California Chiropractic Assoc. Update

Members of the CCA met with state legislators during the association's annual Legislative Conference April 13, 1993. The keynote speaker for the conference was Casey Young, the administrative director at the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation.

More than 275 DCs gathered to discuss health care policies to be considered this legislative season. During the day-long program, the participants met with their state and local assembly representatives to discuss health care issues critical to chiropractic.

"CCA recognizes the importance of health care cost containment," said Dr. James E. Peterson, CCA president. "Because of this, the Association is pleased to advocate the cost-effectiveness mechanisms of conservative, noninvasive chiropractic care. Through one-on-one meetings with legislators, chiropractic doctors are delivering this message to increase the understanding of chiropractic health care."

The CCA/CCF announced its 1993 annual convention for June 17-20 in Monterey, California. The theme for this year's convention will be "Bridging the Information Gap." Included at the convention is the eighth annual Conference on Research and Education (CORE), sponsored by the Consortium for Chiropractic Research (CCR).

During the convention, DCs can choose from many relicensing credit lectures: Dr. Russell Erhardt, world-renowned radiologist, will be speaking on basic and advanced x-ray technology; Dr. Leonard Faye will instruct in motion palpation; Dr. Paul Peterson, prominent chiropractic historian, will lecture on chiropractic history/philosophy; Dr. Charles Ward will speak on practice management; and consultant Howard Ross and attorney Shawn Steel will present insurance collection techniques and the current state of personal injury law.

Chiropractic assistants are encouraged to attend the basic or advanced CA programs. The basic program will cover chiropractic philosophy and x-ray and the advanced program will cover motivation and the professional CA's approach to patient education. These programs are included in the modules that lead to the CCF certification for chiropractic assistants.

For more information on the CCA/CCF convention contact the CCA's Convention & Seminars Department at (916) 387-0177.

LACCS received proclamations and letters commending the organization for its role in assisting the organization Helping Other People Eat (HOPE) to collect food for the needy. HOPE, in turn, donated the food to Love Is Feeding Everyone (LIFE) which distributed it.

In exchange for food items, free chiropractic treatment was given by more than 200 participating DCs. Over 300,000 pounds of food have now been raised for LIFE over the four year history of HOPE Day.

Mayor Bradley declared February 9th official "HOPE Day" in the city of Los Angeles, and LACCS received commendations from the County Board of Supervisors, Governor Pete Wilson, and President Bill Clinton. In his letter, the president remarked, "A season of service has begun, and your work demonstrates the spirit of caring for one another that will guide us to a better future."

California College News

Ten student interns from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) traveled to Mexico over the winter break to bring chiropractic treatment to the Xoacan people of Baja Norte. David Salse, Neal Kemp, Cindy Collins, David Damaske, Paul Kwik, Lance Lee, Steve Najera, Steve Heffelfinger, Jacob Hans, and Marni Young were the student volunteers on the trip. Led by Dr. Michael Budincich, a 1980 LACC graduate and founder of "Manos con Alas" ("Hands with Wings"), the group visited the mission and orphanage in Colonia Vicente Guerrero and several nearby workcamps. The volunteers, all members of LACC's chapter of the Christian Chiropractic Association, set up temporary chiropractic clinics and provided care to field workers and their families.

Using two vans and an airplane, the group was able to deliver over $800 worth of clothes, blankets, bicycles, and candy. The mission provided the volunteers with room and board, and after only three days, they had treated about 400 people.

Intern David Salse expressed his feelings about making the trip: "I believe every chiropractic student that has the sincere desire to help others should have the opportunity to experience what we did in Mexico."

Fifth-term student John Duffy is a member of America's Rugby Team and also acts as its trainer. The team is comprised of previous or prospective national team players.

Last summer, he competed in the Hong Kong International 10's tournament before 10,000 spectators at the Hong Kong Rugby Club. With teams from around the world competing, including Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, and Indonesia, the American team placed a respectable third.

The athletes John has worked with as a trainer range from football players from the Los Angeles Raiders, other rugby players, and members of the UCLA track, baseball, hockey, and tennis teams. John came to LACC in 1991 after getting his BS in kinesiology and psychology from UCLA.

John also works with children with learning disabilities, helping them develop motor skills by giving them lessons in swimming and other sports. He wants to pursue chiropractic pediatrics, and continue his work with children in sports.

Associate Producer Allison Sesnon of KABC-TV in Hollywood brought a production crew to LACC's Thie Clinic in Pasadena on March 4th to tape interviews for a half-hour special on nontraditional health care. Chiropractic will be among several forms of alternative care highlighted on "City View" with host Laura Diaz, scheduled to air Sunday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m.

Ms. Sesnon, whose husband Kenneth Lamkin is a seventh-term LACC student, said she wanted to focus on chiropractic due to the public's growing interest in alternative health care. She cited the New England Journal of Medicine's survey of alternative care, and the recent Bill Moyer's PBS special on the same topic. Ms. Sesnon said her goal was to speak with many different alternative health care practitioners to discover why patients are seeking this care.

Michael Hubka, DC, of the Thie Clinic was interviewed and described how chiropractors care for patients, and explained chiropractic treatment as a combination of manipulative techniques, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and nutritional counseling. He said, "Chiropractors want their patients to become very involved in their own care so that they feel responsible for getting better."

The TV crew also taped Dr. Hubka treating one of his patients, Kim Crane, who offered positive comments on the benefits of chiropractic treatment.

At the college's 48th commencement ceremonies March 13th, Palmer College of Chiropractic West (PCCW) graduated 50 doctors of chiropractic. Over six hundred family members and friends attended the graduation.

Dr. Jerilynn Kaibel, a California state delegate for the ACA and past president of the California Chiropractic Association (CCA), gave the commencement address, and spoke about the historical perspective of chiropractic in California.

