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Interviews
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Interviews
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Written by TAC Staff
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Tuesday, 19 July 2011 14:43 |
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D r. David Brady, a 1991 Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) graduate, is the first DC worldwide to break the "glass ceiling" within academia by being conferred vice provost of the health science division at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. He is the first and only chiropractor to attain that elevated status worldwide in a major university and, because of his extensive training in chiropractic, nutrition and naturopathic medicine, is now in a position to influence the educational direction of scores of minds, young and old, for years to come.
Chiropractors have broken into the politics, forensics, law enforcement, finance and academia, to name a few, and every time an individual chiropractor rises in the ranks of a specific field, it clears the path for others to follow. It also offers our profession a multitude of new opportunities to educate the public about chiropractic and, in the case with Dr. Brady, to create collaborative programs with various healthcare professionals offering greater avenues for access to chiropractic care.
The American Chiropractor salutes the great accomplishment of Dr. David Brady.
Interview with Dr. David M. Brady, Vice Provost for Health Sciences at the University of Bridgeport
TAC: Dr. Brady, can you tell us what your title is at the University of Bridgeport (UB)?
Brady: Well, it is quite a mouthful, but I am currently the Vice Provost for the Health Sciences Division, the Director of the Human Nutrition Institute, and an Associate Professor of Clinical Science.
TAC: What exactly is a Vice Provost?
Brady: Thanks for asking, as people outside of academia are often confused by what the word Provost actually means. Many are familiar with a university President, but not a Provost. While a university President leads the entire institution, including overseeing the fiscal operations, community relations, and overall governance, it is the Provost that really oversees and leads the academic operations of most universities. For example, Deans of colleges within a university generally report to a Provost. At UB, as in many other universities, we are broken up into divisions related to fields of study, including our Health Sciences Division. As the Vice Provost for Health Sciences, I oversee the colleges and schools related to the health sciences and I guess you can say that I am positioned between the Deans of those programs, including Dean Frank Zolli of our College of Chiropractic, and the university Provost.
TAC: So what exactly do you do as Vice Provost of the Health Sciences at UB?
Brady: The position of Vice Provost for the Health Sciences is essentially the coordinating administrator for the College of Chiropractic, College of Naturopathic Medicine, Fones School of Dental Hygiene, Nutrition Institute, Acupuncture Institute, Physician Assistant Institute and any academic programs added subsequently to the Division of Health Sciences. I also oversee the operations of the UB Clinics, our public clinic system located within our Health Sciences Center. A big part of my job is to facilitate communication among the programs and to enhance efficiency in addressing and advocating for our needs in the Division of Health Sciences to the University as a whole, and to the President and Provost. This involves a lot of different issues, including developing new academic programs, interfacing with hospitals and medical centers where we send students and interns, developing collaborative relationships with other academic institutions, advocating for and planning facilities improvements, working with program Deans in improving academic quality and assessment, and assuring compliance with accreditation standards, and overseeing the community outreach, marketing and quality assurance for our public clinic system.
Keeping with the mission of the UB Division of Health Sciences, we now have the only PA program in the world that has an integrative medicine theme running through the entire curriculum
TAC: Can you give us some examples of some initiatives and projects at UB that would likely not have happened before you were appointed Vice Provost of Health Sciences three years ago to provide coordination amongst the programs within the division?
Brady: Well, one of the main tasks I had when taking on this role was to break down the former silo-mentality that tends to take root in an institutional setting with many different individual programs. Here, we had all of these really great programs in far ranging health-related fields but, for the most part, each of these colleges or schools was doing its own thing and trying to advocate for just its own needs within a complicated university structure and system. Once we started working much more collaboratively with a plan that harvested the inherent synergies between us and pooled our efforts and leverage within the university system, we were able to achieve many things not previously possible. These included obtaining from the University significant investments in facilities upgrades, including the updating of classrooms and teaching technology, general facelifts for buildings, and significant investment in a brand new state-of-the-art anatomy dissection lab being built this summer. We have also been able to introduce a new sophisticated clinical information system (CIS) into our UB Clinics that brings with it full electronic medical records, scheduling, billing, and clinical data mining capability for conducting interdisciplinary research. With this tool, we can seek research grants and funding to perform much needed complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research that compares different approaches, such as chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathic medical interventions for a host of disorders and conditions seen in our clinic system. We were also able to develop new academic programs, such as our Physician Assistant program, which required reaching out to the medical community in our region and establishing relationships at almost all of the medical centers and hospitals in Connecticut. Keeping with the mission of the UB Division of Health Sciences, we now have the only PA program in the world that has an integrative medicine theme running through the entire curriculum, which will result in primary care providers who are not only extremely competent in their discipline, but also have an understanding of various complementary approaches, including chiropractic, naturopathic medicine, nutrition and acupuncture, which they can ultimately discuss with their patients as treatment choices. We have also developed new undergraduate programs in the health sciences, including a collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UConn) on pharmacy education, a medical laboratory sciences program, and we are also developing a new Masters in Public Health and a Doctorate in Health Sciences that are minimum residency programs, allowing students and health professionals from around the country and world to experience what is happening here at UB. It also allows our students to cross-train and to participate in dual programs, leaving UB with multiple degrees and career opportunities.
 TAC: Wow, all of that sounds wonderful. How do you have enough time in the day?
Brady: It is sometimes not easy, but it is a labor of love, as I have gotten to see the strides we have made and what we have become over my 14 years here at UB. I also just love to see positive changes for the students that study here. We have really moved this division forward by virtue of our collaborations. One example is how we were able to open up new clinical experiences for our chiropractic and naturopathic medicine students in the form of hospital-based rotations, which were made possible by the relationships that were formed during the development of the Physician Assistant program with St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport.
