Rebecca Bell is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Chiropractic program. After seven years of practicing as a chiropractor, Bell is excited to work with the program’s first cohort.
Read on to learn more about Bell’s background and what she is excited to bring to the program.
Tell us about your role in the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
As an assistant professor, I’m excited to bring an engaging learning environment to the classroom, with the goal of each student developing a genuine passion for this profession. In the first semester, I will be teaching the Clinically Relevant Palpation and Introduction to Clinical Reasoning courses and co-teaching the Evidence-Based Practice course and assisting in the Patient Interview course. I will be developing and teaching each chiropractic course with this cohort as they move through the program.
The skills I teach are not only fun and hands-on, but directly applicable to what they will be doing every day in practice. I will be teaching chiropractic manipulation. Additionally, I will likely be instructing in soft tissue manipulation courses and rehabilitation exercise courses. I am also fortunate to work alongside an incredible team of faculty and administrators, leveraging the latest technology to deliver the highest quality chiropractic education available. My favorite technology I will be using with the students is force sensing technology that can be utilized for their skill acquisition and learning development. These are force sensors that are either placed on someone’s body or wrapped around their finger to determine the amount of force they are applying to someone’s body.
What would you like students to know about your teaching style?
I consider myself an evidence-based and student-centered educator, with a strong commitment to supporting students both academically and personally throughout the program. For me, student success includes not only succeeding in your coursework but also feeling supported, building confidence and developing lasting professional relationships.
I’ve been described as tough but fair; I hold students to high standards while ensuring they’re treated with respect and equity. I believe professionalism starts in the classroom, and I strive to model and instill that from day one. Whenever possible, I aim to make learning activities interactive and clinically relevant. One aspect that sets my teaching style apart is the diverse and up-to-date clinical experience I bring from recent practice. This allows me to bridge classroom concepts with real-world scenarios, helping students clearly see how their learning translates into patient care.
How did you become interested in a chiropractic career?
I earned my Bachelor of Science in human biology from the University of Western States, which is also where I earned my Master of Science in sports medicine and my Doctor of Chiropractic. During my undergraduate studies, like many aspiring health care professionals, I wasn’t initially sure which path to pursue. It was through extensive job shadowing that I discovered chiropractic care. I knew I wanted a career where I genuinely enjoyed the day-to-day work, and none of the other health care professions I explored sparked that same joy.
My decision was also underscored by a personal experience of watching an immediate family member manage chronic illness and pain who found relief through chiropractic care. That experience deeply motivated me to pursue a profession where I could improve people’s quality of life.
I enjoy the opportunity to connect with a wide range of people and play a role in helping them feel better. I appreciate that no two days are the same, as well as the active, hands-on environment. My career has also opened doors to exciting opportunities, including working with two professional sports teams. I had the privilege of working primarily with the Portland Thorns FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and worked with the Portland Timbers FC in Major League Soccer. It was one of the most formative parts of my career as a chiropractor. It taught me to function in a high-performance interdisciplinary environment. It really highlighted the importance of ensuring I knew my stuff as well as having good communication, both with the athlete and the medical team. Now, as an educator, many of those same aspects still apply. I get to engage with a wide range of students and help prepare them to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
What are your research interests?
I am interested in exploring the use of force-sensing technology in accelerating clinical skill acquisition in the context of spinal manipulation. Additionally, I am interested in investigating the effects of manipulation on various clinical conditions. I am actively exploring opportunities to contribute to studies in these areas.
What makes you excited to be part of the ground-breaking Pitt DC program?
The opportunity to influence the future model of chiropractic education is unexplainably exciting. A chiropractic program in a prestigious research-driven institution like Pitt will be the beginning of a new chapter for the profession. It excites me to be in a truly integrated academic setting and to bring interprofessional collaboration to our students. The environment here helps position Pitt grads to be part of the broader health care system, which ultimately benefits patients.
This first cohort is going to help set the tone for what this program will become, and I am excited to play a role in inspiring them, interacting with them and seeing how their experience shapes this program going forward.
What else would you like students to know about you?
I met my husband in chiropractic school—he’s a chiropractor too! We now have a son and two high energy Samoyeds who keep life interesting. One of my favorite career highlights was earning a championship ring when the team I worked with won the NWSL championship in 2022. Lastly, despite playing collegiate soccer for years, I’m pretty sure I still have more awards from my time in chess club than from my entire 15-year soccer career!
