Sherman College Names 2023 Chiropractor of the Year, Regent of the Year and Other Award Recipients

Spartanburg, SC (05/11/2023) — Sherman College Names Chiropractor of the Year, Regent of the Year and Other Award Recipients

Sherman College of Chiropractic honored alumni, chiropractors, and supporters during its 50th Lyceum, a homecoming and continuing education event attended by hundreds throughout the United States and internationally. Lyceum is held each year and involves three days of seminars, special events, and other programs. More than 850 people participated in this year's event, held May 4-6 on Sherman's campus in Spartanburg, SC. The college is proud to announce the following 2023 award recipients:

Thom and Betty Gelardi Service Award: Robert Berkowitz, D.C., '81

This award is to honor the Gelardis and the award recipient who is deemed to have those same qualities as the Gelardis; presented in recognition of unselfish dedication, visionary leadership, and pioneering spirit.

Robert G. Berkowitz, D.C. began his Chiropractic journey in 1976 after graduating from Rutgers University in New Jersey where he earned his Bachelor of Science and earned six varsity letters in football, wrestling, and baseball.

He transferred to Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic after numerous discussions with his Rutgers fraternity Brother, Dr. Peter Lope, who was enrolled at Sherman.

Sherman represented a vision of chiropractic as a separate and district profession, with a clear and rational objective: the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation for the sole purpose of allowing the life within the body a better circumstance to express itself.

It's been a 42-year journey as a solo practitioner that has included actively promoting, supporting, and advancing the unique concept of a non-therapeutic chiropractor, representing Sherman at graduate student fairs around the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, or wherever Sherman asked him to go.

Bob served on the Sherman College Board of Trustees for 22 years, never missing a meeting or conference call. As its chair for four years, during what were the most challenging times, he represented Sherman's vision of chiropractic at various venues including in front of the accrediting agencies of SACS and CCE, as well as federal legislators in Washington, DC.

On the state level, Bob has been active for 42 years as a member of the Garden State Chiropractic Society, 38 years as a member of their Board of Directors, and as an officer for 33 years.

He has testified in front of both the New Jersey state senate and assembly to successfully allow the non-therapeutic objective to be included within the Scope of Practice Act.

On the national and international levels, he has been a part of the FSCO, currently the IFCO, since his time as a Sherman student. Dr. Berkowitz also served as a board member of the organization for over 35 years.

During 9/11, he was credentialed by both FEMA & the City of New York as a volunteer chiropractor at FEMA's command center in the Javits Convention Center and in lower Manhattan where the tragedy occurred.

Along the way, he has been named Sherman College's Regent of the Year on more than one occasion, Chiropractor of the Year by Sherman College and the Garden State Chiropractic Society, and was one of only two people to have a Sherman Lyceum dedicated in his honor during the millennial year.

Chiropractor of the Year: Grant Dennis, D.C.

Awarded to the chiropractor who has, through his/her service, given extraordinary time and effort to advance Sherman College and the principled chiropractic profession.

Dr. Grant Dennis is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, upper cervical specific doctor of chiropractic, and a proud brother of the Delta Sigma Chi fraternity. He published a book called A Life Without Migraines, which hit the Amazon best-selling list on its first day of release in August 2020.

While in full-time private practice, Dr. Dennis is also the chief operating officer for The Specific Chiropractic Centers franchise.

Dr. Dennis also teaches The Art of the Specific, a knee chest solid headpiece upper cervical specific technique, to aspiring students and dedicated doctors from all over the globe and oversees their International Outreach Program.

Dr. Dennis currently serves as president of the International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations (IFCO) since 2021; he previously served as vice president. Dr. Dennis has been an IRAPS presenter; he is a proud supporter of Sherman College and a Regent member since 2017.

Regent of the Year: Christine Zapata, D.C.

Awarded to a member of the Sherman College Board of Regents for their outstanding and continuous advancement of Sherman College through participation on the Board of Regents.

Dr. Christine Zapata is a 2007 Life Chiropractic College West graduate and founder of Emerald City Spinal Care in Seattle, Washington. Shortly after graduating, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to build two highly successful Upper Cervical chiropractic practices.

Dr. Zapata is a business coach, clinic director, Angel Investor, speaker, community builder, and philanthropist, and is a widely recognized local figure in Seattle for her charitable contributions to the local business community. Within the chiropractic profession, Dr. Zapata is regarded as an expert on how to build, manage, and scale a successful practice.

Dr. Zapata has been featured in many of the best-seller books and podcasts within her industry and is a sought-after speaker.

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For full details on these and other Sherman College award winners, visit www.sherman.edu/blog.

Media Attachments

Regent of the Year: Christine Zapata, D.C.

Thom and Betty Gelardi Service Award: Robert Berkowitz, D.C., '81

Chiropractor of the Year: Grant Dennis, D.C.​​​​​​​