Ross Joins CP’s Editorial Board
Chiropractic Products welcomes Kenneth S. Ross, MBA, DC, JD, LHRM, to the Editorial Advisory Board. In addition to serving as clinic director for four large multidisciplinary practices in Orlando, Fla, Ross owns and operates a national medical-legal consulting company where he focuses on tort law (negligence), medical malpractice, chiropractic law, risk management, medical records, and consents.

Ross received his BA in criminal justice and public administration from the University of Central Florida, his DC from Life University School of Chiropractic Medicine, and his JD from Monticello University School of Law with a concentration in health care law. Ross was a deputy sheriff for 18 years and has been practicing chiropractic for 19 years. He simultaneously worked as a sheriff and operated a solo practice for 10 years before retiring from law enforcement and selling his practice to join the group practice where he currently works.

"I feel it is important to present and give back to a profession that has treated me well. I have the ability to reach many doctors through teaching, writing, and publishing so they are better prepared and educated in the issues that will affect them on a daily basis," Ross says. "Being on Chiropractic Products’ advisory board is a privilege and an opportunity to keep the profession informed about medical-legal issues."

People in the News

Sherman College Names President
The Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic Board of Trustees announces the appointment of Jerry L. Hardee, EdD, as the college’s third president.

Hardee first became acquainted with Sherman College and the straight chiropractic profession when he served as a site visitor for the Commission on Accreditation of the Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association in 1985. He went on to serve as chairman of the Commission for 4 years.

In his most recent full-time appointment, Hardee served as vice president for academic affairs at Albany State University, one of the 35 colleges within the University System of Georgia. Prior to that assignment he was assistant to the president at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga. He has been involved in educational administration for more than 30 years. He holds an EdD and certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Northern Illinois University, an MS in science education from Fisk University and a BS in mathematics from Clark College.

In his first address to faculty and staff, Hardee applauded the college’s strong planning processes and expressed his confidence that the roadmap is in place to lead the college forward. His top priorities will include continuing the improvement of the academic program, helping the college build its enrollment, and increasing individual gifts and the college’s endowment.

Source: Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

Koch Joins Palmer College of Chiropractic
David B. Koch, DC, the former president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, joins the Palmer College of Chiropractic administration and faculty. He will assist Palmer College and Palmer West President Guy F. Riekeman, DC, and teach in the philosophy and post-graduate areas.

Koch has been involved in chiropractic nearly his entire life. A long-time chiropractic patient, he became a chiropractic student at Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic in 1977, a chiropractor and chiropractic professor in 1981, and president of Sherman College in 1997. As a professor, he has lectured on spinal anatomy, spinal biomechanics/dynamics, X-ray/radiographic physics, and radiographic anatomy. He has also lectured and written extensively on the philosophy of chiropractic, and has been published in the Journal of Straight Chiropractic, the Journal of Chiropractic Humanities, and the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. He resigned as president of Sherman College in October 2000, and is currently writing an exploration of chiropractic’s traditional metaphysical philosophical model.

"He is known for his ability to artistically communicate the philosophy of chiropractic, as both a profound thinker and a politician who can sit at the table with representatives of the many factions of the chiropractic profession and respect their viewpoints while still being respected for his own views," says Riekeman.

Source: Palmer College of Chiropractic

In the News

ASH Launches Professional Affairs Department
American Specialty Health (ASH) announces the creation of the Professional Affairs Department, designed to enhance the organization’s relationships and proactive involvement with government agencies, national and state provider associations, universities, and clinical partners.

Kurt Hegetschweiler, DC, the organization’s vice president of chiropractic services, was named vice president of professional affairs. Hegetschweiler is a former, two-time president of both the American Chiropractic Association and the California Chiropractic Association (CCA).

R. Lloyd Friesen, DC, also a former president of the CCA, has joined ASH as director of the department. Thomas LaBrot, DC, has assumed Hegetschweiler’s previous role as vice president of chiropractic services. Douglas Metz, MD, remains in his current position as senior vice president of health services.

The impetus for the creation of the new department was the company’s national expansion, which began 2 years ago. Since then, ASH has experienced a 500% growth in the size of its provider network, which now includes 19,000 acupuncturists, chiropractors, dieticians, and massage therapists located in all 50 states. The company has also seen a 75% growth in membership.

The new department will support Metz and the company’s health services division in forging relationships with colleges and universities throughout the country for the purpose of co-sponsoring continuing education programs for providers and research initiatives. The Professional Affairs Department will also support provider recruitment, marketing, and other company functions.

On a more global level, the professional affairs department will interact with such government agencies as the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Consumer demand has turned complementary healthcare into a $40 billion market in the United States, and ASH provides full-risk administration of complementary health care benefits for 5.8 million members. Through its affinity program with more than 100 health plans nationwide, about 55 million individuals have access to one or more of ASH’s services.

Source: American Specialty Health

Research to Reveal Effects of Chiropractic on Migraine Sufferers
Cleveland Chiropractic College’s research department in cooperation with Parvaneh Mohammadian, DC, director of undergraduate studies, is conducting a clinical research study to investigate the benefits of chiropractic treatment on migraine attacks.

Previous research has shown that spinal adjustment is effective in the treatment of migraine episodes by decreasing migraine frequency, duration, and disability. Furthermore, pain studies have also shown that nasal fluids and saliva can be analyzed for naturally occurring chemical substances prompted by pain and stress in the body.

Researchers will study the chemical substances known to be present in migraine sufferers, measuring changes in concentration following spinal adjustments. Over the course of 8 weeks, this study will investigate the short- and long-term effect of these adjustments on migraines.

Source: www.prnewswire.com

FPN Joins ChiroSource Network
ChiroSource Inc of Clayton, Calif, has completed a national agreement with Fortified Provider Network Inc (FPN) allowing FPN access to the fully credentialed ChiroSource provider network nationally for its health benefits, workers’ compensation, and auto-medical payers. FPN is one of the fastest growing PPO health care networks. With its corporate offices in Scottsdale, Ariz, FPN works with many insurance companies, third party administrators, self-funded employers, and regional networks. ChiroSource Inc supplies its fully credentialed chiropractic network to nearly every major national PPO in addition to many local PPOs, affinity plans, and self-insured groups.

Source: ChiroSource Inc