Learning about bones is one thing, but hearing from a real chiropractor brought it to life for Sterling High School’s Anatomy & Physiology class. On Thursday, November 6, Anatomy students had a special opportunity to learn from a guest speaker, Dr. Erik Peterson. Dr. Peterson is a local chiropractor who visited the Anatomy & Physiology class to share his knowledge about the human body and what it’s like to work in the chiropractic field. 

  Dr. Peterson began his visit by introducing himself to the class and sharing a little about his daily work. He explained how chiropractors focus on bones, joints, and muscles to help patients feel better and more comfortable. He shared that his favorite part of his job is “helping somebody feel better that’s been in pain for a long time.” 

  Dr. Peterson then goes into talking about the schooling he had to take to become a chiropractor. He said that before getting into chiropractic school, he had to complete all of his course requirements and pass a big test called the MCAT, which is required for medical programs. Dr. Peterson also mentioned how it takes lots of dedication to prepare for this career.

  Anatomy & Physiology teacher, Nicole Schlemmer said, “I started having Dr. Peterson come in because I feel like it was useful for the students to see how anatomy can be used in a job. It is also nice for them to be able to ask questions to someone who uses anatomy in their career. It was beneficial to learn about a chiropractor and see a live adjustment.”

  Dr. Peterson mentions this is his 11th year he has come into the Anatomy & Physiology class and this year he is switching it up by having the students play a game. Toward the end of the Anatomy & Physiology class, students got to play a fun game called, “Guess What My Problem Is.” 

    Students worked in groups of three, asking him questions to figure out a mystery “patient problem.” If a group guessed wrong, they were out for the round. 

  Junior Kasey Weeks said, “This game was very entertaining and it made us think harder about what we’ve learned.” The game was fun, very interactive, and helped students apply what they’ve learned from Anatomy & Physiology.

  Dr. Peterson was a huge influence on the students and allowed them to get an idea of what being a chiropractor is like.