The chiropractic profession is facing a pivotal moment, particularly in Latin America. Rapid growth over the past 25 years has expanded opportunities for chiropractic care throughout the region, but with that growth comes challenges requiring urgent attention and support from the international chiropractic community. The time to act is now.
A Story of Remarkable Growth
The expansion of chiropractic care in Latin America over the past quarter-century is nothing short of extraordinary. In 1992, there were virtually no established chiropractic schools or practitioners in the region. Today, there are 10 legitimate chiropractic schools in Latin America. Brazil, for instance, has gone from just three chiropractors in the early 1990s to an impressive 1,500. In Mexico, three legitimate chiropractic university programs currently serve around 1,500 students.
This growth exemplifies the increasing demand and trust in chiropractic care, raising the profession’s profile to unprecedented levels within the region and beyond.
The Challenge: Safeguarding Standards and Preventing Harm
With rising popularity and visibility, challenges have also emerged. The lack of standardized regulation and accreditation has opened the door for unqualified individuals and institutions to exploit the name "chiropractor." Some entities in Latin America are operating unregulated chiropractic schools or informal courses that fail to provide proper training. The result is a proliferation of poorly trained practitioners whose clinical errors could harm patients and tarnish the profession’s reputation globally.
Additionally, physical therapy (PT) schools in Brazil have begun offering programs in chiropractic as a supplementary procedure – a development that sets a troubling international precedent. Such circumstances make it crucial that proper regulatory systems be established to ensure a high standard of education and practice in the chiropractic field.
The Solution: Internationally Recognized Accreditation
To combat these challenges and protect the integrity of the chiropractic profession, the Latin American Federation of Chiropractic (FLAQ) has spearheaded the development of the Council on Chiropractic Education - Latin America (CCE-LA). This council is designed to promote educational standards across the region, ensuring chiropractic graduates meet international levels of excellence, adhering to minimal educational standards shared amongst other programs accredited across Europe and Asia.
FLAQ has worked tirelessly for over 15 years, formally incorporating CCE-LA two years ago in Puerto Rico. The council is committed to improving and maintaining educational standards, increasing patient safety, and ensuring fairness in the educational marketplace amongst chiropractic programs, for students and schools.
Once fully functional, the CCE-LA will accredit legitimate chiropractic institutions, secure the profession's credibility, and sustain itself financially. However, significant start-up costs are required to bring the council fully into operation.
How You Can Help: Support Needed to Cross the Finish Line
The international chiropractic profession is being asked to unite in support of this endeavor. A one-time contribution of $40,000 is urgently needed to overcome current financial barriers and launch CCE-LA’s accreditation process.
To help meet this goal, two anonymous donors have generously pledged to match any and all contributions up to $10,000. This means your donation will have double the impact!
Ways to Donate
All contributions, large or small, are welcome and appreciated. Here’s how you can support this vital initiative:
1. By Check: Make the check payable to: Latin American Federation of Chiropractic or FLAQ. Send your donation to:
FLAQ c/o Dr. Sira Borges
404-323 George Street
Cobourg, ON, Canada K9A 3L9
2. Donation Tiers (in USD):
Platinum: $4,000+
Diamond: $2,000 - $3,999
Gold: $1,000 - $1,999
Silver: $500 - $999
Bronze: Up to $500
All donors will be recognized with gratitude on the FLAQ and future CCE-LA websites. To learn more about this project, go to www.flaq.org.
Your Impact
By contributing to this effort, you will directly support the future of chiropractic education, improve access to high-quality care, and protect patients and practitioners from the risks posed by substandard training. Your support will ensure that chiropractic remains a trusted and respected profession in Latin America and across the globe.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact:
Dr. Brent McNabb, chair of the Fundraising Campaign Committee: mailto:doorcabin@gmail.com.
Dr. Sira Borges, FLAQ’s Executive Director: mailto:directora.ejecutiva@flaq.org.
We can transform chiropractic care in Latin America and protect the global integrity of the profession. Thank you for joining us in this critical mission. Together, we can protect and enhance chiropractic care worldwide.
FLAQ Board of Directors
- Gabriela Flores, President (Guatemala)
- Adrian Bizzarri, Vice President (Argentina)
- Rosa Patricia Jiménez, First Secretary (Mexico)
- Joao Seixas, Second Secretary (Brazil)
- Rodrigo Avendaño, Treasurer (Chile)
- Carlos Ayres, International Counceler (Perú)
- Sira Borges, DC, MD, Executive Director, FLAQ (Brazil)
CCE-LA Committee Members
- Joe Busch, DC (Panama)
- Noe Velasquez, DC (Mexico)
- Mayda Serrano, DC (Puerto Rico)
- Gabriela Flores, DC (Guatemala)
- Daniel Facchini, DC (Brazil)
- Percy Montaño, DC (Peru)
- Ana Paula Facchinato, DC (Brazil)
Other Key Stakeholders
- Ricardo Fujikawa, DC, MD (Brazil), Consultant
- Brent McNabb, DC (USA), Chair, Fundraising Committee
