My Vision for Chiropractic…

Speech…

Opportunities… Some of us believe that we have boundless opportunities everyday, others believe we have very few opportunities daily… the reality is probably that most of us miss many of the opportunities that come our way to stand up and be counted. To stand up and be counted simply means to be an ambassador for our profession. As students we have a unique ability to reach many people on a daily basis. We don't yet have the skills to get behind the pisiform and perform the art of chiropractic. Our impact on a social level, on a community level and if you like a global level is enhanced by our ability to communicate our vision of chiropractic based on the philosophical and scientific constructs that form the foundations and fundamentals of chiropractic. Our ability to interact with the 'unchiroed' public is potentially greater given our family, social, and community relationships, and it is our responsibility to reach out to interact with these people as often as we can, seize the opportunities as they present.

A 5th year student mentioned earlier in his speech that he felt under prepared by his college in regards to philosophy and has designed a great tool for those students in the same or similar predicament, wishing to capture some of the philosophy of chiropractic. It is for this reason and others too that I chose to leave the institution that I was studying at in Melbourne and begin at the NZ College of Chiropractic. Since moving to NZ I have found that there is enormous benefit gained from the understanding of the foundational principles of chiropractic, the philosophy is the 'why' we do what we do. Our passion for chiropractic is born from the philosophy… the why. Philosophy provides the clear distinction between what we do and what other types of practitioners do. There is no grey area. We need to be clear in this distinction and understand the philosophical basis of chiropractic in order to inspire our friends and family to seek lifetime family chiropractic care.

One of the things about moving to NZ is the very frequent travel across the ditch to and from Australia and NZ for work and of course studies. For 3.5 hours the person sitting next to me has a great opportunity to learn about what chiropractic really is. I don't know about you but I often come across unsavoury responses from people who know nothing, very little or have a misperception about chiropractic. At first this used to worry me, and I'd started to shy away. What I find now is that they have these misperceptions because they are ill informed. It has become my job, certainly when on the plane, to re-educate them… what a great opportunity to polish up my lay lecture.

Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to present a health and lifestyle reality TV show in NZ… this I graciously accepted. This has provided me with an opportunity, a platform to promote a better understanding of chiropractic that could potentially reach a million people per episode… what a possibility to shine the light, fly the flag and dispel some myths about chiropractic. What I have found is a huge amount of resistance to me including chiropractic in the show. However, I have managed to include chiropractic in some of the programs on the show. Of those that have experienced chiropractic for the first time, on the show, each have spoken positively of the benefits and effects of chiropractic care on their life and those around them on camera… it will be great to see the outcome of this.

As a naturopath for 7 years now, I have repeatedly found that those under chiropractic care received the most benefit from the advice and care that I give. All of my patients in Australia are under regular chiropractic care; 80-90% of my patients in New Zealand are also under chiropractic care. This has wide reaching benefits for their families, work colleagues and their community. This is yet another platform, an opportunity for people to receive and share the benefits of chiropractic care through a quality introduction to what chiropractic actually is… a method of dispelling the myths.

My hope is simply that people truly know what chiropractic is. Imagine if every student and every CA and every chiropractic partner made it part of their daily mission to tell only 1 person about the benefits of chiropractic care. I don't know of any body that can't benefit from chiropractic care. My vision is that everyone who knows chiropractic explains chiropractic. Rather than trying to get everyone under care, help them understand and be inspired… lead them to care.

By Damian Kristof, Student at New Zealand College of Chiropractic