Dr. Stanley Dombroski Honored by Life U then-President of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) delivered a speech that stuck with Dr. Dombroski, “You did not choose to be a chiropractor — Chiropractic chose you.” The ICA president urged the students to think of all the little things that happened that led them to starting off their path to become chiropractors. This speaking session would impact Dr. Dombroski for years to come. Coincidentally, years later after he had graduated and began his career in Chiropractic, Dr. Dombroski would find himself at a chiropractic convention where he would share the story with the ICA president who had originally given the memorable speech. During his years pursuing his degree in Chiropractic, Dr. Dombroski would transfer to Palmer College where Dr. Guy Riekeman was president of the college. “The philosophy was great, the energy was great [at Palmer College].” Dr. Dombroski recalls being influenced by his philosophy professors such as Dr. Frank Barge and Virgil Strang Junior. This was the time where Dr. Dombroski’s confidence in the chiropractic field would be solidified. Dr. Dombroski would attend another lecture during his studies, where he would initially become acquainted with NUCCA, the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. The speaker was Dr. Terry McCoskey who shared the concepts of the upper cervical approach to Chiropractic that the association was known for. The innumerable differences in the alignment of different individuals and the ways to recorrect these imbalances fascinated Dr. Dombroski as he became involved in the NUCCA club at Palmer. “When I go down [to Georgia] to speak to the students at LIFEforce,” Dr. Dombroski mentions, “I ask them whether it is more important to be adjusted, or to hold their adjustment.” He explains that it is much more important for the body to hold an adjustment, because that pressure is taken off of the nervous system and gives the body a chance to heal. After Dr. Dombroski graduated from Palmer College, he started thinking about where he wanted to open his practice. Given that there were only a few hundred NUCCA specialists in the world, he wanted to be located in an unencumbered area where he could begin his practice. Ultimately, he decided on Michigan, because his sister had been living there, and he felt it was a great fit. For nearly two decades, Dr. Dombroski has continuously provided his patients with support, relief and genuine kindness. He has prided himself on sharing the message and practice of Chiropractic not just with his patients, but young minds who are entering the world of Chiropractic. “I think we forget how much of an impact we have on people, because we get so used to seeing it.” LIFEforce is proud to recognize Dr. Dombroski’s dedication to proliferating a genuine philosophy of Chiropractic and is pleased that he is the recipient of the 2023 LIFEforce ‘Impact Award’. Dr. Stanley Dombroski received the LIFEforce ‘Impact Award’ at the 2023 Life Vision Extravaganza for his chiropractic impact at Life U. An Ohio native, Dr. Dombroski has roots that stretch back generations in the southeastern coal mining heritage of the state; his father, grandfather, uncles and other relatives were all coal-miners. Growing up, Dr. Dombroski had not decided on what his path would be. The only thing he did know was that he wanted to play college football. During his college years, he would play Division III collegiate football and would later transfer to Ohio University. After graduating with a degree in exercise and sports physiology, Dr. Dombroski still did not know where his professional path would lead. In his earlier college years, his mother had recommended that he consider Chiropractic as a career path. After his graduation, she brought it up once more, and Dr. Dombroski began exploring the discipline more seriously. “I started talking to as many chiropractors as I could.” Dr. Dombroski recalls, “... Strangely enough, not one of them asked to adjust me.” Dr. Dombroski had an understanding of Chiropractic being within the realm of traditional medicine and expected the path to be similar to that of a medical doctor. However, as he dove deeper into his coursework at Sherman College of Chiropractic, he realized that the reality was much different. He met individuals in the community of Chiropractic at that time, such as Dr. Reggie Gold and others. During a speaking session at Sherman College, the Dr. Stanley Dombroski LIFEforce Impact Award LIFEFORCE AWARDS “I think we forget how much of an impact we have on people, because we get so used to seeing it.” 25 Alumni.life.edu | 2023