Some call her the “Mother Teresa of chiropractic.” For more than 40 years Lorraine M. Golden, DC, gave her heart and her time to the care of the poor — specifically, to mentally and physically handicapped children whose families could not afford her services. Her legacy remains in Kentuckiana Children’s Center in Louisville, Ky., which continues to serve children’s healthcare needs.

Lorraine earned her “DC” from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1942 and conducted a private practice for more than a decade before opening the children’s center. On October 18, 1957, she accepted the first patients at the non-profit center, which specializes in providing comprehensive care for disabled boys and girls, at no cost to the children’s families.

Kentuckiana has successfully integrated chiropractic services with those of many other healthcare professionals to meet its overall goal: Whatever best serves the needs of the children. A nursing program was operated in the 1960s and chiropractic students have been afforded internship and residency experience over the years.

DEPENDENT ON CONTRIBUTIONS

The Center has always depended upon voluntary contributions for its support. It became a favorite charity for a number of chiropractic organizations and philanthropists, including the A.B. Hender Foundation; George Adelman, DC; William Harris, DC; the International Chiropractors’ Association (ICA); the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Co.; James W. Parker, DC and the Parker Seminars; the Rabb Health & Research Foundation; Colonel Harlan Sanders (of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame); and a number of chiropractic colleges and state associations. Several labor unions (e.g., AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and Teamsters Local 89) have also provided support to the Center.

Ironically and sadly, Kentuckiana was also a target for discrimination and abuse by the local medical community. However, because of that victimization, it was the recipient of a significant chunk of the financial settlement in the Wilk et al. anti-trust case.