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Publisher's Report

As Go the Colleges, So Goes the Profession

Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher

"Educational institutions become the caretakers and purveyors of professional wisdom and bear the burden of providing the infrastructure upon which the profession examines itself through investigation and research." – Reed Phillips, DC, PhD, 2000, when president of LACC (now SCUHS)1

"Because we're creating the next generation of practitioners, we have the potential (and responsibility) to educate doctors who will play a larger role in wellness and neurological care. But the milieu in which we operate is changing dramatically and we have to change with it or – even better – ahead of it." – Guy Riekeman, DC, 2013, when president of Life University2

In 1896, less than six months after delivering the first chiropractic adjustment, D.D. Palmer obtained his corporate charter for what would eventually become Palmer University. In doing so, he not only found a profession, but also created a model for growth.3

The private college model was pretty much the norm in the United States, but not so much in the rest of the world. Twenty years ago, there were only 16 chiropractic colleges in the U.S., with a few more in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Japan and New Zealand.

Today, the number of colleges in the U.S. has grown to 20, but the number of chiropractic colleges outside the U.S. has grown to 33. There are chiropractic colleges on six continents. And while the U.S. is still home to the greatest concentration of DCs (currently 77,000),4 the increasing number of non-U.S. colleges will likely raise the number of chiropractors globally well beyond the current estimate of 103,000 over the next few decades.

This not only bodes well for the future of the chiropractic profession, but also furthers the mission of our profession to provide chiropractic care to every person on Earth.

What is interesting is that while in the U.S., only a few of the chiropractic programs are attached to previously existing educational institutions, the majority of those outside the U.S. are. Look at the chiropractic colleges / programs leading the revolution:5

Australia

  • Central Queensland University
  • Macquarie University
  • Murdoch University
  • RMIT University

Brazil

  • UNIGAMA
  • Universidade Feevale
  • Universidade Anhembi Morumbi
  • UCEFF Chapico

Canada

  • Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
  • Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Chile

  • Universidad Central de Chile

Denmark

  • Syddansk Universitet Odense

France

  • Institut Franco-Européen de Chiropratique
  • Campus de Paris
  • Campus de Toulouse

Japan

  • Tokyo College of Chiropractic

Malaysia

  • International Medical University

Mexico

  • Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec
  • Universidad Estatal del Valle de Toluca
  • Universidad Veracruzana

New Zealand

  • New Zealand College of Chiropractic

Puerto Rico

  • Universidad Central del Caribe – Doctor of Chiropractic Program

South Africa

  • Durban University of Technology
  • University of Johannesburg

Spain

  • Barcelona College of Chiropractic
  • Madrid College of Chiropractic – RCU

Sweden

  • Skandinaviska Kiropraktorhögskolan

Switzerland

  • University of Zurich

Turkey

  • BahçeSehir Üniversity – Chiropractic Program

United Kingdom

  • AECC University College
  • London South Bank University
  • McTimoney College of Chiropractic
  • Teesside University
  • University of South Wales – Welsh Institute of Chiropractic

Author's Note: It is possible that I left some chiropractic colleges / programs off the above list. If so, my sincere apologies.


Chiropractic is becoming a force in health care globally, sparking revolutions as consumers discover wellness without the drugs and surgery they have been lead to believe is their only choice. Just think how health care will change in the next 100 years because you and many other DCs have introduced chiropractic to millions in need.

References

  1. Phillips R. "Chiropractic Colleges - Do We Need More?" Dynamic Chiropractic, Aug.18, 2000. Read Here
  2. Riekeman G. "Making the Grade: Can Our Chiropractic Colleges Adapt to a Changing Landscape?" Dynamic Chiropractic, Feb. 15, 2013. Read Here
  3. Keating Jr. J. "Milestones in the History of Chiropractic." Dynamic Chiropractic, July 16, 2006. Read Here
  4. Practice Analysis of Chiropractic 2020. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 2020.
  5. Chiropractic Educational Institutions. World Federation of Chiropractic.

Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/ wrblog. You can also visit me on Facebook and Twitter (donpetersenjr, @donaldpetersen).

August 2022
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