PCCW President Dr. Peter Martin presented medallions to class valedictorian Thomas Schwaninger of Neuhausen, Switzerland, and salutatorian Scott Dubrul of Tiburon, California, in recognition of their scholastic and clinical proficiency. Kevin Haussler graduated magna cum laude and Robert DeMarco, Douglas George, and Monika Strassmann graduated cum laude. "Clinical Excellence" award certificates were bestowed on Gerard Bozman, Robert DeMarco, Douglas George, Kevin Haussler, Corey Pavitt, Tracy Shrable, Monika Strassman, and Katayoun Tajbakhsh.

Representatives from the largest and most influential chiropractic organizations in the U.S. discussed issues in chiropractic at Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles (CCCLA)'s 1993 Homecoming held on February 5-7.

Participating in this "Focus on the Future" program were Dr. Lowry Morton, ACA board member; Mr. Ron Hendrickson, ICA executive director; Mr. Garrett Cuneo, California Chiropractic Association executive director; and Dr. Brian Porteous, California representative to the ICA. Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, CCCLA president, moderated the program.

The panel fielded questions from students on a variety of topics including national health care reform, the Mercy Center Guidelines, and ICA-ACA unification.

Reflecting the growing number of CCCLA students who are of Persian descent (there are roughly 100 at the college), a delegation of students celebrated the Persian New Year.

CCCLA's Persian Club sponsored a special party in the college cafeteria complete with native foods, music, and decoration. A traditional lunch of fresh fish, rice, and salad was served while a band played Persian, Jewish, and Hebrew music.

The 13-day celebration which runs from March 21 to April 2nd is called Nouruz, or "new day," in reference to the spring equinox on March 21. It has been celebrated as a time of change and renewal in Persia for the past 2,500 years.

Eleven CCCLA students helped celebrate the Chinese New Year by participating in the 15th Annual Firecracker 5/10K run in Los Angeles' Chinatown February 28th. The students were: Mai Ha, Sonia Bell, Anita Hansen, Patricia Lutfy, Raymund Miranda, Tuyen Nguyen, Kiet On, Laura Pena, Roberta Rendon, Felicitas Shorter, and Eric Watts.

"It was a good opportunity to let people in the Asian community learn about chiropractic and our college, said Mai Ha. "They need to know that chiropractic has become a very popular form of health care treatment."

The student runners all wore CCCLA t-shirts donated by Chancellor Carl S. Cleveland Jr.

Alumni and faculty members of Life Chiropractic College West (LCCW) were among the authors of the newly published Textbook of Clinical Chiropractic: A Specific Biomechanical Approach.

Life West contributors include: Claudia Anrig Howe, DC, LCCW postgraduate faculty; Jason Araghi, DC, Trent Bachman, DC, and Edward Cremata, DC, all clinical sciences faculty; Stephen Collins, DC, alumnus and clinical sciences faculty; James Konlande, PhD, basic sciences faculty; Mark Lopes, DC, and Ronald Picardi, DC, both postgraduate faculty; and Stephen Rowe, DC, alumnus and postgraduate faculty. The editor, Dr. Gregory Plaugher, is a former Life West faculty member.

Sophia Rodrigues, a Life West junior, has been awarded a full scholarship by the Gonstead Chiropractic Educational Trust to complete her education. This educational award covers full tuition, fees, and books over the next nine months at LCCW, plus additional money for living expenses, and will be extended for another nine months provided Ms. Rodrigues maintains her grade point average.

Ms. Rodrigues, a native of Saratoga, California, has attended 28 seminars in Gonstead technique. She said of her adherence to the Gonstead technique, "I am devoted to learning it to the best of my ability. I believe in being a master of one instead of a jack-of- all-trades."

A massage therapist for 16 years, Ms. Rodrigues holds a BS in molecular biology from the University of California at Berkeley. She had intended to attend medical school upon completion of her bachelor's degree, but instead decided she wanted a profession in which she could use her hands to treat patients.

In preparation for the Chiropractic Centennial in 1995, Life West's Library Director Marda Woodbury has issued a request for donations of "green books" to complete the library's set of early chiropractic texts. "We hope that as chiropractors clean out their offices, they'll donate [the books] to us," she said.

The green books that Life West is requesting are: A Textbook on Chiropractic Orthopedy (J. Craven, 1921), and several by B.J. Palmer including The Known Man (1936), Precise Posture (1938), Conflicts Clarify (1951), The Science of Chiropractic (1907), The Philosophy & Principles of Chiropractic Adjustment; A Series of 24 Lectures (1908), and The Philosophy & Principles of Chiropractic Adjustments; A Series of 38 Lectures (1908-1911).

Also needed are A Textbook on Chiropractic Physiology (H. Vedder, 1916), Chiropractic Anatomy (M. Palmer, 1918), and The Spirit of the P.S.C. (J. Nixon, 1920). The Life West library can be reached at (510) 276-9013, extension 290.

LCCW interns and faculty recently conducted more than 300 physical examinations in the annual screening of prospective players for the San Lorenzo Little League. The screening, a first for Life West, was held on campus and evaluated the health of the boys aged 6 to 15-years-old.

Fourteen student interns participated in the screening under the supervision of DCs Robert Goble, Randy Waters, Douglas Bell, Skip Lance, and Larry Thill, all LCCW faculty. The examination included health histories, vital signs, spinal screenings, orthopedic examinations, and the evaluation of posture and the possibility of hernias.

All children screened were given the go-ahead to play in Little League, although letters were sent to some parents recommending further physical evaluation for their children, according to George Curtis Casey, DC, who heads the LCCW outpatient clinic. Elevated blood pressure was the primary concern for those children.