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Faculty

Faculty180 – Vita and Individual Profile Data Sheet

James M Whedon, DC, MS

Fall 1980 - Fall 2120

Professor II

SCU Health - Clinical and Health Services Research

JamesWhedon@scuhs.edu

Current Position

  • Position: Senior Health Services Researcher

Biography

Jim Whedon is Director of Health Services Research at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI). He holds a DC degree from Logan College and an MS from Dartmouth College. He has authored more than 50 peer reviewed publications. He is a charter member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, and a recipient of the Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from NCMIC Foundation, and the Scott Haldeman for Outstanding Research from the World Federation of Chiropractic.

Degrees

2012

M.S., Clinical and Health Services Research, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United StatesDissertation: n/a

1989

D.C., Chiropractic, Logan College of Chiropractic, Missouri, United StatesDissertation: n/a

1988

B.Sc., Human Biology, Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States

1984

A.S., Selected Studies, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, United States

Work Experience

2015 - Ongoing

Director of Health Services Research, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, WHITTIER, California, United States

2014 - 2015

Health Data Analyst, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

2003 - 2014

Trauma Registrar, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

2002 - 2014

Doctor of Chiropractic, Private Practice, Grantham, New Hampshire, United States

1990 - 2000

Doctor of Chiropractic, Private Practice, Salem, Massachusetts, United States

Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

Journal Article

Completed/Published

Whedon, J. M.; Petersen, C. L.; Schoellkopf, W. J.; Haldeman, S.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D. The Association between Cervical Artery Dissection and Spinal Manipulation among US Adults. 2023.
Whedon, J. M. Regarding: “Insurance Reimbursement for Complementary Healthcare Services.” 23, 2515690X18788002.
Scaringe, J.; Nagare, M. A.; Russell, R.; Whedon, J. Extrapolating Beyond the Data. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 44, 513–514.
Bezdjian, S.; Whedon, J. M.; Russell, R.; Goehl, J. M.; Kazal, L. A. Efficiency of Primary Spine Care as Compared to Conventional Primary Care: A Retrospective Observational Study at an Academic Medical Center. 2022, 30, 1.
Weeks, W. B.; Tosteson, T. D.; Whedon, J. M.; Leininger, B.; Lurie, J. D.; Swenson, R.; Goertz, C. M.; O’Malley, A. J. Comparing Propensity Score Methods for Creating Comparable Cohorts of Chiropractic Users and Nonusers in Older, Multiply Comorbid Medicare Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 38, 620–628.
Whedon, J. M.; Song, Y. Racial Disparities in the Use of Chiropractic Care under Medicare. 18, 20–26.
Whedon, J. M.; Rugo, N. A.; Lux, K. Challenges of Withdrawal from Chronic Antidepressant Medication: A Healing Odyssey. Explore (New York, N.Y.) 9, 108–111.
Whedon, J. Reduction of Tinnitus by Spinal Manipulation in a Patient with Presumptive Rotational Vertebral Artery Occlusion Syndrome: A Case Report. Alternative therapies in health and medicine 12, 14–17.
Whedon, J. M.; Petersen, C. L.; Li, Z.; Schoelkopf, W. J.; Haldeman, S.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D. Association between Cervical Artery Dissection and Spinal Manipulative Therapy -a Medicare Claims Analysis. 2022, 22, 917.
Whedon, J. M.; Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Toler, A. W.; Bezdjian, S.; Rossi, D.; Uptmor, S.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D.; Hurwitz, E. L.; Coulter, I.; Haldeman, S. Initial Choice of Spinal Manipulation Reduces Escalation of Care for Chronic Low Back Pain Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries. 2022, 47, E142–E148.
Whedon, J. M.; Uptmor, S.; Toler, A. W. J.; Bezdjian, S.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Kazal, L. A. Association between Chiropractic Care and Use of Prescription Opioids among Older Medicare Beneficiaries with Spinal Pain: A Retrospective Observational Study. 2022, 30, 5.
