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."
Cleveland Campuses Celebrate Growth
Cleveland College of Chiropractic's two campuses - in Kansas City, Mo. (CCCKC), and Los Angeles (CCCLA) - have both experienced recent expansion, with a joint venture with a major California university by one campus, and the opening of a new wellness center near the other.
In March 2003, Lawrence Neinstein, MD, executive director of the University Park Health Center at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, suggested chiropractic care be offered to USC students. At the behest of the university medical staff, three doctors of chiropractic presented the benefits of chiropractic care shortly thereafter.
Leading the campaign, with nearly a century of combined chiropractic experience, were Drs. Michael Birozy, a 1980 SCUHS graduate; Gary Globe, a 1981 CCC-LA alumnus, and Brad Harter, a 1951 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. "That initial meeting was a great success and included an extensive, and very instructive, question-and-answer session," commented Dr. Birozy, CCCLA's clinical sciences chair. "There appeared to be a genuine interest in chiropractic, and what chiropractic could offer their students."
As a result of the presentation, a provider services agreement was drawn up in September 2003, and appointments were scheduled two months later.
CCC President Carl Cleveland III, DC, anticipated the two colleges working together: "This program provides an opportunity to introduce chiropractic and its educational program into a multidisciplinary health care environment. Our relationship with the USC health center not only serves as an excellent platform for offering quality chiropractic patient care, but also represents a new direction in enhancing the clinic experience for our student interns."
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 8 for the CCC Wellness Center at Truman Medical Center (TMC) Lakewood. Those on hand for the opening included Dr. John Bluford, TMC CEO and president; Dr. Rex Archer, director of the Kansas City Health Department; and Kansas City Councilman Charles Eddy, DC, a 1970 Cleveland KC alumnus and vice chairman of the CCC Board of Trustees.
Dr. Cleveland III was also on hand to thank Lakewood Mayor Kay Barnes for her proclamation regarding the event. He told the crowd: "Positioning the Cleveland Wellness Center in the TMC facility sets a precedent for chiropractic education, as well as the profession," and praised the merging of chiropractic care and education at a "full-service, multidisciplinary community hospital with the national reputation of Truman Medical Center."
The center began treating patients Feb. 4, with three CCC-KS clinicians providing care, assisted by seven credentialed faculty members and six student interns.
Logan Hosts FACR Winter Meeting
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Logan College of Chiropractic played host to the winter meeting of the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Research (FACR). The March 5-7 meeting was led by Foundation President Mike Hawkinson, DC, of Labadie, Mo., and Logan's Vice President of Academic Affairs, William Ramsey, PhD, welcomed the attendees. Donna Mannello, DC, associate professor at the college's clinical and chiropractic science divisions, was the guest speaker, presenting "A Practical Approach to Physical Diagnosis."
The late I.N. Toftness, who developed a system of low-force adjusting, named after him, established the FACR in 1953. Toftness techniques are based on a system of body mechanics also named after its creator, Logan founder H.B. Logan, DC.
Providing updates on the Toftness system were Logan Research Associate John Zhang, MD, PhD, and Brian Snyder DC, associate professor of chiropractic. David Toftness, DC, nephew of the system's founder, discussed and demonstrated applications of Logan Basic and Toftness techniques.
NUHS to Offer Online MPH Degree
A recent partnership between National University of Health Sciences, in Lombard, Ill., and the A.T. Still University (ATSU) of Kirksville, Mo., will enable students to obtain a masters degree in public health. Through A.T. Still's School of Health Management (an online graduate program), NUHS students can now pursue the degree and are not required to take Graduate Record Examination (GRE) exams for admission. They will also receive a 20 percent discount on tuition and a waiver of the application fee upon enrollment. In addition, NUHS students and alumni will be given preference for early registration.
Doctors of chiropractic are becoming increasingly present in public health care settings, and the MPH degree is regarded as highly suitable for those choosing careers within federal, state or local health agencies. The degree will be helpful to those working with environmental and occupational health, disease prevention and control, injury prevention and substance abuse.
NUHS President James Winterstein commented: "New doors will continue to open for chiropractic physicians as policy-makers in hospitals, integrated medical practices and public sector health care services. We want to give our students and alumni access to tools and credentials that will help them take advantage of these opportunities."
"Since both the doctor of chiropractic curriculum and the master of public health curriculum are quite demanding," added NUHS Academic Dean Randy Swenson, "our current students would probably start the program toward the end of their studies here at NUHS, during the clinical part of our DC program."
More than 110 years ago, Andrew Taylor Still established ATSU's founding college, the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Considered the father of osteopathy, Dr. Still was a contemporary (and occasional debater) of chiropractic pioneer B.J. Palmer.
New Canadian CAM Research Network Announced
Emphasizing research from a "health services" or "social science" perspective, the Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (IN-CAM) was launched in early 2004. The network is funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Health Products Directorate. Its mission: "to create a sustainable, well-connected, highly trained CAM research community in Canada that is internationally recognized and known for both its excellence in research and its contributions to understanding CAM and its use."
Group leadership is comprised of several health care professionals, including physicians, PhD doctors, nurses and one doctor of chiropractic: Silvano Mior, DC, faculty member and alumnus of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, is one of three members on the IN-CAM Steering Committee.
IN-CAM is urging researchers, research assistants, associates, administrators, practitioners, policy-makers, and others to join. Those interested in membership can contact IN-CAM at www.incamresearch.ca for more information.
"Dr. Dan" McClure Honored
Bayfield, Colo. practitioner Daniel J. McClure DC, was honored recently with the 2004 Lloyd Gaskill Award at a banquet for the Colorado High School Coaches Association. "Dr. Dan," as he is affectionately known by many of his peers, was recognized for more than 20 years of training and administering treatment to teen athletes.
Dr. McClure has been providing care free of charge to local high school teams since 1983. He was nominated for the award by track and cross country coach Vernon Kimball, who was amazed by Dr. McClure's dedication: "I was skeptical, at first, wondering why an individual would be willing to give so much of himself. As I came to know him better, I realized that Dr. McClure has a deep interest in athletics, and in seeing young athletes have every opportunity to compete at their best."
Bayfield School Superintendent Dan Magill agreed. "In my years of working with Dr. McClure, what stands out is his total dedication. I can compare his volunteer efforts with no other individual in the district."
"Dr. Dan" admits that volunteerism has had a positive effect on his business: "Everybody can see what I do, and people see the results of their children being worked on. That turns around to help my practice."
Dr. McClure has also served at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs; Olympic trial events; the Outdoor National Championships; the World Diving Championships; and the FINA Cup International. He served twice as the sports chiropractor for the U.S. Olympic diving team - in Barcelona in 1992, and in Atlanta in 1996. While he admits "The opportunity to be in Athens [is] a possibility," Dr. McClure says he prefers to stay closer to home. In the meantime, he has no problem traveling as far as Denver, where he will serve as head physician for an upcoming All-State football game in June.
A 1988 Palmer magna cum laude graduate, Dr. McClure was also recently named Assistant Track Coach of the Year by his Colorado peers.