Four US chiropractic colleges have sent me news updates for October and November. Sherman College of Chiropractic recently updated a transfer agreement to simplify student admission into the doctor of chiropractic program at Sherman College. Parker University recently appointed Dr. Tim Gross as its vice president of the college of chiropractic. Life University hosted the fifth annual Octagon Conference on the campus in Marietta, Georgia. And the Vice chancellor for research and health policy for Palmer College of Chiropractic has been appointed to the American Medical Association (AMA) convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI) Measure Advisory Committee (MAC).

Life University (LIFE) continues to carry the torch for functional neurology and exploring the relationship between the spine, the nervous system and healthy body function. LIFE University established the Functional Neurology Center (FNC) more than nineteen months ago to conduct research and offer chiropractic functional neurology clinical services to the public. With major figures in professional sports, entertainment and from other walks of life visibly benefiting from this natural approach to health and healing. Life University will vigorously work to continue to develop its Functional Neurology Center with several new initiatives announced by University President Dr. Guy Riekeman this morning.

In March, the Institute of Alternative Futures (IAF) released its third in a series of futures reports titled Chiropractic 2025: Divergent Futures. The reports forecast potential scenarios in the chiropractic profession in the year 2025. As a part of their findings, the IAF recognized that if the profession of Chiropractic is to thrive by 2025, LIFE will be a chief contributor to the cause through their research, conferences, alumni programs and overall stance for the principles of Chiropractic.

Patients with acute low back pain receiving a combination of chiropractic manipulative therapy and standard medical care experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in their back pain and improved physical functioning when compared to those receiving standard medical care alone, reports an article in the April 15 issue of Spine.