From the sunshine in Puerto Rico to the Wisconsin winters, and all the St. Louis seasons in between, Mara Alayón Rullán, DC (’25) has carried one goal with her: helping others.
Dr. Alayón’s journey in healthcare began while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in environmental microbiology at the Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo. As a member of a neurological association that regularly hosted healthcare professionals from various professions, she was introduced to chiropractic care.
“I was really drawn to the hands-on approach of chiropractic,” Dr. Alayón said. “When Logan University hosted an open house to talk about its Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program, I liked the emphasis on evidence-based practices.”
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2021, Dr. Alayón moved to Missouri to pursue a chiropractic degree from Logan. The highlight of the program for her was during the clinical phase at the Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad and at Affinia Healthcare.
“I truly enjoy helping every patient – from someone with a minor ache, like knee pain after a long walk, to more complex cases such as patients with spinal cord injuries. Being part of their care team and supporting their recovery was incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Alayón said. “Logan does a great job of incorporating evidence-based thinking into its program, and if you want to help people, the DC program is a great way to start.”
While at Affinia Healthcare, she learned about a chiropractic fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). The fellowship is a one-year, full-time faculty position housed in the Department of Neurosurgery and is designed to provide fellows with advanced training as a spine and musculoskeletal-focused member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
“I talked about the fellowship with Logan Health Center clinicians Kelsey Lewis, DC (’17); Leslie Reece, DC, MS (’19), DACBSP; and Jevinne Khan, DC (’20), and they encouraged me to apply,” she said. “I really liked the collaborative approach I experienced during clinicals and after additional research into the fellowship, I realized the two were very similar.”
Dr. Alayón is the second chiropractic fellow and Logan graduate to hold the position at the MCW. Aubrianna Jones, DC (’23) was the first during the 2024-25 academic year and provided guidance and mentorship during the program transition — support that Dr. Alayón says she’s deeply grateful to have had.
“My role consists of taking patient histories, performing physical examinations, providing hands-on treatments, obtaining imaging, and reaching a diagnosis,” Dr. Alayón explained. “Another important part is guiding patients to the right resources — connecting them with the providers and services that best fit their needs. Being part of an integrated team allows me to learn how to ensure every patient receives comprehensive, evidence-based care.”
For Dr. Alayón, the highlight so far has been the opportunity to continue learning.
“Logan graduates receive a great education, but there’s always something new to learn and room to grow,” Dr. Alayón said. “If there’s an opportunity where I feel like I’ll learn something, I’m taking it.”
The fellowship is directed by Logan alumnus Jordan Gliedt, DC (’11), who has been part of the MCW team for nearly nine years.
“I’m deeply grateful for the team at MCW,” Dr. Alayón said. “They’ve been incredibly supportive and truly created a positive and encouraging learning environment from day one.”
Dr. Alayón offers one piece of advice to chiropractic students: keep an open mind.
“Always keep an open mind — not just in your clinical approach, but in understanding each patient’s unique circumstances. Take into consideration their specific needs, lifestyle, accessibility and limitations to provide care that truly fits the individual.”
For those interested in the 2026-27 fellowship, virtual and in-person informational sessions are available.