The Alumni Luncheon at this year’s Homecoming was jam-packed with
information, special awards and the induction of nine new Fellows in the
Palmer Academy of Chiropractic. Executive Director of Alumni Mickey
Burt, D.C., welcomed everyone and introduced the keynote speaker for the
event, Vice Chancellor for Student Success Kevin Cunningham, D.C.,
Ph.D., who spoke about the newly launched Palmer CareerNetwork online
resource for alumni and students.
Dr. Cunningham described the
Palmer CareerNetwork as a new way for alumni to stay connected with the
College in a meaningful way. It features a sophisticated system to match
job seekers with alumni who have associateships available or practices
for sale, and the Palmer Professional Network of alumni who want to
mentor students on practice trends, geographic areas and other
career-related topics via e-mail. It also provides a video resume and
interview coaching program, a demographic analysis program and access to
registration for business modules and other educational programs from
the Palmer Center for Business Development. All of this is available
online and is free of charge to Palmer students and alumni.
Following
Dr. Cunningham’s presentation, Dr. Burt presented “a very special honor
to an extraordinary woman,” when he recognized Vice Chancellor for
Research and Health Policy Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D., as an honorary
alumna of Palmer College of Chiropractic. “Everything about Dr. Goertz
is impressive,” Dr. Burt said. “We’d like to add to her impressive list
of accomplishments today and recognize her outstanding contributions to
Palmer by making Dr. Christine Goertz an honorary alumna of Palmer
College.”
Next on the luncheon agenda was the granting of an
honorary Doctor of Chiropractic Humanities degree to Kent Forney, J.D.
“Mr. Forney has served nearly 30 years on the Palmer Board of Trustees
and is currently its vice chairman,” said Chancellor Dennis Marchiori,
D.C., Ph.D. “He is a Palmer Presidents Club member and a longstanding
Palmer supporter, strong chiropractic advocate and friend.”
The
last order of business at the luncheon was the induction of nine new
Fellows in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic. The following were
inducted: H. Tom Barnes, D.C., Audubon, Iowa; Kurt Burbach, D.C.,
Dyersville, Iowa; M. Dean Chance, D.C. (posthumous award); Hugh Chet
Chance, D.C. (posthumous award); Todd Curzie, D.C., L.C.P. (Hon.),
Anchorage, Alaska; Jeff Gehlsen, D.C., Freeport, Ill.; Christine Goertz,
D.C., Ph.D., Davenport, Iowa; Robert Percuoco, D.C., Long Grove, Iowa;
and Frank Sovinsky, D.C., Tahoe City, Calif.
Following the
induction, Palmer Board of Trustees Chairperson Trevor Ireland, D.C.,
congratulated the award recipients and new Fellows. “It is my pleasure
to congratulate Mr. Kent Forney on his honorary Doctor of Chiropractic
Humanities degree and Dr. Christine Goertz for becoming an honorary
Palmer alumna. Congratulations and thank you for all you have done and
will continue to do for Palmer. It is also a distinct honor for me to
welcome nine new members of the Fellows in the Palmer Academy of
Chiropractic. Throughout their history, the Fellows have been a group of
staunch supporters of Palmer College as well as leaders in their
communities and of the chiropractic profession. Congratulations!”