Parker University announced the retirement of Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of both the university and Parker Seminars, on Aug. 27, 2012. A university press release stated that "Dr. Mancini made this decision to allow for time to pursue other interests, including public speaking and media efforts to promote chiropractic and his recently published book, and future speaking and media opportunities to promote the health and wellness revolution he is so passionate about leading."
Dr. Mancini becomes the third chiropractic college president to leave their position or announce their impending departure in the past 18 months, joining Dr. Gerard Clum, who left Life Chiropractic College West in January 2011; and Dr. James Winterstein, who recently announced he will retire from National University of Health Sciences in 2013. In the Aug. 27 press release, the Parker University Board of Trustees thanked Dr. Mancini "for his compassionate dedication to Parker and [wished] him well in his future endeavors. The board recognizes his impact on Parker and the chiropractic profession, an impact that will continue for many years to come."
Dr. Mancini will work with Parker University through Nov. 30, 2012, while the university identifies and hires his successor. This transition period will also allow Dr. Mancini to participate at Parker Seminars Toronto (Sept. 20-22) and Parker University Homecoming (Oct. 26-28) prior to his departure, according to the university. Let's learn more about Dr. Mancini's tenure at Parker and his plans for the future in this exclusive interview with DC.
You are completing a very important chapter in Parker University's history. Take a look back and talk about all the university has accomplished under your presidency. I can still remember when the board asked me to be the next president of Parker back in 1999 and feeling that I was not ready. I loved my practice, and seeing patients have great results under chiropractic care was personally very fulfilling for me.
Being familiar with Parker as a student, I understood and believed in our mission and I had a great desire to communicate that with anyone that would listen. After the passing of Dr. James Parker, the school was struggling to identify a strong leader who could get everyone pulling in the same direction; not just with words, but with legitimate action. There were some very difficult decisions in the first couple of years, but then we began to grow and develop a culture that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. What developed was a true team effort to support our students and advance chiropractic by the board, administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni – everyone working for a cause greater than ourselves: chiropractic.
We were able to eliminate our debt and begin to put a plan in place to build a strong endowment, to ensure Parker would be here for many years to come. Enrollment grew to capacity and Parker Seminars was once again a driving force in bringing the greatest number of chiropractors and chiropractic assistants together to celebrate one another and our wonderful profession.
I must say, even as I am answering this, I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude for the opportunity to have been a part of such a great team of people. Everyone who has been a part of Parker for the past 13 years has made a great contribution to where we are today.
Looking forward, what do you see on the horizon for Parker University? I see that Parker is very stable in every way. We have a very strong board and administrative team ready to take Parker to the next level. Parker's financial position is very strong. Our mission and strategic plan are set and will guide us to accomplishing our objectives. New programs, including an Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and an MBA with a concentration in health care management, all designed to complement the chiropractic profession, are ready for introduction in January 2013. These new programs will not only expand the degree programs offered by Parker University, but will also expose non-chiropractic students to the profession and the incredible benefits of chiropractic care.
The chiropractic program will continue as the foundational program for Parker, and we will continue to seek the best prospective students for the chiropractic program. Parker Seminars will continue to grow and attract people from all over the world who want to be inspired in a life of chiropractic success. Parker is well-positioned and I leave with the knowledge that we have positioned the institution for future greatness.
Most recently, you have been very involved in bringing the chiropractic message to the public. Can you share some of the highlights and how this has helped reach decision-makers and consumers? As you know, the well-known publishing house, Hay House, published my last book [The Power of Self-Healing: Unlock Your Natural Healing Potential in 21 Days!] and has helped us inform millions of readers about the benefits of chiropractic care. The book has become a national and international best-seller and is translated in six languages at this time. The paperback version will be released in the early part of 2013.
The appearance on the "Dr. Phil" show and his endorsement of our profession has brought more credibility and patients to our doctors. Then "The Doctors" followed up and continued this movement of awareness by sharing the value of the chiropractic adjustment. Since then, I have appeared on many TV stations including FOX, ABC, CNN, CBS, etc., and many radio shows. Each opportunity provided the forum for delivering the same message of The Power of Self Healing and the value of chiropractic.
There are so many more opportunities I would like to pursue to further this cause, but my current role as president simply does not allow enough time to do both. I see the leadership in place at Parker and have the highest confidence that despite my decision to retire, the institution will continue on this successful track.
What's next for you; what doors do you see opening and how will you be fulfilling your vision in the near future? I plan to pursue other opportunities to bring the chiropractic message to the masses through venues including television, radio, speeches, the Internet, etc. I strongly believe that the missing piece for our profession is to bring chiropractic onto a national stage, especially during this health care crisis dialogue.
Chiropractors have to be part of these national health care conversations. Chiropractic must be considered as part of the solution. In order for this to happen, we have to have a seat at the table. I believe I can help establish that seat and ensure chiropractic is part of the effort to revolutionize health care in the U.S. I would also like to work with so many of my influential friends who have offered to help in this process. I love chiropractic and will continue to be an instrument in getting our message out there in an proactive and effective manner.
Is there anything you would like to add or share with the profession? Since graduation, I have had the opportunity to see chiropractic from several different angles. Not many people have the opportunity I have been given: to see the profession as both a practitioner and an educator. Through my observations, there are a few things I think are critical to the profession.
First, I would ask chiropractors to work on you and your practice to deliver the most professional, effective chiropractic service you can. Public perception of chiropractors is fought at the ground level, one case at a time. Ensure that every patient interaction you have is a positive one. Second, work to be more engaged in your community. This can happen at the local level, right in your own backyard, and you should support your state and national associations.
Together, we can spread the message, but it takes all of us together. Put aside your differences and look for opportunities to share one consistent message with the world. As chiropractors, we think about health care differently. Embrace it. Celebrate it. What we have to offer through chiropractic is exactly what society needs the most right now – an effective, natural, vitalistic, holistic approach to restore function to the body and enjoy a great quality of life.
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
Spearheaded by burgeoning scientific and clinical research literature, psychedelics have reached a level of media coverage and popular interest that has not been seen for over half a century. By “psychedelics,” we are referring to the unique class of substances that includes psilocybin (the active compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms”), LSD, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, and mescaline – each of which occurs in the natural world (except for LSD, which is a semi-synthetic compound).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