TAC: How does being Vice Provost at a comprehensive university and a chiropractor at the same time help the UBCC program?
Brady: I think that my training as a DC helps me to better understand the needs of the College of Chiropractic as we devise strategies for the continued development of the Division of Health Sciences. It should be noted that I came from the ranks of the UBCC faculty and worked in that capacity for almost 10 years. My chiropractic background also helps me to articulate what chiropractic is all about to many different decision makers within and outside the University, as well.
TAC: How is the exposure to chiropractic to UB students from all around the world affect the future of global health care?
Brady: It definitely helps increase the awareness of chiropractic globally. Through collaboration with UB, we have seen international programs in chiropractic developed by our UBCC graduates, such as the chiropractic program at Hanseo University in Korea. We also have UBCC faculty members involved in helping chiropractic programs flourish in Spain. As more people are exposed to chiropractic from around the world, it helps raise the profile of awareness of chiropractic internationally. That is a good thing.
TAC: Do you know of any other person trained as a doctor of chiropractic that is in a position such as you? That is, overseeing an entire division of health sciences representing a multitude of health care disciplines, at a full spectrum university such as UB with programs as diverse as engineering, education, music, business, design, etc?
Brady: To my knowledge, I am the first and, at present, only. However, I believe my training in multiple disciplines, and not only chiropractic, has allowed me to prepare for this responsibility and to do a better job as a result.
TAC: Tell us a little more about your training across these various disciplines?
Brady: Well, believe it or not, my undergraduate training was in electronics engineering technology and I worked for the computer division of the aerospace company McDonnell Douglas. I worked with computer aided design systems, including those used in the biomedical design and production of total joint replacement technologies. This brought me into contact with orthopedic surgeons and biomedical engineers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and sparked my interest in applying my engineering knowledge to the human body. This eventually led me into chiropractic, as the biomechanical education in chiropractic training is substantial. I trained at Texas Chiropractic College in the Houston area, graduating as Valedictorian in 1991. During my time at TCC, I was able to participate in a multitude of hospital rotations in the colossal Houston Medical Center. This allowed me to learn a lot about not only chiropractic, but also allopathic medicine, from many different specialists' perspective. I learned how to work and talk with medical doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and hospital administrators and experienced a model of collaboration and cross training that I believe helped me in creating some of what we have accomplished at UB. During these experiences, I always felt that I was able to bring a positive message about chiropractic and what it has to offer in the health care system to other medical professionals and decision makers. I was also very lucky to train at TCC, which was the only chiropractic program offering such a hospital experience at that time, and where I also picked up a passion and appreciation for the power of therapeutic nutritional, which then became my new area of interest. I subsequently went on to my nutritional training and became a diplomate and nationally board certified in nutrition. Ultimately, I went on the complete my academic and clinical training in naturopathic medicine at the University of Bridgeport.
TAC: Is that why you came to UB, to train as an ND?
Brady: I was practicing and teaching in the Houston area for about seven years after completing my chiropractic internship and diplomate programs in internal disorders and nutrition. I was then recruited to join the faculty in the College of Chiropractic at UB. I was brought in because of my training in internal diagnosis, laboratory medicine, and nutrition and quickly found myself also teaching classes for the students in the College of Naturopathic Medicine at UB. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to complete my training as an ND, as well. It took me quite a while, as I was completing this rigorous program while still teaching and practicing.
I practice one full day a week and feel that it is really necessary to keep me connected to patient care.
TAC: Do you still practice?
Brady: I do. I have been in continuous clinical practice since 1991. I have practiced for the past 8 years or so as a licensed naturopathic physician here in Connecticut within an integrative internal medicine group that has MDs, NDs, DCs, nutritionists, and various therapists and counselors. I focus on chronic disease management using the functional medicine model, which includes the integration of nutrition and nutraceutical intervention, diet therapy, herbal medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle modification, and pharmaceutical therapy when necessary. I practice one full day a week and feel that it is really necessary to keep me connected to patient care and the issues that our students at UB will face upon graduation. I also do consulting work in the nutraceutical and nutritional supplement industry, as well as for medical laboratories, and travel quite a bit, presenting on functional medicine and nutrition around the US and internationally at various scientific symposiums and conferences.
TAC: Oh, is that all?
Brady: I forgot to mention that I also have two little guys as home: Ian, who is 5, and Owen, who is 3 and a half. You could say that they keep me quite busy as well.
TAC: In closing, do you see yourself staying at UB and what do you see UB becoming in the future?
Brady: Oh, I see myself staying at UB if they will have me. I want to see this through. It is really simple. We want UB to continue to develop into the academic center of excellence for integrative health care in the US and to provide opportunities for students to come and study in a place where there exists a pallet of health care professions and approaches to choose from where collaboration, appreciation and respect exists amongst these professions. We are all about health care choices for patients, as is evident by the approximately 20,000 patient visits that take place in the UB Clinics annually across a multitude of disciplines and approaches. In order to provide those choices to patients, we need to continue to train qualified, competent, and compassionate professionals in all of these fields. This is a commitment shared by President Neil Salonen and Provost Hans van der Giessen, as well as the entire University of Bridgeport and, without this vision and commitment to health sciences, what we have done so far would not have been possible. We also know it is working, since we have alumni doing incredible work all over the world treating patients as private clinicians, as well as former graduates in very important positions within prestigious institutions, including the medical schools and hospitals of Yale, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and Vanderbilt to name a few.
TAC: Thank you, Dr. Brady.
Brady: Thank you, for the opportunity to let the chiropractic profession know a bit more about the work we are doing here, which has had a profound positive effect on chiropractic. At UB, we have witnessed that, the more we integrate complementary healthcare disciplines in our clinics, hospitals and educational processes, the more patients have gained access to chiropractic care.
