Is Chiropractic Big Enough?

Three notable chiropractic events occurred in 1988:

• July 1988, marked the end of a valiant merger attempt by members of the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractors Association ("Merger is Dead," Dynamic Chiropractic, August 1, 1988).

   

• The Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association's application for recognition by the U.S. Department of Education was denied ("SCASA Application Rejected," Dynamic Chiropractic, June 1, 1988).

   

• The students of the Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic voted 56 to 1 (with one abstention) to request that their college seek accreditation from the Council on Chiropractic Education ("Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic's Student Body Voted 56 to 1 for CCE Approval," Dynamic Chiropractic, July 15, 1988).

It is now five years later. Are we five years wiser?

The three colleges (Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic, and Southern California College of Chiropractic) originally accredited by SCASA have applied for CCE accreditation. They have been accepted as members of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. They can now qualify to be institutional members of the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation. Their students can now qualify for the ChiroLoan program.

Is the CCE big enough for diversity of this magnitude? Are you?

Consider the names of some of the organizations that are accomplishing great things for the chiropractic profession:

CONSORTIUM for Chiropractic Research
World FEDERATION of Chiropractic
CONGRESS of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
Chiropractic COALITION
Chiropractic Centennial FOUNDATION
FEDERATION of Chiropractic Licensing Boards

This is not to suggest that the ICA, ACA or any other of the important organizations that work hard don't accomplish much for the chiropractic profession. But the trend is definitely toward cooperation. Working together has become de rigeur.

The only way any of the above organizations ever accomplishes anything is by all of their members or member organizations collaborating. This requires setting ego and personal interests aside and discussing issues openly and honestly. Then you must agree to disagree in certain areas, but continue to work together for the common goal.

Yes, there are still (and will probably always be) those who will attempt to keep a certain amount of discord within this profession. They will pick an organization and accuse it of everything imaginable in an effort to justify their own actions. They will create dissension where none exists, build walls that divide chiropractic, and emphasize the differences instead of recognizing the overwhelming commonality.

But the true leaders of today (and tomorrow) are those that can work with everyone: those who volunteer their time and contribute their talents as part of a larger group. A group that ultimately wins great victories in the name of chiropractic, not for any one individual.

As this profession continues to face some of its most important challenges, what do you hope to see? Several small groups working independently and sometimes against each other? Handfulls of dissatisfied DCs forming splinter groups because they couldn't get along? More time spent arguing an issue than working for a solution?

You are the chiropractic profession. You and the approximately 62,000 other members of this profession worldwide are either the solution or the problem.

The events that are currently facing us present a challenge to greater unity. The cry for unity must be shouted by everyone. If this profession can't include everyone, it will never reach its potential. It's time we as individual members of the chiropractic profession worried less about getting what we want, and more about working together for what we all want. It's time to have faith in chiropractic.

Are YOU big enough?

DMP Jr., BS, HCD(hc)