In 1992, Dr. John C. Parkman and his wife Helen made a pledge that they would give something back to Life University. Five years later, the Parkmans made good on that pledge, transferring ownership of several valuable parcels of land in Sarasota, Florida to Life, including the site of his former chiropractic practice. Life will continue to maintain the property.
David Curry, the director of development at Life, said the donation is valued at approximately $750,000, making Dr. Parkman's gift the largest single private donation in the history of the university.
Florida land values will only be increasing. The Tampa-St. Petersburg area of western Florida is projected to be the ninth faster growing metropolitan area in the U.S. from now until 2025, with an estimated increase in population of 1,582,000. Sarasota is just south of Tampa-St. Petersburg.
A 1941 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Parkman has been a long-time supporter of Life. A member of the university's board of trustees since 1994, he sent his daughter Andrea to Life for her chiropractic education (she graduated in 1987). During his career, he has maintained successful clinics in both Sarasota and New Hampshire.
"The practice of chiropractic has been a most satisfying and gratifying experience for me," said Dr. Parkman. "I was first exposed to chiropractic by a local practitioner and I am eternally grateful for that experience. We made this donation because of the way in which Life has remained faithful to B.J. Palmer's philosophy. I greatly admire Dr. Sid and Dr. Nell (Williams) for all that they have done for this profession."
Dr. Sid Williams reciprocated Dr. Parkman's compliments. "This is a very significant donation which will contribute greatly to the continuing success of Life University," he said. "Jack Parkman has spent the last 50 years practicing and promoting the kind of principled subluxation-based chiropractic he learned as a student of B.J. Palmer. His support of Life is part of that continuing drive to protect and defend the profession and particularly one of its most important assets -- students."
ACC Formalizes Chiropractic Technique Consortium Representatives from each member of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) met in September at National College of Chiropractic to formalize a chiropractic technique consortium affiliated with ACC.
The 10 participants from ACC elected the following peers to positions on the consortium:
Chairperson -- Ron Williams, DC, National College of Chiropractic
Vice president -- Hunter Moller, DC, New York Chiropractic College
Secretary -- Carol Claus, DC, Cleveland Chiropractic College, Los Angeles
Among those in attendance was George Goodman, DC, president of Logan College of Chiropractic and the ACC, who spoke to the group about guidelines, and assisted in establishing the new consortium and its rules of operation.
"Beyond the Dura" Conference in San Diego More than 20 speakers and panelists from various fields of complementary health care were in attendance at the "Beyond the Dura" research conference October 22-26 in San Diego, California. The conference, sponsored by the Upledger Foundation, covered the topics of craniosacral therapy, fibromyalgia, nutrition, and health care and politics. Lisa Upledger, DC, presided on panel discussions of clinical experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Former Congressman Berkley Bedell gave the conference's keynote address. He credits alternative health care for helping cure him of Lyme disease and prostate cancer. Bedell served on the Advisory Council for the Office of Alternative Medicine and was instrumental in writing and gaining sponsors for the Access to Medical Treatment Act, which would make emerging medical care more readily available.
