Where Is The Chiropractic Profession Going?
Our world can change. It just takes the motivated people, significant effort, and the right “why.”
On November 9, 2019, in conjunction with the ChiroCongress annual convention in San Diego, CA, the Future of Chiropractic Forum was held, and stakeholders from across the country were invited to participate in this historic event. Representatives from state association leadership, colleges, national organizations, corporate partners, individual practitioners, and others, joined together to share their viewpoints through a facilitated discussion focused on what the future of chiropractic looks like in the next 50 years. Our goal was to identify a specific effort that a diverse group of individuals and organizations could support.
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It was concluded that the profession needs a strategic plan.
ChiroCongress agreed to take on the coordination of this effort on behalf of the profession and to dedicate resources to help manage the project. The ICS Executive Director Marc Abla and I were present along with over 100 others at that consortium, which resulted in the appointment of Mr. Abla, myself, and 16 others to the Future of Chiropractic Strategic Plan Committee.
Top priority was for our 3-phase strategic plan to be transparent, inclusive, and collaborative.
From the beginning of this process, we have shared all data collected. Updates may be found here, including a portal to sign up for weekly email updates.
It has been one of our major goals to include chiropractic physicians from different schools, states, national and state memberships, treatment styles, and a diversity of race, sex and culture. Phase I was designed to gather significant and relevant data, leading to the discovery and confirmation of commonly shared priorities for the future state of the profession. Since the beginning of the project, approximately 4,000 diverse chiropractors and chiropractic physicians have actively participated in orchestrating this important profession-wide strategic plan by participating in open surveys, focus groups, discussion boards, task forces and more.
Phase 2 of the strategic plan started in March 2021. Task force volunteers worked on developing an executable strategic plan, born from the commonly shared priorities identified through Phase I. Each volunteer works with the facilitators to focus their efforts on one of the four areas: professional identity, research, utilization, and legislation.
As Phase 2 is wrapping up and Phase 3 is beginning, it is an exciting time for the chiropractic profession. State and national organizations, as well as individuals, are pledging to be a part of the strategic plan through financial support, raising over $200,000 in the last few months alone. Additionally, the Illinois Chiropractic Society board recently contributed $10,000 and voted to contribute another $5,000 dedicated to matching funds.
What is our ask of you?
- Go here and check out the plan and its progress.
- Let us know you are on board.
- Contribute here today (use the drop-down to select the ICS matching funds).
It is time that we, as a chiropractic profession, agree that we desire and deserve a strategy for our future. Other similar professions have done so and achieved their goals. So, why not us? It’s time to set aside our differences and work toward advancing our profession, our lives, and the outcomes of our patients. Take a good look at your neighbors and colleagues. We are far more alike than different. Together we can make this happen. Together we can make a difference!
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