The importance of achieving unity within the profession of chiropractic has been acknowledged repeatedly, and with increasing alacrity, becoming almost ubiquitous in chiropractic literature, rhetoric and dialogue.
The importance of achieving unity within the profession of chiropractic has been acknowledged repeatedly, and with increasing alacrity, becoming almost ubiquitous in chiropractic literature, rhetoric and dialogue.
Now that we seem to have embraced this notion, it is time to take actual steps toward deciding exactly how to bring it to fruition. Clearly, an all-encompassing call for uniformity is neither practical nor sensible, in a holistic and multifaceted discipline whose members are educated and creative practitioners. However, fostering a free-for-all culture may be destructive and lead to results that are contrary to the profession’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centred care.
Definitions of unity include, “The state or quality of being in accord; harmony,” “The combination of parts into a whole,” and “Singleness or constancy of purpose.” It can be argued that harmony and constancy of purpose must be arrived at on the profession’s various platforms – for example, in education, regulatory matters, clinical and practice protocol, and so forth – for a unified profession to ensue. This must be achieved without compromising the inherent value of the varying viewpoints inevitably represented on each of those platforms. Furthermore, we can only foster growth and development by examining all facets of the profession equally, without permitting any area either to be considered too contentious or to remain untouchable.
In this issue of Canadian Chiropractor, Dr. John Minardi, our Technique Toolbox columnist, offers his thoughts on unifying the profession in its approach to technique – before now, quite a contentious area! Drs. Don Nixdorf and Pran Manga call for the profession to unify in committing to fight for true reform in the health-care system. Dr. Barbara Eaton argues that chiropractors can unify to achieve more as a profession, and as individual practitioners. This is only a sampling of areas in which chiropractors can listen to one another and achieve the brand of accord that will see the profession move forward.
By making an effort to harmonize the direction of all the various endeavours that characterize the profession you have the potential to foster a meaningful and sustainable unity, without dulling the edge that diversity of approach lends to a discipline. This multilevel convergence of purpose, coupled with respect for diversity and frank examination of its components, will support the chiropractic profession’s success in the new year and beyond.
If I may take a slight turn, in my conclusion to this commentary, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to our very own Dr. John Minardi for being named 2011 Parker Seminars Chiropractor of the Year – North Region in Las Vegas this past January! Canadian Chiropractor is proud to see one of our family honoured with this special distinction.
Bien à vous,
Print this page
