Represented by a delegation of nearly four dozen students, and an equally
impressive number of alumni, Palmer College had quite a prominent presence at
the 2011 California Chiropractic Association (CCA) Legislative Conference event
at the state capitol in Sacramento on May 10.
The CCA Leg Con program provides an opportunity for
doctors and students to meet with state officials and key assistants, to discuss
healthcare-related issues and pending legislation with practice-impacting
consequences for the chiropractic profession in California.
For the third year in a
row, the Santa Clara County CCA District chapter sponsored bus transportation
for local CCA-member doctors as well as West Campus Student CCA members. The bus
departed from the West Campus at 7:15 a.m., and the College hosted a continental
breakfast for the collective delegation prior to departure.
“Once again, Palmer
College’s West Campus had the largest student contingent supporting the CCA
Legislative Conference in Sacramento,” said West Campus President Dr. Bill
Meeker.
“One thing
that always makes me proud to be a Palmer alumnus is the enthusiasm that our
students have for chiropractic. So many of our students end up in leadership
positions as a result of activism while students; for example, the majority of
next year’s CCA officers are Palmer grads.”
Current CCA executive officers include: Dr. Robert
Walsh, D.C., West ’95, CCA vice president; Dr. David Paris, D.C., West, ‘’01,
secretary; and Dr. Maia James, D.C., West, ’01, immediate past president.
Nominated for 2011 CCA executive officer positions include: Dr. Walsh, chief
financial officer; Dr. Paris, second vice president; and Dr. Tracy David Cole,
West ’89, first vice president.
“On behalf of the West Campus CCA chapter, we want to
thank the Santa Clara CCA district, and, in particular, Dr. Mike McMurray, for
generously organizing the bus transportation, once again; Dr. McMurray leads by
example, as he has not missed a Leg Con day since 1988,” said Dr. Gary de Wet,
West Campus associate professor, and West Campus Student CCA faculty adviser for
12 years.
“It’s always nice to reconnect with former students at
Leg Day, many of whom credit Palmer for fostering an awareness of the importance
of getting politically involved as students, which is why so many of our alumni
have remained active in the CCA as practicing doctors, and aspire to leadership
positions at the society and statewide levels.”
This year’s Leg Con
event was rather unique, due to the fact there was no pending legislation with
adverse consequences for the chiropractic profession. Dr. de Wet says this can
be attributed, in part, to the efforts of the students and doctors who have made
the Leg Con trek to Sacramento since the event was introduced more than two
decades ago.
“This
shows what we can achieve when working as a unified association. And the fact
that there was no pending legislation with potential adverse consequences for
the profession made our meetings with the various representatives more
congenial, as this year’s Leg Day was more about educating and informing, than
lobbying against a pending bill or proposed legislation.”
Current Santa Clara
County CCA District President Dr. David Hatami, ’90 West alumnus, was also
pleased, and impressed, by the strong showing of West Campus students.
“Today's students are
better informed, and much more engaged, which is clearly the baseline for their
success,” said Dr. Hatami. “The strong presence of Palmer students, faculty and
alumni was acknowledged by several politicians and their staff. This was a great
opportunity to unite with our colleagues, and to discuss our concerns with the
legislators.”
West
Campus Student CCA President Karo Isajan said the CCA Leg Day provides an
equally educational and inspiring experience for the participating students.
“The CCA Legislative
Conference is one of those events where doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic
students come together as one force, to advocate for their patients and fellow
citizens,” said Isajan.
“We learn so much about what happens politically, and
how important it is that we stay in the political game as a profession. For
those who choose to go, and to stretch themselves outside the mandatory class
hours, there is a higher reward of knowledge and self-fulfillment, which
translates to future success in practice.”
In addition to Dr. Hatami, other Palmer alumni who
joined current West students for the bus ride to Sacramento included Dr. Robert
Chatfield, West, ’83; Dr. David Hoewisch, Davenport, ’82; and Dr. Grace Lau,
West, ’90.
West
Campus students who attended the 2011 CCA Leg Day event included: Bernie
Alfonso, Meghan Austin-Dowling, Jachin Black, Isaac Borowiec, Justin Brame, Anne
Bui, Ciara Cappo, Aimee Carrol, Jesus Cazares, Jeff Chan, Olivia Chu, Taylor
Cox, Nick Cruze, Cristina Diaz, Amanda Dluzniewski, Nichelle Francavilla,
Danielle Fratellone, Baljinder Gill, Karo Isajan, Stephanie Johnson, Joshua
Kinney, Andrew Lopez, Graham Mankey, Deborah Marin, Vanessa Nordin, Nicole
O’Dell, Allison Schroeder, Supreet Shah, Megan Thoma, Marcus Waters, Beth
Wisniewski, and Jessi Wright.