Cameron Bearder, DC, FABVR, DCCJP-c, DACNB-c, FABBIR-c

Dr. Cameron Bearder is an Upper Cervical Chiropractor residing and practicing in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Keystone Upper Cervical Spine Clinic. Keystone was established in 2018, and has become one of only a handful of practices in the country to combine both Upper Cervical and Functional Neurology approaches. He is a candidate for triple fellowship status in Vestibular Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Rehab, and Functional Neurology. Within the Upper Cervical world, he’s completed coursework in Blair, Knee Chest, Atlas Orthogonal, Orthospinology, and NUCCA. Dr. Bearder is currently in the fourth cohort of candidacy for the Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures.

Jaime Browning, BS, DC, DCCJP, FCCJP

Professor, Sherman College of Chiropractic

Dr. Jaime Browning is a full professor and Technique Department chair at Sherman College of Chiropractic. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lander University (’02), her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic (’09), an advanced certification in Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific (KCUCS) technique (2012), is a 2019 Diplomate in Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP) confirmed by the International Chiropractic Association (ICA), and as of Fall 2022 obtained her Fellow in Craniocervical Junction Procedures (FCCJP). Since 2012, she has resided as the chair of Sherman College’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and oversees human protections for the college’s research projects and is a member of the Converse University Institutional Review Board (2022). Dr. Browning was named the research chair of the ICA’s Upper Cervical Council from 2018-2022 and was awarded the Researcher of the Year in 2020. Browning is also the recipient of the 2019 Spirit of Sherman College Award and the 2022 Sherman College Chiropractor of the Year award. She is a past President of the Sherman College Alumni Association and is a member of ICA’s Upper Cervical Council (UCC), the American Academy of Thermology (AAT), and the FCLB Providers of Approved Continuing Education (PACE) Committee. Dr. Browning is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. In 2023, Dr. Browning was named the President of the ICA’s Upper Cervical Council and the Chiropractor of the Year in 2024.

After practicing in Easley, SC, Dr. Browning found her passion for teaching students and new graduates. She holds a part-time complex case base practice utilizing the Atlas Orthogonal Technique, is involved in ongoing research specializing in CBCT and thermal imaging, speaks internationally, and teaches several courses focused on the craniocervical junction and its impact on overall health, including Upper Cervical Rationale, Pattern Analysis, Upper Cervical Technique, and Advanced Knee Chest. Her passions include biomechanics, skin temperature differential analysis, advanced imaging, and upper cervical theoretical concepts. She is a former member of the Lander University Volleyball team, former member of the United States Navy Reserve, and now spends her free time mentoring Sherman students. She and her husband, Kyle, have three highly energetic kids: Addison, Fisher, and General. Her family enjoys camping, trips to Disney, and Clemson football.

Gordon Elder, DC, DCCJP, FICPA

Dr. Elder’s first chiropractic experience was at the age of 10 at the hands of Weldon Muncy, DC, Dr. Blair’s co-developer of the Blair Chiropractic Technique™. It wasn’t until many years later that he decided to pursue a career as a Blair Chiropractor after he saw the changes the Blair technique made in his wife, who went from being a semi-invalid to a group exercise instructor and personal trainer.

Dr. Elder learned what the Atlas was by attending Blair seminars even before he got to chiropractic college. The doctors he considers his mentors are: Weldon Muncy, D.C.- Dr. Blair’s co-developer and instructional successor, Fred Harkins, D.C.- who learned the technique from Dr. Blair personally, David Topping, D.C.- Dr. Muncy’s chosen instructional successor, and E.A. Addington D.C.- Dr. Blair’s last student and clinical successor.

Dr. Elder graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Los Angeles in December 1999 and has been a full member of the Blair Society ever since. He has been an Advanced Instructor since 2013 and has since helped the Society develop a structured technique certification program. In 2017 Dr. Elder closed his Southern California practice and moved his family to Lubbock, Texas to take over the original Blair Chiropractic Clinic established by Dr. Blair in 1949. He completed the ICAs Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP) program in the fall of 2022.

Dr. Elder served as the President of the Blair Society in 2020 and currently serves as the Society’s Vice President. He is also currently on the board of the ICA’s Council on Upper Cervical Care and serves as its Research Committee Chair.

He has one wife, 4 adult children, and a yappy dog.

Amy D. Pruszenski, OD, FCOVD

Dr. Amy Dee Pruszenski is a distinguished optometrist specializing in behavioral vision care and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She is the Director of Medical Education for the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association and has been in private and group practice for over three decades.

Dr. Pruszenski is the founder of the Visual Victory Training Center in Portsmouth, NH, where she focuses on neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, where she is a Fellow.

Dr. Pruszenski holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry and a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Science from MIT. She has contributed to vision science research and education, including assistant professor roles and ongoing publications, with her latest work exploring retinal neuromodulation’s influence on brain function.

Chad Billiris, MA, DC, BCAO, FABVR, FACFN-c, FABNN-c

Dr. Chad Billiris is a dedicated chiropractor specializing in upper cervical care, functional neurology, and vestibular rehabilitation. He is Board Certified in Atlas Orthogonal procedures, an Advanced Graduate of Chiropractic Orthospinology, and a Fellow of the American Board of Vestibular Rehabilitation.

