Sherman President Hardee Retires; Named Chancellor
Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic has announced the retirement of President Jerry L. Hardee, EdD, the college's third president, effective July 25, 2005. Replacing Dr. Hardee as interim president is Thomas A. Gelardi, DC, the college's founder and first president.
"During the past four years, I've realized - even more than I imagined - what a wonderful place Sherman is and what a wonderful community we share together here in Spartanburg," said Hardee in his farewell address to faculty, students and staff. "So it is with very mixed emotions that I announce my retirement."
Two weeks later, Sherman announced that Dr. Hardee would rejoin the college as its chancellor. Hardee will supervise areas of institutional advancement, enrollment services, public relations and leadership development.
"It's not easy to simply walk away from an institution when it has become so important to one's very existence," Hardee said. "Sherman has become a part of my life and I'm happy to continue to contribute to its success. In this new role, I shall do all I can to bring to fruition several of the projects that were ongoing or in the planning stages during my presidency."
On May 24, 2002, at its annual Lyceum, Sherman College inaugurated Dr. Hardee as its third president and the first African-American president of any U.S. chiropractic college. At the time, he expected to serve three years or so. Under his leadership, the college increased enrollment, despite declining interest at many other schools; and led an expansion of the college's fundraising and development programs.
Recognized for his dedication to educational, social and community causes, the South Carolina Chiropractic Association named Dr. Hardee "Chiropractic Friend of the Year" in 2005, and the American Black Chiropractic Association honored him with its "Humanitarian of the Year" award in 2004.
Term Limits Lead to Major Board Changes at TCC
The executive committee of the Texas Chiropractic College board of regents underwent significant changes at its July homecoming meeting, with three-fourths of its officers retiring due to term limits.
The board elected its first lay chairman, Johnny Blau, BSME, PE, to replace outgoing chair Kyle Workman, DC. Blau had served as vice chairman of the board since 2001. Other new officers elected to the executive committee:
Michael DeRouen, OD, vice chairman (replacing Blau, who assumed the chair position); Bang Nguyen, DC, secretary (replacing Don Brewer, DC); John Moon, Jr., MS, treasurer (replacing Don Carlson, DC); and Sandra Carrell, DC, member-at-large.
The board also elected six new regents who will attend their first meeting at the board's annual October retreat: Daniel Cantu, DC; Robert L. Coburn, DC; Phil Conklin, DC; David Higginbotham, DC; Elizabeth Lindberg, MEd; and Donald Krippendorf, DC, president of the American Chiropractic Association.
In addition to those noted above, other retiring board members/officers include Rudolph Cartwright, MD; Michael Christiansen; Paul Smith, DC; and Jerry Whitehead, DC.
APHA Annual Meeting 2005
The American Public Health Association (APHA) will hold its 133rd annual meeting in New Orleans, Nov. 5-9. The theme of the 2005 meeting is "Evidence-based Policy and Practice"; topics of discussion include processes of systematically finding, appraising and using scientific research as the basis for developing sound practices.
Chiropractic is a full-fledged member of the APHA with its own Chiropractic Health Care Section, which allows for communication with all types of health outcomes and performance, as well as more efficient use of resources. This is an excellent opportunity for chiropractors to have input into and contribute to America's health care.
For more information and to register for the conference, contact Dr. John Pammer, publicity chair of the Chiropractic Health Care Section of the APHA, at (610) 264-9545, or visit www.apha.org.
Life West Honors Top Graduates
Life West Chiropractic College graduated 71 chiropractors (representing 15 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and eight countries) at a special combined Winter/Spring 2005 ceremony. Proud families, friends, staff and alumni joined the graduating students in commencement exercises, held June 11, 2005.
Top academic honors for the winter 2005 class went to valedictorian Lauren Clum (daughter of Dr. Gerard Clum, LWCC president); Robert Privratsky received that honor for the spring 2005 class. Privratsky also received the Clinical Excellence Citation. Earning salutatorian honors were Joella Pettigrew (winter '05 class) and Christina Carrari (spring '05). In addition to her class salutatorian award, Pettigrew received the winter quarter 2005 Clinical Excellence Citation. The clinical excellence citation, a quarterly honor awarded by the Life West Public Health Center, recognizes excellence in patient care.
Life West President Gerard Clum, DC, served as commencement speaker. The president does not usually serve in this capacity; however, Dr. Clum, like many others in the audience, was especially pleased to be present and participating in this particular ceremony, because both his daughter Lauren and nephew (Jeremy Schmidt) were members of the graduating classes. Dr. Clum concluded his speech by reminding the graduates: "Remember what I told you the very first day of school and throughout your time at Life West: 'Never underestimate the power of a chiropractic adjustment!'"
