May 2006

Of turbulence and tenacity: three decades of leadership

An exclusive interview with Thomas A. Gelardi, DC, founder and president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

The 1960s were turbulent times in the United States. In the chiropractic profession times were turbulent, too.

In 1961, with the passing of B.J. Palmer, the profession found itself without strong leadership for the first time in its history. During the 1960s, various groups within the profession vied for influence and many changes took place. We made some progress in the recognition and academic attributes of the profession's colleges; however, one major element was lacking. All of the momentum and drive toward recognition left in jeopardy the core concept of the chiropractic movement, and it became questionable whether a service directed at vertebral subluxation correction would remain available to future generations.

In its haste to gain acceptability, the chiropractic profession seemed to forget its basic purpose. This need for belonging, complicated by the lure of short‑term financial gains that acceptance promised, created a backdrop of a profession in grave danger of losing its reason for being.

Many strong dedicated individuals did speak up on behalf of subluxation‑centered chiropractic, but history has a way of remembering only those who step into positions of leadership, and this has also been the case in chiropractic. Thomas A. Gelardi, DC, an outspoken chiropractor in South Carolina, was among those speaking up for chiropractic during the 1960s. A 1957 Palmer graduate, Gelardi founded Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic in 1973, named it in honor of his friend and mentor, Lyle Sherman, DC, and thus became the acknowledged leader of the straight chiropractic movement throughout the time period.

For more than 20 years Sherman College was opposed by the forces of acceptance and recognition that had been in place; yet under the leadership of Dr. Gelardi, its founder and first president, it persevered and grew both in influence and stability. Having established a college dedicated to the original mission of chiropractic, earning for it both professional and regional accreditation, and having seen the promise of a vertebral subluxation centered service secured for the future, Dr. Gelardi retired in 1996.

He was succeeded as president by Sherman alumnus David Koch, DC, who served in that capacity until the year 2000. Brian McAulay, DC, PhD, then served as interim CEO while a search was conducted and finally, Jerry L. Hardee, EdD, became Sherman's third president in 2001. Dr. Hardee has since semi‑retired and taken on the role of chancellor, and he recently welcomed back Dr. Gelardi, who has been appointed by the board of trustees to serve as interim president while a national search is being conducted to find the college's next leader. Dr. Gelardi has agreed to answer some pointed questions exclusively for The Chiropractic Journal.

TCJ:  Let's get right to the point. After nine years of retirement, why the sudden interest in returning to Sherman College?

Dr. Gelardi: I actually hadn't given thought to returning to Sherman College as an employee of any kind. I was enjoying retirement. On the other hand, it's obvious that I have always remained interested in the success of this fine institution. For example, after retiring as president, I served on the Board of Trustees, and I even served as its chair for one term. I have never lost interest in Sherman College, but ‑‑ like Dr. Hardee has recently admitted ‑‑ I did look forward to spending time in other pursuits during my retirement, which I have been able to accomplish for the past several years.

TCJ:  What kind of pursuits were those?

Dr. Gelardi: One of my great joys is spending time with my wife, children and grandchildren. Betty and I both enjoy traveling. I've also been able to witness more sunrises and sunsets, work in the yard, do some gardening, do a bit of writing and catch up, somewhat, on my reading.

TCJ:  What did you think of Dr. Hardee as Sherman's president?

Dr. Gelardi: I have great confidence in the Board of Trustees of the college, and I think they made a brilliant choice when they inaugurated Dr. Hardee as Sherman's third president. His 40 years of experience in higher education and his university administration background provided an opportunity for Sherman to accomplish things that perhaps no chiropractor could have led the college to achieve. Dr. Hardee has won the trust and admiration of people throughout the profession and has in so many ways further connected Sherman College to the Spartanburg community, particularly in the realm of higher education. I can't say enough about the positive impact that man has had on Sherman College.

TCJ:  Why did Dr. Hardee decide to retire, and what is he doing now?

Dr. Gelardi: Interestingly, when he was first asked to consider serving Sherman as president, Dr. Hardee was about to retire from the university system in Georgia, where he had served for many years. He was Vice President for Minority Affairs and a Special Assistant to the President of Valdosta State University (VSU) at that time, and during his tenure there, VSU experienced phenomenal growth and its academic programs soared to new heights.

When asked to consider serving as president at Sherman, Dr. Hardee told the Board of Trustees that he would commit to three years, and he actually stayed on for four years. Although he retired from the office of the president last month, the college has prevailed upon him to continue in an important leadership capacity as chancellor. Free of the day‑to‑day operational concerns of the college, this role will afford him the opportunity to continue the many important relationships he has developed while in the office of the president and also allow him more time for personal and other professional interests.

In this new position Dr. Hardee will oversee the many important projects he initiated, among which are the development of a Leadership and Practice Management Institute, the continued strengthening of the college's enrollment, and the expansion of a capital campaign directed toward the $10 million Reggie and Irene Gold Center for Chiropractic Education. I look forward to seeing his continued progress in these areas.

