Dr. Frederick Schurger, DC, DCCJP

Education and Background

Before chiropractic, Dr. Schurger earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana — consistently ranked among the top undergraduate engineering programs in the country. That foundation shaped everything that followed. Engineering trains the mind to find root causes, test hypotheses, and measure outcomes — and that discipline runs through every aspect of how Dr. Schurger approaches patient care.

He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2006, the founding institution of the chiropractic profession. From his earliest years in practice, Dr. Schurger gravitated toward upper cervical care — drawn to the specificity of the approach and the depth of its neurological foundation.

He opened Keystone Chiropractic in Springfield in 2007 and has practiced there ever since, building one of the most specialized upper cervical practices in Central Illinois.

Specialization: Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic

The Blair Upper Cervical Technique focuses on the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) — the top two vertebrae of the spine. Because these vertebrae sit directly around the brainstem, even a small misalignment at this level can create widespread neurological interference. Correcting that misalignment precisely and gently — without twisting, cracking, or forceful manipulation — is the foundation of what Dr. Schurger does every day.

Blair care at Keystone starts with imaging. Dr. Schurger uses CBCT cone beam CT scanning — a 3D imaging technology used by very few chiropractic practices in the country — alongside laser-aligned X-ray and infrared thermography to build a precise, individualized picture of each patient’s upper cervical spine before any correction is made.

The correction itself is specific to the patient’s anatomy. No two adjustments are the same because no two spines are the same.

Dr. Schurger also uses the NeckCare System — an FDA-listed clinical assessment device — to measure cervical range of motion, proprioception, and sensorimotor control objectively at every evaluation. It’s one more layer of precision in a practice built around the idea that guesswork has no place in health care.

Blair Chiropractor of the Year — 2011

In 2011, Dr. Schurger received the Blair Chiropractor of the Year Award — one of the most meaningful recognitions within the Blair chiropractic community.

The award is selected annually by the President and senior board members of the Blair Chiropractic Members Association. It isn’t limited to board members or leadership — any practitioner within the society is eligible. What it recognizes is exceptional dedication to promoting and advancing the Blair technique, maintaining its integrity and clinical standards, and actively working to increase its reach and recognition within the broader chiropractic profession.

Recipients vary from year to year based on individual contributions. In 2011, that recognition went to Dr. Schurger — reflecting his work in pursuing advanced certifications, developing instructor-level expertise, and contributing to the growth of the Blair community at a national level.

Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP)

The DCCJP is the most rigorous post-doctoral credential available in upper cervical chiropractic. Dr. Schurger completed it in 2015, and it represents a level of advanced training that very few practitioners in the country have pursued.

The program is structured as a three-year commitment — comparable in scope and rigor to a master’s degree. It involves approximately 300 hours of advanced coursework delivered through weekend seminars, most of which Dr. Schurger attended in Chicago. The curriculum is organized across three distinct years, each building on the last.

Year One: Advanced Anatomy and Neuroscience

The first year focuses on the foundational sciences at a post-doctoral level. Coursework covers advanced anatomy of the upper cervical spine — including detailed study of the ligaments and connective tissue structures that standard chiropractic education treats only broadly. Participants study the latest discoveries from dissection research, neuroanatomy of the craniocervical junction, and the clinical significance of structures that are often overlooked in general practice. This year provides the scientific foundation that makes everything in the following two years clinically meaningful.

Year Two: Comparative Technique and Research

The second year focuses on upper cervical technique — but not just Blair. The curriculum is built around a comparative study of the major upper cervical methods: Blair, NUCCA, Orthospinology, Atlas Orthogonal, Advanced Orthogonal, and others. Instruction often comes directly from the leading practitioners of each technique, creating a collaborative environment where participants gain a deep understanding of how different approaches work, where they overlap, and where they differ.

Dr. Schurger describes this year as one of the most clinically valuable experiences of his career. Watching a practitioner with 50 years of experience use a technique — and understanding exactly why it works — deepens clinical judgment in ways that years of solo practice cannot replicate.

The second year also involves research and case study development, with an emphasis on contributing to the published literature.

