Faculty180 - Vita and Individual Profile Data Sheet

James M Whedon, DC, MS

Fall 1980 - Fall 2120

Professor II

[email protected]

Current Position

Position: Senior Health Services Researcher

Biography

Dr. James Whedon is a Senior Health Services Researcher at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He holds a DC degree from Logan College and an MS from Dartmouth College. He has authored more than 65 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, Ja M., Curtis L. Petersen, William J. Schoellkopf, Scott Haldeman, Todd A. MacKenzie, and Jon D. Lurie. 2023. “The Association between Cervical Artery Dissection and Spinal Manipulation among US Adults.”
Whedon, Ja M. n.d. “Regarding: ‘Insurance Reimbursement for Complementary Healthcare Services’” 23:2515690X18788002.
Scaringe, John, Meliss A. Nagare, Robb Russell, and Jim Whedon. n.d. “Extrapolating Beyond the Data.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 44:513–14.
Bezdjian, Serena, Ja M. Whedon, Robb Russell, Justin M. Goehl, and Louis A. Kazal. 2022. “Efficiency of Primary Spine Care as Compared to Conventional Primary Care: A Retrospective Observational Study at an Academic Medical Center” 30:1.
Weeks, William B., Tor D. Tosteson, Ja M. Whedon, Brent Leininger, Jon D. Lurie, Rand Swenson, Christine M. Goertz, and Alistair J. O’Malley. n.d. “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 38:620–28.
Whedon, Ja M., and Yunjie Song. n.d. “Racial Disparities in the Use of Chiropractic Care under Medicare” 18:20–26.
Whedon, Ja M., N A. Rugo, and Kenneth Lux. n.d. “Challenges of Withdrawal from Chronic Antidepressant Medication: A Healing Odyssey.” Explore (New York, N.Y.) 9:108–11.
Whedon, Jim. n.d. “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, Ja M., Curtis L. Petersen, Zhongze Li, William J. Schoelkopf, Scott Haldeman, Todd A. MacKenzie, and Jon D. Lurie. 2022. “Association between Cervical Artery Dissection and Spinal Manipulative Therapy -a Medicare Claims Analysis” 22:917.
Whedon, Ja M., Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, Andre W. Toler, Serena Bezdjian, Daniel Rossi, Sarah Uptmor, Todd A. MacKenzie, et al. 2022. “Initial Choice of Spinal Manipulation Reduces Escalation of Care for Chronic Low Back Pain Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries” 47:E142–48.
Whedon, Ja M., Sarah Uptmor, Andrew W J Toler, Serena Bezdjian, Todd A. MacKenzie, and Louis A. Kazal. 2022. “Association between Chiropractic Care and Use of Prescription Opioids among Older Medicare Beneficiaries with Spinal Pain: A Retrospective Observational Study” 30:5.
Hawk, Cheryl, Lyndon Amorin-Woods, Marion W. Evans, Ja M. Whedon, Clinton J. Daniels, Ronal D. Williams, Gregory Parkin-Smith, et al. 2021. “The Role of Chiropractic Care in Providing Health Promotion and Clinical Preventive Services for Adult Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline” 27:850–67.
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.
Whedon, Ja M., Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, Andre W. Toler, Todd A. MacKenzie, Jon D. Lurie, Eric L. Hurwitz, Serena Bezdjian, et al. 2021. “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” 46:1714–20.
Whedon, Ja M., Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, Andrew Toler, Todd A. MacKenzie, Jon D. Lurie, Serena Bezdjian, Scott Haldeman, Eric Hurwitz, and Ian Coulter. 2021. “Long-Term Medicare Costs Associated With Opioid Analgesic Therapy vs Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Cohort of Older Adults.”
