May 20, 2025 • 21 mins
A decade of transformation in global chiropractic comes to light as Dr. Richard Brown, retiring Secretary General of the World Federation of Chiropractic, shares his remarkable journey with Dr. Arlan Fuhr. Their conversation reveals how chiropractic has evolved from a peripheral profession to an evidence-supported healthcare approach recognized worldwide.
Brown's proudest achievement—the "Be Epic" campaign—epitomizes his vision for chiropractic: Evidence-based, People-centered, Interprofessional, and Collaborative. This simple framework resonated globally, unifying diverse stakeholders from national associations to educational institutions under a common philosophy. Throughout challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, this foundation proved invaluable as the WFC supported practitioners across 96 countries navigating unprecedented healthcare disruptions.
The healthcare landscape has shifted dramatically during Brown's tenure, with international guidelines increasingly recommending non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical interventions—precisely what chiropractors deliver. This evidence-based evolution has positioned the profession favorably, but Brown emphasizes two critical frontiers: demonstrating cost-effectiveness to policymakers and embracing the growing need for geriatric care. With aging populations worldwide fearing mobility loss and social isolation, chiropractors hold a unique opportunity to maintain seniors' independence and quality of life.
As Brown transitions to new roles including judicial work as an appointed magistrate and continued practice in an integrated medical setting, he leaves the profession with both wisdom and optimism. His leadership philosophy—humanity, humility, and integrity—offers guidance to future leaders, while his parting message resonates with possibility: "The best is yet to come." Through continued research investment and healthcare integration, chiropractic stands poised for its most impactful era yet.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
I am Dr Arlen Foer, the Chairman and Founder of
Activator Methods International.
Welcome to Activate yourPractice Today.
I'm very happy to say that Ihave the Secretary General of
the World Federation, who Iinterviewed a year ago and, just
for all of our audience, I wantyou to know, he had the most
downloads 56,000, of anybodywe've interviewed over the year,
(00:25):
and we've interviewed a lot ofpeople.
So good morning, richard.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Arlan, it's wonderful to be back and thank you for
giving me the opportunity tocome and speak with you again.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I'm kind of sad about this meeting because, as you
know, richard is retiring after10 years at the WFC, and so he
has handpicked, along with hiscommittee, a new Secretary
General.
But I'm going to miss him,because we worked for at least
almost a full 10 years togethersupporting the WFC, and as you
(00:55):
step down now, what are some ofthe key milestones and
achievements that you're mostproud of during your tenure as a
Secretary General?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, it's been quite a journey, arlan, and, as you
say, we've worked together for10 years, and you know that we
worked together before that,when I was at the European
Chiropractors Union.
So you and I go back a long way, arlan, and can I just say what
an absolute privilege it's been.
And so what are the milestones?
What are the achievements?
Well, you know, it's been quitea journey and it's been
(01:22):
exciting.
I think one of the things thatsticks in my mind the most is
our Be Epic campaign.
This is something that welaunched around 2017, with the
EPIC acronym standing forEvidence-Based, people-centered,
interprofessional andCollaborative, and little did I
know at the time that welaunched this that it would
(01:43):
really catch on around the world.
It would catch on with nationalassociations, it would catch on
with student bodies, it wouldcatch on with educational
institutions, and the Be Epiccampaign is something that is
simple.
It's been effective and it'sgiven people a focus.
It's given the WFC a focus.
So I think I'm really proudthat that has really taken off.
(02:06):
I think also the fact thatwe've developed as an
international organization.
I think one of the things thathas been really rewarding is the
fact that we have thisconvening power, the opportunity
to bring people together fromall backgrounds, all nature of
the profession, and it's beenreally exciting.
So I think it's been reallyexciting.
So, you know, I think it's beenquite a ride and you know, as
(02:28):
you say, I'm coming to the end,but you know, there's a lot of
stuff to look back on and also alot of stuff to look forward to
.
Well, how do you think theprofession has evolved?
