Buettner Joins CP’s Editorial Advisory Board
Chiropractic Products welcomes Jacalyn G. Buettner, DC, a private practitioner from San Francisco, Calif, as one of its new Editorial Advisory Board member. As part of CP, Buettner will contribute articles, technical expertise and advice, and provide editorial direction to the magazine.

A 1985 honors graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, Buettner is an active leader in her profession. She is a Fellow in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic and the recipient of numerous awards and honors in recognition of her distinguished service to the advancement of the profession. She is a member of the International Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Association, and California Chiropractic Association.

Passionate about life and chiropractic, Buettner is enthusiastic about sharing her philosophy of life and practice and is committed to increasing public understanding and awareness of the benefits of chiropractic health care. A frequent lecturer and keynote speaker, her views have been featured on national media, including Good Morning America and World News Tonight. She has been actively involved in patient rights advocacy. Her political involvement runs the gamut from campaign fundraising to grassroots activities, attending public hearings, and participating in informal discussions with legislators.

Buettner is currently working on Head, Hands, Heart, a book honoring women in chiropractic, scheduled for publication later this year. “As an author, I hope to influence the women in our profession to become powerful healers transforming the lives they touch,” she says. CP

CAM Used With Many Autistic Children
Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadephia found that 32% of the 284 patients evaluated at the hospital’s Regional Autism Center for autistic spectrum disorder were using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Nine percent of the total reviewed, however, were using a potentially harmful approach to CAM. This method should not be dismissed, according to the study’s lead author, Susan E. Levy, MD, in an article in the December issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She said that the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages clinicians to discuss CAM practices in a nonaccusatory, nonjudgemental manner with patients.

“Some of these CAM treatments may alleviate problems associated with autism, such as sleep disorders and gastrointestinal problems, but the treatments are unlikely to resolve core symptoms of the disorder,” says Levy, who is the director of the hospital’s Regional Autism Center.

The researchers state, however, that the data found at one clinical location may not reflect figures for the entire autistic children population. CP

NCLAF Reaches $1 Million Goal
During the January 2004 Parker Seminars in Las Vegas, NV, Parker College President Fabrizio Mancini, DC, raised $1 million for the National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund (NCLAF). Doctors of chiropractic, students, and spouses pledged contributions to ensure a successful outcome for two ongoing federal lawsuits supported by the NCLAF.

“I made a commitment to raise a million dollars for the NCLAF through Parker Seminars, and I am thrilled that we have achieved that goal,” said Mancini. “These lawsuits are helping to ensure the future of our profession.”

The first lawsuit, filed in November 1998 against the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), seeks to ensure that Medicare patients in HMOs receive chiropractic care only from doctors of chiropractic. 

The second lawsuit, filed in August 2000, seeks to address what the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) believes are discriminatory reimbursement practices against chiropractors by Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia. The ACA’s complaint includes allegations of antitrust violations and of Trigon unfairly paying doctors of chiropractic 40% of what it pays medical doctors for the same services. Because Anthem, the company that has since bought Trigon, is now the largest health insurance company in the United States, the outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching effects for doctors of chiropractic across the country.

Contributions to the NCLAF can be sent to: PO Box 75359 Baltimore, MD 21275-5359. CP

Governance Changes At Palmer Chiropractic
News of the resignation of Guy F. Riekeman, DC, chancellor of Palmer Chiropractic University System, spread like wildfire on February 6, 2004. The official announcement from Palmer’s Board of Trustees stated that Riekeman had resigned the day before and that Donald Kern, DC, was taking over as interim president. However, an informal meeting on February 8 revealed that Riekeman had offered his resignation in protest of decisions by the Board, and that he had no desire to leave the college.

“It is about your own conscience,” he told the students at a community meeting on February 9, where he showed support for students and encouraged them to stay at the school. “I have made mine, now you must make yours. And be professional in doing so.”