Hawk, C.; Amorin-Woods, L.; Evans, M. W.; Whedon, J. M.; Daniels, C. J.; Williams, R. D.; Parkin-Smith, G.; Taylor, D. N.; Anderson, D.; Farabaugh, R.; Walters, S. A.; Schielke, A.; Minkalis, A. L.; Crivelli, L. S.; Alpers, C.; Hinkeldey, N.; Hoang, J.; Caraway, D.; Whalen, W.; Cook, J.; Redwood, D. The Role of Chiropractic Care in Providing Health Promotion and Clinical Preventive Services for Adult Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline. 2021, 27, 850–867.
Melka, H. A.; Russell, R.; Whedon, J.; Haldeman, S. Chiropractic Practice in the Continent of Africa: A Structured Online Survey of 608 Chiropractors. 2021, 44, 280–288.
Whedon, J. M.; Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Toler, A. W.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D.; Hurwitz, E. L.; Bezdjian, S.; Bangash, M.; Uptmor, S.; Rossi, D.; Haldeman, S. Initial Choice of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain Leads to Reduced Long-Term Risk of Adverse Drug Events Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries. 2021, 46, 1714–1720.
Whedon, J. M.; Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Toler, A.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D.; Bezdjian, S.; Haldeman, S.; Hurwitz, E.; Coulter, I. Long-Term Medicare Costs Associated With Opioid Analgesic Therapy vs Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Cohort of Older Adults. 2021.
Whedon, J. M.; Haldeman, S.; Petersen, C. L.; Schoellkopf, W.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D. Temporal Trends and Geographic Variations in the Supply of Clinicians Who Provide Spinal Manipulation to Medicare Beneficiaries: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study. 2021, 44, 177–185.
Bezdjian, S.; Whedon, J. M.; Russell, R.; Coulter, I. Patient Characteristics Associated With Self-Reported Adherence to Chiropractic Treatment Recommendations: A Feasibility Study. 2021, 44, 389–397.
Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Bezdjian, S.; Hurwitz, E. L.; Toler, A. W. J.; Rossi, D.; Uptmor, S.; Sagester, K.; Bangash, M.; MacKenzie, T. A.; Lurie, J. D.; Coulter, I.; Haldeman, S.; Whedon, J. M. Spinal Manipulation vs Prescription Drug Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Beliefs, Satisfaction With Care, and Qualify of Life Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries. 2021, 44, 663–673.
Kazal, L. A.; Whedon, J. M. Academic Primary Care Clinic Adopts New Paradigm for First-Line Treatment of Low Back Pain. 2021, 27, 282–284.
Bezdjian, S.; Whedon, J. M.; Goehl, J. M.; Kazal, L. A. Experiences and Attitudes About Chiropractic Care and Prescription Drug Therapy Among Patients With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey. 2021, 20, 1–8.
Whedon, J. M.; Toler, A. W. J.; Kazal, L. A.; Bezdjian, S.; Goehl, J. M.; Greenstein, J. Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain. 2020, 21, 3567–3573.
Whedon, J. M.; Toler, A. W. J.; Bezdjian, S.; Goehl, J. M.; Russell, R.; Kazal, L. A.; Nagare, M. Implementation of the Primary Spine Care Model in a Multi-Clinician Primary Care Setting: An Observational Cohort Study. 2020, 43, 667–674.
Whedon, J. M.; Bezdjian, S.; Goehl, J. M.; Kazal, L. A. Trends in Insurance Coverage for Complementary Health Care Services. 2020, 26, 966–969.
Whedon, J. M.; Bezdjian, S.; Dennis, P.; Fischer, V.-A.; Russell, R. Cost Comparison of Two Approaches to Chiropractic Care for Patients with Acute and Sub-Acute Low Back Pain Care Episodes: A Cohort Study. 2020, 28, 68.
Côté, P.; Bussières, A.; Cassidy, J. D.; Hartvigsen, J.; Kawchuk, G. N.; Leboeuf-Yde, C.; Mior, S.; Schneider, M.; 140 signatories# call for an end to pseudoscientific claims on the effect of chiropractic care on immune function. A United Statement of the Global Chiropractic Research Community against the Pseudoscientific Claim That Chiropractic Care Boosts Immunity. 2020, 28, 21.
Melka, H. A.; Rivera-Melo, H.; Jordan, S.; Hwang, H.; Whedon, J. Cervical Vertebral Body Erosion Due to Vascular Abnormality: A Case Report. Journal of chiropractic medicine 2020, 19, 65–69.
Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Whedon, J.; Schmalzl, L.; Hurwitz, E. L. Yoga for Quality of Life in Individuals With Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review. 2019, 25, 36–43.
Whedon, J.; Snider, P.; Whedon, S. Re: “Integrative Medicine and the Imperative for Health Justice” by Chao and Adler (J Altern Complement Med 2018;24:101-103). 2018, 24, 611–612.
