based, interprofessional and patient-cen-tred learning on the profession of chiro-practic, as well as on the public it serves: Canadian Chiropractor: What do you think will be the impact of Parker gaining university status for chiropractic education? For chiropractic as a whole? Dr. Ken Thomas: This change sets the stage to pursue a new vision that in-cludes the addition of new chiropractic healthcare-related bachelors and masters degrees in chiropractic education. Ad-ditionally, this change will raise aware-ness within the community, allowing for partnerships (through articulation agreements) with regional universities, research collaboration with other univer-sities and community health services. Also, this change provides an oppor-tunity for the profession to enter new arenas that are not yet exposed to chi-ropractic. For example, the new agree-ments with traditional universities will provide opportunities for prospective students to consider chiropractic. Prior to this change, students in regional uni-versities may not have had the opportu-nity to consider chiropractic as a career. CC: What are some interprofessional opportunities that Parker University is ac-tively pursuing for its students at this time? Dr. Greg Page: Parker University’s External Programs is actively pursuing more opportunities for our students to get exposure to interdisciplinary mod-els. Currently Parker University has a relationship with the VA Hospital in Dal-las where students attend an eight-week rotation treating our veterans. Students in the VA Program get the opportunity to co-manage many chronic complex cases. This rotation offers the students the opportunity to work with other de-partments within the VA. Chiropractic services are offered to veterans through the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department under the supervision of Lee Moses, DC and Webin Yang, MD. Parker University’s External Programs have also recently established a relation-ship with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This program will provide the opportu-nity for a student to mentor under the supervision of John Sibley, DC, in his private practice and during his rotation at CTCA treating cancer patients on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tues-days, through this 11-week rotation, 28 • Canadian ChiropraCtor | JULY/aUGUSt 2011 the students will be observing every department to fully understand the in-terdisciplinary approach to care. The student will visit with oncology, natu-ropathic, inpatient, nutrition, acupunc-ture, mind/body, pharmacy, radiology and surgical services. This will truly be a great comprehensive view of the inter-disciplinary model of CTCA. Finally, Parker University External Programs is working to establish a rela-tionship with the Department of Defense at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washing-ton, D.C. This program is directed by Bill Morgan, DC, and is a six-month rotation. Dr. Morgan accepts applicants from sev-eral chiropractic colleges. This program is scheduled to accept Parker students be-ginning in May 2012, once the new cur-riculum allows for a six-month rotation. CC: What would be the benefit for chi-ropractic education, in general, if students in all chiropractic schools had regular exchange opportunities with other chiro-practic schools throughout the world? Dr. Juan Sanchez: Chiropractic was es-tablished upon solid philosophical princi-ples, equally encompassing the importance of art and science. If we consider these premises as “living” principles, it is only normal to expect to see them evolve with time. I believe our founders and specially, D.D. and B.J. Palmer, established solid chiropractic principles and premises, but never expected them to remain static. In making these considerations and re-sponding to the question at hand, I believe any international academic exchange pro-gram represents a unique opportunity for our profession to potentiate the evolution of chiropractic principles and their prac-tice. Participants in our abroad programs are unavoidably exposed to different ways of thinking, different health conditions, and among many other things, different cultural aspects that ultimately will influ-ence the way chiropractic is practised in each country. We have seen the good and fruit of Parker University Abroad Program in each participant, and we use every op-portunity available to spread the interest for creating similar programs in other chiropractic college/universities around the world. CC: Besides Parker Seminars (which are well known and respected), how does Parker University support doctors of chiropractic in lifelong learning? Dr. Ken Thomas: Parker has been Parker University chiropractic intern working in the school’s clinic. a supporter of lifelong learning from the beginning. In fact, Parker Seminars started in 1951 as a way to teach chiro-practors how to build successful prac-tices, and it is no different today. Parker Seminars successfully hosts thousands of chiropractors, and chiropractic assis-tants, at the largest gathering in the pro-fession each year. Additionally, Parker Continuing Education offers innovative training and CE opportunities in topics such as animal chiropractic, pediatrics and sports chiropractic. The Parker Alumni Association hosts events for current students that expose future doctors to real-world practice situations; sponsors assemblies on cam-pus where the biggest names speak on a variety of subjects; and offers “Lunch-n-Learn” opportunities for students and alumni to visit with practicing doctors. Ultimately, Parker looks for every opportunity to expose the public to the benefits of chiropractic, hosting in-clinic talks and participating in regional health fairs and other events focused on health and wellness. Canadian Chiropractor offers its congrat-ulations to Parker University, its students and its faculty on their recent and ongoing achievements, and commends chiropractic colleges around the globe for their dedica-tion to patient-centred education and to the profession, and its principles. • 1. The concept of “The New ‘U’” has been ad-opted by Parker University and is explained on its website, at www.parkercc.edu. www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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