A chiropractor with a love for music has organized fundraising efforts for relatives of those lost in a devastating fire that took place at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., on Feb. 20. Dr. Catherine Phillips, of Branford, Conn., is the coordinator of the "Docs 4 Rock" portion of the Station Nightclub Relief Fund.
Dr. Phillips is asking chiropractors to host "open houses" at their practices, during which all patients receive a reduced-price adjustment to benefit the fund. She suggests DCs contact present and former patients; friends; business associates; community leaders; etc., to participate. The first "open houses" were held April 6 to raise money in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Great White, a California "comeback" rock band with over six million albums sold since 1984, was performing to a crowd of more than 350 when the fire broke out at the nightclub. Dr. Phillips, an 1987 graduate of New York Chiropractic College (NYCC), recalls being moved by the damage that took the lives of nearly 100 (including the band's guitarist, Ty Longley) and left over 187 people hospitalized, many in critical condition:
"I became involved with this program because I am haunted by this tragedy. The Station Nightclub was actually being profiled for a club safety video the night of the fire. I saw the footage of all those people smiling - about to see a favorite band and to sing the same songs. Now they're all dead or injured. They've left behind small children and families, co-workers and friends.
"I called the Connecticut Chiropractic Council and spoke with Dr. George Curry and Gary Hurt, the executive director. They responded with enthusiasm and immediate assistance to 'fax-blast' 450 offices in Connecticut, along with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Chiropractic Alliances.
"This devastation could have happened to any of us. Those who have survived are recovering from skin grafts, amputations, and the psychological scars. It may take years to recover, if the victims recover at all. They need help."
"Docs 4 Rock" is one of many local and national groups participating in fundraising efforts. According to the president of the Rhode Island Council of Churches, the Reverend John Holt, who has spoken with Dr. Phillips, the United Way was the first to assist, followed by numerous other organizations, including the American Red Cross. Thus far, approximately $600,000 has been used to cover such immediate needs as funeral expenses; travel costs to attend services; mortgages; utility bills; and housing for families of hospitalized loved ones. The United Way has turned over management of the Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund to the Rhode Island Foundation.
Dr. Phillips emphasized the vital role DCs can play in this type of crisis: "Prior to my involvement with the aftermath of this disaster, I was also one of the Ground Zero chiropractors, working through the Connecticut Chiropractic Council - a fantastic group of docs working with their 'hearts in their hands.' From that experience I witnessed the power of chiropractic and the extraordinary good we can do for others."
To contact Dr. Phillips for more information on the ongoing fundraising efforts, send an e-mail to clpdc487@aol.com. To make a donation to the relief fund, send a check to:
Station Nightclub Relief Fund
c/o Phillips Chiropractic Center
DOCS4ROCK-RI
470 East Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
SCUHS Donates $2,000 to Children's Charity WHITTIER, Calif. - The Associated Student Body of Southern California University of Health Sciences - home to both the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine - donated $2,000 recently to the local charity "Help for Brain Injured Children." The money was raised at the university's "Spring Into Health" event, which featured a community health fair and 5K run/walk.
The SCUHS alternative-health colleges offer degree programs in chiropractic, acupuncture/Oriental medicine and massage therapy. The student body's donation this year doubled the amount it has raised for the charity over the past two years.
"We're extremely proud of our students," said SCUHS President Dr. Reed B. Phillips. "They work very hard to not only raise funds at this annual project for a worthwhile organization, but continue the program to help introduce the benefits of alternative health care to residents of our community."
NYCC Appoints Dean to Oriental Medicine Program
New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) has appointed Dr. Marilee Murphy, a licensed acupuncturist and former chair of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) as dean of its graduate programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
Dr. Murphy, also a registered nurse and successful practitioner in Ithaca, N.Y., is a graduate of the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has completed postgraduate coursework in Chinese herbology at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City. She also holds diplomate status in acupuncture and Chinese herbology.
Earlier this year, NYCC expanded its educational scope to offer programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. According to school representatives, the new programs are designed to help prepare its students for an increasingly integrated alternative-medicine environment. The college offers New York's first Master of Science program in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. For more information about NYCC's Oriental medicine program, go to www.nycc.edu.
Wash. State Chiropractic Association Elects New President
William Pratt, DC, was elected president of the Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) at the association's annual conference on Feb. 8 in Bellevue. Dr. Pratt, who has been in practice for 32 years and currently operates a clinic in Cashmere, is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. He is a charter member of the WSCA, and a board member for the past year; past president of the North Central Washington Chiropractic Association; board member of the North Central Washington Chiropractic Independent Physicians Association; and chairman of the Chiropractic Advisory Committee to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
"I feel everyone should work in some way to return the benefits they receive from their profession. I also feel honored that my peers have placed their confidence in me," remarked Dr. Pratt.
Also at the WSCA annual conference, Michael Kinnear, DC, was named Chiropractor of the Year, the association's most distinguished award.
ACC Research Subcommittee Announces New President-Elect
Texas Chiropractic College Associate Professor of Pathology and Director of Research James Giordano, PhD, was voted president-elect of the Research Subcommittee of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges at its Research Agenda Conference. The ACC annual conference was held in New Orleans, March 13-14.
The 16-member subcommittee, composed of research directors from chiropractic colleges of the U.S. and U.K., focuses on creating programs and resources to develop and implement a research infrastructure for chiropractic education and practice.
As president-elect, Dr. Giordano will serve a two-year term while fulfilling vice-presidential responsibilities during the tenure of current President Dennis Nosco, PhD, of Logan Chiropractic College, then serve his two-year term as Research Subcommittee president.
