Research investigators from the National College of Chiropractic, Northwestern College of Chiropractic and the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research are collecting data to test the hypothesis that chiropractic manipulation reduces chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women. The study, "Multi-Site Pilot of Chiropractic for Chronic Pelvic Pain," will also serve to refine protocols leading to a full-scale randomized controlled trial.
The preliminary study is slated to last one year, with each of the colleges studying 20 patients. The research will be funded by the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research (CCCR), with additional funding being provided by the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company.
Cheryl Hawk,DC,PhD, of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, will direct the study. Jerrilyn Backman, DC, will be National's site coordinator for the project. Co-investigators include Roni Evans,DC (Northwestern); Cynthia Long,PhD (Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research); Robert Reiter,MD (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and Charles Davis,PhD (University of Iowa, Department of Preventive Medicine).
Chronic pelvic pain is a condition that affects 15 percent of women and accounts for approximately 15 percent of hysterectomies and 40 percent of laparoscopies annually in the United States. Typically, CPP is unresponsive to medical care. Each year, outpatient care amounts to approximately $2.8 billion (excluding surgery and hospitalization), with lost work days attributed to CPP adding another $555.3 million.
Last spring, in conjunction with Palmer College of Chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic West, the first chiropractic educational program was developed at the ASPEUR-Feevale school in southern Brazil. To help ensure its success, Dr. Everett Langhans, a 1990 Palmer graduate, has been appointed as the new director of chiropractic studies for the Feevale program.
Dr. Langhans took over the position as director in April. He will spend at least a year supervising the chiropractic-specific course work for students, including a clinical rotation, and will also direct the clinic department.
"It's a big responsibility," Dr. Langhans said, "and I'm very humbled and flattered by the fact that the chancellor and president have vested this trust in me to protect Palmer's interest and give the students the finest chiropractic education available on the planet."
Palmer Offers New Geriatrics Class
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research a one-year contract, giving the center nearly $59,000 to enhance chiropractic geriatric education on campus.
Dr. Lisa Killinger, the center's project director, said the funding will be used to design and implement enhancements to geriatric education at Palmer. Among the enhancements is a hands-on "Geriatrics Alternate Track" course that provides a nonlecture-oriented course.
"We are very excited about the geriatrics experience this alternate course will offer Palmer students," said Dr. Killinger.
The new class will study the social, physical and psychological aspects of aging. Students will evaluate older patients and their lifestyles, study the American view of elderly culture, and discuss the implications of chiropractic care for an aging population.
As part of the hands-on aspect of the class, students will also complete a journal for a minimum of four geriatric-related activities, ranging from observing and interviewing "mall walkers" to helping out at local businesses serving the elderly.
"I'm very excited about the experiential aspect of the course, because it gives students an opportunity to gain experience with older people and learn first-hand," added Dr. Killinger.
Dr. Sue Darby has been promoted by National College of Chiropractic to the position of academic dean. The dean is responsible for setting and enforcing academic policies, regulations and procedures.
Dr. Darby joined the college in 1985 as a part-time lecturer in the anatomy department, became a full-time lecturer in 1987, and was promoted to assistant academic dean in 1997. Dr. Darby has also taught at Northwestern University Medical Center, Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine and Dominican University.
During her tenure at National, Dr. Darby has received numerous teaching awards, including the "Instructor of the Trimester" award and the "Outstanding Faculty" award for the second trimester by National's December 1998 graduating class. She has also published several manuscripts and abstracts, and is the co-author of Basic and Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord and Autonomic Nervous System.
Dr. Scott Bautch, who co-authors the "Occupational Health" column in Dynamic Chiropractic, recently served as a member of the medical team overseeing the Alpine World Ski Championships in Colorado.
"This is a true indicator of the growing recognition being given to chiropractic care," said Dr. Bautch. While we've seen the athletes for some time, chiropractors have not been invited to be part of the organizing team for the events." Dr. Bautch added that his being selected for the ski championships without resistance from the medical field "speaks volumes about the changing perceptions toward chiropractic care."
A casual skier himself, Dr. Bautch has been certified as a diplomate by the American Chiropractic Board of Occupational Health and has authored numerous books and articles regarding occupational health and spinal trauma. He was also the first chiropractor to speak at the National Safety Conference in Chicago in 1994.
When I graduated from chiropractic college in 1981 and started practice, I heard it all, and very little was positive. “You are a quack; you do not know what a subluxation is; you couldn’t get into a real health care program, so you chose the one that is slightly above a mail-order degree; you have no proof that chiropractic works; Are you really licensed?”, and so much more.
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