Jake Halverson, DC, DACBR, RMSK has blazed a trail by combining a passion for teaching with a dedication to advancing chiropractic care. Raised in Utah, Dr. Halverson knew he wanted to be a chiropractor from an early age. His path began with a degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, laying the foundation for his future.
He then earned his Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) from Palmer College of Chiropractic West Campus in California, where he graduated as valedictorian in 2018. Eager to expand his expertise, he came to Logan University for a rigorous three-year residency in diagnostic imaging, earning him the title of chiropractic radiologist and board certification in 2021. He is a Diplomate with the American Chiropractic Board of Radiology (DACBR).
In January 2022, Dr. Halverson moved to Puerto Rico to begin teaching at the Universidad Central del Caribe, a health sciences university, and now currently resides in Levittown. He is one of only two chiropractic radiologists on the entire island.
“After graduation, I knew I wanted to teach, and I fell in love with Puerto Rico when this opportunity came up,” he said. “I am able to work in an integrated setting here and collaborate with other providers, which is incredible.”
At Universidad Central del Caribe, Dr. Halverson has created a groundbreaking curriculum in diagnostic ultrasound, a specialty that aligns closely with his role as a chiropractic radiologist. In addition to teaching, he also regularly consults with health care providers, offering his specialized knowledge in musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostics.
“We see a little bit of everything down here, I collaborate with students and other healthcare professionals on all the imaging cases that come from the university’s chiropractic clinic,” said Dr. Halverson. “As chiropractic radiologists, we are trained to look at images a little differently and pay special attention to postural findings and biomechanics, ultimately elevating the level of patient care.”
With only about 300 DACBRs in the history of the profession, Dr. Halverson recognizes the importance of nurturing future talent. “This specialty is definitely challenging and a small field with only a few available residencies, but we believe that over time, it will be more widely recognized as more students are interested in this niche,” he said.
He also contributes to the field by teaching the Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging course to students in Logan University’s Master of Science in Chiropractic Pediatrics program. “The students in this program are incredibly bright and ingrained in clinical sciences, making it a unique teaching experience,” he said.