now involved in their own residency program. Until recently, he served for five years as an Assistant Professor at the PCC West campus, but teaching continues to be one of his passions. Outside of clinic and academia, he pursues research involvement when possible and looks forward to continuing his role with Clinical Compass on the Scientific Commission.

Michael Schnieder DC, PhD
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since:
Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh
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MICHAEL SCHNIEDER DC, PhD
Michael Schneider practiced as a Doctor of Chiropractic for over 25 years before becoming a full-time academic researcher and professor at Pitt and now director of the Doctor of Chiropractic program. He received his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and a Certificate in Clinical Research from the Institute for Clinical Research Education in 2009. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Schneider brings existing NIH funding to the Doctor of Chiropractic program to lead chiropractic research and oversee postdoctoral researchers. Schneider has a strong record of NIH funding from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes and Research Institute (PCORI) as both principal investigator and co-investigator.
Schneider has received both the Presidential Award and Researcher of the Year Award from the American Chiropractic Association. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from American Public Health Association, Chiropractic Health Care Section.

David N. Taylor dc
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2019
Affiliation: Texas College of Chiropractic
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DAVID TAYOR DC
Dr. Taylor is the past President/CEO of the Multimed Center, Inc., an innovative multidisciplinary healthcare center. As the founder & president of Healthcare Review & Consulting, Inc.,
And Pioneer Neurodiagnostics, where he performed clinical, medicolegal, and peer review consulting. He has served on the Massachusetts Chiropractic Licensing Board, the board of directors of the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society, and as an examiner & test evaluator for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He was awarded a fellow of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards & he served as chairman of credentialing and quality improvement for Spine Managed Care. Dr. Taylor has lectured internationally, published numerous research papers, & acted as a journal peer reviewer. He has been involved in the generation of “Best Practices” as a board member of the Council of Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters and currently serves on the Scientific Commission of the Clinical Compass. Currently at Texas Chiropractic College, Dr. Taylor has served as a clinician, clinic director, and professor of clinical sciences.

Robert Trager, DC
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: University Hospitals
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ROBERT TRAGER DC
Dr. Robert Trager, DC, is a chiropractic physician and researcher at Connor Whole Health, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. Working in an integrated setting, he primarily cares for patients with chronic pain. His research focuses on real-world outcomes related to the integration of chiropractic in large healthcare settings.

Alyssa Troutner, DC, MS
Commission Member
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Southern California University of Health Sciences
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ALYSSA TROUTNER DC, MS
Dr. Troutner is a faculty clinician and assistant professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. After earning an MS in Sports Science and Rehabilitation and a DC degree from Logan University, she completed a post-graduate Integrated Chiropractic Residency Program at VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System. In July 2020, she joined the medical staff at the Rochester Clinton Crossings VA Clinic where she worked for three years as a faculty clinician for the OAA-sponsored Chiropractic Residency Program and as an attending clinician at Northeast College of Health Sciences. Her professional interests lie in chronic pain management, healthcare equity, and the integration of chiropractic care into comprehensive medical settings. She is presently pursuing an MPH degree at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Sheryl Walters mls
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since:
Affiliation: Logan University
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SHERYL WALTERS MLS
As an academic librarian at Logan University, Sheryl specializes in reference services, information literacy instruction, and literature searches. Sheryl is dedicated to facilitating students, faculty, and researchers access to information. She provides personalized assistance in navigating scholarly resources, refining search strategies, and evaluating information sources to empower patrons with the skills and resources they need to excel in their academic endeavors.

James Whedon, DC, MS
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: Southern California University of Health Sciences
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JAMES WHEDON DC, MS
Jim Whedon is a Senior Health Services Researcher at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI). He holds a DC degree from Logan College and an MS from Dartmouth College. He has authored more than 55 peer-reviewed publications. He is a charter member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine and a recipient of the Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from NCMIC Foundation and the Scott Haldeman Award for Outstanding Research from the World Federation of Chiropractic.

Anna-Marie Ziegler DC, MS, MM
COMMISSION MEMBER
Service Since: 2024
Affiliation: VA St. Louis Health Care System
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