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Mike Raper, DC, DABCO, DAAPM, DABFE, DABDA, DCP, is a graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic. Immediately following his graduation in 1987, Dr. Raper entered private practice and pursued post-graduate training for his Diplomate in Chiropractic Orthopedics. He started Impairment Rating Consultants in 1990, and has since been performing impairment ratings, second-opinion evaluations, and expert court witnessing in Texas. He started his own impairment rating seminar series in conjunction with the Texas Chiropractic Association. Dr. Raper has also taught seminars for Texas Chiropractic College, Parker College of Chiropractic, Texas Council of Chiropractic Orthopedics, Northwestern Health Sciences University, and Palmer College of Chiropractic. He was a consultant for the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners hired Dr. Raper to be a consultant to help administer the Part IV Examination. Dr. Raper is presently the State Director for the Texas Chiropractic Association’s District 5. He is also a member of the International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, American College of Forensic Examiners, National Board of Forensic Chiropractors, Council on Chiropractic Orthopedics, Parker Alumni Association, Texas Chiropractic Association, and American Chiropractic Association. He is a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. Dr. Raper worked for Parker College of Chiropractic from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2005 to the present. He earned his master's in Clinical Neuroscience in 2021. He also has chaired numerous committees and is a full professor in rank. Dr. Raper is licensed in Texas, Oklahoma, and Nevada. How long have you been a TCA member and why did you decide to join? I have been a TCA member since 1987. I joined as a student at Parker College of Chiropractic and have been a member ever since. I belong to the TCA to help make a difference. This will be much easier with more members. What is your favorite part of being a TCA member? The biggest benefit of being a TCA member, for me, is to have representation at the state and local levels, to fight for laws that benefit the constituents of the state and for Chiropractors. Why did you decide to serve as TCA's District 5 State Director and what do you have planned for your district in the next year? I am very excited to be elected as the TCA District 5 State Director. Our emphasis at District 5 has always been to improve membership. This obviously needs to improve at the state level also. Why is it so important for Parker University alumni and students to be TCA members? It is imperative that Parker University alumni become members to help fight for the rights of Chiropractors. An increase in the number of members will make this job easier. Our profession is too small for us to “stick our heads in the sand” and let someone else “fight the fight.” At Parker University, we emphasize the importance of belonging to the STCA (Student TCA), regardless of where they plan to practice. They will learn how to represent their profession, anywhere in the world. Who had been the bigges influence in your chiropractic career? I had many mentors over the years. As a student at Parker College, Dr. Jim Parker was very influential. After I graduated, Dr. Ackerman had a significant impact on me during my orthopedic diplomate program. The biggest influence on my chiropractic career, and life, has been the creator of the universe! What is one of your biggest accomplishments? Some of my top professional accomplishments are receiving my diplomate in Chiropractic Orthopedics and my masters in Clinical Neuroscience. What is a fun fact about you? Most people do not know that I love to hike and play golf.