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What comes to mind when we think about health? Some people might think about the things we do to stay healthy, like exercise, eating right, good hygiene, adequate rest and the like. Others think less about what they do individually to be healthy and their thoughts go directly to "health care", which is generally focused on medical practice. Which one did you think of first? Answering this question reveals much because if you thought first about the steps you take to live healthfully, then you have identified yourself as one who is actively involved in assuring the health of your family. Not surprising is the fact that most people respond to the question the other way. More commonly people rank health next to doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals and the like (but the curious thing is that those relate more to sickness than to health). This deeply ingrained tendency of the majority is reinforced in part due to experiences we or some family member have had with failing health and even more so by constant, massive media exposures. We also know that the health care crisis in America is getting worse, not better (this may be why thousands of us seek more natural alternatives). Nevertheless, the heaviest adverting on radio and television involves the sale of medicines and related promotion of medical practice. It has been said that American children have been exposed to thousands of hours of drug advertising before they enter kindergarten. We know that this aggressive selling is not new, nor is the medical profession with its 5,000 year history. With this perspective in mind, the chiropractic profession stands in sharp contrast. Only about 100 years old, it is remarkable to observe that chiropractic has quickly become the world’s largest drugless healing art. But the great advancement wasn’t just because it avoids drugs and surgery; it was because of the results in patients. It is a particularly noteworthy fact that the chiropractic profession was born in the United States of America. Chiropractic is destined to go down in history as one of those great innovations, born in the USA. Having faced and overcome fierce opposition from political medicine for most of that time, the chiropractic profession today is well-known and respected by Americans. Today enlightened physicians often refer patients to chiropractors they trust. But this is not yet true in all parts of the world. In many countries chiropractic is still very new. In some foreign countries chiropractic is a mainstream profession with accredited colleges and universities, research programs and licensure for graduates. Meanwhile, in other places chiropractic does not yet exist as a distinct profession. This is especially true south of our borders. Very few people in Central and South America enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care and in some countries the profession is still under attack, just as it was here in the early years.
History tends to repeat and in the health sciences new innovations have always been greeted with skepticism and often with hostility. In the early 1900’s doctors who washed their hands before touching patients faced ridicule and antagonism from their peers. These same attitudes have surfaced as chiropractic has advanced in this country and others. However, there have been some bright spots, too. One success story is unfolding right now in South America where a group of Argentinean health care professionals have been working diligently to bring chiropractic to their country. For more than ten years they have been studying chiropractic, organizing a professional association and providing educational seminars. The leading individuals have eliminated everything from their practices except for chiropractic. Now these practitioners are teaching their patients about the benefits of chiropractic for better health and why whole families should receive care.  click to enlarge Left to Right: Dr. Liam Schubel (Peru); Dr. Brian Kelly (New Zealand); Dr. Myron Brown (USA); and Lic. Maria Ramonda (Argentina) presented a Dec. 12-14 seminar on chiropractic principles and practice in Cordoba, Argentina.
Education has been the major thrust of the plan that is now bringing chiropractic care to the people of Argentina. Post-graduate seminars have been held regularly by the country’s national chiropractic association, Asociación Quiropráctica Argentina (AQA). To develop the profession in Argentina, the AQA has been hosting doctors of chiropractic from the U.S. and elsewhere to teach there. Now a major milestone has been achieved as a partnership between the Argentine chiropractors and an accredited university has created the first chiropractic program at a university in Argentina. Serving as an honorary director, Dr. Myron Brown assisted the Argentinean chiropractors in developing the curriculum. The pioneer class of graduates received their “Diplomatura in Chiropractic” on December 13, 2008. The Diplomatura represents six months of intense post-graduate study. To be eligible to enter the program at the University leading to the Diplomatura in Chiropractic, a student must be a licensed health care provider who has documented at least an additional 600 hours of study in chiropractic and passed a special proficiency exam in specific chiropractic subjects. The proficiency exam is given under the auspices of the International Agency for Chiropractic Evaluation (IACE). The IACE tests practitioners in spinal anatomy, x-ray, instrumentation, case management and philosophy of chiropractic.  click to enlarge 20 graduates receive their Diplomatura in Chiropractic from representatives of Universidad Empresarial Siglo 21, Dr. Brown and Foundation officers. When asked to describe the occasion, Dr. Brown said, “The AQA members have demonstrated great enthusiasm for bringing chiropractic services to the people of Argentina. The graduation was formal but the celebration following was a spirited event. These people are very conscious of the fact that they are making history. They are capable and determined and I am proud to have played a small role in helping to make it happen.” Having achieved this important phase of the process in pioneering a profession, the next phases will involve establishing a formal education career path for people to enter the profession. After the education career is well established, recognition by the government of the country will be within reach. These steps are anticipated to assure that the highest quality vertebral subluxation correction service will become routinely available to all persons in Argentina. For more information about chiropractic in Argentina or studying chiropractic in Argentina, please click: www.quiropraxia.org.ar click to enlarge Posing for this photo immediately after the graduation ceremony; the faces of these graduates reveal their joy at having achieved this historic milestone.
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