Christopher Kent DC, JD, MBA, ACP – President

Dr. Kent’s passion for facilitating human empowerment led him to the chiropractic profession, where he has served as a practitioner, educator, author, lecturer, and researcher following his graduation from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, in 1973.

Following graduation, Dr. Kent joined the Palmer faculty. While at Palmer, he was elected president of the faculty senate and worked as a principal investigator in the research department.

Dr. Kent left Davenport and moved to Florida to practice full-time. He qualified as a specialist in chiropractic diagnostic imaging, was named a Fellow of the College of Chiropractic Imaging, and completed visiting fellowship programs in magnetic resonance imaging. He also served as an associate professor at Palmer-West in California.

Acknowledged as one of the brightest minds in chiropractic, Dr. Kent returned to New Jersey in 1990 to continue the in-depth research on surface EMG that he had started several years earlier. His vision was to develop technologies that would objectively demonstrate manifestations of nerve interference and ultimately provide certainty for chiropractors and their patients.

Along the way, Dr. Kent was recognized as “Chiropractic Researcher of the Year” in 1991 by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). He was also named ICA’s “Chiropractor of the Year” in 1998. In June 2001, Dr. Kent was elected Chair of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Health Committee, the first chiropractor to hold that office. The NGO Health Committee is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. He served as a member of the Executive Board of the UN Health Committee from 2000-2007. Dr. Kent also served as a Representative to the Department of Public Information affiliated with the United Nations from 1999-2008.

In 2007, Dr. Kent was honored with the first Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by Life University.

He is a co-founder of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, Co-Founder of On Purpose, Founder of Advanced Subluxation Training, Founder of ChiroStrokeMyth, and the author of Chiropractic Insights.

He is the author of over 38 peer reviewed scientific research papers, three books and four book chapters and over 100 articles in chiropractic trade publications.

For over 35 years, Dr. Kent has been committed to developing improved clinical strategies, and securing the future of chiropractic.

An attorney as well as a chiropractor, Dr. Kent is a member of the California bar and is also currently a Professor and Director of Presidential Global Initiatives at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Dr. Kent’s ability to integrate the philosophy and science of chiropractic is legendary.  

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH – Vice President

Dr. McCoy is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of ChiroFutures – a chiropractic malpractice insurance program and the Vice President of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation.  He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Sherman College of Chiropractic.

He was a  Professor at Life University for 18 years serving in the Clinical Sciences Division, the Director of Research, an Instructor within Clinics and the Clinic Proficiency Department and was one of the developers of the Clinical Education Track there. 

Prior to this he was in private practice in Kirkland, Washington and is the past owner and Clinical Director for four integrative health care centers in South Florida. 

Dr. McCoy was a consultant for Vostok 1/North Pacific Corporation and The Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine” involved in developing a chiropractic treatment, teaching & research center in Vladivostok, Russia. 

Dr. McCoy is actively engaged in research in such areas as health outcomes, pediatric and maternal health, and outcome assessment. 

Dr. McCoy received his undergraduate degree in Organizational Management from Covenant College, a Doctor of Chiropractic from Life College School of Chiropractic in 1989 and a Master of Public Health from Emory University with a concentration in health outcomes. 

He has pursued extensive post graduate training in the areas of research, applied chiropractic sciences, spinal adjusting technique, spinal trauma, treatment and rehabilitation. He additionally has post graduate training in magnetic resonance imaging, electroneurodiagnostics, spinal outcome assessment, impairment rating and is a Certified Independent Medical Examiner. Dr. McCoy is a Candidate for Diplomate Status in Applied Chiropractic Science through the International Chiropractors Association. 

Actively involved in best practices initiatives, Dr. McCoy was a founding board member of the Council on Chiropractic Practice, Past Chairman of the Guidelines Committee and Past Vice Chair of the Research Committee. He was a chiropractic liason to the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 

Other professional memberships include: The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, the International Federation of Chiropractic Organizations, the Georgia Council of Chiropractic, the Academy of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Organizations and the American Public Health Association. Dr. McCoy is a Board member of the American College of Addictionology & Compulsive Disorders and Vice President of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation. 

He is presently Editor of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research and the Journal of the Philosophy, Principles and Practice of Chiropractic. He is the past Editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, and is a past editorial board member of Today’s Chiropractic.  

