Dr. Hammer will offer current information and research on soft-tissue treatment, including the importance soft tissue plays in back pain, and the application of current technology in treating it. A longtime supporter of the Graston technique, Dr. Hammer will present it for the first time to the European market. He calls Graston "therapy that has brought soft tissue methods to an exciting new level of healing."
Dr. Hammer practices in Norwalk, Conn., and is a postgraduate faculty member at Cleveland College of Chiropractic, Northwestern College of Chiropractic and the National University of Health Sciences.
ACA Honors Rep. Nancy Johnson
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) presented Connecticut Representative Nancy Johnson (R - 5th district) with its 2004 Health Care Leadership Award at the recent annual National Chiropractic Legislative Conference (NCLC) in Washington, D.C.
Recognized for the role she played in the Medicare modernization bill signed last year by President Bush, Congresswoman Johnson was praised by ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC: "Doctors of chiropractic and their patients - particularly seniors - in Connecticut and across America, are grateful to Rep. Johnson for her outstanding leadership in Congress on health care issues, and [her] determination to safeguard the rights of Medicare beneficiaries."
The Medicare bill signed by the president includes four two-year demonstration projects intended to expand access to health care for seniors, with chiropractic care a feature. It is the result of years of campaigning by DCs (see www.chiroweb.com/archives/22/01/02.html) and a number of political "friends of chiropractic."
As noted in the last issue of DC (www.chiroweb.com/22/09/16.html), Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who, like Rep. Johnson, has fought for patient access to chiropractic care, also received the 2004 Health Care Leadership Award at this year's NCLC.
American Black Chiropractic Association Meets at National
On March 19-20, the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) held its annual Central Region Winter Conference at National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) in Lombard, Ill. Students from 16 states and six chiropractic colleges attended the event, the theme of which was "Harambee," a Swahili word expressing togetherness.
Participants were welcomed to the conference by Dr. Thabiti H. N. Cartman, region director and NUHS alumnus. The keynote speaker was NUHS President James Winterstein, DC, and activities included workshops on chiropractic technique, botanical medicine, and HIPAA guidelines. The Student American Black Chiropractic Association, which is quite active on the NUHS campus, sponsored the event.
According to the ABCA's statement of purpose, the organization "recruits, encourages and supports black persons to study chiropractic, and assists chiropractic colleges in recruiting qualified black students and faculty members."
The 23rd National ABCA Conference is scheduled to take place Sept. 23-26 in Chicago. For more information, contact the ABCA at 313-533-2225 or its president, Dr. James Mosley Jr., at
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NUHS Students Lobby on Capitol Hill
Among the 450 attendees of the recent National Chiropractic Legislative Conference were 22 students from the National University of Health Sciences NUHS, who traveled to the nation's capitol to meet with Illinois lawmakers (and those from other midwestern states) and discuss key issues regarding chiropractic.
Three of the seven key issues discussed with the legislators were the extension of chiropractic care to military retirees; fairness for DCs applying for student loan programs; and the implementation of the chiropractic care benefits for military veterans, previously approved by Congress. Among those addressing the students were Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, both supporters of the chiropractic profession.
Students provided the means for their mission by raising money through garage and food sales, as part of the Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) chapter on campus. The surplus $3,500 earned by the group will be donated to the National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund. The students' efforts also won them special awards from the Illinois Chiropractic Society upon their return home.
"Our students were definitely well-prepared on the issues that will affect their profession, and had very productive meetings with congressmen, senators and their health aides," commented Bruce Hodges, DC, faculty advisor to the chapter.
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