It was not that long ago that women didn't hold any director positions with the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). It was also not that longago that there were no term limits for NBCE directors. A small group of menheld the reins and it took several years to overturn that control mentality.
One of the keys to maintaining control has always been the four "at-large" director positions that are elected by the board itself, rather than the NBCE members. With only 11 board members, it only took two district / FCLB directors plusthe four at-large directors to control the National Board's actions.
While this might not seem important, one must remember that the NBCE has more liquid assets (I don't have the exact number, but I believe it is close to or in excess of $20 million) than any other chiropractic organization. There are many leaders in our profession who continue to question why the current exam costs are so high when the NBCE's annual net revenue usually exceeds $1 million with this much money in its coffers.
This year, the NBCE is issuing a call for nominations to fill two upcoming vacancies for at-large members of the Board of Directors. The elections will be held on May 4 following the 2019 Annual Meeting in San Diego on May 3. (For more information about the annual meeting, please visit: https://www.nbce.org/annual-meeting/nbd-agenda/). The deadline to apply is May 3, 2019.* This announcement is an example of the National Board's efforts to be more transparent with the profession.
One of the hallmarks of a maturing organization is its willingness to let go of control by a few in favor of the benefits of diverse perspectives and expertise.
What makes this year more exciting than most is that there are some highly qualified candidates who can provide the NBCE Board with expertise and perspective that will better reflect the needs of its partners and our profession.
Here are the current choices:
Ralph Roles, DC
Chris Arick, DC
Kindra Ingram, DC
Farrel Grossman, DC
Brian McAulay, DC, PhD
Kim Driggers, JD
Daniel Saint-Germain, DC
The two names to focus your attention on are: Kim Driggers, JD and Brian McAulay, DC, PhD. Ms. Driggers currently serves as Assistant General Counsel to the Florida Chiropractic Association with a very impressive bio (https://thenationalchiro.com/?team=kimberly-a-driggers). Most will recognize Brian McAulay, DC, PhD as the former president of Parker University and a current member of the board of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.
While the other nominees are all great doctors, these two have the potential to take the NBCE Board to a new level. Dr. McAulay will bring the chiropractic college / student perspective, while Ms. Driggers will bring her legal and state association expertise tothe table.
The importance of maintaininga strong, vibrant National Board cannot be overstated. And while there have been many steps toward transparency and accountability since the "good old boys" days, the effort shouldn't stop now. To keep itself relevant, the NBCE Board will need new blood that brings new perspectives and ideas to the table. Extending the terms of those who have already served is a step backward.
The profession will be watching this latest chapter of the National Board saga with expectation.
Donald M. Petersen, Jr.
President
MPAMedia
Publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic, Acupuncture Today and GoChiroTV
*If you wish to apply, please send a Letter of Intent along with a Curriculum Vitae (CV) to NBCE President Dr. Salvatore LaRusso at slarusso@nbce.org, with a copy toExecutive Vice President Dr. Norman Ouzts at nouzts@nbce.org.
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