Probably most of the chiropractors in the US received information about a Russian-American Medical Institute (RAMI) several months ago. After my first article in Dynamic Chiropractic (see the January 14, 1994 issue of "DC"), I started to receive requests for additional information about RAMI from field doctors. Along with being a Russian medical graduate (I finished medical school in St. Petersburg in 1987), I know the system of medical education in my country very well, so I can reply to these requests.
In recent years, many changes have occurred in the Russian medical system, and I had to do a small investigation in order to adequately answer these questions. In think that the readers of Dynamic Chiropractic might be interested in some results of my investigation. I picked up all the available brochures on RAMI and called Dr. Butkowsky, who is the the United States' RAMI representative in New York (his number is 203-563-3845). I also spoke with Dr. Yuri Petrov and Professor Vera Maevskaya, my colleagues in Russia. I've gotten an uncertain impression from these interactions. On the one hand, Russian medical schools have a strong, valuable background because they have been government-supported for so long (for further information on this topic, see notes about medical research in former USSR in Dr. J. Keating's book Toward A Philosophy of the Science of Chiropractic, p. 377-379). However, this new democracy has brought many challenges to the country. I will attempt here to put aside my emotions and prognostic feelings, though I feel that they are applicable in such a case, in order to present the facts that one must keep in mind concerning RAMI.
When you want to get high quality medical education, as well as any other education, at an unknown institution, you are supposed to examine the proposed curriculum. I doubt that RAMI's proposed curriculum -- roughly speaking, five visits to Russia for 2-4 weeks each during a year, along with a number of weekend seminars -- will provide high quality medical knowledge. Next, to be qualified for a medical license in the US, you have to pass two steps of USMLE examinations and be accepted to begin a residency program for several years. After this, you must pass state licensure examinations. If you consider the time and the cost involved in this undertaking, you have much to consider!
I've worked in chiropractic research for more than a year now. I'm excited about the history and perspectives of this profession. The thing I like most of all is that field doctors are hard-working professionals who know they must rely upon their own knowledge and art. Chiropractors have many treatment means beyond the adjustment at their disposal, and it takes a lifetime commitment to master them all. Chiropractic can be of unlimited benefit to patients.
To my knowledge, about 50 chiropractors signed up for RAMI, and they went to Russia last February. I can assume that my knowledge about RAMI is incomplete, and if you know more, or if you know somebody who went to Russia, please contact me so that I may provide better information to interested doctors.
Andrei Pikalov, MD, PhD
Dept. of Research
Cleveland Chiropractic College
6401 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
E-mail: HPMOSWMIPS@delphi.com
