The Expert Behind the X-Ray: How Dr. Michael Fergus Strengthens Chiro One’s Care

Most patients will never meet Dr. Michael Fergus. But if you’ve ever had an X-ray at a Chiro One clinic, there’s a good chance his expertise shaped the care you received. 

As Chiro One’s Diagnostic Imaging Director, Dr. Fergus works behind the scenes — reading complex radiographic studies, training the doctors and technicians who care for patients every day, and making sure every X-ray suite in the organization meets the highest safety standards. It’s a role built on decades of expertise, a genuine love of teaching, and a belief that great patient care starts long before a patient ever walks into an exam room. 

A Day in the Life of a Diagnostic Imaging Director 

Dr. Fergus’s role at Chiro One is several roles in one, all pointed at the same goal: helping clinicians provide exceptional patient care. 

As Chiro One’s diagnostic chiropractic radiologist, he provides expert narrative reports on radiographic studies submitted from clinics across the organization — offering a second, highly trained set of eyes on complex cases. These overreads help identify potential red flags or contraindications to care, giving clinicians greater confidence in their diagnoses and treatment decisions. 

He also serves as a diagnostic imaging consultant for doctors throughout the organization, available whenever questions arise about interpreting advanced imaging, choosing the right study, or using specialized radiographic techniques. 

Education is just as central to his work. As a member of the Learning & Development team, Dr. Fergus guides new chiropractors through onboarding, building their foundation in diagnostic imaging and radiographic interpretation. That commitment to learning doesn’t stop after onboarding — he created Clinical Corner, a monthly grand rounds program where doctors work through real case discussions together rather than sitting through passive lectures. He also helps organize larger continuing education seminars featuring both nationally recognized experts and Chiro One’s own in-house specialists. 

His teaching reaches beyond doctors, too. Each month, he prepares Chiro One’s chiropractic technicians for the certification exams that allow them to perform spinal radiography in clinic — work that keeps clinics running efficiently and frees up doctors to focus on patients. 

Rounding out his responsibilities, Dr. Fergus serves as Radiation Safety Officer for all Chiro One clinics, partnering with the Facilities team to ensure every X-ray suite meets state regulations and the highest safety standards. 

Deep Roots in Diagnostic Expertise 

Dr. Fergus’s path to becoming one of Chiro One’s most trusted diagnostic resources started with a rigorous training pipeline. He graduated from National College of Chiropractic in 1998, then completed a full-time Diagnostic Imaging residency through the Lincoln College of Postgraduate Education at National University of Health Sciences from 1999 to 2001. Shortly after, he earned his Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Radiology (DACBR). 

In the two decades since, he’s interpreted thousands of radiographic studies and supported chiropractors through countless clinical decisions. In 2014, he expanded his expertise further, earning his Registered in Musculoskeletal Sonography (RMSK®) credential in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound. 

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Fergus spent 13 years as an Assistant Professor at National University of Health Sciences, teaching chiropractic students and serving as the primary educator for Diagnostic Imaging residents preparing for their own DACBR board exams. 

The Path to Chiropractic Care 

Dr. Fergus didn’t set out to become a diagnostic imaging expert — or a chiropractor, for that matter. 

As an undergraduate at Loyola University Chicago, he worked as an EMT for a private ambulance service, initially intending to become a paramedic. But conversations with professionals in the field, many of whom described the physical and emotional toll of the job, made him reconsider. 

Around that time, a newspaper article about chiropractic caught his attention. Curious, he toured National College of Chiropractic — and knew almost immediately he’d found his path. 

Diagnostic imaging entered the picture almost by accident. During his internship in the teaching clinic, complex cases kept sending him down the hall to the Diagnostic Imaging Department for a second opinion. After enough trips, he remembers thinking: “Maybe I should learn to do what they do so I won’t have to keep asking these questions.” That curiosity turned into a passion — he applied to the residency program, was accepted in 1999, and never looked back. 

A Philosophy Built on Lifelong Learning 

Mentorship sits at the heart of how Dr. Fergus approaches his work. Whether he’s walking a new chiropractor through their first radiographic interpretations, leading a Clinical Corner case discussion, or helping a technician prepare for a certification exam, his approach centers on building confidence through hands-on, real-world learning rather than passive instruction. 

That philosophy traces back to his own education — years spent as both a student and, later, a professor training the next generation of DACBR-certified radiologists. For Dr. Fergus, teaching isn’t a side responsibility; it’s a continuation of the same curiosity that first drew him into the Diagnostic Imaging Department all those years ago. 

The Impact — Often Unseen, Never Small 

Although his work happens largely behind the scenes, Dr. Fergus never loses sight of its impact. Over the years, he’s identified significant findings — fractures, metastatic bone disease, inflammatory arthritis, and more — that fundamentally changed a patient’s course of care. 

“I consider myself an extension of every Chiro One clinic,” he says. “My role is to support our doctors by providing timely, accurate diagnostic information that helps them deliver safe, confident, and effective care. I love working alongside a team of passionate clinicians and educators who share one common goal — to do everything we can to provide the absolute best care for every patient.“

Beyond the Clinic 

Outside of work, Dr. Fergus’s greatest joy is time with his family. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two teenage children, and their household stays busy with travel, game nights, escape rooms, and the occasional round at Topgolf. 

“Family, lifelong learning, and helping others succeed,” he says, “are the values that continue to shape both my professional and personal life.“