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Interviews
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Written by TAC Staff
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Saturday, 25 June 2011 01:17 |
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D r. Terry Schroeder is the USA’s only four time Olympian in the sport of water polo. He was a member of Team USA during the Olympic boycott in 1980. After the boycott, Terry re-focused and dedicated himself to pursuing his Olympic dream. In 1981, he was named the team captain. His leadership helped the team to consecutive silver medals in 1984 and 1988. At the Closing Ceremonies of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, he was selected to carry the American flag for USA delegation.
After a brief two-year retirement, Schroeder decided to return to the pool in 1990 to train for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He had an immediate impact and Team USA won the World Cup for the first time ever in 1991. Team USA finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
In 1981 and 1985, Schroeder was named the best water polo player in the world. He was also selected as the model for the Olympic torso statue, which stands to this day at the entrance of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Since retiring from the sport in 1992 as an athlete, Schroeder has established himself as a world class coach. In 2007, Terry was chosen Head Coach of the USA Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team. At that time, Team USA team was ranked 9th in the world and in a state of disarray as the team had gone through three coaches in three years.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the USA Men’s Water Polo squad became one of the amazing stories of the Games. The USA squad made a remarkable run in Beijing with upset victories over Italy, Croatia, Germany and Serbia to forge their way into the championship game. Team USA fell to Hungary 14-10 in the gold medal game, but gained international recognition in returning to the podium for the first time in 20 years.
As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Dr. Schroeder is in demand to make personal appearances to talk about life lessons he has learned as a world-class athlete and an Olympic Coach. Schroeder has authored chapters in two books—The Spine in Sports by Robert Watkins, M.D., and Awaken the Olympian Within by Olympic swimmer John Naber.
Dr. Terry Schroeder is a third generation chiropractor. A native of Santa Barbara, California, Schroeder is a 1981 Magna Cum Laude Sports Medicine graduate of Pepperdine University and a 1986 Cum Laude graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. Schroeder has been married to his wife Lori, also a chiropractor, for 22 years. They own and operate Schroeder Center for Healthy Living in Westlake Village, California. The Schroeder’s have two children, Leanna (10/14/94) and Sheridan (8/10/01).
Each adjustment that I give is the most important adjustment of the day.
TAC: What inspired you to become a chiropractor? Do you have a specific story?
SCHROEDER: My Dad was a chiropractor and he delivered all three of his children. Chiropractic was a way of life in our family. There were no meds in the bathroom cabinets. When we were sick, we knew we needed to be adjusted. My inspiration to become a chiropractor really came from watching my Dad at his office (which was in our home). My brother Lance and I would sit in our living room (also Dad’s waiting room) and watch as patients came in, many times in such pain that they had to be helped into the office. After spending 15 minutes or so with my Dad behind a closed door, they would often times come out of the room laughing and joking with my Dad. We were amazed and convinced that my Dad was some kind of miracle man. I made the decision early that I wanted to become a chiropractor and help others like my Dad did. My brother, Lance, and sister, Tammy, also became chiropractors.
TAC: How has your experience as a chiropractor impacted your coaching?
SCHROEDER: I have learned some great lessons as a chiropractor that I have been able to carry over to my coaching. First of all, I have learned to be in the moment. Each adjustment that I give is the most important adjustment of the day. I try to carry that with me with all that I do. When I am on the pool deck coaching, I need to be there in the moment 100% with my athletes. This has helped me to be more focused. I have also learned the art of being patient. Just as each patient responds differently to my treatment in the office, each athlete may respond or learn a little differently too. Knowing this, I have managed to be able to stay cool in the heat of the battle in workout or even in a game. There is no doubt that my experience in the office has also helped me to become more caring and compassionate. These are qualities that are necessary to be a successful coach. Finally, I have learned to appreciate how valuable our health is and this has helped me to keep coaching (even at the Olympic level) in the proper perspective.
TAC: What are your specialties and can you tell us some more about them?
SCHROEDER: My wife Lori and I share a family practice in Westlake Village, CA. We treat young and old, athletes and couch potatoes and I enjoy treating them all. I do not have my CCSP or any other specialty degrees. I have focused on being the best adjuster I can be. As I said before, each adjustment of the day is the most important one at that time. When I practice this way and keep love in my heart for each patient, we see miracles every day in our office. Chiropractic is an amazing profession where we get positive feedback almost all day long. I love helping people become healthier. We have Pilates, massage and some therapies (EMS and US), but our office is all about the chiropractic care. My wife and I both feel incredibly blessed to be in this profession.
We are in the hunt to win another medal and, this time, we are focused on winning the gold.
TAC: How do you see the chances of the U.S. in the upcoming Olympics?
SCHROEDER: We are in the hunt to win another medal and, this time, we are focused on winning the gold. There are 10 teams in the world that are all pretty close to each other. We are in the middle of that pack. Currently, we are ranked fourth, which is where we have placed in the 2009 World Championships and the 2010 World Cup. In the Olympic year, it is all about which team comes together the most and plays at their peak for the 2 week period during the Games. I like our team. We are composed of primarily veteran players with as many as 9 returning Olympians from 2008 and then we will fill the roster with some young players that will bring some positive energy to the mix. We have good leadership and we have some of the best players in the world at the key positions, which is necessary to win a tournament like the Olympic Games.
TAC: Do you have any mentor in chiropractic that helped you along?
SCHROEDER: My Dad was my mentor for many years. He was my hero. Unfortunately, he passed away 4 years ago. But he left me with a passion for this great profession and a desire to be the best that I can be.
TAC: We heard that you have a pretty big chiropractic family. Can you tell our readers about that?
