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Snap, Crackle, Pop: Joe Ford '88A chiropractor gets his chance at Olympic glory
By Claire Moncla
Some relate chiropractic to sports, to the strain and strides in
helping injured athletes. Others associate the medical discipline with
natural healing, the reprieve after a road of muscular pain and failed
procedures. For Dr. Walter Joe Ford Jr. '88, chiropractic is a
passion. Ford was selected last June to be part of a
group of eighteen chiropractors serving the U.S. team in the 2010
Winter Olympics.
 Ford's
interest in the U.S. team began six years ago when he sent in a letter
to the Sports Performance Medical Division of the United States Olympic
Committee (USOC) outlining his desire to serve as a chiropractor.
Unfortunately, no spots were available then, but last March he received
word of an open position. Ford (pictured, second from left) said the
Olympic committee liked how many teams he had helped in different
sporting venues since he first applied.
His list of clients is certainly diverse. Ford works with the Baylor
Track and Field team, the NFL's New England Patriots, and individual
athletes in areas ranging from gymnastics to figure-skating. He is also
the owner and president of Vitality Sports Medicine Inc., which is
based in Plano, where he currently resides.
After taking the position with the USOC, Ford flew to California for a
two-and-a-half week internship at the Olympic Training Center in San
Diego. "I needed to learn their protocol and methods," he said. His
training paid off, securing him a job, but not any extra cash. "We all
have volunteer positions—non-paying," he said, describing the Olympic
doctors.
Although the position is not paid, it does have significant perks, such
as the ability to see athletic history unfold firsthand. Team doctors work near renowned athletes in the
Olympic Village and will also have the chance to see Ghana, the
Bahamas, Gabon, Malta, and the Cayman Islands make their Winter Olympic
debuts.
How does Ford balance the responsibilities of a business owner and an
Olympic team chiropractor? He makes no bones about it. The team doctors
"rotate in shifts," he said. "Most of our commitments are a week or two
weeks." In fact, owning his practice is an asset in this situation. "I
am blessed to be able to step away," Ford said, explaining that he has
a capable staff to run the clinic during his short absences.
Ford's journey to the Olympics began many years before he sent in his
letter of interest. In 1985, he transferred to Baylor from Texas State
University. "I always wanted to go to Baylor," he said. His love for
the university began as an adolescent when he stayed on campus during
church field trips.
Now Ford looks back fondly at his time at Baylor, naming his friends in
Sigma Phi Epsilon and his professors as his biggest influences. "I have
never come across more passionate professors," he said.
Ford's current occupation is a little surprising considering he pursued
an education degree at Baylor. But, he explained, "I always wanted to
teach, and I always loved athletics and sports." After earning his
undergraduate degree, he enrolled in the Parker College of Chiropractic
in Dallas.
Ford attributes his success in chiropractic to "valuable experience" he
garnered working with Baylor Track and Field. He especially thanked
Coach Todd Harbour and head trainer Kevin Robinson. "If it wasn't for
those two, I wouldn't be part of the Olympics," he said. "Their letters
of recommendation, as well as their trust in my skills, were paramount
in my appointment. It's just another example of the Baylor family
helping each other out."
But Ford's involvement in the Baylor family extends beyond athletics.
Recently, he showed his twin daughters around campus, sharing with them
a piece of his history—and Baylor's heritage. And how did they like it?
"They went wild," he said. "They just thought it was beautiful."
As for how long Ford will be part of the Olympic family, the question
remains open ended. He explained that doctors can serve the U.S. team
for as long as they choose. And after hearing about the experiences he
will have, it's hard to imagine doctors ever wanting to leave.
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