Dr. Billiris began his healthcare journey studying Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture in South Korea before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Life University. He later founded Summit Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Cape May Court House, NJ, where he provides patient-centered care with a focus on personalized functional neurology and specific upper cervical adjustments.

Dr. Billiris is a curriculum chair and certified teaching instructor for the Society of Chiropractic Orthospinology and actively pursues advanced certifications in neurology, nutrition, and pediatric care. He holds additional post-doctoral certifications in Webster Technique, Graston Technique, and the Knee Chest Society.

Christopher Slininger, DC, DCCJP

Dr. Chris Slininger is a distinguished Craniocervical Specialist and the founder of Cerebral Chiropractic Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. With extensive expertise in upper cervical chiropractic care, he specializes in addressing complex neurological conditions such as migraines, concussions, dizziness, and posture distortions. Dr. Slininger integrates advanced technologies, including percussive sound wave adjusting, to restore patients’ neurological and physical well-being.

A graduate of Life Chiropractic College West, Dr. Slininger also holds a Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (D.C.C.J.P.) and certifications in advanced orthogonal techniques. He has served as Executive Director of the Advanced Orthogonal Institute, where he has redefined standards for technique training and professional growth.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Slininger is a dynamic educator, public speaker, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Synapse Continuing Education, which delivers cutting-edge courses to healthcare providers nationwide, and Strategic Solutions for the Upper Cervical Practice, offering tailored consulting and marketing services.

Dr. Slininger has lectured extensively on topics ranging from anatomy and physiology to brain-based performance protocols, empowering professionals and patients alike to achieve optimal health. His contributions to the chiropractic profession and his dedication to advancing patient care are widely recognized within the healthcare community.

Curtis Westersund, DDS

Dr. Curtis Westersund is an accomplished dentist with over four decades of experience in general practice and expertise in temporomandibular disorders (TMD), occlusion, and chronic pain management. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Alberta and has pursued extensive continuing education, including advanced courses at the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies and a TMD Mini-Residency in West Virginia.

Dr. Westersund is a Fellow and Master of the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO) and currently serves as its North American President. He is also an associate professor of Neuromuscular Orthodontics at Universitat Jaume I in Spain.

As a recognized expert in biometric measurement and biomechanical strain related to TMD, Dr. Westersund lectures and trains dentists globally. He is a certified trainer for the Tek-Scan T-Scan occlusion analysis system and has authored numerous publications on dental occlusion, sleep disorders, and pain management in leading journals.

Elizabeth S. Hoefer, DC, DCCJP

Dr. Elizabeth S Hoefer is the current Chair of the House of Delegates for CalChiro, recently reelected after serving as Chair of the Board of Directors and President for CalChiro for the past 2 years.

Dr Hoefer has been in private practice in Orange County California for over 16 years and is the owner of Well-Connected Chiropractic, a premier training center for Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic. She has trained over 15 chiropractic students who are now successful Chiropractors in private practice serving all over the country. She is very passionate about the power of upper cervical chiropractic and advanced imaging in chiropractic as well as the neuroscience of communication and educating the public about the vast benefits of chiropractic in everyday life. Dr Hoefer and her husband have 3 incredible daughters and are the proud grandparents of 2 beautiful granddaughters who are the light of their lives.

Jeffrey Iliff, PhD

Dr. Iliff is the Associate Director for Research at the VISN 20 NW Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and in Neurology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he is the Arthur J. and Marcella McCaffray Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease. He serves as the Lead for the UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Research Education Component (ADRC REC).

Starting as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Washington studying cerebral blood flow regulation, Jeff’s research has always focused on the brain vasculature as the crossroads of the CNS. He completed his PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology at Oregon Health & Science University focusing on mechanisms governing the release of neuropeptides from perivascular trigeminal afferents at the brain surface. As a postdoc in the lab of Maiken Nedergaard at the University of Rochester Medical Center, he led the team that initially characterized the glymphatic system, the network of perivascular pathways the supports the clearance of wastes from brain tissue during sleep. Since starting up his own lab in 2013, Jeff’s work has focused on defining the glial and vascular changes in the aging and post-traumatic brain that underlie impairment of glymphatic function and the vulnerability to the development of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Kerry L. Johnson, DC

Dr. Kerry Johnson is the owner of Johnson Spinal Care Associates, P.A., a highly successful multi-doctor, multi-location practice known for providing excellent results in pain relief, early recovery, and restoring health. Established in 1986, the practice has become a trusted resource for patients across the Midwest. Dr. Johnson’s success is attributed to his expertise in the NUCCA Spinal Correction technique, a precise and effective procedure developed by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. He is one of the few NUCCA Board Certified doctors in the U.S. and serves as a credentialed instructor for the association.

Dr. Johnson’s extensive professional experience includes serving as a Governor-appointed member and President of the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners, as well as achieving certifications in Chiropractic Sports Medicine and Occupational Health. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern Health Sciences University, where he teaches an Upper Cervical elective. In addition, Dr. Johnson is the author of I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired and holds a patent for a plantar fasciitis support.

A dedicated healthcare leader, Dr. Johnson is actively involved in the Minnesota Chiropractic Association, the Upper Cervical Research Foundation, and the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. He is also a licensed pastor and continues to contribute to the field through his innovative work and leadership.

Michelle Speranza, DC, DCCJP, BSc