NCMIC Foundation Recognizes 2025 McAndrews Award Winners
The NCMIC Foundation has named three individuals as the 2025 winners of the George P. and Jerome F. McAndrews Memorial Research Fund Award and Pioneer Award.
Posted in Press Releases on Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The NCMIC Foundation has named three individuals as the 2025 winners of the George P. McAndrews, J.D., and Jerome F. McAndrews, D.C., Memorial Research Fund Award. The awards were presented to Drs. Ryan Burdick, Michelle Maiers and Peter Wayne at the Association of Chiropractic Colleges Educational and Research Agenda Conference (ACC-RAC), held March 20-22 in New Orleans.
The George P. and Jerome F. McAndrews Memorial Research Fund was created by the NCMIC Foundation to honor the McAndrews brothers’ longtime support of the scientific and practical advancement of the study of chiropractic. It provides a worthy research recipient who has demonstrated exceptional ability to:
- Advance research and the exchange of scientific information
- Promote high ethical standards in research and/or practice
- Contribute to practical applications to chiropractic practice
- Interact professionally with other individuals and groups involved in relevant research and application
The George P. and Jerome F. McAndrews Memorial Research Fund Pioneer Award recognizes veteran researchers who have left a mark on the chiropractic profession through their research.
This year’s winners include:
![Dr. Michelle Maiers]()
Dr. Michelle Maiers – Memorial Research Fund Award
Dr. Michele Maiers serves as the Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in Bloomington, Minnesota. In this capacity, she teaches courses such as "Doctoral Seminar I: Research" and focuses her research on non-pharmacological interventions for musculoskeletal conditions, particularly in the context of healthy aging. Her work emphasizes spinal manipulation, exercise, and self-care strategies aimed at improving back pain and overall well-being in older adults.
Beyond her roles at NWHSU, Dr. Maiers holds leadership positions in prominent organizations. She is a co-director at the RAND Corporation's Center for Collaborative Research in Complementary and Integrative Health, where she facilitates research activities across various institutions and develops strategies to advance the center's mission. Additionally, she has served as president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), reflecting her commitment to advancing the chiropractic profession. In recognition of her contributions, the ACA established the "Michele Maiers NextGen Member of the Year Award" to honor early-career chiropractors demonstrating professional leadership.
![Dr. Ryan Burdick]()
Dr. Ryan Burdick – Memorial Research Fund Award
Dr. Burdick currently works as an independent research consultant and grant writer for organizations or institutions aiming to improve the health of their communities through the opioid settlement fund.
He served as co-author of the RAND Corporation’s publication “Alternatives to Opioids: A Missing Piece of the Strategy.” He has additional experience in healthcare policy at both local and federal levels. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University’s School of Medicine, where he focused on analyzing musculoskeletal pain disorders in the U.S. healthcare system, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Burdick holds a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Cleveland University–Kansas City.
![Dr. Peter Wayne]()
Dr. Peter Wayne – Pioneer Award
Dr. Wayne is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, serving as the Director of Research for the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and currently as Interim Center Director. His research focuses on the clinical impact of mind-body and integrative medicine practices on chronic health conditions, exploring their physiological and psychological mechanisms. He has been a principal or co-investigator on over 25 NIH-funded studies, contributing to clinical trials on Tai Chi for balance disorders, heart failure, osteoporosis, and depression, as well as acupuncture for stroke-related paralysis, hypertension, and cancer treatment side effects.
With over 40 years of experience in Tai Chi and mind-body practices, Dr. Wayne has played a key role in developing reliable integrative medicine interventions for clinical trials. His leadership is recognized internationally through service on NIH grant review panels, editorial boards, and keynote presentations. He authored The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi (2013), which received an Award of Excellence in Medical Communication. Additionally, he is deeply committed to education and mentorship, serving as Associate Director for the NIH-funded Harvard Medical School Research Fellowship in Complementary and Integrative Medicine and receiving an NIH K24 mid-career mentoring award.
Dr. Wayne Wolfson, president of NCMIC, said the group of 2025 recipients represents major contributions to furthering the chiropractic profession both academically and reputationally.
"Chiropractic care advances through the dedication of researchers like Drs. Burdick, Maiers and Wayne, whose work strengthens the foundation of our profession," said Wolfson. "Their commitment to scientific inquiry allows us to enhance our techniques, validate our methods, and solidify chiropractic’s essential role in modern healthcare. The NCMIC Foundation is honored to present them with the McAndrews Award and welcome them into a distinguished group of past recipients."