John Belka, DC, a practitioner from Telluride, Colorado, visited Culata, Venezuela high in the northern Andes, 40 miles outside the city of Merida, to provide and maintain a free clinic.
The missions began in the spring of 1995 with the first trip to Acuna, Mexico, and continue biannually. The practitioners work under the umbrella of the Catholic Church. They are presented to the parishioners during the Sunday mass, and begin their outreach clinic treatment the next morning. Other missions have included trips to Yelapa, Mexico, and San Salvador, in El Salvador. The next mission will be to Brasov, Romania this May, and a trip to an area near Angel Falls in Venezuela in October.
For more information concerning the chiropractic missions contact:
John Belka, DC
P.O. Box 2923
Telluride, CO 81435
FCER Invites Applications to Study Subluxation Complex
The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) has issued a request for application (RFA) to study the chiropractic subluxation. Some 70 copies of the RFA have already been sent to centers of research excellence worldwide. FCER has committed up to $250,000 for a study from one to three years.
According to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, the chiropractic subluxation is defined as "a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ systems function and general health."
Although there is considerable anecdotal evidence consistent with chiropractic concepts of the subluxation complex, there has been no definitive research in human beings. Causality has not been demonstrated. Studies in animals, however, have cast some light on the mechanism of the subluxation complex.
For more information concerning the research goals and scope of the study, please call or write and request a copy of the RFA. Questions of a technical nature may be addressed to:
Anthony L. Rosner, PhD
1701 Clarendon Blvd
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: (703) 276-7445 ext. 23
Fax: (703) 276-8178
Other questions may be addressed to Stephen R. Seater, MA, CAE at the same address, or he can be reached at (703) 276-7445 ext. 10.
Dr. Meeker Named Editor-in-Chief of JNMS
The American Chiropractic Association and Data Trace Publishing recently announced that Dr. Meeker, director of research at the Palmer colleges, has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System (JNMS). The first issue of 1997 was edited under Dr. Meeker's direction.
Dr. Meeker succeeds Rand S. Swenson, DC, PhD, MD, who served as the Editor-in-Chief of JNMS for four years. Dr. Swenson will assume the position of Special Features Editor. JNMS is a quarterly journal that publishes original, peer-reviewed articles on all aspects of the neuromusculoskeletal system with an emphasis on nonoperative care and management.
Spotlight on Dr. Meeker at Meeting of Neurosurgeons
NEWPORT BEACH, California -- Dr. William Meeker, DC, MPH, keeping busy as usual, recently presented "Chiropractic Principles and Practice" at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Meeker also participated in a debate on the best treatment for acute low back pain. He supported the use of spinal manipulation by referencing studies on the effectiveness of chiropractic in caring for low back pain. H. Louis Harkey III, MD, took the opposing position.
Dr. Meeker was told that neurosurgeons never had a chiropractor address this meeting before. "Many of their patients see chiropractors, and they wanted to learn more about how chiropractic may help patients," Dr. Meeker said. "This may be the first step toward 'a fruitful dialogue' between chiropractors and neurosurgeons," he added.
Two NWCC Administrators Recognized by Statewide Continuing Education Organization
The director and assistant director of Northwestern College of Chiropractic's department of postgraduate and continuing education were recently elected to important leadership positions in the Minnesota Association for Continuing Adult Education (MACAE). The statewide organization advocates for the needs of adult learners, and provides support for adult educators, facilitators and trainers.
- Sharon Luhring, NWCC's director of postgraduate and continuing education, has been named president-elect of the MACAE. She has directed the postgraduate program at Northwestern since 1982 and has been a member of MACAE since 1987, serving as the association's secretary in 1995 and 1996.
- Kelly Koepke, the assistant director of postgraduate at Northwestern, is MACAE's new vice president of professional development. Her role will involve overseeing four committees: issues forms, monograph education, annual awards and annual conference.
New Officers for Washington State Chiropractic Assoc.
The Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) recently elected its 1997 board of directors:
- Joyce Middendorf, DC, DACS, chairperson. She is a graduate of Life Chiropractic College, and in practice for over 15 years. She was appointed by the governor to the Washington Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (1990-1996), which writes and administers the licensing exams for incoming chiropractors.
- Kenneth Shotwell, DC, president. Dr. Shotwell has served as chairman of the Seattle Chiropractic Society. He is a graduate of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic (1982), and has also been in practice for over 15 years.
- Donald Robinson, DC, vice president. A Washington native who also serves on the WSCA selection committee, Dr. Robinson is a graduate of Palmer College, and has been in practice for more than 30 years.
- Stephen Saunders, DC, secretary. Dr. Saunders, a Sherman College graduate, served on the WSCA Professional Development Committee for the past five years.
- David Chan, DC, treasurer. Dr. Chan, Palmer graduate, has been recognized in Who's Who of Professionals and Executives in America.
The WSCA was founded in 1991 and has about 1,000 members. It is the only statewide association that represents professional chiropractic in Washington. Over half of the active chiropractors in the state are members of the WSCA.
Parker Alumnus Returns to Direct Center for Chiropractic Sciences
Dr. Kenneth C. Thomas, DC, has been named the center director for chiropractic sciences at Parker College of Chiropractic for the second time. Dr. Thomas held the same position from 1988-1990, before leaving to expand his chiropractic clinics.
During his student days at Parker (1986 graduate), Dr. Thomas was class president and recognized in Outstanding Young Men of America.
In addition to his duties as director, Dr. Thomas has also been a postgraduate instructor at Parker since 1987. He is known throughout chiropractic as an expert in physiotherapy and sports medicine as it applies to orthopedics and neurology.
Two Chiropractic Health Plans Among 12 HMOs Issued Fines in California
On March 25, 1997, California Commissioner of Corporations Keith Paul Bishop announced enforcement actions against 12 health plans for failure to comply with the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act. The 1996 law requires health plans to notify enrollees of their right to submit unresolved complaints to the Department of Corrections, and to provide the department's 800 number.
A total of $155,000 in fines were issued to the health maintenance organizations. One of the most heavily fined groups was the American Chiropractic Network Health Plan, which received a penalty of $40,000. Another chiropractic health plan, Chiroserve Inc., received a $2,500 fine. In all, 55 health plans have been fined a total of $670,000 for failure to comply.
"This action shows our continuing commitment to requiring that health plans do their part in notifying health care consumers about their rights," said Bishop. "We are continuously monitoring plan compliance and will take action when we see violations of the law."
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