Under the heading "AMA Snubs Overture from Chiropractors," Mr. Wolinsky reveals that the ACA has been trying to meet with AMA leaders for two years. He states that in June 1998, then-AMA Chairman Thomas Reardon agreed to a meeting, which was scheduled seven months in advance, but was cancelled by the AMA at the last moment because of "pressing business."
In a Feb. 28 letter to the ACA, current AMA Chairman D. Ted Lewers stated:
"It is our understanding that the ACA desires to meet with the leadership of the AMA in order to 'focus on those issues we have in common.' However, the AMA has a different view and no desire for such a meeting."
Dr. Lewers, Mr. Wolinsky reports, is upset with comments about the AMA in the media and in court documents dealing with the ACA's lawsuit against Medicare's managed care regulations.
George McAndrews, the lead attorney in Wilk et al. and the current Medicare case, speculates that the AMA may be avoiding the ACA in fear of alienating some its members at a time when their membership is down.
ACA, Rep. Nadler Secure Language in Anti-Trust Bill to Protect Chiropractic from Anti-Competitive Actions
The Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 1999 (HR 1304) was introduced by Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA) to amend antitrust law to allow health care providers (including DCs) to collectively bargain with health care plans.
The bill, which was sent to the House Judiciary Committee, was supported by ACA officials, but there was one concern:
"Because the chiropractic profession was for many years the subject of an illegal conspiracy and boycott by the AMA, we have always opposed any legislative weakening or modification of existing antitrust law," explained ACA President Dr. James Mertz.
The ACA sought additional language to the bill to assure that DCs would not be subject to anti-competitive actions by other health providers or insurance plans, i.e., that the existing anti-trust laws would not be exempted. The ACA's government relations department, with support from individual chiropractors, convinced Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) to include just such language.
HR 1304 now moves to the House of Representatives for a vote.
Schwarzenegger Speaks at Annual ICA Symposium
The ICA held its eighth annual Symposium on Natural Fitness February 24-25 in Columbus, Ohio. Co-sponsored by Cleveland Chiropractic College, the symposium is held in conjunction with the Bodybuilding Classic. At each year's symposium, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a chiropractic patient for many years, gives a brief speech. "Chiropractic is about natural, preventive health care," Arnold told the crowd. "What you are doing, and I have experienced this for the last 30 years myself on my own body, means that whenever I have a problem ... I go to a chiropractor, my problems are gone for a long time. "
Arnold introduced Franco Columbu,DC, his longtime friend and bodybuilding partner. "I am very fortunate to have, so-to-speak, my in-house chiropractor, Dr. Franco Colombu, as my own personal chiropractor," Arnold explained. "He adjusts my wife, my kids, me, everybody gets an adjustment. And we feel always great when Franco leaves. Even when I have athletic injuries he's always there for me and helps me. That's why I always will be traveling ... all over the world, talking highly about the profession of chiropractic. You chiropractic doctors are really miracle workers."
The symposium also featured: guest speaker Dr. Bob Goldman, president of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and chairman of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Dr. Michael Gazdar, author of Taking Your Back to the Future; Dr. Tom Deters, of Muscle and Fitness magazine; Lee Haney, eight-time Mr. Olympia, who was presented the ICA's "Community Health and Fitness Leadership Award"; and ESPN2 television host Denise Paglia.
Dr. Michael Fox of Millburn, New Jersey received the ICA's "Sports Chiropractor of the Year" award. Dr. Fox, who played for Michigan State University in 1978-1979, treats members of the New Jersey Devils professional hockey team, and the Seton Hall University baseball program. Dr. Fox frequently appears on New Jersey Cable programs such as "Chiropractic for Your Health" and "Today's Health."
Pediatrics Examines Chiropractors and Vaccination
Pediatrics, the official publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has published an article that reviews the attitudes of chiropractors on vaccinations. The article, "Chiropractors and Vaccination: A Historical Perspective," is authored by DCs Jason Busse, H. Stephen Injeyan (both from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College) and Dr. James Campbell of the University of Toronto. It examines the reasons why some doctors of chiropractic maintain a position against vaccination, and how that position influences both the maintain a position against vaccination, and how that position influences both the public's perception of vaccines and traditional medicine's view of the chiropractic profession.
