Society for the Blind Board Member Dr. Paul Peterson receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Palmer College of Chiropractic
By: Lori Leipold, Palmer College of Chiropractic
Paul S. Peterson, D.C., never let macular degeneration stand in the way of becoming a successful chiropractor. Not only did the Society for the Blind Board of Directors member develop a thriving chiropractic practice in Sacramento after graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1967, he’s shared his success with aspiring chiropractors by giving back to his alma mater in a number of meaningful ways.
Dr. Peterson was recently honored by Palmer College of Chiropractic with a Lifetime Achievement Award as a Palmer Presidents Club member.
Having served on the Society for the Blind Board of Directors from 1998 to 2011, Dr. Peterson rejoined the board in January 2014. Although he grew up with macular degeneration, which he inherited and was diagnosed with at the age of 6, his vision has never slowed him down. He graduated as valedictorian from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1967 and went on to serve on the Palmer faculty, teaching anatomy for several years. While teaching at Palmer, Dr. Peterson also was the team chiropractor for the Palmer rugby team.
After serving on the Palmer faculty, Dr. Peterson moved to Sacramento, where he opened a chiropractic practice. With time, he developed his practice to include multiple doctors of chiropractic. Dr. Peterson practiced in Sacramento until his retirement in 2016.
He is a charter member of the Palmer Presidents Club, a group of people who support Palmer College with their annual gifts at an exceptional level. In 1980, Dr. Peterson was named to the Palmer College of Chiropractic Board of Trustees, and he served as a trustee until 2013. While serving on the Board of Trustees, he helped guide Palmer College through 33 productive and rewarding years. Dr. Peterson and his wife, Alice, have always believed in philanthropy and have established several endowed scholarships at Palmer College of Chiropractic.
“I can think of no one more deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award than Dr. Paul Peterson,” said Palmer’s Vice Chancellor for Advancement Barbara Melbourne, J.D. “His service to Palmer College is unparalleled, including 33 years as a member of the Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Alice, have given back to Palmer in many other ways, notably in creating scholarships to ensure more students are able to follow their dreams to become chiropractors.”
Palmer College of Chiropractic is the founding college of the chiropractic profession, and is known as The Trusted Leader in Chiropractic Education®. It was founded in 1897, in Davenport, Iowa by D.D. Palmer, the discoverer of chiropractic. More than 2,200 students attend Palmer College campuses in Davenport, Iowa; Port Orange, Fla.; and San Jose, Calif. Palmer’s nearly 30,000 practicing alumni comprise almost half of the doctors of chiropractic in the United States.