Falls Church, VA — The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) is proud to announce Dr. Ron Oberstein as the recipient of its highest annual honor, the ICA Chiropractor of the Year award. The award was presented during the Awards Banquet at the ICA’s 99th Annual Convention in Clearwater, Florida, on April 4, 2025. 

Dr. Oberstein has dedicated more than four decades to advancing chiropractic worldwide through clinical excellence, educational leadership, and service. He has served as President of Life Chiropractic College West since 2017 and will retire from the role in June 2025. Prior to his presidency, Dr. Oberstein practiced in San Diego and served on the Life West Board of Regents from 1991 to 2016, including two years as Chairman of the Board. 

A Lifetime ICA member and distinguished Fellow of the ICA (FICA), Dr. Oberstein has been a trusted voice for the profession and a champion for chiropractic vitalism. He previously sat on the ICA Board of Directors and served as Vice President. He has taught chiropractic technique, philosophy, and principles at colleges around the world and most recently served as Chair of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. 

Together with his wife of 30 years, Dr. Mary Oberstein, Dr. Oberstein has practiced and mentored new graduates since 1986. They co-founded a nonprofit organization that delivers chiropractic care globally, with a focus on underserved children and families in Tijuana, Mexico. Their legacy continues through their three daughters—Drs. Lauren, Morgan, and Sydney—who have each entered the chiropractic profession. 

The ICA congratulates Dr. Oberstein on this well-earned recognition and thanks him for his decades of service to the chiropractic profession. 

About the Award:  The ICA Chiropractor of the Year Award was created by ICA’s Founder  Dr. BJ Palmer in 1950 and presented annually to one exceptional individual who has distinguished themselves throughout their career through extraordinary service to the ICA and the chiropractic profession. Its recipient is elected during the annual meeting of the Distinguished Fellows of the ICA held in conjunction with the Association’s annual meetings. 

About the ICA:  The International Chiropractors Association is the oldest continuously active international chiropractic organization. Established in 1926 by the developer of chiropractic,   Dr. B.J. Palmer, the ICA represents practitioners, educators, students, and lay persons worldwide who are dedicated to the chiropractic profession. The ICA has traditionally been and continues to be recognized as representing the moderate voice of the chiropractic profession. 

The ICA represents and promotes the interests of chiropractic, chiropractors, and the patients they serve through advocacy, research, communication, and education. The ICA Mission is to protect and promote chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science, and art of subluxation detection and correction. 

For more information, visit www.chiropractic.org. 

Media Contact: 
Beth Clay, Executive Director 
bclay@chiropractic.org