Whedon, J. M.; Toler, A. W. J.; Goehl, J. M.; Kazal, L. A. Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low Back Pain and Risk of Adverse Drug Events. 2018, 41, 383–388.
Whedon, J. M.; Toler, A. W. J.; Goehl, J. M.; Kazal, L. A. Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low-Back Pain and Use of Prescription Opioids. 2018, 24, 552–556.
Whedon, J. M.; KizhakkeVeettil, A.; Rugo, N. A.; Kieffer, K. A. Bioidentical Estrogen for Menopausal Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2017, 26, 18–28.
Whedon, J.; Tosteson, T. D.; Kizhakkeveettil, A.; Kimura, M. N. Insurance Reimbursement for Complementary Healthcare Services. 2017, 23, 264–267.
Whedon, J. M.; Punzo, M.; Dehen, R.; Menard, M. B.; Fogel, D.; Olejownik, J. Relevance of Quality Measurement to Integrative Healthcare in the United States. 2016, 22, 853–858.
Whedon, J. M.; Kimura, M. N.; Phillips, R. B. Racial Disparities in Use of Chiropractic Services by Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 to 99 in Los Angeles County, California. 2016, 21, 131–137.
Weeks, W. B.; Leininger, B.; Whedon, J. M.; Lurie, J. D.; Tosteson, T. D.; Swenson, R.; O’Malley, A. J.; Goertz, C. M. The Association Between Use of Chiropractic Care and Costs of Care Among Older Medicare Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Comorbidities. 2016, 39, 63–75.e2.
Whedon, J. M.; Mackenzie, T. A.; Phillips, R. B.; Lurie, J. D. Risk of Traumatic Injury Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Aged 66 to 99 Years. 2015, 40, 264–270.
Whedon, J. M.; Song, Y.; Mackenzie, T. A.; Phillips, R. B.; Lukovits, T. G.; Lurie, J. D. Risk of Stroke after Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare B Beneficiaries Aged 66 to 99 Years with Neck Pain. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2015, 38, 93–101.
Whedon, J. M.; Goertz, C. M.; Lurie, J. D.; Stason, W. B. Beyond Spinal Manipulation: Should Medicare Expand Coverage for Chiropractic Services? A Review and Commentary on the Challenges for Policy Makers. 2013, 20, 9–18.
Whedon, J. M.; Song, Y.; Davis, M. A. Trends in the Use and Cost of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation under Medicare Part B. 2013, 13, 1449–1454.
Weeks, W. B.; Whedon, J. M.; Toler, A.; Goertz, C. M. Medicare’s Demonstration of Expanded Coverage for Chiropractic Services: Limitations of the Demonstration and an Alternative Direct Cost Estimate. 2013, 36, 468–481.
Smith, M.; Davis, M. A.; Stano, M.; Whedon, J. M. Aging Baby Boomers and the Rising Cost of Chronic Back Pain: Secular Trend Analysis of Longitudinal Medical Expenditures Panel Survey Data for Years 2000 to 2007. 2013, 36, 2–11.
Whedon, J. M.; Song, Y.; Davis, M. A.; Lurie, J. D. Use of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Older Adults Is Strongly Correlated with Supply. 2012, 37, 1771–1777.
Davis, M. A.; Mackenzie, T. A.; Coulter, I. D.; Whedon, J. M.; Weeks, W. B. The United States Chiropractic Workforce:  An Alternative or Complement to Primary Care? 2012, 20, 35.
Whedon, J. M.; Song, Y. Geographic Variations in Availability and Use of Chiropractic under Medicare. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2012, 35, 101–109.
Davis, M. A.; Whedon, J. M.; Weeks, W. B. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners and Accountable Care Organizations: The Train Is Leaving the Station. 2011, 17, 669–674.
Whedon, J. M.; Bove, G. M.; Davis, M. A. Critique of Review of Deaths after Chiropractic, 5. International journal of clinical practice 2011, 65, 105; author reply 106.
Whedon, J. M.; Davis, M. A. Medicare Part B Claims for Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, 1998 to 2004. 2010, 33, 558–561.
Whedon, J. M.; Davis, M. A.; Phillips, R. B. Implications and Limitations of Appropriateness Studies for Chiropractic. 2010, 17, 40–46.
Whedon, J. M.; Fulton, G.; Herr, C. H.; von Recklinghausen, F. M. Trauma Patients without a Trauma Diagnosis: The Data Gap at a Level One Trauma Center. 2009, 67, 822–828.
Whedon, J. M. Lumbar Epidural Hematoma after Chiropractic Manipulation for Lower-Back Pain: Case Report. Neurosurgery 2008, 63, E376; author reply E376.
Whedon, J. M.; Quebada, P. B.; Roberts, D. W.; Radwan, T. A. Spinal Epidural Hematoma after Spinal Manipulative Therapy in a Patient Undergoing Anticoagulant Therapy: A Case Report. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2006, 29, 582–585.

