July 9, 2011 — Members of both the CCCKC and CCCLA Student American Black Chiropractic Association (SABCA) chapters hit the road June 23-26 to attend the 30th Annual American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) National Convention in Dallas.
Seminars on chiropractic pediatrics, board reviews, and adjusting strategies were held. On the last night of the convention, the Harvey Lillard Scholarship Banquet was held. Two scholarships were awarded and both recipients were from Cleveland Chiropractic College.
T
hey were CCCKC’s Melinda Pregont (VI) and CCCLA’s Connie Chipp (IX). The ABCA “Student of the Year” award was given to CCCLA’s Irene Davis (IV). This award was last presented four years ago.
Foster commented on what being a part of the event meant to him.
“The whole experience was amazing!” Foster said. “To see so many people with different individual backgrounds, yet connected by the same history, come together to try to reach a common goal made me so passionate about being a black chiropractor.”
Overall, there were about 25 students and 15 doctors of chiropractic in attendance. One of the DC’s attending was Dr. Romaneul Washington, a co-founder of the ABCA and the first licensed black chiropractor in Texas. He shared his story about the struggles he had to become a chiropractor. He attended the International Chiropractic College in Dayton, Ohio, which has since closed.
He emphasized the importance of loving the profession because chiropractors truly help and care for their patients rather than push them out of our offices with prescriptions. Furthermore, he said we must look to our history of struggle to know where we have come from and to know where we are going in the future.
“Speaking to Dr. Washington and hearing his stories, while he lifted weights, really brought things into perspective,” Foster said. “Here is this 84-year-old man who lived through the civil rights era of America’s history and then battled the segregated chiropractic system and he overcame all of it and is stronger than ever!”
The convention focused on how to increase active membership, both for chiropractic students and doctors. In addition, it was encouraged that chiropractors use their positions in the professional arena to be mentors to our youth and our community.
Source: Cleveland Chiropractic College, www.cleveland.edu
