Life West Students Provide Care to Patients in El Salvador
Thirty-four Life Chiropractic College West (LCCW) students recently spent a week in El Salvador, participating in the school's "El Salvador Outreach Program."
According to Dr. Shawn Dill, a professor at Life West who spent nearly 10 years in Costa Rica, opening and directing four chiropractic clinics during that time, the program is a continuation of a program created in 1988 by Dr. Juan Campos. Dr. Campos, who currently practices in San Francisco, is a native of El Salvador and has been traveling there periodically for the past 18 years to provide chiropractic services.
Dr. Campos approached LCCW President Gerard Clum, DC, and asked that the college take over his mission, in order to maintain the integrity and longevity of his program. Dr. Clum and Dr. Dill (who is serving as project director for the outreach program) helped secure legal recognition of the effort and official acceptance of student interns to provide care on a temporary basis in El Salvador.
Over the course of the week in El Salvador, about 24,000 El Salvadorians received chiropractic care at 15 temporary clinic sites throughout San Salvador and neighboring towns. The 34 Life West students were joined by 17 chiropractors from different countries; the DCs supervised the students while donating their time to care for patients.
"We learned a great deal this first time around," said Dr. Clum. "The students who participated did an exceptional job on a clinical level as well as on a personal level. There was an exceptionally high degree of professionalism displayed by all involved."
The next El Salvador Outreach Program is scheduled for Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2005. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Dill at sdill@lifewest.edu.
Performance Health/Biofreeze to Award 75 Scholarships
This year, Performance Health, Inc., will award 75 scholarships to students enrolled at the 17 U.S. chiropractic colleges, through the Biofreeze Student Scholarship Program.
Performance Health will also fund college-related research. Students are encouraged to submit clinical papers based on care they may be providing to patients in clinic settings, and relating to their last year of education.
"Performance Health feels a strong commitment to preparing the doctors of the future," said Dr. Dana Mackison, director of education for Performance Health. "Through our support with scholarship monies and teaching materials, we are pleased to be able to recognize these students who will be the next leaders of our profession."
Students interested in more information about the scholarship program, including eligibility criteria, should contact their campus financial aid office, or call Dr. Mackison (toll free) at 888-815-7848.
Northwestern Students Meet With State Legislators
More than 75 Northwestern College of Chiropractic students and 250 chiropractors attended the Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) Day at the Minnesota Capitol on March 31, 2005. The event included a luncheon with MCA members and state legislators. Doctors and students then traveled to the Capitol to meet with individual legislators.
"These events featuring partnerships between the MCA and Northwestern are important," said Dr. Alfred Traina, president of the university. "By coordinating our efforts, we present a solid, unified front to legislators."