On February 14, the Board released additional informtion to clarify their recent actions by outlining the resolutions passed at its January meeting to reassert the Board’s oversight role of Palmer, including: 1) Election of two board members to fill vacant officer positions, Trevor Ireland, DC, as vice chair, and William Wilke as secretary, 2) A revised board committee structure to provide the focus on critical topics, 3) Employment of Larry Patten, on a temporary basis, to ensure that the board has accurate and timely information to make informed and appropriate decisions related to University affairs, 4) Board approval of all hiring and salary increases across the University System until it is clear that policies and procedures are being followed, and 5) A special audit of University System operations conducted by McGladrey & Pullen. “Former Chancellor Dr Guy Riekeman opposed all of these resolutions except the audit and provided the board with the ultimatum that, if the resolutions were not removed, he would resign,” said board chair Vickie Palmer.

“He issued an ultimatum,” Frank Bemis, DC, board member said in the February 14 press release. “And the board could not subvert its oversight role, especially the stewardship of students’ tuition dollars. The board had no choice but to accept Dr Riekeman’s resignation, and there will be no negotiation with the former Chancellor.”

Kern who will take over as president of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, has held several leadership positions with Palmer, including serving as president of Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport from 1987 until 1994. Since 2002, he has been senior campus administrator, Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida. Bob Lee, because of his background and experience, will help lead Palmer College of Chiropractic West, San Jose, Calif, during this period. Gloria Niles remains academic dean at Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida at Port Orange, Fla. Doug Hoyle, PhD, will assume all responsibilities for institutional research, planning, and accreditation. Tom Tiemeier will assume responsibility for the areas formerly held by Bill Jarr, who is no longer employed by Palmer University.

“The Palmer Chiropractic University System will continue to operate under the leadership of the Board of Trustees as it explores—with the assistance of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community—greater integration of our campuses and programs in the delivery of education based on the Palmer Chiropractic Tenets and Principles, including a primary focus on chiropractic adjustment and a recognition of the significance of the nervous system to health and the effect of the subluxation complex upon the nervous system,” Palmer said. “We believe there is no better institution to lead the chiropractic profession than the Palmer Chiropractic University System, and we are committed to securing the future of Palmer for another 109 years.” CP

Study Investigates Link Between Vaccines and Autism, ADHD
There is an apparent link between exposure to certain neurodevelopmental toxins and an increased possibility of developing neurological disorders including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from Northeastern University pharmacy professor Richard Deth and colleagues from the University of Nebraska, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins University. The research, published in the April 2004 issue of Molecular Psychiatry, found that exposure to toxins, such as ethanol and heavy metals interrupt growth factor signaling, causing adverse effects on methylation reactions. Methylation, in turn, plays a significant role in regulating normal DNA function and gene expression, and is critical to proper neurological development in infants and children. Although reasons remain unknown, there has been an increase in diagnoses of autism and ADHD.

The authors of the study found that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the neurotransmitter dopamine both stimulated folate-dependent methylation pathways in neuronal cells. They also noted that compounds like thimerosal, ethanol, and metals (for example, lead and mercury) effectively inhibited these same biochemical pathways at concentrations that are typically found following vaccination or other sources of exposure. Understanding what happens when infants and children are exposed to these materials helps explain how environmental contact with metals and administration of certain vaccines may lead to serious disorders that manifest themselves during childhood, including autism and ADHD.

“Scientists certainly acknowledge that exposure to neurotoxins like ethanol and heavy metals can cause developmental disorders, but until now, the precise mechanisms underlying their toxicity have not been known,” said Deth. “The recent increase in the incidence of autism led us to speculate that environmental exposures, including vaccine additives might contribute to the triggering of this disorder.”

Thimerosal was often used for its preservative abilities in multi-dose units of vaccines for diseases like hepatitis, whooping cough, tetanus, and diptheria. Although thirmerosal has been mostly phased out in the United States in Europe beginning in 2000, vaccines today can carry trace amounts of it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thimerosal, however, is still common in third world countries where larger, multi-dose vials of these vaccines are shipped. CP

Six Associations Unify
In an effort to unify purpose, economy of time, money, and effort, six chiropractic associations in New Jersey joined to become one association: the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC). The unification vote occured on January 11, 2004, according to Gene Veno, executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association.

The six organizations that signed the document were the Entral Jersey Chiropractic Society, Council of New Jersey Chiropractors, Monmouth Ocean Counties Chiropractic Society, New Jersey Chiropractic Society, Northern New Jersey Chiropractic Society, and Southern New Jersey Chiropractic Society. CP