As a 1st year Chiropractic student with a growing interest in research, I sought out as many opportunities as I could find to attend scientific conferences. I also had a habit of applying to as many scholarships as I could. This is my essay for a tuition scholarship to attend the IRCIMH.

My interest in research began in a remote corner of the 5th floor of my university library while grudgingly preparing an assignment for a dance history class. To be honest, I was trying to get away with using the same assignment for my capstone project. I was led to a research journal of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) and lost myself in the fascinating fusion of physics, anatomy, and physiology with ballet, aesthetics, and pirouettes. While it was my last semester as an Exercise Science major, and I was earning a minor in Ballroom Dance, I hadn't yet envisioned how the two programs could complement and inform one another.

Over the past few years, I have developed a better understanding of the scientific method and research with books by the likes of Ben Goldacre, Edzard Ernst, and Imogen Evans, and keeping an eye on current trends with TED Talks and StarTalk Radio podcasts. Yet, I crave a more hands-on approach to research.

Unfortunately, I didn't have opportunities to be involved in research during my undergraduate program. Since starting chiropractic school, I have made it a goal to attend research conferences and bring information back to campus. I revived the dormant Research & Journal Club at UWS and have successfully grown the membership list from 1 to 73 students and held 9 meetings in the past 3 quarters. The club is inaugurating the Mitch Haas Lecture Series this coming month to help the campus community stay apprised of the current studies being led by the head of our research department.

The greatest challenge I have encountered in this discovery of research is limiting my areas of interest. I spent an October weekend in Seattle at the Annual Meeting of IADMS. As a former professional ballroom dancer, it was thrilling to learn about methodologies for evaluating dancers' peak power, protocols for treating hip injuries, and to network with medical doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, researchers, and dance instructors who are also passionate about integrating with other health practitioners. This summer, I am attending the first international Congress on Medicine and Science in Ultra-endurance Sports. As a Wilderness First Responder, member of the Wilderness Medicine Society, and an aspiring ultra runner myself, I am fascinated by the application of physiology and sports science to a relatively new and misunderstood sport. Due to the intensity and pace of the chiropractic curriculum – and adding a masters level program on top of that – I have yet to find a way to be involved with primary research. But my passion eagerness persists and I satisfy the appetite by attending what conferences I can. Attending the International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine & Health would be an amazing opportunity to represent my institution, network with like-minded professionals and students, and bring current information back to my campus.

I’m pleased to report that I won this scholarship and attended the congress held in Miami, Florida in 2014.