National Chiropractic Leadership Conference: Complete Wrap-Up
If you weren't one of the nearly 800 chiropractic physicians, students and supporters who attended this year's National Chiropractic Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., you missed the chance to advocate for chiropractic front and center with members of Congress. NCLC attendees heard speeches from political leaders, participated in advocacy training and visited with congressional members to urge support for pro-chiropractic legislation that would benefit Medicare beneficiaries and veterans, among others.
NCLC also serves as the setting for the American Chiropractic Association's annual meeting, which features the election of a new board and individual awards. The 2019 ACA Board of Governors is now led by Robert C. Jones, DC (president); rounding out the BOG are Drs. Michele Maiers (vice president), Kathy Boulet, Leo Bronston, Karen Konarski-Hart and Steven C. Roberts (public member).
The ACA Chiropractor of the Year Award went to Dr. N. Ray Tuck Jr., outgoing ACA president; other award recipients included Robert Vining, DC – Academician of the Year; J. David Cassidy, DC, PhD, DrMedSc – George B. McClelland Researcher of the Year; Marcus Nynas, DC – Delegate of the Year; Kelly Golob, DC – Alternate Delegate of the Year; and Gary Estadt, DC, DACRB, DABCA – Flynn-Lynch award recipient, given to a House of Delegates member with five or fewer years of experience in the HOD.
Life University Holds Historic Commencement Ceremony
A commencement ceremony is nothing new for Life University – but a commencement at a maximum-security women's prison? That's exactly what took place on Jan. 28, 2019, at Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, Ga., as 11 inmates received their Associate of Arts in Positive Human Development and Social Change (PHDSC). The 11 students are the first class from a George women's prison to graduate from an accredited college degree program in more than 25 years (1994), when inmates were ruled ineligible for Pell Grants under the U.S. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
The degree program is part of Life University's The Chillon Project, described by the university as "an undertaking ... to address this crisis by expanding access to higher education for the people whom it affects the most – incarcerated people, correctional staff and returning citizens – in the state of Georgia." Beginning this year, Life will also begin offering upper-division coursework leading to a bachelor's degree in psychology at Lee Arendale State Prison. Students who have achieved their AA degree in PHDSC can continue coursework toward receiving the BS degree. According to the university, all 11 students plan on pursuing the bachelor's degree in psychology after achieving an average cumulative GPA of 3.9 in completing their Associate of Arts coursework.
New Executive Director at WSC
Stefanie Ince is the new executive director of World Spine Care, effective January 2019. According to WSC, "she comes to WSC with over 15 years of fundraising experience in the not-for-profit sector for organizations serving patients and programs in Canada – and internationally."
"World Spine Care is at a critical and exciting stage in its development," said Ms. Ince in an announcement detailing her appointment as new ED. "I'm thrilled to take on the role of Executive Director. I very much believe in the mission of the organization: to serve the needs of patients in under-served communities through sustainable, integrated, evidence-based, spine care."
World Spine Care celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2019 and now features seven clinics operational in four countries, accounting for more than 10,000 patient visits last year. To learn more about WSC or make a donation, visit www.worldspinecare.org.
NBCE Gives students a Forum
In January 2019, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) hosted its 19th annual student leadership forum, with attendees representing the Student American Chiropractic Association, Student International Chiropractors Association, Student American Black Chiropractic Association, and seven chiropractic colleges.
The annual event at NBCE headquarters in Greeley, Colo., is an opportunity for the board to update students on the technical aspects of the NBCE's written and practical examinations, and solicit feedback from the students about their exam experiences as a tool to improve future examinations and exam protocols.
New Location for Western States
The University of Western States (UWS) has announced that it will relocate from its longtime campus location at 2900 NE 132nd Avenue in Portland, Ore., to 82nd Avenue and NE Tillamook Street, closer to inner northeast Portland. The new campus location is only a few miles southwest of the current campus.
Western States will lease its current campus location from the new owner, Linfield College School of Nursing, through April 2020, by which time the university will have completed relocation of its institution and operations, including all students and departments.
"As we approach our 115th year, we are celebrating this relocation and advancement," said Dr. Joseph Brimhall, president of UWS. "The new campus space offers active learning areas for students, increases the visibility of and accessibility to the UWS clinic, enhances opportunities for collaboration with other universities and community partners, and creates a healthy and sustainable campus for generations to come."
