National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) announced recently that its dean of clinics, Jeffrey Bergin, DC, DACBI, has been accepted into the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP).
The AASP is comprised of neurosurgeons and chiropractic physicians committed to working together to promote spine care and reduce the impact of spine-related disability. The organization strives to maintain open communication, continuing education and clinical interaction between neurosurgeons and doctors of chiropractic, and to keep patients informed of available treatment options.
Dr. Bergin, a graduate of Logan Chiropractic College, began teaching at National University in 1997 and was appointed dean of clinics in 1998. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and a fellow of the American Academy of Chiropractic Physicians.
Chiropractic and Insurance Communities Build Bridges at ACA Meeting The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recently hosted its annual Claims Solution Work Group forum in Washington, D.C. The meeting brought together representatives from several major insurance carriers with members of the chiropractic community to discuss chiropractic-related issues and insurance claims.
According to the ACA, insurance representatives attending the forum expressed more interest in learning about the chiropractic profession than in prior years.
"I would certainly classify this meeting as a breakthrough in the relationship between the insurance industry and the chiropractic profession," said John Gentile, DC, chairman of ACA's Insurance and Managed Care Committee. "No longer are carriers simply discussing chiropractic claims issues; they came to town wanting and asking to be educated about chiropractic. They wanted to know everything from how we care for our patients to our vision for a wellness-based health-care model."
An unidentified insurance representative who attended the meeting agreed, "Today is just what we needed to have a clearer understanding of how chiropractic fits into today's health-care landscape and core insurance benefits."
This year's forum included insurance representatives from GEICO; Blue Cross; Blue Shield; the Health Insurance Association of America; Erie Insurance Group; and others. The ACA provided insurance representatives myriad information on the profession, including the history of chiropractic; education; scope of practice; and techniques.
FCLB Elects Ron Tripp, DC, as District IV Director At the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards' (FCLB) 77th annual conference in Orlando, Fla., April 30-May 4, the executive board elected Ron Tripp, DC, to a three-year term as district IV director.
District IV of the FCLB encompasses 10 states: Arizona; California; Colorado; Hawaii; Kansas; Nevada; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas; and Utah. New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, Mexico and Guam also are a part of the region.
Dr. Tripp is the president of the Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners and has been a delegate to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the FCLB for the past six years. Prior to becoming president of the Oklahoma Board, Dr. Tripp served seven terms as president of the Oklahoma State Chiropractic Association. Dr. Tripp is also a court-appointed independent medical examiner to the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court.
Dr. Tripp graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1979. He currently maintains a private practice in Norman, Okla.
UBCC to Create Campus Leadership Center The University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic (UBCC) recently announced plans to create the Robert J. Matrisciano Leadership Center to benefit the professional development of UBCC students.
According to UBCC, the objective of the center is to teach students basic leadership principles and techniques, which will assist with their overall professional development and prepare them to interact with various chiropractic organizations after graduation.
The center will address topics relevant to professional growth, including the psychology of leadership; the legislative process; planning; negotiation; and conflict resolution. The center will also assist students in the practical application of leadership techniques as students collaborate on projects with school administrators.
The contributions of Robert J. Matrisciano, DC, a New York chiropractic leader and member of the university's board of directors, have made the center possible.
Texas Chiropractic College Adds New Degree to Curricula On May 2, 2003, Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) began offering a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) within the college's Department of Undergraduate Studies. The new degree joins two programs currently offered at the college: the Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
The BSPH has been in the planning stages since summer 2002 and was approved on April 12, 2003 at the TCC Board of Regents quarterly meeting. The BSPH degree requires a minimum of 72 to 78 semester credits of lower-division course work and 68 to 74 trimester credits of upper-division coursework to be completed at TCC. Texas law requires students to have completed 60 undergraduate semester credits prior to enrolling in TCC's doctor of chiropractic degree program.
For more information on the new degree program, contact the TCC admissions department at (281) 487-1170 or (800) 468-6839.
