The International Spinal Health Institute is a non-profit organization formed to aid in the education and research of spinal health on a global basis. The Institute's new clinic facility "Spine" in Vladivostok, Russia has received international acclaim and support.

I'd like to now review what has been accomplished so far, as well as mention some of the Institute's on-going projects.

The Institute, with the help of the Russian Far Eastern Government, has established a permanent chiropractic treatment, teaching and research center in Vladivostok, Russia which has been fully operational for more than a year now.

The Institute has established an on-going educational, cultural and scientific exchange which has included the invitation to America of Dr. Kirill Anisov and Dr. Katia Malakova. They are two Russian medical doctors with post graduate training in manual therapy. Both doctors were brought over and spent several weeks observing in chiropractic offices. This exchange will continue with the invitation of Dr. Yuri Safranov to the United States in the fall of this year.

Additionally, I, along with several American chiropractors, spent time working and teaching at The Regional Center for Chiropractic in Vladivostok. The other doctors include: Dr. Donald Mears, Dr. Ken Stillwell, Dr. Ralph Boone, and Dr. Veronica Gutierrez. In addition, Dr. Robert Blanks from the University of California (Irvine) and Dr. John Gerhardt lectured and taught in Vladivostok.

The Institute, in cooperation with the Regional Center for Chiropractic, has arranged for the training of Dr. Tatian Messanina a Russian medical radiologist in chiropractic X-ray analysis.

In cooperation with Sherman College of Chiropractic, the Institute has arranged for the donation of five scholarships for Russian citizens to study chiropractic in the United States. The first award was given to Ms. Olga Voilkova who starts her studies the fall.

The International Spinal Health Institute has established a foundation for the first chiropractic college curriculum in Far Eastern Russia.

The Regional Center for Chiropractic, with the help of the Spine Institute, is conducting subluxation-based outcomes assessment research. The Institute's scholarship programs and exciting exchanges of research ideas with fellow doctors from the U.S. and Russia have resulted in a heightened awareness of how we all benefit by supporting these on-going educational, cultural and scientific programs.

The continuing support of a far-reaching program such as this, is a monumental task. However, we feel as though we have found the answer to the continuing support we need by turning to the very people we are attempting to help with our research programs: the doctors and their patients.

The world around us is changing in ways we never dreamed possible. Not only has the world gotten much smaller, but the way we live and conduct business has changed dramatically also. With the advent of new technology, businesses have been forced to adapt to these changes in order to survive and flourish.

Here in the United States, we have entered a period of time in our economic history where we as consumers now have choices for daily services that are considered necessities -- services previously provided only through monopoly situations at prices that were not negotiable.

These include daily service necessities such as phone service, cable access, electricity, natural gas, internet access and paging services. Most of these services would certainly be considered vital by most businesses and individuals. This process of choice is called de-regulation. It began in the mid-1980s with the break-up of AT&T as the nation's sole phone service provider and was revised and expanded with the Telcom Bill of 1996 as it relates to most consumer services.

How does this impact the International Spinal Health Institute? The Institute is involved in a nationwide effort of financial support for the funding of research and education efforts on an on-going basis. This funding is being done through a national company that markets services for national and Fortune "500" companies that provide these daily services nationwide and are involved in the de-regulation process.

The Institute's main fund raising focus at present is the implementation of a nationwide network of chiropractors who become sponsors of the International Spinal Health Institute. These doctors and their patients can then support spinal health research and education without it costing them a penny.

Here's how it works.

Each time a sponsoring doctor or any of his or her patients uses any of these services, the International Spinal Health Institute receives a small percentage of the bill for those services. This continues for as long as the user continues on the particular service. These services offered by national and Fortune "500" companies are offered at substantial discounts and meet or exceed the quality currently provided in the industry.

This program is like belonging to a giant purchasing group and receiving huge discounts on daily services that you already use. Plus, you can support the on-going projects of the Institute that will one day establish quality chiropractic throughout the world, all at no cost to you or your patients. In fact, you and your patients save a substantial amount of money just for caring.