Whedon, Ja M., Scott Haldeman, Curtis L. Petersen, William Schoellkopf, Todd A. MacKenzie, and Jon D. Lurie. 2021. “Temporal Trends and Geographic Variations in the Supply of Clinicians Who Provide Spinal Manipulation to Medicare Beneficiaries: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study” 44:177–85.
Bezdjian, Serena, Ja M. Whedon, Robb Russell, and Ian Coulter. 2021. “Patient Characteristics Associated With Self-Reported Adherence to Chiropractic Treatment Recommendations: A Feasibility Study” 44:389–97.
Kizhakkeveettil, Anupama, Serena Bezdjian, Eric L. Hurwitz, Andrew W J Toler, Daniel Rossi, Sarah Uptmor, Kayla Sagester, et al. 2021. “Spinal Manipulation vs Prescription Drug Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Beliefs, Satisfaction With Care, and Qualify of Life Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries” 44:663–73.
Kazal, Louis A., and Ja M. Whedon. 2021. “Academic Primary Care Clinic Adopts New Paradigm for First-Line Treatment of Low Back Pain” 27:282–84.
Bezdjian, Serena, Ja M. Whedon, Justin M. Goehl, and Louis A. Kazal. 2021. “Experiences and Attitudes About Chiropractic Care and Prescription Drug Therapy Among Patients With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey” 20:1–8.
Whedon, Ja M., Andrew W J Toler, Louis A. Kazal, Serena Bezdjian, Justin M. Goehl, and Jay Greenstein. 2020. “Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain” 21:3567–73.
Whedon, Ja M., Andrew W J Toler, Serena Bezdjian, Justin M. Goehl, Robb Russell, Louis A. Kazal, and Melissa Nagare. 2020. “Implementation of the Primary Spine Care Model in a Multi-Clinician Primary Care Setting: An Observational Cohort Study” 43:667–74.
Whedon, Ja M., Serena Bezdjian, Justin M. Goehl, and Louis A. Kazal. 2020. “Trends in Insurance Coverage for Complementary Health Care Services” 26:966–69.
Whedon, Ja M., Serena Bezdjian, Patricia Dennis, Vivi- A. Fischer, and Robb Russell. 2020. “Cost Comparison of Two Approaches to Chiropractic Care for Patients with Acute and Sub-Acute Low Back Pain Care Episodes: A Cohort Study” 28:68.
Côté, Pierre, André Bussières, J D. Cassidy, Jan Hartvigsen, Greg N. Kawchuk, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde, Silvano Mior, Michael Schneider, and 140 signatories# call for an end to pseudoscientific claims on the effect of chiropractic care on immune function. 2020. “A United Statement of the Global Chiropractic Research Community against the Pseudoscientific Claim That Chiropractic Care Boosts Immunity” 28:21.
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.
Kizhakkeveettil, Anupama, James Whedon, Laura Schmalzl, and Eric L. Hurwitz. 2019. “Yoga for Quality of Life in Individuals With Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review” 25:36–43.
Whedon, James, Pamela Snider, and Sarah Whedon. 2018. “Re: ‘Integrative Medicine and the Imperative for Health Justice’ by Chao and Adler (J Altern Complement Med 2018;24:101-103)” 24:611–12.
Whedon, Ja M., Andrew W J Toler, Justin M. Goehl, and Louis A. Kazal. 2018. “Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low Back Pain and Risk of Adverse Drug Events” 41:383–88.
Whedon, Ja M., Andrew W J Toler, Justin M. Goehl, and Louis A. Kazal. 2018. “Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low-Back Pain and Use of Prescription Opioids” 24:552–56.
Whedon, Ja M., Anupama KizhakkeVeettil, N A. Rugo, and Kelly A. Kieffer. 2017. “Bioidentical Estrogen for Menopausal Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” 26:18–28.
Whedon, James, Tor D. Tosteson, Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, and Melissa N. Kimura. 2017. “Insurance Reimbursement for Complementary Healthcare Services” 23:264–67.
