(In September 2008 the American Chiropractic Association interviewed Dr. Saracino and
published a shorter version (seen at the “Doctor’s Media” navigational link) in the Journal of the
ACA.
Chiropractic Neurologist relies on education and professionalism.
A curiosity about nutrition as a youngster and sports participation as a teen put
Mark Saracino, DC, DACAN of King of Prussia, Pa., on the path to becoming a
chiropractic neurologist. As a child, he noticed the difference that eating healthy
food, back-rub exchanges with an older brother and regular sports activities
made in the way he felt. This influenced his use of massage and exercise
therapies in practice. Before pursuing machine technology and the beginnings of
mechanical engineering he discovered the benefits of taking large dosages of
vitamin C to treat and prevent colds.
He was attracted to the seemingly infinite and constant changing body-ofknowledge
of the health sciences, requirement that physicians continue their
education, freedom-of-expression, ability to control one’s work environment and
schedule and the broad scope-of-practice chiropractic had to offer swayed his
decision. He was most influenced by how effective the use of natural methods is
when properly shown and described for obtaining optimal health. At the same
time, he was fully aware that it might not be the easiest road to follow since, in
the early Eighties, chiropractic was not fully understood and accepted in the
Philadelphia Suburban Area.
Why did you become a chiropractor?
After researching careers in osteopathy, medicine, physical therapy and other
holistic-healthcare professions, I concluded that the only holistic AND
independent profession was chiropractic. I believed it would allow for the ability to
control one’s destiny and maintain a healthy life-style.
Why did you choose to go to National University of the Health Sciences?
I knew there was skepticism about chiropractic in the public and medical
community, so I chose National because it was the best and most highly
regarded school of Chiropractic Medicine. National requires that each doctoral
candidate complete a four-year premedical curriculum and five years of
professional studies, including internship. It was the first chiropractic school to
be; regionally and chiropractic specific accredited; require a four-year
prerequisite; have a five-year term; and the first of its kind to have an on-campus
chiropractic hospital and publish a scientifically-indexed journal. It was also the
first chiropractic college to obtain university status so, I thought, it would the best
school to prepare me to serve patients and answer difficult questions about
chiropractic.
Then you studied neurology. Why?
I wanted to learn more about neurology because it was one of the most difficult
and fascinating subjects in professional school. I was happy that, in 1979, the
first courses in clinical neurology were offered not far from where I live.
Chiropractic Neurology is a rare and exclusive post-doctoral sub-specialty degree
in chiropractic which requires a three year term, board examination and 30
continuing education credits a year. I hope others in chiropractic pursue
advanced degrees because it will better legitimize chiropractic. The ability to
provide a broader range-of-care than regular chiropractic is challenging and
rewarding.
You’ve treated many actors and dancers over the years. How so?
My office is adjacent to a hotel which had a dinner theater. It was only natural
that some of the performers would find their way to me being right next door.
One dancer suggested I help-out at a ballet studio a few towns away and I
wound up serving as a board member for 18 years. Then, word got out that I
was the ‘go-to’ chiropractor for the arts community. This experience allowed me
to learn quite a bit about treating performing arts injuries. A few years later I
delivered lectures to performing arts companies world-wide.
Dancers in particular must benefit from your care.
Dance is a small and under-funded sub-sector of the performing arts industry in
America. They struggle financially and are frequently not capable of receiving
the best care for their injuries. They need a lot of guidance and treatment,
because their classes and rehearsals, like athletic work-outs and practices, are
punishing. Most through the mid-Nineties were covered under mandatory
workers’ compensation policies even though they were employed out-of-state.
Then, most dancers were forced to sign ‘independent contractor’ statements
although they were not self-employed ‘independent contractors’. This allowed
their employers to not list them as employees; hence their ability to receive
worker’s compensation insurance policies was eliminated. Being low pay-scale
performers they did not have the money to pay for their own insurance and could
not afford to receive treatments as often as necessary. It’s amazing how
dedicated they are in spite of these struggles.
Do you have any memorable moments working with the performing arts?
Oh, yes! I was invited to lecture on the prevention of and home treatment for
performing arts injuries to Russian companies Bolshoi Ballet and Taganka
Theater in Moscow and the State Ballet Theater in Yekaterinburg (near Siberia).
I was given this opportunity by Ilse Liepa, a principle of the Bolshoi, whom I met
while performing in Wilmington, Delaware. I was honored to speak to the Bolshoi
dancers, the finest in the World, attending rehearsals and performances. Also,
enlightening was helping-out in Italy during the Parsons Dance Company’s (a
New York modern dance troupe) European tour. Feeling the excitement of the
Italians for an art-form relatively new to them was exciting. I felt proud to support
modern dance because it is what many consider to be a truly American art-form
in such a traditional society.
Were the Russians familiar with chiropractic?
Not as we know it. The Russian equivalent is a minimal, not respected and
utilized form of chiropractic known as “manual medicine”. In general, the
performers in Former Eastern Block Nations are supported well by their
government and treated much better than performing artists here. They are
granted access to the finest physicians and procedures. Conversely, the mostly
impoverished general public has access to a poor health care system. This
forced many to create their own holistic concoctions out-of-necessity
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