Van “DocDoc” Whaley is a passionate leader in adult education with a unique background that bridges healthcare and higher education. After 25,000 patient visits and 15 years of chiropractic practice in Las Vegas, he returned to school to pursue his passion for teaching and earned a Doctor of Education degree, with a focus on higher education & adult learning.

Today, Whaley serves as the Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) Program coordinator at UNLV, where he teaches Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (KIN 223 & 224)—courses required for most healthcare-related fields. With a combined enrollment of more than 2,600 students annually, these courses are known for being inclusive, engaging, and grounded in real-world relevance.

Whaley brings both clinical insight and educational innovation to the classroom, helping students succeed in one of the most challenging (and rewarding) areas of the undergraduate health sciences curriculum.