Kent Greenawalt, president and CEO of Foot Levelers, Inc., has been elected to the United States Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) Board as a "member at large." In that capacity, he will represent patients and the public, joining members from more than 400 other organizations in the ongoing 10-year bone and joint disease awareness campaign.
According to the USBJD, one in seven Americans are affected by joint- or bone-related musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, general back pain, sports trauma, osteoporosis, and general accidents and injuries. All of the parties involved in this important public education campaign hope to achieve several specific goals by the year 2010: raise general public awareness of the various diseases and injuries related to bone and joint mobility, increase funding for preventative activities and research, hone in on cost-effective programs for the prevention and treatment of bone and joint disorders, and empower patients to take a more active role in their own treatment plans and decisions.
"As an effective businessman, humanitarian and leader within the chiropractic community, Mr. Greenawalt understands the burden of musculoskeletal problems on society and is uniquely qualified to serve on the USBJD Board," explained Donald J. Krippendorf, DC, president of the American Chiropractic Association. A member of the steering committee spearheading the USBJD public awareness operation, the ACA nominated Greenawalt for the at-large position; Greenawalt was then elected at the USBJD's annual board meeting in June.
Thirty-eight governments worldwide have endorsed the USBJD plan, and representatives from hundreds of organizations have signed a declaration of support. President George W. Bush has officially declared 2002-2011 the "National Bone and Joint Decade." Comprehensive information can be found at www.usbjd.org.
