In addition to a six-figure grant to help establish the program, Foot Levelers will assist the college in acquiring lab equipment, providing professional support from its own staff and devising new research projects. "It's truly exciting to be a part of this program," said Kent Greenawalt, the president of Foot Levelers. "We saw this as an unparalleled opportunity to help fund important research that has the potential to help all doctors of chiropractic become even better."
SCAN Photo: Foot Levelers President Kent Greenawalt calls the new gait research center "an unparalleled opportunity to fund important research that has the potential to help all doctors of chiropractic become even better."
SCAN Photo: NYCC President Kenneth Padgett, DC, says he is "tremendously excited about the partnership with Foot Levelers."
Members of NYCC's administration are also quite optimistic about the new program. "I'm tremendously excited about the partnership with Foot Levelers, because they've been the leader in orthotics in the chiropractic field for years and years," said Dr. Kenneth Padgett, the college's president. "With their funding, we'll be able to not only strengthen our program, but also do things above and beyond anything we had dreamed of initially."
Dr. Ronald Bulbulian, NYCC director of research, added that establishing a gait research program had been a goal of his for quite some time. "I felt there needed to be more done in the chiropractic profession to test and document the therapies and treatments and their potential benefits in a scientific way ... Foot Levelers' funding will enable us to present a very attractive package and get the quality of person we want."
LACC Welcomes Five New Board Members
This past March, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic named five new members to its board of regents. The new board members are:
- Mr. Keith Abbott, a past city manager of Whittier, California, and member of several associations and clubs in the Los Angeles area;
- Dr. William Cook, the current vice president for academic affairs and a professor of English at the University of La Verne;
- Dr. Lisa Montez-Wood, a 1993 graduate of LACC who is in private practice in Arizona;
- Dr. Michael Roback, a medical doctor in private practice in Los Angeles; and
- Dr. Gayle Walsh, a graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1993, who is currently in private practice in Pacific Grove, California.
Each of the new regents will serve a four-year term, except for Dr. Montez-Wood, a recent graduate board member, who will serve a two-year term. The newest board members will join LACC's current board of regents, which consists of the following members:
- Lawrence Tain, DC (chair)
- John Greene, DC (vice chair)
- Reginald Barnes Jr., CPA (secretary)
- Harry Douglas III, PhD
- Delwyn Fitches, DC
- Helen Kramer, DC
- Anthony Pirritano, DC
- Andrea Sinclair, DC
- Stephen Smith, DC
- S.H. Wen
Northwestern Faculty Members Develop Technique to Enhance Capabilities of Female Chiropractors
After years of research and collaboration, two clinicians from Northwestern College of Chiropractic are on the verge of introducing a new technique that they think could dramatically change how chiropractic adjustments are viewed. This new motion-assisted technique, which was developed by Thomas Bergmann, DC, and P. Thomas Davis, MUP, DC, DACBOH, is believed to enhance the capabilities of female chiropractors to deliver adjustments to their patients.
Dr. William Elkington, NWCC's dean of clinical studies, explained: "In most situations, for most patients, doctors of chiropractic have used manual techniques to correct problems in these areas. However, there are situations where either patient or doctor factors make these techniques difficult to do. For example, the doctor may be small, making it difficult for them to apply sufficient leverage or force to make the desired correction -- or the patient may simply be very large."
So what makes this technique different from other commonly used techniques in chiropractic? "The long axis of the body is traditionally ignored by most techniques," said Dr. Davis. This working table makes the adjustment easier, thus making it less threatening and traumatic to the patient and less stressful to the doctor." Using this technique can apply not only to the lower back, but also the cervical region and the extremities. "It's a hands-on technique under the control of the chiropractor," said Dr. Davis.
Currently, the two doctors are looking for a table that would aid in performing this new technique. "A table of similar technique already exists," said Dr. Bergmann, "yet it's a different way of approaching the technique because it's mechanized." Added Dr. Davis, "Part of the appeal of this table is its user-friendliness towards women, because it's not dependent on upper body strength."
The two doctors plan on doing numerous tests to compare their technique with other methods of adjustment. "Our intention in the future is to research this motion-assisted technique and then test it through clinical trials by comparing flexion-distraction with high velocity thrust techniques and incorporating axial distraction techniques," said Dr. Davis. Dr. Bergman added, "We'd like to compare the ease of application for various body types and different patients. This would include clinical trials on distraction versus thrust."
Eight Central Ohio DCs Cited by Board
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Chiropractic Board has filed charges against eight DCs affiliated with Tri State chiropractic clinics. The charges included fraud, false advertising, improper patient solicitations, promoting the unlicensed practice of chiropractic, and generally engaging in unethical activities.
The charges were filed after the board's extensive investigation of consumer complaints against various clinics operated by Tri State.
The board's executive director and counsel, Michael Morgan, stated that other individuals may be charged in the investigation.
The board has appointed Columbus attorney Paul Stehura as a hearing examiner. Following the formal hearings, the board will make a final ruling on the status of the doctors' licenses.
The case became public on March 5, 1997 when the FBI and other law enforcement agencies took evidence from all 10 Tri State clinics in central Ohio.
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