developingMINDS University (DMU)

A child’s behavior is an outward expression of their neurological integrity. Understanding a child’s neuro-expression will give you a window into the developmental state of their brain.

M. Buerger

One in six children in the United States are said to have a neurodevelopmental disorder, one in five are said to have a mental health disorder and approximately one-third of children in this country are said to have a chronic health disorder. The chiropractic profession has been growing in popularity in regards to working with the pediatric population; especially those children that are struggling with neurodevelopmental challenges. Many parents seeking alternative care for their children will rely solely on the Doctor of Chiropractic as their “primary care” doctor. Given this paradigm shift, it is important that those Doctors of Chiropractic working with children be well versed in potential neurophysiological and mental health consequences of autonomic dysregulation as the result of vertebral subluxations. In addition to being able to detect and correct vertebral subluxations, chiropractors should be competent in determining normal vs abnormal development, what this may be a sign of, if left unresolved how might it manifest later in life and how to best manage/co-manage these cases. The DMU curriculum is set within a subluxation based model with the course material designed to be practical and easy to implement across multiple practice paradigms without having to change the course of your dream practice!

Rather than having to intervene when a child is already struggling, the mission of this program is to prevent disease in the unborn child, promote optimal neurodevelopment in the newborn and create a life of optimal wellbeing for all! This begins prior to conception and should be supported throughout life. However, given the nature of the current health climate, developingMINDS will also address intervention strategies and care plans for the neurodevelopmentally challenged child.

In order to serve more families and children and to help you become as successful as possible, we have thought about everything! Not only will you get an incredible academic program, you will learn from leading experts on how to take this information to the public as well as other health professionals in order to generate solid referrals. Within the program, you will also have access to professionally curated materials. Ready to use and easy to implement for maximum success in YOUR community. A sample of which are:

Practice implementation guides, forms and hand-outs!
Our “Early Intervention: Prenatal Prep” workshop!
Our signature “Brain Building and Bonding”: Creating healthy brains through play ™ in-office and community outreach classes focusing on fun neurodevelopmental movements and games for various age groups designed to optimize neurodevelopment in infants and toddlers- great for practice building!
Our Precision NeuroIntegrative Protocols™: reflex and sensory-motor programs for individual care (home or office), group classes and sensory camps!
More incredible tools to create your legacy and brand yourself as the expert in your community!
A future phase will include patient Apps for a self-based “Brain Building and Bonding”™ programs and Precision NeuroIntegrative Protocols ™

About DMU

developingMINDS University was born from hundreds of social media tags, e-mails, calls and other ways that doctors from all around the world have reached out to Dr. Buerger for help with various levels of pediatric cases. developingMINDS is a one-of-a-kind mentoring and certification program. In order to minimize travel costs and time away from your practice and family, the program is designed as a self-paced on-line curriculum with the option of an accelerated one year tract or the traditional two year tract. In addition there will be monthly live on-line Clinical Rounds classes, a private Facebook forum for clinical care conversations and questions and the added caveat of one live intensive module. The live “functional assessment” module is designed to help “pull all the pieces together” as well as ensure that students have a full grasp of the on-line content and have the practical skills to be successful. The live functional assessment class will allow students to fine tune their skills learned from the on-line curriculum and is one of the most invaluable features about this program. Having the opportunity to learn the material on-line and start to implement it in a practical setting while also having a mentor to guide you through “pot holes” along the way and then meet with Dr. Buerger for an intensive gathering to hone your skills even more and work out any “kinks” is hands down the most optimal learning opportunity!

A final exam will also be required in order to obtain certification in Functional Neurodevelopment.

Additional Benefits:

Private Facebook forum for collaboration and case discussion
Live interaction with Dr. Buerger during monthly Clinical Rounds
Dr. B at your fingertips to help you navigate difficult cases
Chiropractic CE’s with certain modules while learning this amazing cutting edge information!
Learn from world renown instructors: Dr. Monika Buerger, BA, DC; Nicole Cowley; Dr. Heidi Haavik, DC, PhD; Bonnie Horsburgh, LCSW; Dr. Nicole D. Lindsey, DC; Dr. Janet Lintala, DC and Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, MD, Susan Quam-Weinstein, Educator

This program is open to: Doctors of Chiropractic, chiropractic students in their third year or higher, chiropractic assistants, Naturopaths, Osteopaths, Occupational Therapists, and Nurse Practitioners. (CE’s only granted for DC’s)

Course Curriculum

- Module 1: Derailed: The Hijacking of our Children’s Neurodevelopment (8 hrs on-line CE’s available; $50)
  - Chapter 1: The Developing Brain
    - An overview of brain development and functional regions of the brain and the potential role chiropractic care can play in proper brain development.
    - Brain regions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and, if affected, how this might be expressed in children.
    - What signs/symptoms the Doctor of Chiropractic should be aware of in a clinical setting.
  - Chapter 2: Behavioral Neuroscience: How mother’s stress resilience capacity affects neurodevelopment
    - The role maternal stressors play in neurodevelopment and the role chiropractic care can play in minimizing prenatal stress.
    - Epigenetic Inheritance: How emotional toxins affect DNA of the offspring
    - The neurobiology of disease and the potential physical and mental health consequences that can occur later in life.
  - Chapter 3: Turning the Tide: Early Intervention Strategies
    - Fundamental preconception considerations including diet, lifestyle, environment, mindfulness and chiropractic care.
    - Fundamental prenatal considerations including diet, lifestyle, environment, mindfulness and chiropractic care.
    - Fundamental chiropractic considerations to help optimize the health and neurodevelopment of the newborn during the first year of life.
    - Pediatric “Red flags” to consider in the clinical setting.