More than 9,000 miles away from Logan University in Sydney, Australia, Jay Harthun B.S. EXIP, M.Chiro, is nearly finished with the next step in her healthcare career: earning her Master of Science in Chiropractic Pediatrics (MSCP) degree.
Originally interested in physical therapy, Dr. Harthun shifted focus after learning about chiropractic care.
“When I heard about chiropractic, I immediately booked an appointment with a local chiropractor and never looked back,” Dr. Harthun said. “I love that chiropractors provide immediate relief to patients while also helping them on their wellness journey.”
After earning her Master of Chiropractic (M.Chiro) from Macquarie University, Dr. Harthun felt weary treating pediatric patients.
“When I first started practicing, I told my chiropractic assistant not to book me any appointments with babies because I was so terrified,” she said. “I knew I needed to learn more to make sure I could provide the best care possible to our youngest population.”
A deep dive on the internet led Dr. Harthun to Logan’s MSCP program—a program she describes as having “exactly what she’s looking for.”
“The program can be difficult at times, but it’s very rewarding,” she explained. “I’ve learned a lot—not just about pediatrics, but skills that have made me a better practitioner overall. What I’m learning is translating to how I treat adult patients, too.”
Among her favorite parts of the program are the hands-on technique classes.
“The technique classes are the best,” Dr. Harthun said. “We learn from an amazing powerhouse of chiropractors, and they teach techniques I’d never learned before.”
Once a year throughout the two-year program, MSCP students travel to Logan’s campus in Chesterfield, Missouri for PedTRA Weekends, where they review manual therapy techniques in person with MSCP faculty.
“Being so far away overseas, it can be challenging to connect and build a community, but the PedTRA Weekends are really nice,” she shared. “We talk virtually every week, so it’s great to meet up with everyone in person and build that community.”
Upon graduation, Dr. Harthun will be the first pediatric-specific chiropractor in Australia.
“I’m really passionate about sharing the knowledge I’ve learned in the MSCP program with my colleagues and encouraging them to enroll in the program,” Dr. Harthun said. “This is a very holistic program, and it’s crazy most chiropractors don’t treat kids the way we’re being taught.”
Her vision post-graduation is to collaborate closely with hospitals, midwives, lactation consultants and pediatricians to ensure chiropractic care is recognized as an important part of a child’s health journey.
“There is such a lack of education on what we do and how we can help,” she said. “Too often, chiropractors see kids only after parents have exhausted other options. We should be at the table with the care team from the start.”
Dr. Harthun encourages other chiropractors considering the MSCP program to embrace both the challenge and the opportunity.
“Get in contact with your classmates early, space out your work schedule and make sure to look after yourself as well,” she says. “The program is rigorous, rewarding and provides a great foundation for pediatric practice.”
To learn more about Logan’s MSCP program, visit the website here.