Year Three: Advanced Topics and the Board Examination

The third year introduces advanced adjunctive topics, including regenerative procedures for ligament repair — expanding the scope of knowledge for managing complex cases where spinal instability is a factor. Dr. Schurger has continued this education through visits to leading clinics focused on advanced injection therapies for craniocervical ligament damage.

The program concludes with a comprehensive three-day board examination. The exam includes both written components — multiple choice and essay — and oral presentations of original research and case work. It is designed to assess not only clinical competency but a deep command of the scientific literature. Candidates must demonstrate that they can think critically about research, apply it to patient care, and address the kind of complex cases that standard training doesn’t prepare practitioners for.

Completing the DCCJP means that Dr. Schurger has been evaluated at a post-doctoral level by a panel of the most advanced upper cervical practitioners and educators in the profession. It is not a certificate of attendance. It is evidence of mastery.

Continuing Education and Teaching

Dr. Schurger consistently exceeds the continuing education requirements for his Illinois chiropractic license — not as an obligation, but as a reflection of how he approaches his profession. Learning didn’t stop when he graduated from Palmer, and it didn’t stop after he completed the DCCJP. It continues every year.

His continuing education has covered a wide range: advanced Blair technique seminars, neurology coursework with renowned chiropractic neurologist Dan Murphy, and the Croft Whiplash Series — an in-depth program covering the biomechanics of whiplash injury that Dr. Schurger found particularly compelling given his engineering background. He has also pursued advanced study in upper cervical anatomy and craniocervical junction procedures beyond what the diplomate program required.

What distinguishes Dr. Schurger within the chiropractic education community is that he doesn’t just attend seminars — he teaches them. He has taught neurology and upper cervical anatomy to practitioners at the Gonstead organization and at Logan College of Chiropractic. He has presented multiple times at the Blair Chiropractic conference, contributing to the education of Blair practitioners across the country. Teaching other chiropractors requires a level of command over a subject that simply attending courses doesn’t demand — and it reflects the trust the Blair community places in Dr. Schurger’s expertise.

His commitment to learning also extends beyond clinical chiropractic. He has pursued advanced study in nutrition — including working directly with leading experts in the ketogenic diet — to better advise patients on the lifestyle factors that support or undermine the results of upper cervical care. He has also completed training in strength and conditioning, including kettlebell instruction and program design, specifically to understand how patients can maintain their physical fitness without compromising their spinal alignment.

Research Contributions

As part of his DCCJP diplomate program, Dr. Schurger participated in collaborative research examining the physiological effects of upper cervical chiropractic adjustments. One notable project demonstrated positive immune system responses following upper cervical corrections — with similar beneficial outcomes observed across multiple upper cervical techniques. This type of cross-technique research is particularly valuable because it supports the broader clinical validity of upper cervical care rather than advocating for any single method, and it encourages ongoing inquiry into which approaches may be best suited for specific patient presentations.

Participation in original research — and the requirement to present and defend that work as part of a three-day board examination — is one of the things that distinguishes the DCCJP from continuing education certificates. Diplomates are expected to contribute to the field, not simply consume it.

Personal

Dr. Schurger lives in the Springfield area with his wife Jeanne and their two dogs. Outside the office, he is committed to the same principles he brings to patient care: continuous learning, physical health, and the belief that getting things right matters more than getting things done quickly.

He practices what he teaches. His personal commitment to nutrition, strength training, and wellness is informed by the same evidence-based curiosity that drives his clinical work — and it gives him a practical perspective when advising patients on how to support their health between visits.

Ready to Work With Dr. Schurger?

Patients travel from Chatham, Rochester, Sherman, Riverton, Athens, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Taylorville, and across Central Illinois to be seen at Keystone Chiropractic. Many come specifically because they cannot find this level of specialized upper cervical care closer to home.

If you have been dealing with symptoms that haven’t responded to other care — or if you simply want the most precise assessment available for what is happening in your cervical spine — Dr. Schurger would be glad to talk with you.

Schedule Your First Appointment at Keystone Chiropractic →

Or call us directly: (217) 698-7900

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Keystone Chiropractic | 450 S Durkin Drive, Ste B, Springfield, IL 62704 | (217) 698-7900