Optimism runs high for the advancement of chiropractic in this largest of South American countries
American and Brazilian DCs exchanged ideas at the first international meeting of chiropractic in Bahia, Brazil in April. The DCs spent four days in the city of Ilheus discussing new techniques in treatment, and the progress of chiropractic in Brazil.
Matheus de Souza, secretary of the Brazilian Association of Chiropractic, called the event a success. Frans van Leeuwen, DC, a native of South Africa who has practiced in Virginia the past six years, said the state of chiropractic in Brazil resembles that of the U.S. 30 years ago.
Douglas Baker, DC, administrative assistant to the president at Palmer College, said he would discuss strategies with Palmer officials to help support chiropractic in Brazil. Robert Brook, DC, president of the Palmer Alumni Association, said the country needed more clinics, and indicated the alumni association could help in selecting people interesting in coming to Brazil. "Brazil has great possibilities of gathering students and opening schools," he said.
Brent McNabb, DC, received 200 resumes of professionals interested in working in Brazil.
Student Wins Olympic Festival Gold Medal
Peter Cox, a student at Cleveland K.C., and aspiring Olympic competitor, won the saber gold medal in fencing at the US Olympic Festival in St. Louis in June. In the quarter-final round Peter defeated the tournament's top seed and three-time Olympian Steve Mormando 5-3 and 5-0. Peter defeated Michael D'Asaro 5-0 and 5-3 in the finals.
Peter, who credits much of his improvement to his new coach Vladimir Nazlymov, is competing to score enough international points to qualify for the '96 Olympics. In October he will compete in Canada and Romania, and in November it's on to Munich, Germany, and Athens, Greece.
"I'm confident I can compete with the best in the world," Peter said.
No U.S. fencer has ever won an Olympic gold medal.
Top Honors to Arnold Goldschmidt
The New York State Chiropractic Association honored Dr. Arnold "Mickey" Goldschmidt by awarding him the Ernest G. Napolitano Award, the association's highest award. Dr. Robert Crocker, last year's honoree, introduced Dr. Goldschmidt.
Dr. Goldschmidt began his chiropractic education at Logan College of Chiropractic in the late 1940s, served at Spears' Chiropractic Hospital in Denver for a year, and graduated from the Chiropractic Institute of New York in 1950. He has served chiropractic and NYSCA for well over four decades.
Named for the New York Chiropractic College president who served from 1959 to 1985, the award carries a $1,000 donation in the recipient's name to the Chiropractic Education Foundation of New York (CEFNY), which awards several scholarships each year to New York residents attending chiropractic college.
Rural Health Care Survey Goes to DCs
A survey was mailed out in July to DCs in Iowa, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon as part of a study on the role of chiropractic in meeting rural health needs. The study is being directed by Carrie McLachlan, MPA, of Northwestern College of Chiropractic, funding it primarily through a $134,740 grant from the Consortium for Chiropractic Research, and a $5,000 grant from the American Spine Foundation.
The researchers include: Dr. Cheryl Hawk, Palmer College; Dr. Pat Boline, NWCC; Dr. Wes Canfield, NYCC ; and Dr. Joanne Nyiendo and Dr. Mitch Haas, Western States.
The study is composed of two surveys: the one being sent to all chiropractors in the four states, and a second questionnaire being sent to a representative sample of the populations in those four states.
It is crucial that the DCs fill out the surveys. Said Ms. McLachlan, "We need a high response -- in all four states -- to get a good picture of the role of chiropractic in rural and urban health care provision across the national, as well as in each individual state."
Texas Senator Visits Parker
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) and her husband Ray, a former Texas state legislator, made a formal visit to the Parker campus in July, accompanied by several officials from the Texas Chiropractic Association. A chiropractic advocate, Sen. Hutchinson currently serves on several key committees that directly or indirectly relate to health care, including Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Small Business.
At a reception held in her honor Senator Hutchinson said, "I want to see the practice of chiropractic treated fairly and equally in health care reform so that patients can make their own choice; that is what I will work toward."
Select Systems and Markson Management Merge
Dr. Lawrence Markson, chairman and CEO of Markson Management Services (MMS), and Dr. Andrew Orlander, founder and president of Success Systems Management (SSM), have agreed to merge the two companies. Markson Management Services, Inc., becomes the parent company and forms two separate and distinct divisions operating under the MMS banner. Dr. Orlander becomes president of the SSM division, and Dr. Daniel Drubin remains as president of the MMS division.
Although Success Systems will be operating from MMS headquarters in Lake Success, New York, it will remain intact and will operate essentially as it had before the merger, except that all MMS members will automatically become SSM members too, and vice versa.
"The time has come for us to pool our talents for a greater purpose," stated Dr. Orlander.
Dr. Markson called the merger a "powerful, strategic alliance."
Taekwondo: Looking for a Few Good Chiropractors
A committee of the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU) is organizing a multidisciplinary sports-medicine staff. Chiropractors who have advanced sports training and who are interested in treating the taekwondo athlete are being recruited. The focus will be to provide coverage for all USTU sanctioned tournaments at regional, state, national, and international events.
DCs interested should send a letter of introduction, curriculum vitae, and passport style photo to Dr. Tim Wakefield, 500 Birch Street, P.O. Box 189, Park Falls, Wisconsin 54552; or to Dr. Carl Heigl, 3343 Douglas Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin 53402.
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."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
