World Congress of Chiropractic Students Convene

The 12th meeting of the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS), an international assembly of more than 100 chiropractic student delegates representing over 11,000 chiropractic students worldwide, convened in Kansas City, Missouri, September 23-27.

The mayor of Kansas City, Rev. Emanuel Cleaver II, told the delegates in his opening ceremony remarks, "There is a new level of appreciation and credibility for your profession."

Dr. Carl Cleveland III, president of Cleveland College of Chiropractic Kansas City (CCCKC) said the delegates were in a "unique and enviable position of being on the ground floor...of a golden health care profession."

The delegates were addressed by David Chapman-Smith, secretary-general of the World Federation of Chiropractic and editor and publisher of the Chiropractic Report, and Dr. Philip Maffetone, a trainer of world-class athletes.

Delegations from CCCKC, Texas College of Chiropractic, Logan, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC), and National College of Chiropractic (NCC) gave research presentations.

The students passed a resolution urging that all gender references in the chiropractic oath be removed. In addition, the WCCS delegation sent a letter to Dr. Gerard Clum, president of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges in support of his proposal to allow chiropractic students the same time deferment for beginning repayment of HEAL loans that is currently enjoyed by medical students during internships and residencies.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the conference was the opportunity for the students to exchange views and ideas with their counterparts from across the country, Canada, England, and Australia.

The 1991 WCCS Executive Committee was represented by Teresa Groves, chairperson (CCKC); Carmen Garcia, vice chair (NYCC); Chuck Vifquain, parliamentarian (CCCKC); Ed Libich, general-secretary (CCCKC); and Greg Cheney, treasurer (CCCKC).

Ed Libich summed up the pervading view of the delegates when he said: "Once a year student representatives from around the would come together in an environment that is open to the exchange of views. We leave with newfound respect and an acknowledgment of common ground."

An Historic Round Table

On September 27, the last day of the WCCS, representatives from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), International Chiropractors Association (ICA), Federation of Straight Chiropractic Organizations (FSCO), Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), and Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association (SCASA) gathered at CCCKC for a round table discussion on chiropractic's progress and future. The round table was sponsored by CCCKC and the WCCS. It was the first time that these chiropractic organizations have participated in the annual panel discussion.

Panel members included Dr. Charles Downing, ACA president; Mr. Ronald Hendrickson, ICA executive director; John Miller, president of the CCE and past president of Palmer West; Dr. Tom Gelardi, president of Sherman College and executive committee member of FSCO; and Dr. Ralph Boone, president of SCASA.

The audience was comprised of CCCKC students, alumni, faculty, area field doctors, and over 100 WCCS delegates.

The round table began with individual presentations by the panelists, followed by prepared questions directed at the panelists. The floor was then opened to the audience, which questioned and challenged members of the panel on various issues. Much of the discussion centered on the topic of unity within chiropractic. Other issues raised included accreditation standards; scope of practice; federal funding for chiropractic research; the debate over limited pharmaceutical prescription rights for chiropractors; and problems associated with the timing of state board examinations.

On Unity in the Profession

• Mr. Hendrickson defended the profession's diversity, which, he said, was due to its pluralistic composition. "ICA historically holds that the future of chiropractic is best secured by the existence of a strong, pluralistic community within chiropractic," he said. "The competition between organizations serves as a check and balance."

   

• Dr. Downing said students should be partially responsible for creating unity. "If you want unity, you're going to have to work for it," Dr. Downing said. "Most of you get out of school and don't get active in your state and national organizations and then turn around in five years and wonder why you don't have unity. You're part of the problem."

   

• CCCKC student Mike Mitchael said, "I'm a student. I've got my future and life ahead of me. Either we explode into the 21st century (together), or it's going to blow up in our face."

On Accreditation Standards

• Dr. Miller expressed his belief that the differences between CCE and SCASA were not that great. "While the final decision can only be made by the Commission on Accreditation of CCE, if SCASA schools teach diagnosis to the extent I have heard today, they should have no fear of making application for CCE accreditation."

   

• Dr. Gelardi stated that accrediting agencies were not police dogs for the profession. He added, "Accreditation is supposed to be voluntary, and CCE makes it as voluntary as breathing."

Round Table Overview

• Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) student Patrick Maloney said, "I am proud to be part of such an event. I believe positive strides were made today, and I think it's great that Cleveland College put together such a program.

   

• David Brady of Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) said, "I was pleasantly surprised by the unanimous view...there is a clear mandate by most field doctors and most of the people in the audience to unify the professional organizations and accreditation."

A four-hour videotape of the WCCS round table is now available from WCCS. To order a tape, contact Teresa Groves, 1991 WCCS chairperson, at 1-800-274-0617.