Dr. Ronald Bernardini

The Man Behind the Mission

Dr. Ronald Bernardini is not simply a chiropractor. He is a healthcare visionary, a community servant, and a living example of what happens when academic excellence meets an unrelenting passion for patient care.

Born and raised in Port Jefferson, New York, Dr. Bernardini’s journey into healthcare began early — working in pharmacies, hospitals, and laboratories from the age of 18. That hands-on foundation shaped a professional ethos that would define his entire career: healthcare is personal, and patients deserve nothing less than a physician who is wholly invested in their well-being.

After earning his B.S. in Biology from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook in an accelerated three years, Dr. Bernardini went on to graduate from New York Chiropractic College in 1981 — launching a career that would span over four decades and redefine what chiropractic care could look like within the broader American healthcare system.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Bernardini has worn many hats: clinician, hospital director, association president, entrepreneur, inventor, and advocate. He became the first chiropractor in New York State to be fully credentialed by a Level 1 hospital, served as President of the New York State Chiropractic Association for Suffolk County, and built one of the most expansive chiropractic independent physician networks in the state — ultimately forming a landmark affiliation agreement with Northwell Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country.

Yet for all of his professional accomplishments, what has always driven Dr. Bernardini is something far simpler: the belief that every patient deserves access to compassionate, comprehensive, and collaborative care. That same belief is what inspired the creation of this scholarship.

Dr. Bernardini understands firsthand the sacrifice, persistence, and purpose it takes to build a career in healthcare. Through this scholarship, he hopes to lighten the load for the next generation of health professionals — students who, like him, are ready to dedicate their lives to making others well.

Dr. Ronald Bernardini: A Career Defined by Excellence

    • 🎓 Education

      • B.S. in Biology — S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook, New York (completed in 3 years)
      • Doctorate in Chiropractic — New York Chiropractic College, 1981
      • Clinical Thermography Certification — Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 1986
      • MRI Certification — Stony Brook Medical Imaging, 1994
      • Postgraduate Training — 400+ hours in diagnosis, radiology, neurology, orthopedics, and physical therapy through Greenvale & Levittown Clinics
      • Continuing Education — 30+ credit hours annually since 1986 across sports medicine, lumbar and cervical disc injuries, MRI/CAT scan interpretation, EMG/NCV, workers’ compensation, and more
      • Certificate of Proficiency in X-Ray — Erhardt X-Ray Seminars (100 hours of postgraduate instruction)
    • 💼 Professional Experience

      • Founder & Practicing Chiropractor — Lake Chiropractic, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY (1981 – Present, 40+ years)
      • First Chiropractor Credentialed by a Level 1 Hospital in New York State — St. John’s Episcopal Health Services, Smithtown, NY
      • Director of Chiropractic Services — St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Outpatient Facilities (Medport locations across Suffolk County)
      • Administrator & Co-Owner — United Comprehensive Care, Ltd. (Article 28 licensed outpatient hospital facility)
      • Founder & Director — CCNY ChiroCare of New York IPA Inc. (managing a panel of 2,300+ chiropractors statewide)
      • Affiliation Agreement with Northwell Health — encompassing 27 hospitals, 786 outpatient facilities, and 32 laboratories
      • Management & Consulting — NeuroSpine Associates, P.C., Medford, NY
      • Past President — New York State Chiropractic Association, Suffolk County Chapter (2006–2008, overseeing 375 active chiropractors)
      • Elected President — Chamber of Commerce of Lake Ronkonkoma (1983–1985)
      • Licensed Chiropractor — State of New York (since 1981) and State of Florida (since 1982)
      • Patent Holder — Nex-Traxx Conical Cervical Neck Brace (federally approved)
      • Licensed Real Estate Broker — State of New York

Inspired by a Legacy. Built for the Future.

The Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals exists because one man spent over 40 years proving that healthcare, at its best, is about more than treatment — it is about connection, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to those in need.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 9:00-5:30

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Lake Ronkonkoma, NY