The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA)  is holding a conference this month that marks the latest step toward unity for chiropractic. The event fits perfectly toward my view that the profession needs to unite and that chiropractors should get more involved in working to advance chiropractic.

A major portion of COCSA 2006, scheduled for November 8–12 in Baltimore, will be dedicated to a discussion on the best-practices document produced by the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP). The August 2006 issue of Chiropractic Products featured a pro-and-con discussion on the document, which is an effort to promote unity in the profession by providing available research on how to best treat patients, as well as a grading of the effectiveness of the various pieces of research.

But also fitting perfectly into my unity theme is a presentation at COCSA 2006 by Terry R. Yochum, DC, DACBR, who was recently instrumental in bringing three Colorado chiropractic associations to the table to begin discussing plans to unite as one association. The groups—the Colorado Chiropractic Association, the Colorado Chiropractic Society, and the Colorado Chiropractic Wellness Alliance—officially joined forces this past September as one Colorado Chiropractic Association. This is a great move for the state and the profession, because it gives chiropractors in the state a unified voice in promoting chiropractic-friendly bills in the state legislature. Also, combined membership dues allow the association to broaden its public relations efforts and increase member benefits, such as expanding its Web site.

Yochum at the COCSA event will give his “Chiropractic National Anthem” presentation, which promotes a unified chiropractic profession and is focused on the relationship triangle of philosophy, science, and art in chiropractic.

“We may practice in different ways, but we’re still under the same flag,” Yochum said. “It doesn’t mean everyone must think the same way, but we need to be tolerant of others’ beliefs.”

I agree with Dr. Yochum, but in addition to tolerating others’ beliefs, chiropractors at the local level need to do more for the profession. The national and state levels have made a great effort lately to advance unity. The CCGPP project (www.ccgpp.org), the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’ public relations campaign (www.foundation4cp.org), and the merging of state associations are three examples.

But more is needed. Get more involved: Join your state and/or national associations, and seek leadership roles with those groups. Participate with COCSA and make your voice heard.

Yochum compared the profession’s dilemma to a banana split. It has three different types of ice cream, but they’re all in the same dish. Similarly, chiropractors should celebrate their differences, and work together for the good of the profession.