Saharut "Sunny" Nilchavee, DC, MSEd, BS
Fall 1980 - Fall 2120
Assistant Professor I
Current Position
Biography
Although being born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Sunny has always had a fascination with integrative and traditional healing arts, especially those of his native background country, Thailand. Having been diagnosed, treated, and surviving ALL Leukemia for most of his childhood at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, he realized that although modern medicine provided control of cancer, it wasn’t until treatment was that his body began to recover and thrive on its own.
With this curiosity of the body’s ability to heal itself and wanting to understand more about the human journey, Dr. Sunny pursued studies that gave him further insight and a deeper understanding: B.S. in Gerontology (USC), M.S. in Early Childhood Education(USC), and evenually D.C. in Chiropractic (LACC/SCU).
Between 2003 and 2004, Dr. Sunny also traveled to Thailand to study Thai Traditional Massage also known as “Nuad Thai Pan Boran”, and in 2004 was chosen by the Royal Thai Consulate General of Los Angeles to work with the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine for the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, gaining deeper insight into the Thai ancient healing art.
Dr. Sunny has extensive experience in teaching and developing curriculum for Massage Therapy and Bodywork education, including his roles as faculty and Program Chair for the Massage Therapy Department at Bryman College, Alhambra Campus and as Program Director and faculty member for the Massage Therapy Certificate Program at SCU.
At SCU Dr. SCU has taught and worked with almost every academic department ranging from the College of Science and Integrative Health to the Ayurveda program and the Undergraduate program. He is currently an Assistant professor for the LACC Clinical Education Department overseeing the Chiropractic Clerkship courses: DC Student Clerkship, Clerkship I, II, and III. Dr. Sunny also coordinates and delivers LACC's Competency exams each term comprising of the Foundational Health Sciences, Clinic Entrance, and Clinic Exit exams.
Degrees
D.C., Chiropractic, Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), Whittier, California, United States
M.S.Ed., Education, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, United StatesDissertation: "Triarchic Theory of Intelligence"
B.Sc., Gerontology, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, United States
Professional Licensures (Healthcare)
DC, California, United States, DC29603, Active, 2003, October 2025, 1265506018
Professional Licensures and Certifications (All other/non-healthcare)
California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, June 1998, December 2024, California Commission on Teaching Credentialing, California, United States, 14021267 , Professional Clear with CLAD Emphasis
Work Experience
2020 - Ongoing
Clinical Education Department Faculty (Los Angeles College of Chiropractic), Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), Whittier, California, United States
2006 - 2020
Program Director (SCU Massage Therapy Certificate Program), Adjunct Faculty (School of Professional Studies/ College of Science and Integrative Health/ Ayurveda Program/Undergraduate Studies)), Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), Whittier, California, United States
2006 - 2014
Private Practice, Chiropractic & Wellness Physician, Back 2 Balance Chiropractic & Thai Bodywork, Alhambra, California, United States
2005 - 2006
Program Chair, Faculty (Massage Therapy Program), Bryman College, Alhambra Campus (Corinthian Colleges, Inc.), Alhambra, California, United States
2004 - 2005
Curriculum Development, Faculty (Massage Therapy Program), Integrative Healing Arts Academy, Reseda and Thousand Oaks Healing Arts Institute, Thousand Oaks, Reseda and Thousand Oaks, California, United States
Office Manager and Chiropractic Physician, A2Z Health Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Clinic, Reseda and West Hollywood, California, United States
2004 - 2004
Consultant and Thai Traditional Medicine Intern, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTTAM), Nonthaburi, Thailand
Professional Membership
Spring 2022 - Ongoing
Acadmic Collaborative for Integrative Health, October 2018, Ongoing, Clinical Working Group Member
