Palmer Board Votes to Pursue
Development of Florida Campus

Plans to establish a chiropractic educational facility in Florida took another step forward recently when the Board of Trustees of the Palmer Chiropractic University System voted to pursue the development of a Palmer campus in Port Orange, Fla.

The Palmer Trustees voted to pursue discussions with Florida State University (FSU) to develop a public/private partnership or to pursue avenues with other interested parties in Florida to develop a campus. The Trustees' resolution stipulated that any final terms and conditions would be subject to their approval.

Palmer officials received an invitation to consider establishing an educational facility from officials at Port Orange about two years ago. In the meantime, a bill emerged from the Florida legislature to establish a chiropractic program in conjunction with Florida State University. Palmer officials have expressed interest in finding ways to work with Florida State to develop a joint program.

The need for chiropractic education in Florida has become evident in recent years because several hundred students annually leave the state to pursue chiropractic education at the dozen or so accredited chiropractic colleges around the country. An educational program within the state would reduce costs to those Florida students.

The increased interest in chiropractic education also stems from the growing public interest in complementary health care. Chiropractic, the third-largest health care profession, has received endorsement from governmental studies in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere for its efficacy and cost-efficiency. Such studies have indicated chiropractic care can produce significant savings in workers' compensation and other third party payment programs.

Palmer College of Chiropractic, established in Davenport, Iowa, in 1897 is the first college of the chiropractic profession. Another Palmer college, Palmer College of Chiropractic West, is located in San Jose, Calif. The creation of the Palmer Chiropractic University System in 1991, which brought Palmer College and and Palmer West together under the same board of trustees, was the product of discussions during the 1980s.

Vickie A. Palmer, chair of the board of trustees, said: "Palmer Chiropractic is committed to having a presence in the southeastern portion of the United States due to the need for a chiropractic college to serve the increasing number of prospective chiropractic students in the region and the growing segment of the public seeking chiropractic care."

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