We are chiropractors & researchers
We always ask, “Why do you, the practicing or future chiropractor, need to know this?”
Course Material
We have worked hard to ensure that the course material is the absolute latest scientific material, yet seen through a practising chiropractor’s eyes.
All course materials are referenced with reputable scientific publications, and they are discussed from the chiropractic perspective.
Dr. Heidi Haavik Ph.D., BSc (Chiro)
Founder / Neurophysiologist
Author of the best-selling book The Reality Check
Dr. Heidi Haavik is the Vice President Research and Dean of Research at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. She is a chiropractor and has a Ph.D. in human neurophysiology from the University of Auckland.
She is the author of the best-selling book ‘The Reality Check: A quest to Understand Chiropractic from the inside out. This book describes in easy to understand language what happens in the brain when a chiropractor adjusts the spine.
Dr.Haavik runs a company with the mission of enlightening the world about the science of chiropractic – chiroshub.com, provides this online learning at chirosacademy.com, and has an online shop heidihaavik.com and is one of the most popular chiropractic speakers in the world today.
Dr. Kelly Holt Ph.D., BSc
Scientific Editor / Lecturer
President – New Zealand College of Chiropractic
Dr. Kelly Holt is a chiropractor and Ph.D. trained clinical research scientist. Besides his chiropractic degree, he also holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in physiology and a Ph.D. in Health Science. Kelly’s Ph.D. focused on the effects of chiropractic care on sensorimotor function and falls risk in older adults.
He has published over 40 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, with a focus on the effects of chiropractic care on nervous system function and the reliability of vertebral subluxation indicators. He has won several international research awards for his work.
Kelly is currently the President of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. Kelly is a member of the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia Accreditation Committee.
Dr. Jenna Duehr BHSc, BChiro, MHSc
Scientific Editor / Lecturer
Dr. Jenna Duehr graduated from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic (NZCC) in 2018 with a Bachelor of Chiropractic. Together with her husband, Dr. Jens Duehr, she has two young children and practices in their private chiropractic practice in Auckland. Jenna is also a Registered Nurse, graduating from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2006 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing).
Jenna has a great interest in chiropractic research and in 2018 she also completed a Masters in Health Science through Auckland University of Technology. Her research project for this was looking at the effects of chiropractic care on muscle strength and motor control in children with cerebral palsy. In 2021 she is starting her Ph.D. through The University of Auckland and will be investigating the effects of chiropractic care on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants.
She splits her time between practice, lecturing at the NZCC in Pathology and Chiropractic Science, working at the Centre for Chiropractic Research at NZCC, and as a Scientific Editor for Haavik Research.
Dr. Alice Cade BSc (Chiro), MHSc (Hons)
Neuroscience Lecturer
Dr. Alice Cade is a practicing chiropractor, current Ph.D. student, and lecturer in clinical neuroscience. Alice has worked closely with the New Zealand College of Chiropractic over the last 17 years to develop its neuroscience program, diagnosis, and critical thinking teaching.
She is deeply interested in enhancing the student experience by way of improving teaching and learning techniques and refining the curriculum.
Alice’s current research interests lie in oculomotor function in developmental disorders such as ADHD and after traumatic brain injury.
She is also passionate about translating research into a format that is accessible for the average person.
Dr. Usman Ghani Ph.D., MSc, BSc
Lecturer
Usman achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical (Computer) Engineering from the COMSATS Institute of information and technology in 2013. He graduated from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in 2016 with a master’s degree in computer engineering focused on brain signal processing.
He received a scholarship from Brain Research New Zealand (BRNZ) for his Ph.D. on cognitive workload evaluation using brain signals. In his Ph.D. thesis, he examined the effect of cognitive workload variation on EEG during a task. In his research, he seeks to develop a tool that can be used to assess cognitive workloads in patients who are receiving rehabilitation and chiropractic care.
His core expertise lies in data analysis, statistics, and EEG data collection/processing.
Dr. Nitika Kumari Ph.D., MPT, BPT
Research / Lecturer
Nitika’s background is in physiotherapy, having gained a Ph.D. from the school of clinical sciences, Auckland University of Technology in 2020.
Her Ph.D. research investigated the use of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance the learning of split-belt treadmill tasks in healthy individuals and people with chronic stroke. Her research interest revolves around maximizing human potential through the use of neuro-modulatory interventions and chiropractic care.
She was on the Dean’s List of Exceptional Students at AUT, stood first in Unversity examinations for Masters of Physiotherapy, and also received a gold medal in Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
She is currently a Postdoc Research Fellow at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.
Dr. Imran Amjad Ph.D., MSc, PPDPT/MS, BSPT
Research / Lecturer
Dr. Imran has completed a Master of Physiotherapy and a Master of Human Physiology. He did his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and also has passed the physical therapy board license of the USA.
He is currently working as a Senior Research Fellow at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic and before this was working as an Associate Professor at Riphah College of Rehabilitation & Allied Health Sciences in Pakistan.
Dr. Imran has experience in the development of curriculum at undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs.
He has more than 10 years of experience in rehabilitation and basic life sciences (Physiology and Biochemistry). He has taught Exercise Physiology, Human Physiology, Biochemistry, Biomechanics, Therapeutic exercises, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Research Methodology, and Biostatistics.
Dr. Imran Khan Niazi Ph.D., MSc, BSc
Research & AI Advisor
Imran graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Electrical engineering (specialization: Biomedical Engineering) with distinction (1st position in his session) from the Riphah International University in 2005, and a Master’s in biomedical engineering from University & FH Lübeck.9.
He is part of the senior management team at the CCR. Also part of the WFC research Committer since the beginning of 2021. He also serves as Associate Editor of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, and Frontiers in Robotics and AI (Biomedical Robotics).
His core expertise lies with data analysis, emphasizing the capture of the nuance of information from patients and clinicians with artificial intelligence, which is missing in most traditional data analysis methods. He has authored 76 peer-reviewed journal papers and 96 conference papers (proceedings and extended abstracts including).