March 2003
WCA board member brings chiropractic to NIH
When Kristina Collins, D.C., and her
husband decided to open their practice in
McLean
,
Virginia
--
just six miles from the White House -- they knew they would be close to
the center of American political power. They also knew they'd probably be
adjusting some high-profile government leaders. But that didn't change the
way they decorated or ran their office.
"We have a family practice, with
lots of children," Dr. Collins told The Chiropractic Journal.
"We have green and blue walls, and there are toys everywhere. If a
kid just threw up on me, well, that's how the next patient will see me,
even if that next patient is a Senator!"
They were also adamant that they would
not change their practice purpose, which was to correct vertebral
subluxation to increase the wellness of all patients. Although surrounded
by more medical colleagues, including a cluster of
sports-chiropractic-medicine clinics, Collins draws a large volume of
nearby residents and workers who have heard about her more unusual
approach.
Some of those patients, it turned out,
had connections in the government, and some even worked in the White
House. Knowing the influence they could have on health care legislation
and policy, Collins made sure they understood chiropractic philosophy, the
impact of subluxations, and the need for chiropractic adjustments and
wellness care.
For many, it was a revelation. They had
always thought chiropractic was just for low back pain. After receiving
chiropractic adjustments (and a good deal of patient education) from
Collins, they began to understand how much more chiropractic could offer.
When the
National
Center
for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) began its search for
six new members for its National Advisory Council on Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NACCAM), those well-connected patients jumped at the
chance to recommend Collins, who serves on the World Chiropractic Alliance
International Board of Governors.
The Council is the principal advisory
group to NCCAM, a component of the National Institutes of Health. Its
purpose is to provide recommendations on the conduct and support of
complementary and alternative medicine research at the NIH -- including
research training and disseminating information about NCCAM's research.
Although she realizes that her location
and clientele gave her a unique advantage in winning the appointment,
Collins also knows that the real credit has to go to chiropractic.
"It's not who comes into your office, it's what you say to the people
who come into your office," she notes.
Her job on the Council will be an
important one for chiropractic and for the public, and a good deal of her
time will be spent raising awareness of subluxation-based chiropractic
among other members of the Council, which is heavily weighted with medical
doctors
Also serving on the Council are:
***
Michael F., Cantwell, M.D., a complementary medicine physician at
the Complementary Medicine Research Institute of the
California
Pacific
Medical
Center
***
Zang-Hee Cho, Ph.D., Professor, Radiological Sciences, Psychiatry
and Human Behavior, and Ophthalmology,
University
of
California
,
Irvine
***
Haile T. Debas, M.D, Dean, School of Medicine, Vice Chancellor,
Medical Affairs, Maurice Galante Distinguished Professor of Surgery,
University
of
California
,
San
Francisco
***
Mahlon Delong, M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of
Neurology,
Emory
University
School
of
Medicine
***
Murray
Goldstein, D.O., Medical Director for the United Cerebral Palsy Research
and Educational Foundation
***
Richard H., Grimm, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Director, Berman Center for
Outcomes and Clinical Research, Hennepin County Medical Center,
Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation
***
Michael, Irwin, M.D, Norman Cousins Professor, Director,
Cousins
Center
for
Psychoneuroimmunology, UCLA
Neuropsychiatric Institute
***
Janet R., Kahn, Ph.D., President,
Peace
Village
Projects
***
Konrad Kail
,
N.D.
,
Naturopathic Family Care, Inc.
***
Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard
Osher Institute
***
Eric J., Lien, Ph.D., Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences,
School
of
Pharmacy
,
University
of
Southern
California
***
J. Joost Oppenheim, M.D., Laboratory Chief, Laboratory of Molecular
Immunoregulation, NCI-Frederick
***
Herbert Pardes, M.D., President and
Chief
Executive
Officer
,
New
York
-
Presbyterian
Hospital
The only other chiropractor named to
the NACCAM is William C., Meeker, D.C., M.P.H., Director of Research,
Palmer
Center
for Chiropractic Research, Palmer Chiropractic University Foundation. Dr.
Meeker, although recognized as a top chiropractic researcher, has long
been considered an outspoken advocate of chiropractic medicine and served
on the steering committee of the Mercy Guidelines.
In an article called "Progress in
Chiropractic Research," Meeker once asked, "Why, then, are
chiropractic researchers criticized for pragmatically pursuing grants to
conduct low back pain research, when it is a wonderful opportunity to
increase our research capacity, and demonstrate to the world that we have
an important role to play in at least one area of public health?"
Collins says she has nothing against
research into chiropractic for low-back pain, but says it's time research
effort and money go into other areas of chiropractic. "There has been
far too much emphasis on low-back pain," she complains. "We need
to look at chiropractic's many other benefits, particularly into
chiropractic for children."
During her first NACCAM meeting,
Collins began the process of opening eyes -- and minds -- to the true
potential of chiropractic.
"The others seemed very interested
and receptive to the idea of chiropractic for wellness," she states.
She has invited the Council members to visit her office and see for
themselves the variety of people who receive and benefit from chiropractic
adjustments.
WCA President Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.,
expressed optimism that Collins would be able to dispel many of the myths
about chiropractic, including the notion that it is useful only for
low-back pain in adults.
"When chiropractic researchers
continue to emphasize back pain just because it's the one area we're
already 'accepted' by the public and the medical industry, they put us in
a very small box," he warned. "They justify it by saying that
half the population has back pain at one time or another. But the truth
is, 100% of the population can benefit from chiropractic all the
time!"
Dr. Rondberg also spoke highly of
Collins' ability to hold her own at the Council.
"At first, a few people wondered
if she had the experience and credentials to interact effectively with
some of the other more well-established members of the Council," he
admitted. "After talking with her at some length, I am convinced
she's a match for any of them! Her enthusiasm, devotion and confidence --
as well as her practical experience -- make her an ideal choice to
represent chiropractic on this important Council."
Although the NIH hasn't yet announced
its decision to paint its walls blue and green, it's clear that Collins'
role on the Council -- and her interaction with political VIPs in her own
practice -- will have a significant impact on the way government and
health care leaders view chiropractic.
