For chiropractor Dr. Glenn Cashman, juggling the Master of Rehabilitation Science (MRSc) program along with his Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences Fellowship program, his business and family life has made for “a pretty crazy few years,” he says. Not to mention the 10 hours per week he spends at the rink as Team Chiropractor for both the Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Giants hockey teams. Still, the energetic, 42-year-old father of two says that he is “genuinely enjoying all of it; I have all of these shiny balls in the air and I don’t want to drop any of them. I am really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish.”
Those accomplishments will include graduating from the Master’s program – which he began in 2009 – in 2013, along with the completion of his chiropractic fellowship. Cashman was attracted to the MRSc as a way to fulfill some of the course and original research requirements for his Fellowship. He also saw the opportunity for recognition and applicability in other settings, if he ever had to discontinue his clinical career.
Cashman says that knowledge transfer is at the heart of the Master’s program.” Most of the courses have been pretty applicable, not simply hoarding of knowledge. There was always this eye to application and I really appreciate that.”
He valued the opportunity for multidisciplinary learning, both to improve his knowledge of other rehabilitation professions and for those practitioners to learn about chiropractic. Cashman says his research and educator skills have definitely been enhanced by his experience in the program. He has already published and says he is much more likely to write for professional publications now. He also values his rapid access to full articles through Pub Med. “I look to literature much more than I used to,” and believes that his patients benefit as a result. Another benefit is bridge-building with other rehabilitation professionals through seeking solutions to less common clinical problems.
“I really love clinical life,” remarks Glen. And informing researchers about things that are more relevant to the clinical world is an important part of that life.
By Heather Kent