Logan University President H. Garrett Thompson, DC, PhD will present the 2026 Spirit of Logan Distinguished Alumni Award to Debra Hoffman, DC (’80) during Logan’s Symposium 2026, held May 1-2 on campus.
The Spirit of Logan Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest distinction bestowed upon an alumnus for making a significant, lasting impact on Logan. Winners are
selected based on leadership, philanthropy, industry achievement and service. After graduating from Logan in 1980, when opportunities for women in chiropractic were limited, Dr. Hoffman went on to spend more than four decades shaping and advancing the profession.
“We were kind of the first wave of women finding our feet and our voices,” she said.
Dr. Hoffman broke barriers by becoming the first woman to practice chiropractic in Hillsborough County, Florida, which encompasses Tampa and its surrounding areas. She found support among colleagues and built a respected practice she ran for 40 years.
Dr. Hoffman’s influence soon extended beyond patient care. She became involved in numerous chiropractic industry organizations, serving as a delegate for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), chairman of the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine and president of the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA). In 2014, Dr. Hoffman was the inaugural recipient of the FCA Humanitarian Award, which honors chiropractic professionals for outstanding community service. She has also been recognized as FCA’s Chiropractor of the Year.
“Every role I held in service to the chiropractic profession mattered deeply to me,” Dr. Hoffman said. “The decisions we make affect people’s lives, and I approached that responsibility with care, diplomacy and a sincere commitment to upholding the integrity of the profession.”
Dr. Hoffman spent 15 years advocating for chiropractic advancement in Washington, D.C. She met with Florida’s congressional delegation to support policy efforts related to Medicare, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and broader professional recognition for chiropractors.
Her ties to Logan have remained strong throughout her career. Dr. Hoffman joined the university’s Board of Trustees in 2005 and served in many capacities, including advisor, vice chair and chair. As chair, Dr. Hoffman was committed to engaging Logan alumni and optimizing Board functions through leadership development and defining working committees. During her last year as a Board member in 2016, she was proud to participate in the presidential search committee.
For Dr. Hoffman, receiving the Spirit of Logan Distinguished Alumni Award is both humbling and meaningful.
“I get to stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before me,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to say, ‘thank you’ to Logan and to everyone who made my professional life possible.”
Even in semi-retirement, Dr. Hoffman continues to see patients once a week, which reflects the sense of duty and purpose that has defined her career.
“Chiropractic isn’t just what we do,” she said. “It becomes part of who we are.”