It seemed to come on suddenly, terribly, and as unexpectedly as the crashing towers in New York City a year ago. Events of recent weeks have generated complex, sometimes contradictory emotions. As this is written, and the safety of our nation lies suspended (in late July), the destiny of Life University College of Chiropractic is uncertain. Its founder and president, Sid Williams,DC, who had already been planning his retirement, was abruptly discharged from the institution, and with him, several senior administrators. An interim CEO has been appointed, and if news accounts are accurate, the Life University Board of Trustees is determined to see the appeals process through in the hopes of getting its accreditation reinstated by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education.
It's not my place to assign blame, predict the long-term outcome of these events, or suggest what could or should have happened. And I am not privy to any inside information. But as a longtime friend of Dr. Sid, and a supporter of the standards enforced by CCE, I hope that sharing my thoughts and feelings may be of some value.
"Natural law," wrote Craig Kightlinger, MA, DC, former vice president of the Universal Chiropractors Association (UCA), "must be taken into account, and the leader of old must either sit at the council and consult with the minds of the many, or take his place on the sidelines and let the march of progress pass."11He continued: "Nature is not a pleasing master and natural law is many times cruel. But sooner or later the old leader must place his mantle on the shoulders of the best minds of the many." There is, perhaps, an inevitability to the process, if not the details.
Dr. Kightlinger, himself a school founder (Eastern Chiropractic Institute of New York City), was referring to B.J. Palmer's ouster from the leadership of the protective society he had organized two decades earlier: the UCA. There are ironic parallels in the lives and careers of Palmer and several of the students he inspired to follow in his footsteps. Men such as Sid Williams, Thom Gelardi and Jimmy Parker dreamed grand dreams, listened to their "inner voices," and built substantial institutions that contributed significantly to the growth and development of the profession. Whether we agree or disagree with their politics and philosophies, we should, I believe, respect the vision, determination and skills that led them to create so abundantly, and from the ground up. No matter what the ultimate outcome, Dr. Sid will always be the founder and first president of Life University. He, and we, may take some justified pride and satisfaction in his accomplishment.
We may also take satisfaction, in my opinion, that the COA of CCE drew a line in the sand and stands ready to defend it. As history has repeatedly shown, the chiropractic profession's (sometimes grudging) willingness to adhere to gradually higher standards of training and practice is part of our march toward greater service, respect, responsibility and integration with the wider health care and health science communities. The CCE has been one of the driving forces in this maturation for decades, and contrary to some of the "spin-doctoring" we've seen of late, I believe it has a genuine commitment has a genuine commitment to quality rather than an assault on chiropractic. We must provide the best training we can if the art and science are to progress, and service to patients is to improve.
Our greatest concern, at this moment, should be for the welfare of the Life University students, whose careers as chiropractors are jeopardized by the recent turn of events. Several scenarios have been suggested for insuring the successful completion of their training as doctors of chiropractic. These include:
There is no inherently right or wrong course to be taken; students who have invested their time and educational dollars in the institution should be guaranteed that the quality of chiropractic training improves. And though the CCE is primarily a standard-setting and accrediting agency, I suggest that it, too, has a responsibility to help protect the investment of these future chiropractors. Whatever ultimate actions the CCE, its COA and the university may take, the welfare of our youth should be kept in mind. We owe it to ourselves; to our professional forebears; to future patients; and the Life University student body to indemnify their commitment to the profession.
How far we've come! How far we have to go!
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
