February 2009

WCA picks new president

During a special meeting held in December, the Board of Directors of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) unanimously elected Richard Barwell, DC, a prominent chiropractic teacher and researcher, to serve as president. He will be only the second person to fill that role, replacing Terry A. Rondberg, DC, the organization's founder. Dr. Rondberg will continue his association with the WCA, as its CEO.

The election came just two months after the WCA changed its bylaws to allow for an expanded board of directors with as many as 25 members.

The WCA has long been criticized for being an unconventional organization that spurned the traditional bureaucratic structure, managed instead by a small board headed by Dr. Rondberg. Despite the seemingly radical changes, Dr. Barwell said that many of the unique characteristics of the group will remain the same.

"The World Chiropractic Alliance has always prided itself on its ability to act quickly and forcefully, without being bogged down by a top heavy bureaucracy," he stated. "Although we're bringing in a larger group of board members who will help guide the organization's policies and procedures, our new structure will still allow us to move rapidly and take decisive actions that are needed to fulfill our mission."

One reason for the changes is that the mission of the WCA has evolved over the past year, taking a strong stand in support of neurologically based chiropractic and forming strategic partnerships with organizations and companies that share its approach.

After graduating with honors in 1964 from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Barwell established numerous successful practices, and then served as the director of seminars and programs at Quest and executive director of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. He later founded Chiropractic Equity Offices, Inc.

Barwell is co-author of the research report -- "A Four Case Study: The effect of the Chiropractic adjustment on the brain wave pattern as measured by QEEG. Summarizing an additional 100 (approximately) cases over a three year period" -- that won the Best Paper Award at the 2008 the International Research and Philosophy Symposium.

A recognized authority in the field of neurologically based chiropractic, Barwell is a popular featured speaker at seminars and chiropractic conventions around the world.

"I'm honored to have been elected to this post and I'll do my very best to help fulfill the WCA's goal of supporting and promoting neurologically based chiropractic to doctors everywhere," Barwell stated. "I firmly believe we're entering a new phase of growth for the profession, during which we will discard the old 'bone out of place' concept for the more scientifically valid paradigm. Once we embrace this model and educate the public about the impact of stress on the neurological function and how this creates abnormalities musculoskeletal activity we will greatly advance the cause of worldwide wellness. At the same time, we'll finally position chiropractic as the primary health care approach and make it possible for doctors of chiropractic to enjoy successful and prosperous practices."