The Art of Becoming a Top Chiropractic Educator: Insights from Dr. Ben Stevens

Becoming World-Class: A Conversation with Dr. Ben Stevens

In a free-flowing and insightful discussion, Dr. Beau and Dr. Seth sat down with Dr. Ben Stevens to explore what it truly means to become an exceptional clinician and educator. Their conversation touched on everything from the character traits that define the best providers to the gaps in chiropractic education, the culture of post-graduate practice, and the often-overlooked realities of professional growth.

What emerged was not a rigid roadmap, but a series of lessons, stories, and principles — the kind that encourage clinicians to reflect, challenge assumptions, and pursue greatness with humility.

The Traits of the Best Clinicians and Educators

When asked what separates good clinicians from great ones, Dr. Stevens emphasized that it’s rarely about the flashiest techniques or encyclopedic knowledge. Instead, the best clinicians share a handful of traits that transcend any one specialty or profession:

  • Curiosity: A willingness to keep asking questions, to keep digging, and to never settle for “good enough.”

  • Humility: Recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge and skills, and being open to learning from patients, peers, and even mistakes.

  • Communication: The ability to distill complex science into language that patients can grasp and trust.

  • Consistency: Excellence is not built on occasional brilliance, but on showing up, day after day, with focus and care.

As Dr. Beau pointed out, patients don’t remember every detail of a treatment plan, but they never forget how a clinician made them feel — respected, heard, and supported.

The Curriculum for Becoming World-Class

The conversation turned to education — both formal and self-directed. Dr. Stevens reflected on what curriculum he believes is essential for clinicians who want to rise above mediocrity. While chiropractic school provides a foundation, he argued that the real work begins after graduation.

He laid out three pillars:

  1. Deep Anatomy and Neuroanatomy – Not just memorization, but functional understanding of how systems integrate and how dysfunction presents in real bodies.

  2. Load and Movement Science – Appreciating biomechanics, tissue tolerance, and strength and conditioning principles that apply across injury, rehab, and performance.

  3. Communication and Psychology – The ability to guide behavior change, manage fear, and foster trust often matters more than any technique.

Layered on top of this is an ongoing commitment to read research, attend seminars, and refine reasoning. World-class clinicians, Stevens argued, are those who treat learning as a lifestyle, not a checkbox.

Why Chiropractors Carry a Chip on Their Shoulder

One of the more candid parts of the conversation came when the group discussed why so many chiropractors leave school with a chip on their shoulder.

Part of it, Dr. Seth noted, is cultural. Chiropractors often feel caught between two worlds: not fully embraced by mainstream medicine, yet expected to prove themselves against physical therapists, orthopedists, and other health professionals. This sense of being “underdogs” can breed both resilience and insecurity.

Dr. Stevens added that the problem is compounded by gaps in education. Many new graduates quickly realize that their training didn’t fully prepare them for the realities of practice. Instead of seeing this as an invitation to grow, some double down on defensiveness — protecting their identity rather than expanding it.

But the best clinicians flip that chip on its head. They use it as motivation to learn broadly, collaborate openly, and carve out a unique contribution within the healthcare ecosystem.

Redefining What It Means to Be the Best

A recurring theme was the idea that becoming the best clinician does not necessarily mean having the best manual skills or the largest library of knowledge.

Dr. Beau reflected that while technical mastery is valuable, it can never stand alone. A clinician with great hands but poor communication will struggle to inspire adherence. A clinician who knows every research paper but can’t apply insights practically will fail to make impact.

Instead, greatness is holistic. It comes from weaving knowledge, skill, empathy, and consistency into a cohesive experience for the patient.

Dr. Stevens noted that some of the best clinicians he’s ever known weren’t the most technically gifted, but they were relentless about outcomes. They measured success not by how much they knew, but by how much their patients improved.

Beyond Skills: Building a Professional Identity

As the conversation meandered, it touched on the broader identity of being a clinician. What does it mean to “become the best” in a field that is always evolving?

Dr. Seth highlighted the danger of equating professional worth with technical wizardry. Chasing the latest technique or certification can feel productive, but it doesn’t always translate into better care. Instead, clinicians should focus on building a professional identity anchored in principles: critical thinking, patient-centered care, lifelong learning, and collaboration.

Dr. Stevens echoed this, pointing out that ego is the enemy of growth. The moment a clinician believes they’ve “arrived” is the moment they stop improving.

Lessons for the Next Generation

For students and early-career clinicians, the takeaways from this conversation are clear:

  • Don’t chase shortcuts — excellence takes time.

  • Find mentors who challenge you to think, not just mimic.

  • Learn to love the process of reading, reflecting, and revising.

  • Understand that “the best” is not a fixed destination but a moving horizon.

As Dr. Beau summed up, the pursuit of greatness is not about outshining colleagues but about serving patients at the highest level possible.

Conclusion

The roaming conversation with Dr. Ben Stevens was less about providing neat answers and more about provoking reflection. What does it take to become world-class? Not just techniques or textbooks, but curiosity, humility, communication, and a lifelong commitment to growth.

Chiropractors may carry a chip on their shoulder, but that can become a driver for excellence if reframed properly. And while manual skills and knowledge matter, true greatness lies in integration — blending science, art, and human connection into care that changes lives.

For clinicians willing to embrace that challenge, the message is clear: the best is not something you achieve once, but something you practice every day.

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