Dr. Robert Mastronardi, chairman of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Board of Governors, passed away in late April following a courageous bout with cancer. He was 60 years of age. In addition to his service as board chair, Dr. Mastronardi also served the ACA as Finance Committee chair and was a member of the Health Care Reform Task Force, Strategic Planning Committee and Practice Management Committee.
"[Dr. Mastronardi] has been a dedicated leader within ACA and in Rhode Island for more years than I can count," said ACA President Keith Overland, DC, in an official release from the association the day after Dr. Mastronardi's passing. "More than that, he was a dear friend who brought so much joy to our shared mission. Despite my grief, I am grateful for the memories I have of Bobby, and I must say that between my tears today as I remember him, I am smiling just as much. He wanted so badly to be the finest chairman ACA has ever seen. I am certain he would have been just that."
Dr. Mastronardi was a past president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and received the organization's Chiropractor of the Year award in 1992.
Succeeding Dr. Mastronardi as chairman of the ACA board of governors is Dr. Michael Simone, who also serves as chair of the ACA Finance Committee and Investment Committee, and is a member of the association's Sports Council. Dr. Simone, a 1986 graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, has practiced in Colorado since 1999. He is a former executive board member of the Colorado Chiropractic Association and remains active in community affairs in his home state.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as ACA chairman," said Dr. Simone. "Our nation's health care system is changing, so it's more important than ever to fight for patients' ability to choose the health care provider that is right for them – including doctors of chiropractic, who offer a cost-effective, drug-free approach to good health."
In the wake of Dr. Mastronardi's passing, the ACA has established a memorial scholarship fund to honor him and other leaders the association has lost in recent months, including Ritch Miller, DC, Nebraska delegate and Medicare Committee chairman, who passed away on March 17. To contribute to the fund, designed to "nurture future leaders of the profession," send a check to:
Chiropractic Future Leaders
Memorial Scholarship Fund
c/o American Chiropractic Foundation
1701 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
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?
