Faculty180 - Vita and Individual Profile Data Sheet

Hiwot A Melka, DC, BS

Fall 1980 - Fall 2120

Assistant Professor II

[email protected]

Current Position

Position: SCU Health Faculty

Biography

Hiwot Melka, D.C. a native from Ethiopia, received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern University of Health Sciences as well as a BS in biology from Hamline University. Dr. Melka completed the Primary Spine Practitioner residency and certification program™ in 2018 at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS). She currently serves as an assistant professor, practices as primary spine practitioner and supervising clinician at the SCU Health Center. Through this position, Dr. Melka applies an integrated and evidence-informed approach to spine care. Dr. Melka believes that a multidisciplinary approach to spine care is important to ensuring quality, individualized, and inclusive care which allows the active participation of patients and promotes long-term well-being. Topics of interest for research include spine care in low- and middle-income countries and world spine care.

Degrees

2015

D.C., Northwestern University of Health Sciences, Bloomington, Minnesota, United States

2009

B.Sc., Hamline University, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

Professional Licensures (Healthcare)

DC, California, United States, 33484, Active, 2016, October 2023

DC, California, United States, 33484, Active, 2016, October 2024

DC, Minnesota, United States, 6163, Inactive, 2016, December 2024

DC, California, United States, 33484, Active, 2016, October 2025

DC, Minnesota, United States, 6163, Inactive, 2016, December 2025

Certifications (Healthcare)

University of Pittsburg, Primary Spine Practitioner, Primary spine care, 2018, 2024-04-23, 2027-02-02, Yes

American Heart Association, BLS/CPR/AED, CA02732, 2022-07-09, 2024-07-09

Southern California University of Health Sciences, PSP residency certificate , Primary Spine Care, 2018, 2018-02-01, 2027-02-02, Yes

American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner, 5883, 2017-11-04, 2025-01-01, Yes

American Heart Association, Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Program., CA20982, 2024-10-17, 2026-10-17

Professional Licensures and Certifications (All other/non-healthcare)

Motivational Interviewing Training Certificate of completion, May 2022, Southern California University of Health Sciences, California, United States, 6-hours of synchronous training, 2 hours of asynchronous work, plus deliberate practice exercises on: eliciting change talk, resisting the righting reflex, listening reflectively, using empowerment strategies and structuring a motivational interview using the MI CompanionTM.

IPEC faculty development virtual institute certificate of completion, May 2021, Interprofessional Education Collaborative, District of Columbia, United States, IPEC Faculty Development Virtual Institute
Building a Framework for IPE for Collaborative Practice & Health Equity May 18, 20, 25, and 27, 2021

DC License, February 2016, October 2025, California, United States

Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

Abstract

Completed/Published

Ramirez, Xavier Ortiz, and Hiwot A. Melka. 2024. “Chiropractic Clinical Clerkship Orientation Using Ai-Assisted Standardized Educational Media: A Descriptive Report.” Technology in Education: Riding the Wave of the Future” the June 22, 2024 Chiropractic Educators Research Forum (CERF) Virtual Conference, June.

Journal Article

Completed/Published

Melka, Hiwot A., Robb Russell, James Whedon, and Scott Haldeman. 2021. “Chiropractic Practice in the Continent of Africa: A Structured Online Survey of 608 Chiropractors” 44:280–88.
Melka, Hiwot A., Hector Rivera-Melo, Simone Jordan, Henry Hwang, and James Whedon. 2020. “Cervical Vertebral Body Erosion Due to Vascular Abnormality: A Case Report.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 19:65–69.

Poster Presentation

Completed/Published

Melka, Hiwot A., Robb Russell, Raheleh Khorsan, James M. Whedon, and Scott Haldeman. 2023. “The Literature on Treatment Approaches Utilized in the Management of Low Back Pain Inthe Continent of Africa: A Scoping Review.” ACC RAC 2023. April. [Attachment]

Presentation

Completed/Published

Melka, Hiwot A., and raheleh Khorshan. 2023. “The Literature on Treatment Approaches Utilized in the Management of Low Back Pain in the Continent of Africa: A Scoping Review.” 17TH WFC BIENNIAL CONGRESS. October.

Honors and Awards

Spring 2019 - Spring 2019

National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) best scientific paper award, 2019, ACC RAC, Clinical research award

Spring 2023 - Ongoing

ACC RAC 2023 research award, 2023, NBCE, clinical and basic science research award recipient

Professional Membership

Summer 2016 - Ongoing

North American Spine Society, May 2016

Spring 2022 - Ongoing

California Chiropractic Association, April 2022

Fall 2017 - Ongoing

American Chiropractic board of sports physicians, November 2017