June 2005

McLean named ICA chiropractor of the year

The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has honored Michael S. McLean, DC, of Virginia Beach, VA as the Association's 2005 "Chiropractor of the Year." Dr. McLean was presented the Association's highest honor at ICA's 79th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on April 15, 2005. This award, which was created by ICA's Founder Dr. BJ Palmer in 1950, is presented annually to one exceptional individual who has distinguished him or herself throughout a career through extraordinary service to the ICA and the chiropractic profession.

"Dr. McLean has earned this historic recognition many times over through his tireless work on behalf of chiropractic in the legislative and political processes," said ICA President Dr. John K. Maltby. "The chiropractic profession owes a great deal to his dedication, innovative thinking, his commitment to principle and his sheer effectiveness in the policy process," Dr. Maltby said. "ICA is very proud of Dr. McLean and we all can learn and benefit from the powerful example of service he has provided over the years he has been involved with the ICA."

McLean has served in many leadership positions in the ICA over the past two decades including ICA Assembly Representative for Virginia, as a Member of the ICA Board of Directors, as Chair of ICA's Legislative Committee and as an ICA representative to many other chiropractic organizations including the Chiropractic Coalition.

Dr. McLean has worked on federal legislation and has been personally responsible for the development and introduction of many key chiropractic legislative initiatives. Most recently, McLean was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on a new advisory committee created by Congress to advise the Department of Defense (DOD) on chiropractic health care programs for military personnel. He is one of a very small handful of doctors of chiropractic selected to participate in the DOD Chiropractic Health Benefits Advisory Committee.

In 2002, McLean was appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Advisory Committee, created by Congress to advise the Secretary and the Department on the implementation of a chiropractic services program for veterans mandated by Congress. The appointment was made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and McLean was one of six doctors of chiropractic from across the nation to be selected for this important committee assignment.

"I am deeply humbled and grateful for this honor. It is the highlight of my chiropractic career," said McLean at the ICA's Annual Gala Luncheon. "I want to thank the Association and my ICA colleagues, but also my family and especially my wife, Dr. Pat McLean. Without her encouragement and extra work when I am called away on ICA business, I would never have been able to attempt even a fraction of what her support has allowed me to do," Dr. McLean said.

McLean is in private practice in Virginia Beach, and has been a leader in state and national professional organizations and political affairs. He comes from a large and active chiropractic family. He practices with his wife, Dr. Patricia McLean in a busy practice in Virginia Beach, and has a daughter, son, son‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law who are also doctors of chiropractic.

McLean is a 1974 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa, and has served in many volunteer capacities in numerous professional and community organizations. A founder and past president of the Hampton Roads Chiropractic Association, and a founder and past president of the Virginia Society of Chiropractic and Chairman of the International Chiropractors Association Political Action Committee, he has written extensively for health publications and has regularly testified on behalf of the chiropractic profession before numerous Congressional committees.