SCHROEDER: My Dad’s dad is the first of our family tree. I am proud to be a third generation chiropractor. We now have 68 chiropractors in our family. It is pretty awesome when a group of us get together.
TAC: Which techniques do you use and why?
SCHROEDER: I use a diversified technique that I learned at Palmer and which was refined by my father and years of practice. I also use a Leander table in our practice for flexion/distraction. Occasionally, I will use an activator and some soft tissue work (Trigger point or ART). We do utilize therapies in our office on approximately 50% of our patients. We have roller beds, EMS and US that we commonly will use after the patient is adjusted to allow the patient to relax before they run out into the busy world. I use these techniques because I have found that I get good results with them. I will continue to refine my practice as I grow and learn from my patients and other doctors.
TAC: What type(s) of diagnostic testing procedures do you use and why?
SCHROEDER: I use X-rays and MRI’s when I feel like it is necessary for diagnostic reasons in our practice. I am not afraid to refer out, if someone is not responding to my care or if upon my initial exam and evaluation I feel that I may not be the right doctor for the patient.
TAC: Do you have any “amazing” athlete recovery story?
SCHROEDER: I feel like chiropractic care helped me to become the only four time American Olympian in the sport of water polo. I was badly injured in a car accident in 1987 and doctors wanted to perform surgery on my right shoulder. With some amazing chiropractic care, I recovered fully without surgery and was able to play in two more Olympic Games after that (1988, 1992). Besides that, I see the miracle of chiropractic every day in our office with young athletes that tell me how much they improved on their time or how well they felt after an adjustment. On our 2008 team, only a few of the team members were receiving regular chiropractic care prior to my being selected as the head coach. By the time the Olympic Games came around, each one of the athletes was getting good care and I feel strongly that this was one of the key factors in our team’s staying healthy and winning a silver medal after being ranked 9th in the world heading into the Games. There is such a small margin between winning and losing at the Olympic Games and each one of our athletes came to realize the ability of chiropractic to fine tune the body and help them reach their athletic potential.
Chiropractic is simply helping our bodies to help themselves.
TAC: Can you tell us about your clinic?
SCHROEDER: Our office is about 7,000 square feet. We are located in Westlake Village, California, where we have practiced for the past 24 years. We have five chiropractors that share space and a physical therapist that also shares space. We have a Pilates studio and two massage rooms. I enjoy the team atmosphere that we have in our office. We all get along well and we feel like our staff is family. It does not feel like work when you come into the office. There is a nice calm healing environment.
TAC: Any final words for our readers?
SCHROEDER: Chiropractic is simply helping our bodies to help themselves. I get so excited when I get to introduce a new patient (who has never seen a chiropractor) to our great profession. I consider it an honor and I see it as an opportunity to change that patient’s life for the better. I hope none of us ever takes what we do for granted. It is truly a gift.
You may contact Terry A. Schroeder D.C. at: 31225 La Baya Dr. # 206, Westlake Village, Ca 91361. Phone: 818-889-5572 Email:
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Web: www.schroederhealthyliving.com
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Interviews
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Written by William Koch, D.C.
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Wednesday, 11 May 2011 17:37 |
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D r. Don Harrison has been a tireless Chiropractic researcher and scientist for more than 35 years. Originator of Chiropractic BiophysicsTechnique (CBP), Dr. Don conducted his research and reported his findings according to established scientific standards and protocols. His diligence and expertise have been rewarded by a high level of acceptance by the scientific community.
Dr. Don’s outstanding career as a Chiropractor, researcher and technique developer came to an unfortunate and untimely end when he was stricken with a devastating illness three years ago. Fortunately his son Deed Harrison was ready, willing and able to “take over the family business” and continue his Father’s work.
Dr. Deed Harrison is a young man with a purpose: to advance the science and art of Chiropractic, through CBP NonProfit, Inc., a research and educational foundation established by his father in the 1990’s. Until recently he and his wife, Shirlene, who is also a chiropractor, have practiced and taught together. Just this month (April 2011) they sold their clinical practice to focus entirely on CBP Technique Seminars and CBP NonProfit Research.
Koch: Dr. Deed, I am pleased to have the opportunity to hear about the latest developments in CBP. I have taken several seminars taught by your Dad. They were terrific. It is a real loss to the profession as well as a personal tragedy that he is no longer able to continue his work.
DEED: It is indeed a tragedy. I am just grateful to be in a position to take over CBP and continue for him. I have upgraded our business model for greater efficiency while continuing the research and teaching program.
Koch: One of the things that has distinguished CBP over the years is the incredible number of peer reviewed articles your Dad and you have had published. That is a great accomplishment and service to the profession.
DEED: Thanks Bill, we are proud to have had over 100 articles and studies published in peer reviewed publications.
CBP Technique methods have foundations in Linear Algebra theory mathematics (study of rotations and translations) and mechanical engineering.
Koch: Deed, please give us a thumbnail sketch of what CBP is about. I want our readers to know that CBP is not just another line drawing X-ray analysis and adjusting technique, but a provable scientific approach and valuable chiropractic reference resource.
DEED: The technique goals of normal spinal position and normal posture are achieved through well researched and documented, scientific methods. CBP Technique methods have foundations in Linear Algebra theory mathematics (study of rotations and translations) and mechanical engineering.
While many chiropractic techniques are lacking evidence-based support, CBP Technique is an exception to this situation. CBP technique researchers have authored 135 studies in the peer-reviewed, indexed literature on a variety of aspects of CBP technique theories, protocols, and practices.
Koch: This work is very important to the entire Chiropractic profession. It provides scientific validation of the principles of chiropractic, placing us on firm ground in any inter-professional dialogue, especially when the efficacy of chiropractic is being challenged.
