When someone is truly driven by the desire to help people, they will continue to search until they have found the best way to help as many people as possible. Three years ago, Jessica Collazo-Rosario, 30, finally found her ideal path after studying and working in a number of areas such as business and

massage therapy. She chose chiropractic, which is the third largest primary health care profession in the U.S. Though she is still an intern and student at Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, her healing hands have already helped hundreds of people throughout the East Bay and in Latin American countries.

Jessica recently returned from El Salvador where she provided free chiropractic care to countless adults and children during a five day visit. She was part of a group of sixteen doctors and 27 chiropractic interns from Life Chiropractic College West who treated approximately 25,000 patients at temporary clinics that were set up throughout El Salvador. “It was amazing to give our hands and love to the people,” she says. “They are always so grateful and they brought us food they made for us,” she adds.

In researching different areas of health care, Jessica says she was attracted to chiropractic because it is a natural form of health care that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. By adjusting the spine and other body parts, chiropractic aims to optimize the nervous system and enable the body to self-heal through its own natural recuperative powers. On making her choice of schools, she feels Lifewest is the best school for chiropractic. “They get the best students and the environment is so good and healthy,” she says. Referring to the work, she says, “It’s harder than other schools but it is worth it.”
With her heavy workload as a student and intern, Jessica still devotes her free time to working in local communities. She treats people at health fairs in the East Bay and speaks to grade school children about food, exercise, and health.

Jessica speaks both Spanish and English, though her first language is Spanish. As president of the Latin American Chiropractic Student Club (C.E.Q.L.A.) at Life Chiropractic College West, she helps other Latino students learn how to work in the community and promote chiropractic. She mentions that Dr. Tom Wellbrook, a chiropractor who practices in Hayward, trained twelve of the Latin Club members so that they can learn how to communicate with the community.

In March, Jessica will complete her three and a half year program at the college and will work with her mentor, Doctor Maria Manibog, at her clinic in San Leandro for about a year. She will then be ready to join the approximately 60,000 professional chiropractors in North America. The Jobs Rated Almanac ranks chiropractic 44th out of 250 professions - within the top 16% of most favorable jobs. Median annual income for chiropractors is reported at $80,000 and the Almanac states that employment opportunities for chiropractors are expected to increase rapidly through the next decade as the aging U.S. population creates an unprecedented demand for health care.

Jessica’s search led her to a life’s work that will reward her desire to help people. The financial success that her work will bring will also serve her primary desire - many people believe that the more successful a person is, the greater the power they have to help people.