Greg Dunn, DC, holds a copy of the inaugural issue of the chiropractic stamp booklet at D.D. Palmer Memorial Park in Port Perry, Ontario. Dr. Dunn instigated that successful postal stamp campaign.
The British Columbia campaign leadership team is one of several volunteer groups that are spreading the word about chiropractic in Canada. (From left, top row): DCs Pat Foran, Barry Urness; Matthew Airhart; DCs Chris Martin, Brian Blower. (bottom row): DCs James Leigh; Doug Alderson; Dave Olson; Kathy Murphy; Darrell Turner.
The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) is about to enter into one of the most innovative partnerships in higher education today: affiliation with a leading North American university. CMCC and Toronto's York University are currently negotiating an academic affiliation that will change the perception of chiropractic in Canada forever. (Editor's note: see DC, Sept. 8, 1997.)
As the affiliation agreement moves forward, CMCC is gearing up to officially launch "Hands on the Future," a capital campaign to raise funds for a new facility on the campus of York University. In the preliminary stages of the campaign, close to five million dollars has been raised. Thanks to the generosity of many leaders within the chiropractic profession, and the dedicated efforts of our campaign team leaders, CMCC's capital campaign for university affiliation has received a tremendous boost. One man who is prepared to take the lead in what is perhaps the largest fundraising campaign in the history of chiropractic is Dr. Greg Dunn.
One year ago, Dr. Dunn agreed to chair CMCC's capital campaign for university affiliation. It wasn't an easy decision. There's a great deal of work involved in heading up such a campaign. In this case, it meant making a serious time commitment to take responsibility for what is one of the most monumental initiatives ever undertaken by the Canadian chiropractic profession.
Dr. Dunn is no stranger to volunteering for chiropractic. He has chaired the Manitoba Chiropractors' Association; the Canadian Chiropractic Association; the fundraising committee for the 1995 Chiropractic Centennial Convention; and is currently on the board of the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association. He is perhaps best known for instigating a campaign to lobby Canada Post for a commemorative chiropractic stamp during 1995. Thanks to his tireless efforts, Canada Post issued not one, but four stamps honouring D.D. Palmer's 150th birthday, chiropractic's centennial celebrations and CMCC's 50th anniversary. The stamp booklet was unveiled at the Canadian Chiropractic Centennial Convention in Toronto.
After donating so much time and energy to the advancement of chiropractic, Dr. Dunn wasn't sure he was ready to take on the largest volunteer commitment of his career. So why did he accept? Because he feels more strongly about university affiliation than he has felt about any other goal set by the chiropractic profession. "In Canada, people view chiropractors as less than, or not as good as, other contemporary health care professionals, because they perceive that our education is inadequate," he explained. "University affiliation will change all that."
With the proposed model of affiliation, CMCC will be academically affiliated with York University, while remaining financially independent. According to Dr. Dunn, "This unique model is a child of government cutbacks to postsecondary education in the 90s." The college will continue to be self-funded, both at the programme level and at the capital investment level. The capital campaign will raise the funds necessary to build a new facility on York's campus. "The estimated cost will be approximately $25 million. We are asking the chiropractic profession to contribute $16 million, and we will approach corporations, foundations and our public supporters for the rest," he said.
After practising in Canada for the past 20 years, Dr. Dunn feels good about the future of chiropractic. He has seen a lot of changes and growth within the profession over two decades. Today's graduates, he said, are more sophisticated than ever, while still maintaining chiropractic's belief in natural healing. At the association level, there has also been significant progress. Canadian associations over the last few years have become highly organized and more effective. Ultimately, however, he feels that without university affiliation the profession will stall: "The achievements that we are making in chiropractic today are 'lateral' achievements. We are no longer an upwardly mobile profession. It inflames some chiropractors when I say this, but if you examine the status of our profession as thoroughly as I have you will come to the same conclusion."
It is true that in some limited cases chiropractors are being appointed to policymaking committees, but in general the influence of chiropractors in policymaking isn't growing as it should. "The reason we have been denied our rightful place at the table where health care policy is made, the reason we have not been able to substantially increase our market share, and the reason we have not been able to gain the respect we deserve as a profession is the poor public perception of our educational background," said Dr. Dunn. "This is the crux of what is holding us back as a profession."
Over the past 12 months, Dr. Dunn has worked closely with CMCC to recruit volunteers for the campaign. A number of dedicated chiropractic leaders across Canada have joined the campaign to form a campaign cabinet. These men and women have in turn recruited local volunteers. When the campaign is officially launched following the signing of the affiliation agreement, these volunteers will spread the word throughout Canada and abroad.
Despite the enthusiasm and dedication of everyone involved in the campaign, it is an intimidating task to raise $16 million within the chiropractic profession, Dr. Dunn says, particularly in the face of today's economic realities. He believes that the campaign team, and chiropractors on the whole, have what it takes -- passion! "No other profession has our unique record of accomplishment in the face of difficulty. I believe this is because for 102 years, we have been fending off organized, systematic, unethical, and even illegal attempts to destroy and obliterate us as a health care profession. We have surmounted all of these challenges with the same determination and zealous devotion to protect our philosophy of natural healing."
Dr. Dunn is prepared to lead the Canadian chiropractic profession to success in one of the most extraordinary undertakings in the history of chiropractic -- transforming the vision of university affiliation into a reality.
Christine Johnson, BA
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
