On September 18, 1993 (Founder's Day, the 98th birthday of our profession), the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation (CCF) hosted a meeting of all of the chiropractic colleges and the county, state, and national associations. Included among the more than 75 representatives were many chiropractic college presidents.
At the meeting, all of the plans for the various events and projects for the Chiropractic Centennial were presented for consideration and input. The projects ranged from a "docudrama" suitable for network television, to a chiropractic float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Those present came away excited about the plans for the most incredible celebration this profession will ever see.
The CCF is in the unique position of being non-political. This is why every chiropractic college in North America is an Institutional Member of the Centennial Foundation. Our Centennial will include everyone.
At the dinner that ended the Founder's Day presentations, the chiropractic college presidents were asked to speak. In the midst of comments by Carl Cleveland III, DC, Reed Phillips, DC, PhD, Kenneth Padgett, DC, James Winterstein, DC, William Dallas, DC, John Allenburg, DC, and Donald Kern, DC, came a very revealing statement by Thom Gelardi, DC, president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic:
"This is the first time that all elements of the profession have been on the same side of the fence."Please read this a second time, it says a great deal about the history of our profession.
There are two aspects of this statement that have something to say about where we are now:
Disunity within chiropractic has been with us from the profession's very beginning. Our first national chiropractic associations, the Universal Chiropractic Association and the American Chiropractic Association (the first of six different associations to have that name) began fighting in 1906.1
Dr. Gelardi's statement is a testament that this is the first time he and the portion of the chiropractic profession he represents have felt this unity.
Consider his use of the word "fence." In politics, when the democrats and the republicans disagree, they talk about opposite sides of the "aisle." This suggests the recognition that they are all in the same house or family. The use of the word "fence" suggests barriers and hostility.
National health care reform gives us a common issue to rally around. The Chiropractic Centennial provides a common event where we can join together. All we need are willing hearts and reasonable heads to make it happen.
Most of the past 98 years, chiropractic has experienced great dissension and disharmony. Today's issues are too critical to make the same mistakes.
We won't always agree, but we can disagree with consideration for each other. We are all one big profession, and like it or not, we are stuck with each other. Let's work together to make this profession the best it can be.
Let's all commit ourselves to making the next 100 years our "Century of Unity."
1. Keating JC, Rem WS. The origins and early history of the National Chiropractic Association. J Can Chiro Assoc 1993;March 37(1):27-51.
DMP Jr., BS, HCD(hc)
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