PANAMA CITY, PA-Alright, listen up folks! The chiropractic field is at a pivotal point, especially down in Latin America. Over the past 25 years, it's grown like crazy - they went from barely any chiropractic schools or practitioners in 1992 to 10 legit schools and thousands of chiropractors today. Places Like Brazil had just 5 chiropractors in the early 90s and now they've got around 1,500! Mexico has 5 university programs serving about 1,500 students. This explosive growth shows the rising demand for chiropractic care and has really put the profession on the map in that region.
But with that popularity comes some serious challenges that need tackling ASAP. The lack of standardized regulations and accreditation for schools producing these chiropractors has allowed unqualified individuals and shady operations to exploit the "chiropractor" title. Some places are running totally unregulated chiropractic schools or informal courses that don't properly train people. This is leading to a bunch of poorly trained practitioners who could potentially harm patients and damage the reputation of the whole profession worldwide.
On top of that, physical therapy schools in Brazil have started offering chiropractic as an add-on program - which sets a really troubling precedent internationally. It's crucial that proper regulations get established to ensure the same high educational and practice standards in the field, already used around the globe.
To tackle this head-on, the Latin American Chiropractic Federation (FLAG) has been working for over 15 years to develop the Council on Chiropractic Education for Latin America. This council will promote educational standards across the region to make sure chiropractic graduates meet the same excellence levels as accredited programs in Europe and Asia. The FLAO formally incorporated in Puerto Rico 2 years ago, and once fully operational, will accredit legitimate chiropractic institutions, secure the profession's credibility, and sustain itself financially. The committee that is charged with this project is the Council on Chiropractic Education in Latin America (CCE-LA). I have been leading this project, working with great, selfless chiropractors, deans and administrators for close to 7 years now, and we need your help to get this project across the finish line. By the way, if you happen to see anyone that is listed below, be sure to thank them for their selfless efforts to support healthy, competent chiropractic education around the world.
A one-time contribution of $40,000 is urgently needed to cover start-up costs and launch the accreditation process. Two anonymous donors have generously pledged to match donations up to $10,000 - so your contribution will be doubled!
All donations are appreciated, whether large or small. You can send a check made out to the Latin American Federation of Chiropractic to their office in Canada, or contribute online at different tiers from Bronze up to Platinum level. Every donor will be recognized on their websites.
By supporting this effort,you'll be directly impacting the future of chiropractic education, improving access to quality care, and protecting patients and practitioners from substandard training risks.Your donation ensures chiropractic remains a trusted, respected profession in Latin America and globally.
The international chiropractic community has stepped up before - back in 2008 over $120,000 was raised to support Brazilian chiropractors in defending the profession, and that support is still felt today. Now it's time to unite again and make a lasting difference.
So dig deep folks, and let's transform chiropractic care in Latin America together! Reach out to the fundraising chair Dr. Brent McNabb or FLAO's Executive Director Dr.Sira Borges if you have any other questions. Your contribution will protect and enhance this vital healthcare field worldwide.
Ways to Donate
All contributions, large or small,are welcome and appreciated. Here’s how you can support this vital initiative:
1. By Check:
Make the check payable to: Latin American Federation of Chiropractic or FLAG.
-Send your donation to: FLAG c/o Dr.Sira Borges 404-525 George Street Cobourg, ON, Canada K9A 5L9
2. Donation Tiers (in USD):
• Platinum: $4,000+
• Diamond: $2,000 -$5,999
• Gold: $1,000-$1,999
• Silver: $500 -$999
• Bronze: Upto $500
All donors will be recognized with gratitude on the FLAG and future CCE-LA websites.
By contributing to this effort, you will directly support the future of chiropractic education, improve access to high-quality care, and protect patients and practitioners from the risks posed by substandard training. Your support will ensure that chiropractic remains a trusted and respected profession in Latin America and across the globe.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact:
Dr. Brent McNabb, Chair of the Fundraising Campaign Committee: [email protected]
Dr.Sira Borges, FLAG’S Executive Director: [email protected]
Together, we can transform chiropractic care in Latin America and protect the global integrity of the profession.
