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."
Record Turnout for COCSA
ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Congress of Chiropractic State Association's annual meeting (November 3-8) was attended by almost 80 officers and executive directors of 35 chiropractic state associations.
The COCSA membership has grown to 45 chiropractic state associations, an all-time high.
Topics covered during the four-day meeting included membership development, leadership training and updates from the states on issues affecting the chiropractic profession.
- Attorney George McAndrews discussed the lawsuit filed by the American Chiropractic Association against the Health Care Finance Administration and his negotiations with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
- Nelson Robinson (West Virginia) lead a session on legislative issues at the national and state level.
Leadership Forum
One of the highlights of the meeting was a two-hour leadership forum of national chiropractic leaders fielding questions from the chiropractic media and COCSA members. The no-holds-barred forum provided frank discussion on many issues critical to the chiropractic profession. The national organizations represented on the forum panel were:
Alliance for Chiropractic Progress
American Association of Spine Physicians
American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Council on Chiropractic guidelines and Practice Parameters
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
International Chiropractors Association (ICA)
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC)
World Federation of Chiropractic
The forum fulfilled one of the primary goals of COCSA: bringing all national chiropractic organizations together each year. The hope is to facilitate a shared mission and unity within the profession.
New Officers
COCSA's general election was also held at the meeting. The current officers and directors are:
President: Dale Cohen, DC (New York State Chiropractic Association)
1st Vice President: Thomas Klapp,DC (Michigan Chiropractic Council)
2nd Vice President: Kevin Donovan,DC (Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island)
Secretary: Terry Peterson,DC (Arizona Association of Chiropractic)
Treasurer: Stephen Simonetti,DC (New York Chiropractic Council)
Immediate Past President: Leonard Suiter,DC (Missouri State Chiropractic Association)
Directors
District 1: John Boyden,DC (New Hampshire Straight Chiropractic Society)
District 2: William Bender,DC (Michigan Chiropractic Council)
District 3: Doris Christman (Florida Chiropractic Society)
District 4: Harold Tondera,DC (Texas Chiropractic Association)
District 5: Robert Argyelan,DC (California Chiropractic Association)
New Representatives of the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP):
District 2: Leonard Suiter,DC (Missouri State Chiropractic Association)
District 3: Eugene lewis, DC (North Carolina Chiropractic Association)
Awards
Former COCSA president, Mario Spoto, DC (Pennsylvania), was granted honorary Congress membership, only the sixth person to receive that honor. Dr. Spoto was also named a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors,Inc.
Next Year
COCSA's 1999 annual meeting will be held November 4-7 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Diego. For more information, you can contact COCSA Executive Director Janet Jordan:
P.O. Box 2054,
Lexington, SC 29071
tele: (803) 356-6809
fax: (803) 356-6826
email: jjordan-chirolink.com.