Grants

Completed

Association Between Cervical Spinal Manipulation and Cervical Artery Dissection in Older and Younger Medicare Population, Funded by Dartmouth College (July 20, 2018 - June 30, 2021), awarded July 18, 2018 ($78,763.00), Completed, Summer 2023, PI James Whedon (10%)

Funded - In Progress

RAND REACH Center, Funded by NIH/NCCIH/RAND Corporation (August 31, 2026), awarded September 30, 2023 ($225,353.00), Funded - In Progress, Fall 2023, PI James Whedon (10%) with Other Crina Gandila (15%)

Spinal Manipulative Therapy vs. Prescription Drug Therapy for Care of Aged Medicare Beneficiaries with Neck Pain, Funded by NIH/NCCIH (September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024), awarded August 29, 2022 ($465,700.00), Funded - In Progress, Summer 2023, PI James Whedon (20%) with CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (12.5%), Other Anupama Kizhakkeveettil (3%)

Submitted - Not Funded

Acupuncture for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Low Back Pain: Access, Utilization, and Value, Funded by NIH/NCCIH (September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2026) ($1,776,078.00), Submitted - Not Funded, Fall 2023, PI James Whedon (40%) with CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (20%), CoInvestigator Prasad Vinjamury (15%)

Submitted for Review

Utilization of Spinal Manipulation under Medicare: A Systematic Review, Funded by RAND Corporation (September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024) ($15,000.00), Submitted for Review, Fall 2023, PI James Whedon (3%)

Utilization of Non-pharmacological Therapies for Management of Low Back Pain under US Medicaid Plans, Funded by NIH/NCCIH (May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026) ($439,555.00), Submitted for Review, Summer 2023, PI James Whedon (20.5%) with CoInvestigator Steffany Moonaz (12%)

Honors and Awards

Fall 2022 - Ongoing

Outstanding Research Paper, 2022, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners; ACC-RAC Conference

The Scott Haldeman Award for Outstanding Researc, 2021, World Federation of Chiropractic

Fall 2021 - Ongoing

First Prize - Research Poster, 2021, Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine

Impact Award, 2021, Section of Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practices, American Public Health Association

Best article of the quarter, 2021, Chiropractic and Manual Therapies Journal

Fall 2018 - Spring 2019

Outstanding Research Award, 2019, Southern California University of Health Sciences

Fall 2019 - Ongoing

Third Prize - Research Posters, 2019, AIHM Annual Conference

Fall 2013 - Ongoing

Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award, 2013, NCMIC Foundation

Interests

Chiropractic, Integrative Health, Medicare, Medicaid, Access to healthcare Services, Health Justice

Hear from the Students Who’ve Been in Your Shoes

Our Value: Integrative Health, Inclusivity

I chose SCU when looking for a PA program because of their Integrative Medicine approach. I am from Michigan, and not many programs focus on this Integrative, Holistic approach when it comes to patient care in the Midwest, and I felt that was very important for me to learn as a future provider. My transition to semi-virtual learning has been very smooth and quite enjoyable. My favorite part about attending SCU is how tight-knit and diverse the community is. Coming from a large undergrad university and moving so far, it was very important for me to have a PA program that made me feel valued and invested in my success. At SCU, they do a great job of making you feel that.

 

Brianna Hadley

MSPA Class of 2022

Our Value: Integrative Health

One of the great things about SCU is we do have a campus layout, so all your classes aren't in a single room. We have our cadaver lab. We have different specialty rooms for physical assessment classes vs. acupuncture classes. All our acupuncture-specific classes have all the herbs in the room. You can pull out the herbs and look at them, whether in class or in between classes to get that extra studying in.

My favorite part of SCU is the collaboration from our beginning terms. We were working alongside chiropractor students, PA students, and ayurvedic students. It's a unique community where we get to learn about these different fields and sit in classrooms with them and work with them in the clinic. It allows you to get an understanding of all the different fields and how they can work together, and what is unique about your field. I think that is a wonderful aspect that I didn't think was going to be as prominent as it is here; even now, in my upper term classes and I am not in class with chiropractic students, I can still reach out to them about a certain aspect I may not understand or if I am working on a case. I want another perspective I know I have them to reach out to, so that has been a great networking community to have resources for.

Dr. Jamie Kuljis

Graduate, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Our Value: Integrative Health, Inclusivity

"There are a lot of things that I love about the program at SCU. The first one is that the faculty come from a long line of Ayurvedic knowledge deeply rooted in ancient classical text. They studied Ayurveda, but they also lived it. When you learn from people who embody this wisdom, it's much easier to grasp this knowledge. The second thing I love is the camaraderie within the cohort. The combination of the training, supportive faculty, and the support of my peers and classmates has given me the confidence I need to start my own practice."

Portia Harris

Student, Ayurveda Program

Our Value: Evidence-Based Practice

Some of my favorite courses at SCU have to be the chiropractic procedure classes; those are the classes you get to hone in on your chiro skills, your palpation skills and ultimately work on the adjustments that make you a chiropractor. Those are the classes I feel enhance my knowledge the most and are some of the reasons I chose to become a chiropractor here are SCU.

On top of chiropractic procedures classes, my favorite is the cadaver lab experience. The cadaver classes opened up my perception of what the human body is made up of. It allowed me to get an in-person perspective of how the body works and looks on the inside. I am genuinely thankful for those experiences because they opened and broadened my horizons to the human body and anatomy in general.

Jordan Vega

Student, Doctor of Chiropractic

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