DEED: That’s right. Let’s take it a step further. In a significant portion of chiropractic research, the authors are analyzing outcome measures in patient populations following chiropractic intervention without validation of what it is (subluxation) that is being treated. Further, the improvement in the subluxation is seldom documented with reliable/valid methods. With this in mind, correlation of subluxation reduction to improvement in a patient specific condition cannot be made.
CBP researchers did not want to ‘place the cart before the horse’ by studying patient outcomes without prior investigation of the methods used in these studies. Therefore, in the mid 1990’s a four tiered research outline or plan was laid out where each tier utilizes information from the preceding one(s). The tiers are:
Establish a scientific definition of the ideal and/or average human spinal alignment.
Define and investigate the existence of spinal subluxations.
Evaluate the reliability and validity of the assessment of spinal subluxation types described in tier 2.
Develop interventions to reduce subluxation types in tier 2 using the assessment procedures in tier 3 and investigate patient outcomes using these interventions.
Koch: What are the clinical goals of CBP in a nutshell?
DEED: The CBP is very straight forward. While many in chiropractic are turning away from structural outcomes of care to concentrate solely on pain reduction, improved ranges of motion, and other functional based outcomes, in contrast, CBP emphasizes optimal posture and spinal alignment as the primary goals of chiropractic care while simultaneously documenting improvements in pain and functional based outcomes. The uniqueness of CBP treatment is in structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture. This goal requires (1) a precise definition of normal posture and (2) reliability and validity of postural measurement.
Koch: The level of corrective care you are discussing requires an extensive course of care. Understanding that each case is different in terms of severity, chronicity, degenerative joint disease, patients stress load and lifestyle, what might your recommendations for corrective care look like for a hypothetical middle aged patient with a moderate degree of DJD and pain?
DEED: The CBP protocol of care recommends that relief care (traditional chiropractic management) be separated from structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture. In this regard, the typical patient would receive an initial 3 weeks of care (4 times per week or 12 visits) aimed at improving segmental and gross spinal range of motion and pain intensity/frequency.
After, the initial relief care, CBP structural rehabilitation procedures would begin and include exercises, adjustments, and traction performed in the Mirror Image® (referred to as the E.A.T protocol). The mirror image® posture positions are the rotation and translation pairs in or about each coordinate axis.
The reason for postural mirror image® exercises, adjustments, and traction procedures is to address all the tissues involved in spine and posture alignment. Mirror image® exercises are performed to stretch shortened muscles and to strengthen those muscles that have weakened in areas where postural muscles have adapted to asymmetric abnormal postures. Although strength and conditioning exercise has not proven to correct posture, postural exercises performed in the mirror image® have shown initial promise in the reduction of posture and spinal displacements. Recommendations for the corrective phase are made in 36 visit increments as warranted by the individual case.
Koch: This is obviously a very comprehensive approach to spinal correction. What equipment and procedures are involved?
DEED: You are right, Bill, we try to cover all the bases. Postural adjustments as performed with drop table, hand-held instrument, or even mirror image manipulation procedures are performed for resetting the nervous system regulation of postural muscle balance. Postural mirror image and extension traction for the sagittal curves provides sustained loading periods of 10-20 minutes and is necessary to cause visco-elastic deformation to the resting length of the spinal ligaments, muscles, and discs.
Koch: One of the things that your work provides is a system of rehabilitative care for the patient to do at home. Please tell our readers about it.
DEED: We partnered CBP with Denneroll Industries of Australia to provide a full product line of biomechanically correct supports and orthotic devices for the rehabilitation of spinal curves.
The reason for postural mirror image® exercises, adjustments, and traction procedures is to address all the tissues involved in spine and posture alignment.
Koch: Looking at your website and literature, I am impressed not only by your attention to proper biomechanics, but by the fact that you even consider the individual body mass index in making your recommendations.
Equally important are your guidelines of contraindications. We all have had patients who have had negative response to rehab exercise. These guidelines go a long way toward helping the doctor prevent unintended exacerbations.
DEED: There are multiple benefits to putting patients on a spinal rehabilitation program. They speed up the corrective process and relief of pain. When we engage the patient in the corrective process it leads to improved compliance. Also, insurance companies like it when they see that the Doctor has recommended at home rehab. It is indicative of thoroughness and a sincere interest in expediting the patient’s results. It is a win – win situation.
Koch: Tell us about the CBP seminar programs.
DEED: The basic CBP certification program consists of 6 weekend seminars followed by a proficiency test. We also have an advanced certification program which consists of 6 seminars covering the more advanced procedures. That is also followed by a proficiency exam. To date, about 550 doctors have achieved a CBP proficiency rating.
Koch: Deed, I would like to compliment you on your stand on behalf of the continued right of chiropractors to use X-ray in their practices. X-ray is one of our most important analytical tools. The chiropractors who were behind the effort to eliminate or limit our use of X-ray are simply wrong and they’re doing our profession and patients a grave disservice. If they are so concerned with patient safety they should attack the medical profession’s indiscriminate use of CAT scans which commonly subject the patient to many hundreds of times the radiation exposure of a set of chiropractic films. Our entire profession owes you a debt of gratitude for your work in this matter. I appreciate your work and dedication to furthering the scientific basis of chiropractic, but don’t forget to allow time to take care of yourself. You owe that to yourself and your family.
Dr. Deed will be presenting a comprehensive, contemporary review of this topic at the upcoming 32nd CBP Annual Conference on Sept. 24-26th, in Scottsdale, AZ. Deed E. Harrison, D.C. is President CBP Seminars, Inc., Vice President CBP® Non-Profit, Inc., Chair PCCRP Guidelines, Editor—AJCC.
