The WCA Council on Family Practice

Introduction
Mission
Leadership
Membership

Introduction

Families worldwide deserve to express their full genetic health potential.

The Council on Family Practice is dedicated to providing the knowledge, leadership and inspiration to make this possible.

it is the responsibility of the practitioner to educate the patients and the public on the importance and benefits of chiropractic care.

It is the responsibility of individuals to make health care choices that support their immediate and long-term health objectives.

The Council further acknowledges that the achievement of potential through the process of wellness is an ongoing, proactive, and lifelong lifestyle promoting whole body well-being and nerve system integrity.

Mission

The mission of the CFP is to:

The Council on Family Practice acknowledges that:

Leadership

Council Chairman Dr. Gary Brodeur, a 1996 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, served as International Chiropractors Association Representative Assemblyman for the state of Rhode Island, and Vice President of the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association. He is a founding member of the Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance (RICA), has served as Secretary for RICA, President of RICA, and is currently the immediate Past President of RICA.

In addition to his leadership role in the World Chiropractic Alliance, Dr. Brodeur is a member of the International Chiropractors Association, International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, The Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics, and the Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance.

A sought-after speaker in his community on various health and wellness topics that educate, inspire, and motivate people to live active healthy lives, he currently serves as part of the Family Practice Mentoring Team.

Advisory Board

Dr. Bill Bazin is a 1985 graduate of Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. While at Palmer, Dr. Bazin played for the Palmer College hockey team, and the nationally ranked Palmer College rugby team. He was also a Board Member of Pi Kappa Chi fraternity and continues to act as Treasurer of the Pi Kappa Chi national chapter. 

In private practice since graduation, Dr. Bazin consistently has more than 400 patient visits per week.  He is the club chiropractor for the National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes farm team, the Springfield Falcons. 

Dr. Russ Pavkov has spent his life opening doors to chiropractic in remote areas of the world, and he believes those efforts will have an even greater impact as he works with other family practice chiropractors toward a common purpose of “changing the world.”

In addition to running a highly successful family practice for 33 years, the Ohio D.C. has worked with the governments of Argentina and Paraguay to introduce chiropractic into their health care delivery system. He also oversaw the creation of one of the first chiropractic programs and branches of healing arts ever to be established in Ghana, Africa.

In addition to serving hundreds of patients, Dr. Pavkov also coaches D.C.s through his own Million Dollar Associate training program and has been a team speaker for Dynamic Essentials.

Dr. Craig Pruitt is a 1999 Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate and operates a family chiropractic practice in Middletown, Rhode Island. He is a founding member of the Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance and its current Vice-President. He is also is a member of the World Chiropractic Alliance, the International Chiropractors Association and the Palmer College Presidents Club.

Dr. Pruitt speaks on a range of subjects including raising a healthy drug-free family, traumatic birth syndrome, the Ritalin controversy, women’s health, human potential, and the benefits of a chiropractic lifestyle. His military experience includes U.S. Air Force Security Police Officer for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post aircraft.

Dr. Caroline von Fluegge received her B.A. in 1988 from Tufts University in Boston before pursuing a successful career in international marketing in New York City. Six years later, she took a summer off from the corporate world to ride her bicycle from Seattle to New York. In the middle of Montana, she realized that she was more passionate about helping people than creating marketing plans for large businesses.

Within months, with the encouragement of her New York chiropractor, she moved to Atlanta and started the beginning of her chiropractic career. After graduation, she worked first as an associate doctor and then as an independent contractor, before deciding to start her own practice in 2000.

Dr. von Fluegge is an expert in creating alliances with international corporations to spread the chiropractic message. Over the years, she has developed extensive on-site corporate wellness programs, educational materials, and lecture series. Recently, she founded 1000 Watt Productions, to develop audio CD programs on wellness issues for corporate employees.

With the guidance of Dr. Eric Plasker, she is also creating a similar series targeted towards kids under the name HIP (Healthy, Inspired & Productive) Kids & Parents.  Dr. von Fluegge is collaborating closely with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America as well as local schools to educate parents and kids about the importance of chiropractic.

Dr. Clyde Zerba received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic and practiced for two years in Colville, Washington before settling in Sierra Vista, Arizona in 1983. His wife, Lorna, comes from a family of chiropractors (grandfather, father and two of her brothers). The Zerbas have two children, one of whom is planning on attending chiropractic college.

Fascinated by the study of the human body, at any early age Dr. Zerba began reading the works of history’s great healers and physicians. He considered becoming a physical therapist, a surgeon, or a pathologist. “It was not until I earnestly began asking questions about how they practiced, what they had to offer, and their philosophies, that I finally made the decision to become a chiropractor. … The reason I became a chiropractor is my belief in health, potential, and the innate ability of our bodies to express themselves to the fullest.”

Dr. Karen Maxwell is originally from Long Island, New York and had her first chiropractic experience as a young teen. For many years she felt she wanted to help others through health care. After spending time as a chiropractic assistant and as a medical assistant in pediatrics and cardiology, she enrolled in an undergraduate program and received her B.S. degree. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University in 1999.

After graduation, she moved with her husband and two children to the rural area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in SW Virginia where she has maintained a family wellness practice with several generations of families under her care.  Dr. Maxwell obtained Certification in Pediatrics while finishing her D.C. degree and has successfully cared for many pregnant mothers and newborn children.

Dr. Maxwell is a member of the International Chiropractors Association, International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and the Virginia Society of Chiropractic.  She has given numerous lectures to the community on menopause alternatives, healthy mind/healthy body, positive approaches to ADD/ADHD, back pack safety, and many other topics.  She is very active in the Chamber of Commerce in her area, and has been instrumental in organizing several health fairs for her community.

Dr. Chris Thornell is a 1996 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic.  Dr. Thornell runs a busy family practice in Wareham, Massachusetts.  Dr. Thornell and his wife, Stephanie, have a high volume family of their own with five children: Karissa, Cooper, Camryn, Riley, and Keeley.  Dr. Thornell has created a number of chiropractic products for patient education and relationship marketing for family practices as well as being on the coaching staff of The Family Practice management organization.

Dr. Cheryl Langley

Membership

The Council on Family Practice is open to all doctors of chiropractic with an interest in family wellnes and health care. Membership is free for WCA members in good standing.   If you are already a member of the WCA,  you may join the Council on Family Practice via e-mail. Please provide your full name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

If you are not already a member of the WCA, you may use the online application form to join, then contact the Council to join.