The ICA welcomed representatives of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, and a number of provincial chiropractic organization officials. All Canadian provinces were represented, and nearly every state in the U.S.
Attending the convention were the presidents of six chiropractic colleges: Dr. Karl Parker (PCC); Dr. Carl Cleveland III (CCCLA, CCCKC); Dr. Sid Williams (Life); Dr. Shelby Elliott (TCC), Dr. Gerard Clum (LCCW), and Dr. Peter Martin (Palmer West).
The showcase speakers were Drs. Guy Riekeman, Fred Barge and Sid Williams. Two of the featuring programs were a hands-on technique presentation by Dr. Joe Stuckey, and Barbara Lowe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center speaking to the health freedom issues related to immunizations. The ICA has a long-standing commitment to "full public disclosure and patient freedom in this controversial area."
Policy Statements
The ICA Board felt compelled to adopt a policy statement to oppose the use of the term "chiropractic medicine" in "any context or situation." This was prompted when the name of the Florida Board of Chiropractic was recently changed to the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine (see "Point--Counterpoint" in June 29th issue). The ICA policy statement said, in part:
"The International Chiropractors Association acknowledges that although the term medicine can be interpreted to include various forms of nonsurgical healing, it is not generally so perceived by the public; that chiropractic is a drugless profession and that naming chiropractic 'chiropractic medicine' reflects a complete change, thereby indicating that chiropractic is a profession concerned with drugs and medicine."
The ICA Board of Directors also unanimously adopted a categorical statement of opposition to proposals to require at the state level a bachelor's degree for all matriculating chiropractic college students. The ICA leaders stated that the requirement was a means to restrict marketplace competition, and argued that no other profession, including medicine, has this requirement, nor is there data to indicate it will produce better doctors.
ICA's Chiropractor of the Year
Christopher Kent, DC, FCCI, of Paterson, New Jersey, a researcher, teacher and chiropractic practitioner, was elected 1998 Chiropractor of the Year.
A 1973 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Kent maintains a private practice in chiropractic MRI, has served on the faculties of a number of chiropractic colleges, lectured widely, written extensively and engaged in private research in chiropractic imaging and electro-diagnostic technologies. He is the director of research of EMG Consultants of Paterson, N.J.
Dr. Kent and Leonard Vernon, DC, are co-authors of the 1998 book Case Studies in Chiropractic MRI, which examines the role of MRI in detecting the vertebral subluxation.
Among Dr. Kent's past awards are the Presidential Award of Merit from Palmer College of Chiropractic West (1989); the ICA's Chiropractic Researcher of the Year (1991), and Postgraduate Educator of the Year (1996) along with his colleague, Patrick Gentempo, Jr., DC.
Dr. Kent became a Fellow of the ICA College of Chiropractic Imaging (FCCI) in 1991, and is chairman of the ICA Council on Chiropractic Imaging. He presently teaches in the postgraduate programs for Life Chiropractic College, Life Chiropractic College West, and the Cleveland Chiropractic Colleges of Kansas City and Los Angeles.
Dr. Kent said he hopes "to expand the vision of those who feel that chiropractic is a limited musculoskeletal specialty."
The ICA convention for next year has been scheduled for Atlanta, Georgia, May 20-23.
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