Dr. Bill Koch is a 1967 Cum Laude graduate of Palmer. After 30 years of practice in The Hamptons, NY, he retired and moved to Abaco, Bahamas, where he and his wife Kiana travel by boat to provide Chiropractic care to the residents of the remote out islands. Dr. Koch, author of Chiropractic the Superior Alternative, writes a blog: Mentoring Young Chiropractors http://DrWilliamHKoch.com and is working on two new books, ChiroPractice Made Perfect and The Out Island Chiropractor. He may be contacted at
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Interviews
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Written by Bill Koch, D.C.
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Monday, 21 February 2011 00:00 |
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W hen it was suggested that I do an interview with Applied Kinesiology practitioner and instructor, Dr. Eugene Charles, I was hesitant to accept the assignment. Of all the well known chiropractic techniques, Applied Kinesiology was the one in which I had the least interest. Throughout the years, I had seen numerous demonstrations of what had been represented to be AK and, to be very candid, I was not favorably impressed. The various demonstrations I had seen gave the impression AK was a magic act with “sleight of hand tricks,” as one might see performed by an illusionist in a Las Vegas show.
When I voiced this opinion of AK as my reason for refusing the project, I was offered a DVD of one of Dr. Charles’ lectures to see if it might change my mind. I agreed to watch the DVD and I am really glad I did.
The various demonstrations I had seen gave the impression AK was a magic act with sleight of hand tricks, as one might see performed by an illusionist in a Las Vegas show.
Dr. Charles impressed me right from the beginning. I quickly learned that my negative impression of AK was based on misrepresentations or, at least, incomplete representations of what AK really is.
In spite of being favorably impressed by Dr. Eugene Charles and his obvious expertise, I was still reluctant to do the interview with him because I realized that my lack of knowledge of what I had come to realize is a complex, multi-faceted subject would not allow me to have an intelligent conversation with him.
It was then suggested that I review APPLIED KINESIOLOGY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, a 100-hour AK certification course taught by Dr. Eugene Charles in a series of DVD’s, complete with accompanying text books. How could I refuse that offer? The plan was for me to simply skim the course, but I quickly found myself engrossed in it. I really enjoyed Dr. Charles’ teaching style, as well as the content of the course. AK proved to be much more than I ever thought it to be. Instead of skimming, I began to seriously study the course, viewing the DVD’s and the text books over and over. I now recognize that AK has great value and I regret that I was previously so dismissive of it.
I now introduce my friend and esteemed colleague, Dr. Eugene Charles.
Koch: Eugene, how long have you been teaching Applied Kinesiology?
I have not practiced a single day without the benefit of AK. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have the tools that AK gives us.
CHARLES: More than half my life. I began teaching in 1986, tutoring students. When I attained my Diplomate in Applied Kinesiology (DIBAK), I began teaching a 50-hour course at The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. Then I moved to New York and started teaching the 100-hour course in Manhattan and also upstate near The New York College of Chiropractic. I have taught this course twenty-five times. These are the seminars that are on the DVD’s you have been watching.
Koch: That explains why your teaching style is so polished. You’ve had a lot of experience. I have only worked my way through a portion of your 100-hour course, but I am hooked. I am also pissed off that I didn’t find out what AK was really about years ago. The only thing I can say is that, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
CHARLES: It is too bad, but I am so happy to see your excitement. It means a lot, especially in view of your technical background and 43 years of practice experience. I know you aren’t easy to impress. Don’t feel too bad about your previously negative impression of AK. Many other DC’s have had the same experience with goofball demonstrations that left them saying, “That stuff is BS.”
Koch: It really is a shame. I hope that this interview will inspire the young DC’s, and perhaps even those who are skeptics like I was, to take a good look at your course. Not everyone will be willing to do the work, but those who do will be well rewarded for their efforts.
CHARLES: You are right, Bill. It takes someone who is highly motivated and disciplined. The last thing I want is to see anyone just “dabble” in AK. I want to teach those doctors who want to be great healers.
Koch: I love something you say in the course: “No one talks about Alexander the Mediocre or Catherine the Ordinary.” I made a pact with myself while a student: to be the best Chiropractor I can be, and never settle for anything less than giving my patients the best care possible.
The last thing I want is to see anyone just “dabble” in AK.
CHARLES: I made the same pact with myself. I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. George Goodheart, the founder of Applied Kinesiology, when I was still in Chiropractic school. When I saw what he could do, I said, “I have to learn to do that.” I was privileged to study with him for many years. As a result, I have not practiced a single day without the benefit of AK. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have the tools that AK gives us.
Koch: I can understand why you say that now that I know what the scope of AK encompasses. Prior to the 100-hour course, I associated it only with the muscle testing, and that wasn’t put in proper context. Now I know that there is so much more and that it dramatically expands our ability to functionally examine our patients in a highly evolved, systemic and systematic manner. For me, it fills in gaps I didn’t even know I had. It allows us, as you say, “to make sense of what heretofore has been senseless.”
Eugene, please give our readers your definition of AK, because it really says a lot.
CHARLES: Applied Kinesiology can be defined as the clinical application of the study of movement and function. It is functional neurology. It is diagnostic of the body’s central integrative state through the detection of direct or reflex manifestations within the structure or function of the muscular system.
Koch: That covers a lot of ground, Eugene. I think it would be helpful to enumerate the functional aberrations that AK identifies and the corrective procedures used to address them.
The universe is not to be narrowed down to the limits of our understanding... but our understanding must be stretched and enlarged to take in the image of the universe as it is discovered.
Sir Francis Bacon
CHARLES: Good idea, Bill.
The functional aberrations AK identifies are: Muscular, Neurological, Vascular, Osseous, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Endocrine, Acupuncture/Meridian systems.
