Long Island Campus Offers Powerful Preparation for Student Victoria Valdes

On a sunny October day in 2024, local dignitaries joined the Northeast community, including College President Dr. Michael Mestan, in Levittown, N.Y., for a ribbon cutting. Northeast’s new Long Island Campus was now a reality, and students in the New York City metro area would have access to the College’s Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) program, the largest and most established in New York, as well as the cutting-edge technology that goes with it.

Perhaps no one was more thrilled than Victoria Valdes (D.C. ’27). The Long Island native, a guest speaker at the ceremony and part of the new campus’s inaugural class, is delighted that she can remain in her home region while studying at Northeast College of Health Sciences to become a future doctor.

Long Island Local Stays Home to Study

“I was so happy that I didn’t have to move away from my family or leave my established, balanced life behind,” said Valdes. “Being born and raised on Long Island means so much more than knowing the best pizza spots and Italian bakeries. It means understanding a sense of community, character, diversity and hustle. These are all qualities that will make for a unique educational experience.”

Valdes remembers the moment she found out she would attend graduate school in her hometown area. “When news broke of the Long Island branch of Northeast College receiving its accreditation, friends and family flooded my phone with support. When I received messages of ‘Yay, Vivi doesn’t have to leave us!’ or ‘Yay, you’ll be home for this event!’ reality began to sink in,” she said.

The Road to Northeast Leads Back to Long Island for Valdes

Before arriving at Northeast, Valdes had a journey full of milestones. She graduated from North Carolina State University in 2018 with a B.A. in Anthropology. Her resume includes roles as a holistic health and wellness coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, certified Yoga Teacher and personal trainer. Additionally, Victoria previously owned a meal preparation company that served healthy meals to Long Island and the NYC area.

Valdes noted that staying on Long Island allows her to keep connections that are vitally important to her. “I prayed for the opportunity to stay connected with my network of chiropractors where I plan to establish my own future clinic, and to have the support system of my family and friends close by,” she said.

One member of that vital network is Robert Garfinkel (D.C. ’92), owner of Garfinkel Family Chiropractic in nearby Bellmore. A cum laude graduate of Northeast, and clear mentor to Valdes, he is “one of the most generous, knowledgeable, and qualified individuals I have come across in my life.”

“Being part of something bigger than myself goes hand-in-hand with my student experience at Northeast,” Valdes said. “It ties in with what it means to be a chiropractor. We’re not only doctors, we are friends, mentors, references and life coaches. We allow humans to let their life energy flow, increasing their lifespan and quality of life.”

“Having a doctorate program such as this on Long Island allows students from the downstate region to have the opportunity to learn from this impactful degree,” Valdes added. “A chiropractic career is so powerful, and our story of success begins here at Northeast.”