ICA’s Council on Upper Cervical Care
Holds Historic Organizational Meeting
September 24, 2008

An historic gathering of the leadership of the major upper cervical technique communities, representatives of the Board of Directors of ICA and faculty of Life Chiropractic College West began the development and implementation of the ICA’s newest postgraduate council, the Council on Upper Cervical Systems. Following the weekend’s proceedings on the Life West campus, ICA president Dr. John Maltby said, “I am very excited about the emergence of this new ICA council, which can greatly help expand the profession’s clinical resources and build public recognition of these vital aspects of chiropractic science and technique.”

The meeting was called by Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Life Chiropractic College West, who was a central force behind the Council concept development and presented
the Council’s model and framework documents for consideration by the ICA Board of Directors at their June 2008 Annual Meeting. Convening on the Life West campus August 22-23, 2008, this unprecedented assemblage brought together senior members of the Advanced Orthogonal, Atlas Orthogonal, Blair, Knee Chest, NUCCA and Orthospinology communities for an intensive two-day planning and development session focused on the Council on Upper Cervical Systems and advancing a curricular strategy for postgraduate diplomate studies credentialed through the Council. “Upper cervical specific chiropractic care finds itself in a very unique position in 2008,” commented Dr. Clum, “when you consider the opportunities that have presented from very differing points it definitely gives you a sense that upper cervical’s time has come.”

Spurred by a wide range of activities, including publications such as the ground-breaking study on blood pressure reductions under NUCCA care in the Journal of Human Hypertension and the Orthospinology Procedures text by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, public media exposure through the high profile discussion of Atlas Orthogonal work on the Montel Williams Show and production of an upper cervical care-focused documentary by patient advocates from North America and Australia, and the development of organizational entities such as the Upper Cervical Health Centers of America, upper cervical specific chiropractic care has gained an impressive profile and following in the profession as well as in the general public.

The objectives of the Council on Upper Cervical Care include the development of a centralized umbrella under which to explore, discuss, teach and research topics related to upper cervical specific chiropractic care. In addition the Council seeks to build and progress approaches to validate and advance the education and training of DC’s not only in the technical applications of a given technique but also in the nuances between and among the various approaches to the correction of atlas subluxations. Upper cervical specific concepts are not new ideas, but in the presence of the science of the day they are being revisited and re-examined with a remarkable level of interest within the profession as well as by many outside of the profession. This Council is preparing to serve as a clearinghouse for this information and to help guide the growth of knowledge and skill acquisition with respect to correction of the upper cervical spine. ICA secretary-treasurer Dr. Gary Walsemann, who represented ICA in the weekend’s developmental discussions, observed that “this combination of resources and representatives of upper cervical systems holds historic promise for greater awareness and advancement of upper cervical care and of chiropractic in general.”

The Council on Upper Cervical Systems is preparing to incorporate and implement the feedback received from discussions among the conferees that gathered at Life West, which included important input on refinement of the syllabus associated with post-graduate Diplomate program offerings in upper cervical care. As these processes are completed more information will be posted to the Council’s website through www.chiropractic.org and upper cervical postgraduate seminar offerings will also be posted at www.lifewest.edu. “Sometimes you are involved in efforts that have a feel that in the long run they will mean more than you ever imagined. That is the sense I had at the end of these meetings,” said Dr. Clum. “It might be wishful thinking and then again it might be the start of a revitalizing revolution for the profession”.

THE ICA COUNCIL ON
UPPER CERVICAL CARE:

6400 Arlington Boulevard
Suite 800
Falls Church, VA 22042 USA

Phone: 800-423-4690 (US and Canada)
or (703) 528-5000
Fax: 703-528-5023
E-mail: uppercervical@chiropractic.org