Dr. Jim Abeler of Anoka has been elected to a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Dr. Abeler is the first chiropractor to be elected to that state's legislature since Dr.
Dr. Abeler won the seat for House District 49A with a margin of 394 votes. Abeler noted the active support from chiropractors throughout the state as a crucial factor in helping him get elected. About half of Dr. Abeler's campaign funds came from individual DCs.
"In this election, it showed that every volunteer, every contributor and every voter made a real difference," Dr. Abeler said after the votes were counted. "Special thanks to all doctors of chiropractic who helped on this campaign. I sought this office for the most fundamental of reasons: to protect what is good, to change what is wrong, and make what is good better. I am pleased to be able to carry the chiropractic message forward to the Capitol."
Dr. Abeler is a graduated of Northwestern College of Chiropractic (1979). He's been a member of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association for 19 years and an active member of his community, founding a charter school and a youth center in Anoka.
First Full-Time Position for DC at Odense University
Dr. Niels Nilsson, DC, MD, PhD, has been appointed as associate professor of Clinical Biomechanics at the Faculty of Health Science at Odense University in Denmark. Dr. Nilsson's appointment marks the first time a chiropractor has earned a permanent, full-time position at the university.
Dr. Nilsson joins Odense from his position as a senior researcher at the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics (NICCB), an independent institute in continuing education and chiropractic research. He has worked extensively on the effects of spinal manipulation on headaches and spinal range of motion, research which has been published in Spine, JMPT and JAMA.
For the past three years, Dr. Nilsson has been on leave from the Nordic Institute to work as a full-time advisor at Odense. While at Odense, Dr. Nilsson has worked with the faculty to develop the curriculum for the university's new five-year masters program in clinical biomechanics and chiropractic.
Fundraiser for Kentuckiana
At its recent annual conference on chiropractic and pediatrics, the ICA's Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics held a raffle which raised $6,770 for Kentuckiana Children's Center. Among the grand prizes were a free trip to Hawaii for next year's annual conference and a huge basket of Beanie Babies donated by Dr. Diana Hudgins, the vice chair of the pediatrics council.
While the drawing was held to raise funds for Kentuckiana, it was also used to draw the attention of doctors and students alike to the plight of the children's center. For more than 40 years, under the guidance of Dr. Lorraine Golden, Kentuckiana has existed on the generosity of chiropractors, parents, charitable individuals and local groups for its existence. Recent financial constraints, however, have forced the center to close its school to help children with special needs.
In a letter to the council, Dr. Sharon Vallone, Kentuckiana's acting executive director, expressed her gratitude for the "spirit of generosity" the council was able to provide. "We are so lucky to have you working to support us and for your loving commitment to seeing Kentuckiana stay the 'happening place' it is and can be for children of special needs," Dr. Vallone wrote. "Thank you for sharing yourselves with us and keeping the fire burning."
Dynamic Chiropractor Pinches Purse-Picker in Park
New York's Central Park is not a place to go for a night stroll, at least not without backup. Daylight ambulating isn't all that safe either.
On the morning of October 29th, Bernard Abbadessa, DC, saw a man struggling with a small woman for possession of her handbag. The little, elderly lady was crossing a ballfield in Central Park in plain view of a number of people.
Dr. Abbadessa, out for his diurnal stroll with Maggie (Border collie) Buddy (German shepherd) and Sandy (Korean jindo), hastened to the scene to assist the woman.
"She was putting up a lot of resistance," Dr. Abbadessa recalled. "I ran over, and when he saw me he finally let go and started to walk away. He tried to walk around me, but I pushed him down."
With Dr. Abbadessa standing over the assailant and the fanged, canine triumvirate yapping with excitement at this new game, it was only minutes before the doctor flagged down a passing patrol car.
The victim, a Japanese woman in her 60s who spoke little English, gave many thanks to Abbadessa and his pooches. All in a day's work for the DC crime-fighting team.
Dr. Abbadessa recalls a frightening event that occurred several ago while diving in Queens. Men approached his van with a carjacking in mind, but one look at Buddy, the large shepherd, quickly disabused them of having found an easy mark.
Chiropractors Gain Full Status in International Medical Association of Lourdes
Located in the heart of the Pyrenees mountain range, Lourdes, France is the home of a famous grotto said to possess miraculous healing powers. Each year, millions of sick and bedridden patients come to Lourdes to pray and to receive blessings from the Virgin Mary, who 14-year Bernadette Soubirous said appeared to her at the grotto in 1858.
Soon after the first healings occurred at the grotto, the International Medical Association of Lourdes (IMAL) was founded. The IMAL's goals are to disseminate materials about the miracles at Lourdes; to investigate the miracles for the Catholic Church; and to cooperate in developing the health care facilities of the site.
Until recently, chiropractors were not allowed to be full members of the IMAL, but were listed as associate members or as health care members. DCs could not be listed as a doctor, physician, or even "provider," because they were not considered acceptable health care providers.
With the efforts of the World Federation of Chiropractic and coordination with the chiropractic presence in France, the IMAL changed its policy in September to allow chiropractors to become full members of the association. Dr. Allan Weilert, a member of the Association for Catholic Chiropractors, led the first pilgrimage to Lourdes this fall, the first chiropractor to form a pilgrimage and bring his patients to the grotto.
If chiropractors are interested in forming pilgrimages to Lourdes for their church or office, they are now able to use the site's health facilities for those that are truly sick or dying. For those interested in joining IMAL, contact the Association for Catholic Chiropractors at (203) 661-0105.
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