Dr. McCoy has served as an expert witness and consultant in numerous state board actions, malpractice cases, peer review, insurance and IME issues over the past 20 years. These include cases in both the United States and countries abroad such as Australia and the United Kingdom.  

Veronica Gutierrez DC – Board Member

Dr. Gutierrez received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1963 and did post-graduate work at Cleveland College of Chiropractic. 

She is the recipient of numerous awards and has served on numerous boards and commissions for chiropractic. 

Active in health policy for decades, Gutierrez was a member of the United Chiropractors of Washington and the Chiropractic Society of Washington, making valuable contributions to each. 

In 1993, she was appointed to the Washington State Chiropractic Examining Board and from 1994 to 1998, she was a member of the State Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission, serving as its chairperson from 1995 to 1996. She also served on the Washington Governor-Elect’s Health Care Advisory Committee. 

Dr. Gutierrez was the only chiropractor to serve on the United States White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy during the Clinton Administration. She made numerous presentations regarding that work as well as her work and advocacy on behalf of women’s health issues. 

She has worked tirelessly on managed care issues, health care reform, public policy and standards of care for subluxation-centered chiropractic. She was a founding Board Member of the Council on Chiropractic Practice – the first chiropractic standard of care guidelines to be included in the National Guideline Clearinghouse and served on the Standards of Care committee for the Washington State Chiropractic Association. She served on the Washing State Department of Social and Health Services/DSHS Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee member and the Center for Health Statistics, 1980-1981. 

Dr. Gutierrez has represented chiropractic internationally in such places as Russia, Costa Rica, Croatia and Peru and has presented at the United Nations on chiropractic. She has received numerous awards in her profession, including those from the Chiropractic Society of Washington, the Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association (SCASA), and the International Chiropractic Association. Dr. Gutierrez served on the Board of Directors, Chairwoman of the Board and President of SCASA. 

Brooke Schuessler DC – Board Member & Secretary

Dr. Brooke Schuessler brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, research experience, and public advocacy to the Board of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation. A graduate of Sherman College of Chiropractic and a licensed chiropractor, Dr. Schuessler has been deeply involved with the Foundation since her time as a Research Fellow, where she contributed to pivotal projects including the Foundation’s immunity initiative and the development of Best Practices documents related to immune function.

Previously serving as the Foundation’s Executive Director, she played a key role in representing the organization at national chiropractic events, strengthening institutional ties with Sherman College, and supporting the net generation of chiropractic researchers. In recognition of her leadership and scholarly contributions, she received the Young Researcher Award at the International Research & Philosophy Symposium (IRAPS) during Sherman College’s Lyceum.

Dr. Schuessler is also the founder of National Concussion Awareness Day, an initiative she launched in 2016 following her personal experience with a traumatic brain injury as a teenager. Her mission is to raise public awareness about concussions, improve recognition and response, and provide support for those recovering from them. She continues to lead this campaign as part of her broader commitment to public health education.

In 2023, Brooke made history by being crowned Miss New Hampshire, going on to compete at Miss America 2024. As the first chiropractor to ever participate in the national pageant, she exemplifies the values of determination, service, and professional excellence. Brooke’s story reflects the Foundation’s commitment to fostering leaders who serve both their communities and the chiropractic profession with vision and purpose.

Christie Kwon DC, MS, MPH – Board Member

Dr. Kwon completed her Doctor of Chiropractic degree within the Research Track at Life University, with Pi Tau Delta honors.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science and Master of Science in Biotechnology degrees from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University, with Delta Omega honors.  She has also studied Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health and completed a Visiting Fellowship in Functional MRI at the Harvard Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging.

Dr. Kwon is currently involved in subluxation-based chiropractic research focused on the epidemiology of vertebral subluxation.  She has also engaged in chiropractic and public health research related to maternal and child health outcomes, and is interested in studies on the utilization of fMRI in special populations under care.  She has presented her work to chiropractors, educators, and other healthcare professionals from a diverse array of disciplines all over the world.

Her extensive science and research background includes work with the Emory Child Health and Mortality Prevention Study (CHAMPS), the former National Cancer Institute’s American Health Foundation, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine – Neurology Institute for Cell Engineering, the Johns Hopkins Hospital Harriet Lane Adolescent Clinic, and the Engineering Research Center for Computer Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology.  She is also a former intern with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council Health Committee.

She is a Board Member and Research Fellow with the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation focused on prevention science, public health, and vertebral subluxation and a full-time faculty member at Life University.