Setting the Chiropractic Research Agenda: Conference II

Greater Outside Funding and Collaboration for Chiropractic Research Sought

By Al Adams, DC and Gerard Clum, DC

The Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, which conducts the research program for the Palmer colleges, completed the first stage of the development of the "chiropractic research agenda" last July in Washington, D.C. (see "National Workshop Sets Chiropractic Research Agenda," DC, Aug. 15, 1996).

The chiropractic research agenda is a project funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The 35-member panel of the first workshop debated passionately to propose and implement specific research projects, develop strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance the overall direction of chiropractic research.

Now the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research has completed the second workshop in developing the chiropractic research agenda: a conference in Alexandria, Virginia attended by a prestigious group of 66 men and women: 47 chiropractors; top PhD researchers; a project staff from the Palmer Research Center to monitor and contribute to the conference; a few medical doctors; a health scientist administrator from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; and a lawyer.

The participants were divided among six research-related working groups:

basic science
diagnostic and assessment methods
education
experimental and quasi-experimental intervention trials
health services
outcomes

The research agenda project is co-chaired by two members of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research: William Meeker, DC, MPH, director of research for the Palmer colleges, and Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD. Both appeared satisfied with the results of the second conference. Thirty-one proposals were produced at the conference, each containing specific aims, language describing the background and significance of the topic, a specific research design with attendant methods, and a list of required resources and budget estimates.

Dr. Meeker anticipated that the relationships developed among the participants at the conference "will enhance the probability that many of the projects will eventually obtain funding, and be implemented in a productive, collaborative manner."

Dr. Hawk added that a significant feature of the conference was the presence of representatives from several funding agencies that could support chiropractic research. Among the groups who presented panel discussions of goals and policies were the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER), the National Institute for Chiropractic Research, and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

The DCs at the workshop:

Al Adams, MS, DC
John Allenburg, DC
David Anderson, DC
Barclay Bakkum, DC, PhD
Ray Brodeur, DC, PhD
Gert Bronfort, DC
Gerard Clum, DC
Robert Cooperstein, DC
William Dallas, DC
Roni Evans, DC
Arlan Fuhr, DC
Meridel Gatterman, M.Ed, DC
Christine Goertz, DC
George Goodman, DC
Bart Green, DC
Gary Greenstein, DC
Mitch Haas, MS, DC
Scott Haldeman, DC, PhD, MD
Daniel Hansen, DC
Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD
Charles Henderson, DC, PhD
Charles Herring, DC
Maria Hondras, DC
Eric Hurwitz, DC
Claire Johnson, DC
Partap Khalsa, DC, PhD
David Koch, DC
Dana Lawrence, DC
Vince Lucido, DC
Dennis Marchiori, DC
Edward Maurer, DC, DACBR
Kevin McCarthy, DC
George McClelland, DC
Marion McGregor, DC
Silvano Mior, DC
Robert Mootz, DC
John Mrozek, DC
Paul Osterbauer, DC, MPH
Edward Owens, MS, DC
Kenneth Padgett, DC
Joel Pickar, DC
Ruth Sandefur, DC, PhD
Monica Smith, DC
Rand Swenson, DC, PhD, MD
John Triano, MA, DC
David Wickes, DC

Also in attendance were:

Partricia Brennan, PhD, dean of research at National College of Chiropractic.
Ian Coulter, PhD, senior scientist, RAND Corp.
Phillip Greenman, DO.
Joanne Nyiendo, PhD, dean of research, Western States Chiropractic College.
Charles Sawyer, dean of academic affairs, Northwestern College of Chiropractic.

While all 17 of the chiropractic college presidents in the U.S. were invited, only six were in attendance.