The corrective procedures used to induce or restore normal function include, but are not limited to: a wide variety of chiropractic techniques including manual adjustments, instrument adjustments using the ArthroStim® and VibraCussor® adjusting instruments and SOT blocking, cranial techniques, therapeutic massage, reflex therapies, acupuncture, exercises and stretches, nutritional supplementation, emotional support or modalities and lifestyle changes. These are done with the aim of decreasing noxious stimuli below threshold and allowing the body to heal itself.
Koch: There is no question that, if we examine our patients to detect all of the possible aberrations of function you listed and then employ the corrective procedures as specifically indicated by therapy localization, muscle testing, postural analysis and challenges, we will be providing our patients with a very high level of care.
CHARLES: That’s right, Bill. Like one of the MD’s who took my course said: “You guys really have it!”
Koch: The technical information you present in the 100-hour course is great; but what I find equally important, and the thing that really brings it to life, is the way you talk about your philosophy of life, healing and practice. I think that is what really grabbed me and got my attention and made me want to hear more from you. I told my wife, Kiana, “This guy is saying all the things I have been saying and writing about for years.”
CHARLES: We are on the same wavelength, Bill. I believe that, while being proficient in effective techniques is very important, we should not strive to just be good technicians but true physicians. The technician loves the technology; the physician loves the patient.
Koch: Yes! I believe that our first priority should always be what is best for the patient.
CHARLES: I think of what we do as a healing martial art, and we are the healing Jedi of the 21st Century.
Koch: I love that analogy, Eugene. “May the force be with you.”
At the risk of sounding like a salesman for your course, I must say that I consider it a great value. When you consider the fact that most weekend seminars give you only 12 hours of CE credit, this course can provide 100 hours of CE without the cost of travel and time out of the office. I really like the DVD format, because it allows you to review the material as often as necessary while providing a permanent reference library.
CHARLES: Thanks, Bill. That is why I decided to do a DVD program. It could easily take three years to get the information in this course.
Koch: I want to leave our readers with one of your favorite quotes: “The universe is not to be narrowed down to the limits of our understanding…but our understanding must be stretched and enlarged to take in the image of the universe as it is discovered.” Sir Francis Bacon
Eugene Charles, D.C., DIBAK, received his doctor of chiropractic degree from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1987 and his Diplomate degree in applied kinesiology in 1994. He currently teaches the postgraduate course certifying doctors of all disciplines in applied kinesiology. The same 100-hour course is now available on a professionally edited DVD series with workbooks.
Dr. Charles may be contacted through his website www.charlesseminars.com or at 1-800-351-5450.
Dr. Bill Koch is a 1967 Cum Laude graduate of Palmer. After 30 years of practice in The Hamptons, NY, he retired and moved to Abaco, Bahamas, where he and his wife Kiana travel by boat to provide Chiropractic care to the residents of the remote out islands. Dr. Koch, author of Chiropractic the Superior Alternative, writes, a blog: Mentoring Young Chiropractors http://DrWilliamHKoch.com and is working on two new books, ChiroPractice Made Perfect and The Out Island Chiropractor. He may be contacted at
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Interviews
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Written by TAC Staff
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Monday, 21 February 2011 00:00 |
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 For more than eighteen years, Dr. Karen Gardner Bagnell has studied the mechanisms of breech and transverse presentations, pregnancy and delivery. Dr. Gardner Bagnell has guest lectured at The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia on the importance of Chiropractic care during pregnancy, labor and the post partum period, as well as at the American Association of Birth Centers on Optimal Fetal Positioning at Penn State. She is currently on the faculty at chirocredits.org and is continually featured in chiropractic, pregnancy and midwifery publications. Dr. Karen Gardner Bagnell has a family practice which focuses its attention on children and pregnant women.
TAC: Dr. Gardner, give us some background information on yourself.
GARDNER: I graduated from Life College in 1993. I have two children. Both were delivered naturally. The home birth of my son was featured on the television series “A Baby Story.” I only agreed to do the show if the producer guaranteed that pre-natal chiropractic care would be emphasized and highlighted. She agreed and the rest is history.
I have written two books on pre-natal chiropractic care that are in three chiropractic schools in America and also in Columbia University School of Nursing. I am currently putting the finishing touches on the book that I hope will serve as a text on the subject for chiropractic schools worldwide.
TAC: What inspired you to become a chiropractor specializing in pregnancy issues?
GARDNER: When I was a student at Life, I had cared for two pregnant women. I was so nervous and unprepared for the challenges and questions I had about pre-natal care. I absolutely hated feeling unqualified and unsure of myself and my abilities as a doctor. Then and there, in the tenth quarter, I decided that I will never feel that way again and started reading everything I could find on the pregnant female pelvis. I learned how and why the alignment of the pelvis and its support ligaments affects the position of the baby and the course of labor and delivery. I also discovered how and why a specific chiropractic adjustment can change all of that.
TAC: Who would you consider to be your mentor?
GARDNER: My mentor would have to be my dad. He grew up in a very poor family and knew the only way he could avoid the same life as an adult was to get an education and work for it. He went into the air force immediately after high school and used the GI bill to start his college career. He worked and went to school at night. Family day was Saturday and he studied all day on Sunday. He put family as a priority and I’ll never forget that. He taught me, by his actions, that the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary. He was the first in his family to graduate college; I was the second.
When a woman presents with a breech baby, that’s when it really gets fun for me.
TAC: What are your specialties and can you tell us some more about them?
GARDNER: Caring for pregnant women is definitely one of my specialties, as is cranial adjusting. When a woman presents with a breech baby, that’s when it really gets fun for me. I see each case as an opportunity to help someone like no other practitioner can. I see it as a challenge and a gift at the same time. Each time a baby turns, and on the rare occasions when it does not, I learn something. I take exhaustive notes so that I can be better the next time for the next expectant mom.