TCJ:  We understand that the Association of Chiropractic Colleges recently passed a controversial definition of the term, "diagnosis." What do you see as the ACC's role in the profession, and does Sherman College support that role?

Dr. Gelardi: The ACC as an organization is similar to a trade association in that it represents all of the accredited chiropractic colleges in North America. It is important for the growth of the profession and the ACC itself that this body act in the interests of all member colleges for the benefit of a greater academic community.

This was well exemplified in the successful effort a few years ago when the ACC drafted the paradigm statement, which represented the profession so well in many different venues nationally and around the world. Crafting this paradigm statement took a lot of work and good faith on the part of all the colleges and was a fine example of what happens when all elements of the profession focus on what they share in common rather than dwelling on what divides them.

I would like to see that spirit of cooperation continued. In my role as interim president, I will continue to interact positively with all of our professional organizations; I have no interest in seeing Sherman College move into a position of isolation.

TCJ:   Do you accept the new language of the ACC's definition of diagnosis?

Dr. Gelardi: About two years ago, a divisive event took place in which a regrettable definition of diagnosis was put forth by certain factions within ACC. It unfortunately used extraordinarily prescriptive language which, if followed to its logical end, would take away a doctor's ability to utilize professional experience and judgment in determining which analytical and diagnostic tools to employ in the care of patients. A major pitfall of the new diagnosis statement is that it removes the appropriate use of neurologically significant tools like chiropractic instrumentation from the criterion, thus relegating what the chiropractor does to the technician level and thereby reducing the role of the chiropractor to little more than neuromuscular aches and pains. That shortsighted assertion about the role of the chiropractor is discordant, does not represent the entire academic community and needs to be addressed for the good of both the organization and the profession as a whole.

TCJ:   What other recent changes have been made in the Sherman College organization?

Dr. Gelardi: Actually, Sherman College has been very careful to assure a smooth, even seamless transition between leaders. The Board of Trustees is studying the succession of leadership in accordance with the strategic plan of the college and will soon be making a determination on the timetable for a presidential search. Meanwhile, there have been only minor changes in the organizational chart.

Dr. Hardee's position of chancellor is a new role to the college. Myron Brown, DC, will continue as executive vice president/provost and remains responsible for overseeing the chiropractic program. Planning and assessment, which was previously overseen by the vice president for enrollment services, has been upgraded to a full department under the direction of Laura Weeks, DC. In connection with that office, Dr. Weeks will also perform institutional research and oversee matters relating to Sherman's accreditation with both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).

TCJ:  What do you see in the future of the chiropractic profession?

Dr. Gelardi: What is perhaps most fascinating about the chiropractic profession is that we have within our hands one of the greatest yet simplest principles with enormous potential to benefit humankind. Millions of people are already receiving this benefit. Given our profession's relatively short history it is not surprising to see how much is yet to be accomplished. One need not look too far to find evidence of potentials not yet realized.

Our profession needs leadership in growing chiropractic rather than transforming chiropractic into an eclectic therapeutic profession. Our colleges must be allowed to designate more of their curricular time to the clinical practice of analyzing and correcting vertebral subluxations, which is much different than spinal manipulative therapy. If graduates are not clinically competent in analyzing and correcting subluxations, they may drift off into therapeutics in order to make a living. Sherman College is responding to this trend with the establishment of a strong Leadership and Practice Management Institute focused on improving the quality of chiropractic services offered and knowing that success in business is a by‑product of services rendered.

I believe the chiropractic profession controls its own destiny. The opportunities are vast and the pitfalls substantial. Chiropractic has made much progress based solely upon its merits. Today, the world stands poised and ready to embrace the benefits of the vitalistic science of chiropractic.

TCJ:  What do you see in the immediate future of Sherman College?

Dr. Gelardi:  We are focusing on planning, institutional research and assessment to strengthen our program and to ensure that our graduates are well grounded in the basic and clinical sciences as well as excellence in the art and philosophy, which have traditionally been identified with Sherman College.

We look forward to the impact that our Practice Management and Leadership Institute will make on the entire profession. Sherman also expects continued growth in its enrollment and its physical plant. I am particularly encouraged as we enter the final phase of a $15 million fund‑raising campaign to build and endow the new academic center.

We have enlarged our student affairs office; we have redesigned and expanded our research efforts to include a greater depth of scientific inquiry into the nature of the vertebral subluxation; we have expanded our outreach to the profession by providing more opportunities for Sherman College faculty to become available for teaching off‑campus seminars; we have expanded the International Research and Philosophy Symposium, offering greater opportunities for presentation and publication of vertebral subluxation centered study; and we have developed a strategy to enhance enrollment by attracting students of the highest caliber from diverse populations in accordance with our mission "to be the leader in bringing straight chiropractic to the world."

You should expect great things from Sherman College in the coming years.