Words of Wisdom Spark Acts of Generosity

Dr. and Mrs. Terry R. Yochum's Gift to Logan Radiology

“I once asked the chiropractic legend Dr. Monte Greenawalt the secrets to his success, and I’ve never forgotten his words,”  recalled Dr. Yochum, DC, DACBR, Fellow, ACCR, owner of Rocky Mountain Chiropractic Radiological Center located in Arvada, Colo. “Back then, I remember telling Dr. Greenawalt I didn’t have much to give, I had little money but was working on a book.”

Dr. Yochum would spend the next six years giving what he could to his profession and all that he had to his book.

With his pen in hand, he wrote 10,000 pages, which took his secretary four and a half years working 50 hours a week to type. His words, first printed by a medical publishing house in 1987, remain required reading for chiropractic students and serve as reference text in 100 medical schools worldwide. Now in its third edition with more than 100,000 copies sold, including 25,000 copies in use by medical doctors globally, “Essentials of Skeletal Radiology” opened doors for Dr. Yochum’s career and knocked down barriers for chiropractic.

“I was the first chiropractic author to have a book distributed by a medical publishing house,” added Dr. Yochum. “When my textbook became a best-seller, medical publishing houses took note and began printing more works by chiropractic authors. I’m proud to have broken that barrier.”

With the success of his textbook, Dr. Yochum’s career quickly expanded from practitioner and author to international speaker. The chiropractic radiologist who had once sought the counsel of Dr. Greenawalt, found himself as a global educator and mentor for thousands of chiropractic and medically trained professionals.

Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together

“X-ray to me is like a puzzle,” commented Dr. Yochum. “As a chiropractic radiologist, I get to play Sherlock Holmes and put the pieces together to improve patient care. It’s a stimulating challenge for me, academically and clinically.”

According to Dr. Yochum, the X-ray guides the chiropractor. The image can confirm an accurate diagnosis, which then leads to effective chiropractic treatments. “X-ray provides us with a window into the possible pathologies. Since the early 1900s, X-ray has served as a critical diagnostic tool providing for the comprehensive evaluation of patients.”

The puzzle pieces of Dr. Yochum’s career soon revealed greater opportunities to give back to his profession. Through new editions of his text, guest lectures and his practice, he gave his time and expertise; and then, he found a missing piece that would lead him home.

The Logan Connection

Dr. Yochum led Logan’s radiology department in the late 1970s. As department chair, he recognized the power of education in expanding the profession and chiropractic’s benefits. When he left Logan for a post as the director of radiology for the Institute of Technology School of Chiropractic in Melbourne, Australia, St. Louis remained home.

“My father practiced in South St. Louis, it’s my hometown and I frequently visit to see family and teach,” said Dr. Yochum. “When I would come back to Logan, what I saw was the premier radiology residency program. I was so impressed with the department, led by my friend and colleague Dr. Norman Kettner, that I sent my daughter Alicia there. I didn’t graduate from Logan, but I chose to send my daughter here, which speaks volumes for the school and its radiology department.”

During a recent trip to Logan, Dr. Yochum saw a need—and responded.

“After visiting the health centers, my wife and I pledged matching funds so that Logan could immediately convert the three satellite centers to a digital X-ray platform, which was already present in the main clinic radiology suite on Logan’s campus,” said Dr. Yochum. “It’s something Inge, my wife and best friend, and I wanted to do.”

Dr. Yochum’s generosity emanates from his belief that “students are the future of the profession, and it’s important to give back to
the future.” His actions also reflect the words he often recalls from Dr. Greenawalt.

“What Dr. Yochum gave to us at Logan is the capability to employ digital X-ray technology throughout our community health centers,” explained Dr. Kettner. “His matching donation facilitated the health centers’ move to rapid imaging communications between our department and the centers’ clinicians.”

Logan has already installed all of the digital X-ray equipment, thanks to Dr. Gary Guebert, BS, DC, DACBR, who managed the conversion. Now, the health centers and Logan’s radiology department electronically modify and move images, which Dr. Kettner says unifies Logan’s health center system, provides superior imaging compared to analog radiography and, ultimately, supports more efficient and accurate diagnoses.

“I’ve known Dr. Yochum for years,” said Dr. Kettner. “He’s industrious. He sets his eyes on a goal, rolls up his sleeves and gets it done. He’s also one of the most generous individuals I’ve ever met, in all senses of the word generosity. He gives of his time, knowledge and finances.”

Dr. Kettner describes the new technology as state of the art yet cost effective. “It’s important that we expose our students to technology and equipment they can one day use in practice,” he said. “Our department now is incomparable. We offer the best
in technology and expertise.”

The Next Generation

Logan’s reputation acts as a magnet, attracting supporters like Dr. Yochum and promising students and residents, including Dr. Alicia Yochum.

“Alicia had no idea that her mother and I were going to make this gift,” said Dr. Yochum. “This gift is for the future of all Logan graduates and our profession.”

As for Dr. Alicia Yochum, who graduated summa cum laude from Logan in December 2011, the former ICU-nurse now spends her
days working in her father’s former department under the direction of Dr. Kettner as a radiology resident.

“I’m so proud of Alicia and her accomplishments,” said Dr. Yochum. “She represents the third generation in our family to practice chiropractic and to pursue our shared passion of radiology. I know it would please my father, Kenneth E. Yochum, DC, and it certainly pleases me.”

Dr. Terry Yochum’s future plans call for continued giving of himself to his beloved profession. Often asked to speak at commencement ceremonies, Dr. Yochum seizes the opportunity to share what he has learned on his chiropractic journey.

“You can’t give yourself into poverty,” said Dr. Yochum. “I always impart this wisdom, which Dr. Greenawalt first shared with me,
with recent graduates. We all have knowledge, energy and clinical expertise that we need to share with others. For me, I
dedicate the majority of my gifts of time, expertise and finances to Logan because I want to give all I can to help keep Logan in
the spotlight of excellence.”