I started getting interested in cranial work after my own experience with migraine headaches sent me to seek out that specialty for correction and relief. Once I achieved amazing results with my chief complaint, I decided to look into learning as much as I could about this healing art as well. Now I’m starting to see amazing correlations with the cranial bones of a mom to be and breech presentations. I’m always amazed at the working of the human body. We are truly astounding creations.
TAC: How long does it take a chiropractor to learn this method of adjusting specifically associated with breech presentation?
GARDNER: To become certified in the technique takes eleven months through online seminars, book learning and hands on workshops. The technique, itself, is very uncomplicated. There is an order of spinal analysis that should be adhered to for optimum results. It may take a while to memorize that order, but anyone can learn the technique in a day.
TAC: Is this a different method than how you treat patients that are pregnant presenting for pain syndromes?
GARDNER: While there are certain patterns of subluxation and misalignment that occur with various chief complaints of pregnancy, such as sciatica, heartburn and Meralgia Paresthetica, our analysis and correction remain universal. We find something that needs to be corrected, we correct it and the innate healing ability of the human body takes it from there.
TAC: You mentioned to me that you had been investigated by some people associated with Stephen Barret. Can you comment on that?
GARDNER: A number of years ago I was tipped off by an anonymous e-mail that I was a “person of interest” to the quackbusters and their community. The Pennsylvania State Board received an allegation from a man named Terry Polevoy, from Canada, that I was practicing obstetrics without a license. Even though the allegation was completely fabricated, the State board’s policy is to investigate all claims of impropriety. For six months I was investigated and, of course, the claims were dismissed because they were ludicrous to begin with. I was left feeling like, “You know what, quackbusters? Not only am I going to continue my work with pregnant women, but I’m going to teach other chiropractors how to care for pregnant women, too.” In essence they were the impetus for me to get out there and start sharing what I know.
 TAC: Which techniques do you use and why? Do you use any diversified, Thompson, Activator?
GARDNER: In addition to the obvious Bagnell Technique; I use my own combination of SOT, AK, Thompson, Diversified, Gonstead, Activator and Upper Cervical. Each technique offers such wonderful elements in varying ways and I choose which pieces I need to best serve my practice member and then use them. SOT and Activator are two of my favorites, because they are so low force and gentle on the very pliable pregnant woman’s ligaments.
TAC: What type(s) of diagnostic testing procedures do you use and why?
GARDNER: Muscle testing, similar to Applied Kinesiology is what we like to use for analysis. It provides instant feedback to both practice member and doctor and lets everyone know if corrections were made. If the muscle was weak before the adjustment, it should be strong after the adjustment. If it isn’t, we missed something. We also use The Tytron Thermal Scan. It’s a fantastic tool to educate our moms-to-be and for us to get a clearer picture of the integrity of their spine without exposing them and their babies to ionizing radiation.  We uncovered an amazing pattern in the mom’s spine when she is carrying a breech baby. When that pattern changes, we can pretty much guarantee the baby has turned into a vertex position. It hasn’t been wrong yet. Of course, it’s just an in-house observation. We haven’t done an official study on it. Maybe I’ll add that to my ever-growing To Do list.
TAC: Tell us two or three of your most amazing patient success stories.
GARDNER: We have so many success stories, but there are two stories that I will never, ever forget. I had just adjusted a mom for the first time. She was about 36 weeks pregnant. She was in the prone position and needed to get supine so I could adjust her pubic bone with an instrument. I adjusted the pubic bone and then palpated for her round ligament to see if there was any residual spasm that needed working on. As I was palpating, her abdomen started moving like crazy. It looked like a wrestling match was taking place and then, all of a sudden, it stopped. We both looked at each other and started to cry because we had watched a miracle happen. Her baby turned right in front of me. I get teary eyed even to this day and this was over 10 years ago.
The second amazing case involved a woman whose baby never turned before labor started. She was so sad and broken hearted that she’d have to have a c-section. She continued to get adjusted right up until her labor began on its own. Because her midwife knew the value of labor even with a scheduled c-section, this mom-to-be labored for several hours before going to the hospital. As she arrived at the hospital, her water broke and the baby turned! She avoided a c-section and delivered vaginally. Another miracle and another c-section avoided.
We work very closely with area midwives, doulas and OB/GYNs.
TAC: What marketing strategies do you use to attract new patients and to keep current patients?
GARDNER: The most effective way to reach pregnant women is to reach out to the other people who care for them. We work very closely with area midwives, doulas and OB/GYNs. We stay in contact with them about our mutual patients through follow-up phone calls and/or reports. We don’t ask them for referrals; instead, we teach them how and why to refer to us. We then, of course, thank them for referring. Gratitude is so important.
We initially discover, during consultation, what our new practice members expect from us. We then give them a care plan based on our knowledge and experience with similar cases to theirs and their expectations. It’s a win-win. They follow the care plan because it’s what they choose in the first place. We also perform routine progress exams and spinal scans to monitor their progress and continued need for care. We don’t just say, “You need to keep getting adjusted.” Instead, we show them why they need to continue getting adjusted.
TAC: What is the success rate you have with your technique?
GARDNER: Success rate in our technique is a little higher than 96%, on average. Gestational age, mother’s age, abdominal surgeries, uterine size and shape, as well as mother’s stress level all have bearing on the success rate. Our success rate is on the incline just recently, as we have incorporated cranial work and homeopathy in the more “stubborn” cases.
You may contact Dr. Bagnell at
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. More information can also be found at www.pregnancychiropractic.com.
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