Whedon, Ja M., Molly Punzo, Regina Dehen, Martha B. Menard, David Fogel, and Jennifer Olejownik. 2016. “Relevance of Quality Measurement to Integrative Healthcare in the United States” 22:853–58.
Whedon, Ja M., Melissa N. Kimura, and Reed B. Phillips. 2016. “Racial Disparities in Use of Chiropractic Services by Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 to 99 in Los Angeles County, California” 21:131–37.
Weeks, William B., Brent Leininger, Ja M. Whedon, Jon D. Lurie, Tor D. Tosteson, Rand Swenson, Alistair J. O’Malley, and Christine M. Goertz. 2016. “The Association Between Use of Chiropractic Care and Costs of Care Among Older Medicare Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Comorbidities” 39:63-75.e2.
Whedon, Ja M., Todd A. Mackenzie, Reed B. Phillips, and Jon D. Lurie. 2015. “Risk of Traumatic Injury Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Aged 66 to 99 Years” 40:264–70.
Whedon, Ja M., Yunjie Song, Todd A. Mackenzie, Reed B. Phillips, Timothy G. Lukovits, and Jon D. Lurie. 2015. “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 38:93–101.
Whedon, Ja M., Christine M. Goertz, Jon D. Lurie, and William B. Stason. 2013. “Beyond Spinal Manipulation: Should Medicare Expand Coverage for Chiropractic Services? A Review and Commentary on the Challenges for Policy Makers” 20:9–18.
Whedon, Ja M., Yunjie Song, and M A. Davis. 2013. “Trends in the Use and Cost of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation under Medicare Part B” 13:1449–54.
Weeks, William B., Ja M. Whedon, Andrew Toler, and Christine M. Goertz. 2013. “Medicare’s Demonstration of Expanded Coverage for Chiropractic Services: Limitations of the Demonstration and an Alternative Direct Cost Estimate” 36:468–81.
Smith, Monica, M A. Davis, Miron Stano, and Ja M. Whedon. 2013. “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” 36:2–11.
Whedon, Ja M., Yunjie Song, M A. Davis, and Jonathan D. Lurie. 2012. “Use of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Older Adults Is Strongly Correlated with Supply” 37:1771–77.
Davis, M A., Todd A. Mackenzie, Ian D. Coulter, Ja M. Whedon, and William B. Weeks. 2012. “The United States Chiropractic Workforce:  An Alternative or Complement to Primary Care?” 20:35.
Whedon, Ja M., and Yunjie Song. 2012. “Geographic Variations in Availability and Use of Chiropractic under Medicare.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 35:101–9.
Davis, M A., Ja M. Whedon, and William B. Weeks. 2011. “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners and Accountable Care Organizations: The Train Is Leaving the Station” 17:669–74.
Whedon, J M., G M. Bove, and M A. Davis. 2011. “Critique of Review of Deaths after Chiropractic, 5.” International Journal of Clinical Practice 65:105; author reply 106.
Whedon, Ja M., and M A. Davis. 2010. “Medicare Part B Claims for Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation, 1998 to 2004” 33:558–61.
Whedon, Ja M., M A. Davis, and Reed B. Phillips. 2010. “Implications and Limitations of Appropriateness Studies for Chiropractic” 17:40–46.
Whedon, Ja M., Gwen Fulton, C H. Herr, and Friedrich M. von Recklinghausen. 2009. “Trauma Patients without a Trauma Diagnosis: The Data Gap at a Level One Trauma Center” 67:822–28.
Whedon, Ja M. 2008. “Lumbar Epidural Hematoma after Chiropractic Manipulation for Lower-Back Pain: Case Report.” Neurosurgery 63:E376; author reply E376.
Whedon, Ja M., Patricia B. Quebada, David W. Roberts, and T A. Radwan. 2006. “Spinal Epidural Hematoma after Spinal Manipulative Therapy in a Patient Undergoing Anticoagulant Therapy: A Case Report.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 29:582–85.

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