Chiropractic World Gathers at WFC's 7th Biennial Congress

In one of many highlights of the World Federation of Chiropractic's (WFC) 7th Biennial Congress, held at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., April 27 - May 3, special WFC Honor Awards were given to two leaders for outstanding service to the international growth and acceptance of the chiropractic profession.

The first award was presented to Dr. John Allenburg, past president of Northwestern Health Sciences University, who has played a leading role not only in U.S. chiropractic education, but also in establishing new university-based chiropractic programs in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico City. The second award was given to Dr. Alan Breen of the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Bournemouth, England. Dr. Breen has been the leading chiropractic researcher in the U.K. for the past 30 years: He helped design the Meade trial and has participated in numerous other research projects documenting the effectiveness of chiropractic care.

Over 800 DCs attended the 2003 WFC Congress, held in conjunction with the meetings of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE).

"It was a privilege to be there for this outstanding program," said Dr. Sharon Vallone of Tolland, Conn.

"The presenters were the best ever," effused Dr. Jonathan Griffiths of Pinson, Ala.

"This WFC Congress fully restored my enthusiasm and optimism for chiropractic," added Dr. John Van Tassel of Tallahassee, Fla.

This year's program featured various lectures, workshops and presentations involving prominent members of the profession. Highlights included:

• Numerous lectures and technique workshops on the cervical spine and sports chiropractic - the two themes of the 2003 Congress.


• A mock trial on cervical adjustment and stroke, featuring attorneys and expert witnesses from the Lewis Inquest in Canada, introduced with a superb presentation on upper cervical anatomy from Dr. Greg Kramer of the National University of Health Sciences, Chicago. "This was the single finest conference session I have ever attended," said Dr. Brent McNabb of Madison, Wisc.


• A philosophy forum on vitalism that produced agreement that chiropractic lies at the intersection of structure and function, and that chiropractic must embrace both vitalist and mechanist principles - to argue for one only is extreme and wrong. The keynote address was given by Professor David Peters from the University of Westminster, England, a physician, homeopath and professed vitalist; chiropractic panelists included Dr. Ashley Cleveland (Cleveland College), Dr. Gerard Clum (president of Life Chiropractic College West), Dr. Cheryl Hawk (Palmer College) and Dr. Charles Masarsky, who practices in Virginia.


• Lectures and combined workshops on upper-cervical manipulation/adjustment for infants by Dr. Heiner Biedermmann, a manual medicine specialist from Belgium, and Joan Fallon, DC, from Yonkers, New York, were particularly popular with attendees.


• First prize in the original research competition, which attracted over 150 papers worldwide, went to a team from the University of Vermont, led by Christopher Colloca,DC. The paper, Biomechanical and Neurophysiological Responses to Spinal Manipulation in Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy, won the $7,000 Scott Haldeman Award.


• Special guest Yukiko Maruyama from the World Health Organization (WHO) opened the Congress and spoke of the various collaborative projects between the WHO and the WFC to further the international recognition of the chiropractic profession.


• The WFC's Assembly of Members included reports from chiropractors in all world regions, including fascinating accounts of the challenges of practicing chiropractic in Botswana and Zimbabwe (Dr. Evalie Heath) and Mongolia (Dr. Enkee Tsevegmid).

"If you missed the Orlando Congress," commented WFC President Dr. Paul Carey, "you missed the best show in chiropractic, and you should make plans now to join us for our next Congress - to be held in Sydney, Australia, June 16-18, 2005."

More information on the WFC and its activities can be obtained from the WFC Web site: www.wfc.org.