Although Pediatrics usually charges a nominal fee for its articles, readers can view or print a copy of "Chiropractors and Vaccination: A Historical Perspective" for free at http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/4/e43.
Foot Levelers Founder, President Receive Fellowships in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic
The contributions of Dr. Monte Greenawalt, the founder of Foot Levelers, Inc., and Kent Greenawalt, Foot Levelers' president, are well-known throughout the chiropractic profession. To honor their years of dedication to chiropractic, both Greenawalts received fellowships in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic at Palmer's commencement ceremonies this past February.
The fellowship is the highest honorary award given by Palmer College, and is intended to honor those who have demonstrated outstanding service and support to the college and the chiropractic profession.
"Dr. Monte and Kent Greenawalt have been friends of Palmer and the profession," said Palmer president Dr. Guy Riekeman. "Due to their commitment to chiropractic education, we are more able to advance the profession throughout the world via distance learning. Their commitment is not a one-time endeavor, (but) rather an ongoing lifetime responsibility."
Erin Brockovich and Chiropractic
"Erin Brockovich" is one of the most popular movies currently playing in theaters. The film, which stars Julia Roberts in the title role, grossed more than $80 million in its first month of release, and Roberts has drawn rave reviews for her portrayal of Brockovich, a research assistant whose work helped bring about the largest settlement ever paid in a direct action lawsuit in U.S. history.
According to the film's website (www.erinbrockovich.com ), the movie might not have been made, if not for a curious incident that occurred between Carla Santos Shamberg, the wife of one of the film's producers, and her chiropractor.
"I couldn't believe it when my doctor told me about her friend Erin," said Shamberg, who coincidentally had the same chiropractor as Brockovich. "It seemed incredible that this twice-divorced woman with three young children, who had no money, no resources and no formal education, had single-handedly put this case together. I thought she seemed like the perfect role model for the new millennium."
Shamberg related the story to her husband Michael Shamberg, a film executive responsible for producing such films as "Pulp Fiction" and "Get Shorty." Shamberg contacted fellow producers Danny DeVito and Stacey Sher and explained how the Brockovich story might be the perfect basis for a motion picture.
And the rest, as they say in the movie business, is history.
DC Appointed to UCI's Complementary/Alternative Medicine Center Board of Advisors
Dr. Alan Adams, the vice president for professional affairs at Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, has been appointed to the board of advisors of the new Susan Samueli Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. The center's goals are to investigate complementary and alternative therapies and educate health professionals and the public on the effectiveness of these forms of care.
"I am honored to be a part of the Samueli Center and its board of advisors," remarked Dr. Adams. "I'm confident that this organization and those dedicated to its mission will continue to advance complementary and alternative medicines, which can only enhance the lifestyles of those who seek them out for their well-being."
ACA's "Sports Chiropractor of the Year"
Dr. William Moreau of Estherville, Iowa has been named the American Chiropractic Association's Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness "Sports Chiropractor of the Year." Dr. Moreau received the award at the annual Sports Sciences Symposium, which was held in Baltimore this past March.
A 1981 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Moreau serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation and is the coordinator of postgraduate sports education at Northwestern Health Sciences University, from which he received his CCSP and DACBSP degrees in 1993. He is also the immediate past president of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.
New Research to Study Trigger Points at NYCC
Researchers at New York Chiropractic College have begun work on a handful of projects that will allow chiropractors to more effectively treat patients. In one study currently underway, Dr. Veronica Sciotti-Dishman will conduct a series of experiments to help doctors of chiropractic understand the cause, mechanisms and biochemistry of myofascial trigger points.
The study is funded by a $97,000 grant from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research and will use a relatively new technique called clinical microdialysis. The technique will analyze the biochemical composition of myofascial trigger points and examine the interstitial fluid of diagnosed trigger points for the presence of ATP, lactate, pyruvate, glucose and other substances. Future studies will address the effect of chiropractic treatment on trigger points and their biochemical and circulatory properties.
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