Dr. Joel Alcantara Joins Life West
Life Chiropractic College West has a new chair of pediatric research: Joel Alcantara, DC, research director for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Alcantara assumes the position at Life West through a partnership between the school and the ICPA, as explained in a recent Life West press release by ICPA Executive Director, Dr. Jeanne Ohm:
"We welcome the collaboration with Life West wholeheartedly, and applaud [Life West President Dr. Brian Kelly's] vision for research including the essence of family care, quality of life and nerve system function. Life West's direction is congruent with Dr. Alcantara's accomplishments with the ICPA, having presented or published over 40 papers in the last two years alone and in developing and sustaining the largest Practiced Based Research Network in the profession, with recognition from the National Institute of Health's Agency for Healthcare Research. Our united goals and now-collective resources for research will establish a new level of accomplishment in evidenced-based research and practice in the profession."
Staff DC at Military Facility Receives Achievement Medal
Todd O'Mealy, DC, a staff chiropractor at Madigan Healthcare System, Joint Base Ft. Lewis-McChord in Washington, has received the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service "for his absolutely outstanding customer service and quality of care while performing his duties." A Letter of Justification for the medal stated the following about Dr. O'Mealy, in part:
"As part of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's Customer Service Program 'Reach for the Stars,' Dr. Todd O'Mealy accrued 40 comment cards, far exceeding any other employee in the entire department. His impeccable professionalism and customer service with department staff, other providers and most importantly, patients, sets him apart from average providers. Patients rave about the care they receive from Dr. O'Mealy, citing him as the best provider at Madigan. Patients are elated by their experience with Dr. O'Mealy, citing his care and compassion; someone who really listens and goes the extra mile for them. Patients relay that Dr. O'Mealy is the first provider who has helped them with their pain, which has allowed them to continue in their duties.
"Always a team player, Dr. O'Mealy is always ready and willing to perform in any capacity necessary to complete the mission. Dr. O'Mealy goes out of his way time and time again to ensure patients always get an appointment in a timely manner and works around their work schedules to best accommodate. His selfless service and dedication to his patients and their needs is illustrated in his actions and the satisfaction of the patients he serves. He always provides exceptionally high quality care, compassion, and unwavering dedication to his duties. Dr. O'Mealy sets the example for other civilian providers to emulate."
TCC to Provide Chiropractic Care at Community Clinic
Texas Chiropractic College and El Centro de Corazon, a community-based social service organization, have entered into a formal agreement to provide chiropractic care to patients at El Centro's Eastwood Clinic. The agreement, formalized on Aug. 17, stipulates that "a licensed chiropractor from TCC's Department of Clinics, working closely with TCC clinic students in their final year of the DC program, will provide chiropractic care, at no charge, to eligible people served by El Centro's Eastwood Clinic."
According to a Life West press release, it is anticipated that the chiropractic clinic will serve 30-60 patients on a weekly basis, attending to patients on Mondays and Thursdays from 12-5 p.m.
"One of the exciting things about this relationship between El Centro de Corazon and Texas Chiropractic College is that it allows us, together as a collaborative team, to offer services to a community that otherwise would not be able to access these services," said Mary Jo May, founder and CEO of El Centro. "Due to the economy, our patients, many [of whom] lack insurance, struggle to pay for their health care visits. This added service will improve their health and will provide access to ancillary care that has been hard to obtain. We are grateful to the College to be able to have this opportunity for our community."
Added Kelvin Shepherd, DO, MEd, El Centro's medical director: "One of the big problems that you see in our patient population is the need for musculoskeletal care and the need for good nutrition counseling and those types of services. I think those are the areas where we are limited right now, so I'm really looking forward to having this service available at El Centro. I think this is going to be a great thing we can offer our patients."
Founded in June 1994, El Centro de Corazon is now a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides adult and pediatric primary care, prenatal, mental health and dental services – and now chiropractic – operating five clinics in the East End, a district in eastern Houston, Texas. To learn more about El Centro, visit www.elcentrodecorazon.org.
FCP Gets New Board Member
Earl DeCarli, president and CEO of Scrip Companies, is the newest member of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress' Board of Directors. DeCarli joins a 15-member board that currently includes industry leaders such as Kent Greenawalt, CEO of Foot Levelers (and FCP founder); Dr. J. Michael Flynn, president of the World Federation of Chiropractic; Dr. Gerard Clum, president emeritus of Life West; Dr. Mark Zeigler, president of Northwestern Health Sciences University; Charles Dubois, president of Standard Process; Marshall Dahneke, president of Hygenic Corp.; and Donald Petersen Jr., president and publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic, among others.
I was honored when approached to become a part of the Foundation Board," said DeCarli. "Their passion and dedication toward educating the public regarding the benefits associated with chiropractic care aligns with my own beliefs as well as those of my colleagues at Scrip. I am confident that the collaborative efforts of the Foundation team will continue to make a difference for the chiropractic profession and the patients it serves."
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."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
