Health is the biological expression of the tension between potential and reality. Nowhere is this more dramatic than with reproductive health. While potential is associated with the inherent capacity for parenthood, a baby, and the emergence of a family, the reality associated with infertility withholds these transformations.

The normalization of nerve function and subsequent proper reproductive function -- including pregnancy in women diagnosed as "infertile" -- may be common in many chiropractic practices, however it has not been common knowledge.

Until now.

In 2003, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR) will publish the first ever, special issue devoted to case studies and commentaries documenting the response to chiropractic care among subluxated infertile women.

This project originated during the 2002 WCA Summit, when the Council on Women's Health selected research as a priority goal and voted to select infertility as the initial topic.

The project received the full support of JVSR's Editor, Dr. Matt McCoy, and participation was expanded to include a "Call for Papers" and collaboration with other chiropractors and organizations interested in the topic.

The design strategy developed for this issue of JVSR reflects the best of chiropractic diversity -- different practitioners, different countries, newcomers to research as well as seasoned veterans, and eight examples of chiropractic arts.

Packed with outstanding contributors, the authors include Drs. John Adams (CO), Liz Anderson-Peacock (Canada), Leslie Bedell (WA), Charles Blum (CA), Tammy Kaminski (NJ), Dan Lyons (WI), Asher Nadler (Israel), Ogi Ressel (Canada), Martin Rosen (MA), Simon Senzon (NC) and Jessica Shelley (OH). I provided a commentary offering an overview that connected all the contributions.

Research drives most health care news reported by the media, but these reports focus on diseases, disorders or drugs. And that's where they mess up, that's not where the real news about health is to be found. The real news is found in what occurs in practices every day as lives are restored and transformed, as each person works to clear interference, works towards fulfilling potential.

That's where WE mess up. We're responsible for documenting this news, for telling the story, and our culture hasn't fully trained or supported us to do that yet. JVSR is our bridge. JVSR offers that support -- to seasoned researchers and those new to research alike.

Publishing in a peer-reviewed journal is a significant accomplishment. Researcher Richard Florida reports peer recognition is "described by economists as the primary force in the 'new economics of science' because it motivates scientists to be lauded as the 1st to discover something new. Academic scientists actually 'pay' to engage in science, sacrificing roughly 25% of their potential private-sector pay in order to pursue self-defined projects at prestigious universities." Of course, as practitioners we don't suffer these financial limits. We can attract more people and opportunities when we recognize the difference we make.

In recognizing and documenting these differences through research articles, authors engage in a four-step process: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification/revision.

Along the way -- from sitting in front of a hungry, blank computer screen through to publication -- a transformation emerges from the melding of practice, philosophy, creativity and writing skills. Authors are not the same at the finish as at the start!

The contributors in this special issue of JVSR increased their capacity and now have a published place in chiropractic history as part of their legacy. Please congratulate them. Their work deserves our recognition.

The world needs us and needs more issues like this one, to know what we offer. This special JVSR issue is in the process of being published, but I wanted to announce it now to stimulate awareness of this within your offices and communities, to let you know we will be discussing it at the WCA Summit ... and to make sure you are signed up for the JVSR (www.jvsr.com) so you don't miss it! I know the contributors look forward to sharing this special issue with all of you.