Opening remarks by Dr. Peter Dixon, President of the European Chiropractors Union, set the stage for envisioning a united world in which public protection is at the forefront of the chiropractic profession.
The keynote address by Becky Cherney, president and CEO of the Central Florida Health Care Coalition, pressed both public and professional members of boards to speak out with passion and conviction. Sharing her vision for a new model to deliver health-care benefits to the public, she lit a spark among attendees when she urged them to begin with values to create bold new paradigms of possibilities. "I'm going home to speak up a little louder on my board," noted one public member inspired by Cherney's remarks.
Newly elected president Dr. Richard L. Cole commented on the future of the FCLB. "Our paramount challenge is to continue to build a federation which has a strong infrastructure of ethical values and human resources. Public protection issues span every practice and philosophical debate. This final quarter of our century of service to chiropractic regulation will be focused on our duty to support boards worldwide."
The federation's PACE program (Providers of Approved Continuing Education for chiropractic) was a component of several educational forums held prior to the official start of the educational conference and during the meeting. "We were pleased to have the top leadership of COCSA, ICA, ACA, ACC, and CCE present, as well as extensive media representation," Dr. Cole noted.
"Some great refinements were generated," Dr. Cole continued. "As questions are addressed, ideas are incorporated, and misinformation is dispelled, the PACE program's 'second track' for relicensure CE approval appears to be warmly embraced by the primary stakeholders. Four years of thoughtful work and an inclusive process are finally beginning to show results."
Dr. Gerard Clum, president of Life Chiropractic College West, participated in the PACE forums. He observed, "The process followed in the development of the PACE program is refreshingly open, and so much different than many of us have experienced in the past. One can only hope it's contagious for the rest of the chiropractic profession."
Other program sessions also addressed new paradigms in public protection. Dr. Stephen Foreman presented a striking comparative analysis of actions taken by the California medical and chiropractic boards, revealing a markedly higher incidence of ethics-related actions taken by the chiropractic board. "What would the results be in your jurisdiction, if you undertook a similar study?" Dr. Foreman asked.
Other program highlights included an overview of a successful intervention program utilized by boards for practitioners struggling with substance abuse and ethics violations. The 13th annual Joseph Janse Lecture by Dr. Scott Haldeman portrayed the importance and effectiveness of research. Various breakout sessions touched on practitioner mobility; fraud; Washington state's practitioner self-assessment program; and Massachusetts' licentiate training initiatives.
Back-to-back panels on board responsibilities in accreditation issues and a view of regulation from the college presidents' perspective preceded Dr. Louis Sportelli's traditional lively closing remarks.
Awards and Annual Business Meeting
Prior to the annual business meeting, FCLB president Dr. Wayne C. Wolfson (Florida) presented several awards. Dr. Lester Lamm was acknowledged for his contributions to the development of the PACE program. Special Presidential Recognition was extended to Dr. Daryl Wills (Nebraska) and retiring FCLB past president, Dr. David E. Brown (Virginia).
Honoring significant efforts to add regulation of massage therapy to the chiropractic board, the 2003 Outstanding Regulatory Board award was presented to the Maryland Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
The federation's highest individual honor, the George Arvidson Award for Meritorious Service, was presented to Dr. Larry Spicer, executive director of the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners. "There is one powerful word which describes this great advocate of public protection," Dr. Wolfson explained. "It is 'teacher.'"
Among many other noteworthy projects, Dr. Spicer is well-known for his groundbreaking work in sexual boundaries training and pioneering e-resources for practitioners and the public.
"I credit my wife (Anne Spicer, DC) and my children (Weston and Brennan) for being my anchor and inspiration in life," Dr. Spicer effused. "Any accomplishments I've made are [primarily] the result of my good fortune to work with creative and intelligent leaders in the field."
Several contested races added flavor to election of FCLB officers and directors. The Federation's new officers for two year terms include Dr. Richard L. Cole (Tennessee), president; Dr. N. Edwin Weathersby (Arizona), vice president; and Dr. Oliver "Bud" Smith, Jr. (Texas), treasurer. Dr. Wayne C. Wolfson (Florida) moves to the position of immediate past president.
Dr. Daniel Saint-Germain (Quebec) was re-elected to a second three-year term as district III director, with Dr. Lawrence O'Connor (New Jersey) elected as alternate director. The members of district IV tapped Dr. Ron Tripp (Oklahoma) for his first three-year term as their district director, while Dr. Larry Davis (Nevada) was chosen as alternate director.
Dr. Steve Willen (North Carolina), district V director, will chair the executive board of directors and also serve on the Federation's executive committee.
The complete agenda and a number of conference presentations are available from the Federation's Web site, www.fclb.org.
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