Well, you know the professionhas evolved through.
(02:51):
You know, a number of things.
We developed a vision and thatvision is a world where all
people, in all nations, of allages, have access to
chiropractic, so thatpopulations can thrive and reach
their full potential.
And coupled with that, we haveour mission, which is to advance
awareness, utilization andintegration of chiropractic
internationally.
So I suppose, when we look backand we look at how the
profession has evolved, I wouldlike to think that through
having this focus, this mission,this purpose, you know, more
(03:13):
people know about chiropractic,more people are using
chiropractic and chiropractic isnow integrated into health
systems internationally and alsointegrated into people's
personal health teams.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
What do you think the biggest challenge you faced
during the whole tenure?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, I think that the biggest challenge that we
faced during the tenure and I'msure this is not for me, just as
the Secretary General, I'm surethat almost every other CEO of
almost every other organization,of almost every other
organization, would look back onthe last 10 years and say that
the COVID-19 pandemic wasprobably the biggest challenge
we faced it came out of nowhere,we had no real experience of
(03:59):
dealing with anything of thatmagnitude and it was really a
journey into the unknown.
So we were like many others.
We were having to navigate aglobal pandemic with no
instruction manual.
So it was really just trying towork with our members, trying
to listen to the challenges, bea listening ear for our 96
(04:20):
country members and try and helpthem navigate through the
challenges in their owncountries with their own
particular challenges.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
What progress has been made in integrating
chiropractic into mainstreamhealth care?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Well, I think that really there has been a shift
globally towardsnon-pharmaceutical, non-surgical
interventions.
When you look at some of theguidelines that have come out,
the international documents thathave come out, this has really
driven a shift in the status ofchiropractic globally, because
(04:57):
the evidence now Arlan, is onour side, you know, guideline
after guideline, recommendationafter recommendation, is talking
about the very interventionsthat chiropractors are trained
and educated to deliver.
And so, with the guidelinesstating that, whether it's
(05:17):
manipulation or exercise,prescription, or patient
education, or thebiopsychosocial model, this all
plays into the model of carethat the majority of
chiropractors globally adopt.
So, you know, it couldn't havebeen better for us in that
respect.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Well, you know, I used to have a sign in my office
and it said try chiropracticfirst, medicine second and
surgery last.
Now I'm not so sure that wasn'ta pretty good sign last.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Now I'm not so sure that wasn't a pretty good sign.
I think that was entirelyaccurate.
I mean, my daughter is anorthopedic surgeon, so her life
is surgical intervention, and Ithink she would say exactly the
same as what you've just said.
You know, I always think themark of a good surgeon is their
reluctance to operate unlessthere are clear indications to
do so.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
You know, the WFC placed an emphasis on diversity
and inclusion in recent years.
What steps have you taken tomake chiropractic a more
inclusive profession?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Well, you know, one of the things that I've said
right from the beginning is thatthe WFC should be there for the
many, not for the few.
Wfc should be there for the many, not for the few.
So it's important that what wedo is relevant to the majority,
if not all, of our stakeholders.
You know, we have members fromseven world regions and, of
(06:37):
course, with the socialdeterminants of health, what
health looks like from onecountry to another, what region
to another, is entirelydifferent.
And when I talk about thesesocial determinants of health,
these are the conditions inwhich people are born, grow,
live, work, age and die, and sothat can be hugely different
between the United States andcountries like Botswana, for
(07:02):
example, where I've worked.
I had experience working therewith World Spine Care and I've
seen it firsthand, some of thechallenges that people face with
healthcare.
So the fact that the WFC canhave relevance in the United
States, relevance in Botswana,relevance in our other regions,
is really, really important.
And the other thing is thatit's important that, as the WFC,
(07:24):
the people at the WFC arerelatable to the community that
we serve, and that's reallyimportant too.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I remember being a delegate to the WHO, the World
Health Organization, and my wifesaid, as we walked out after
about the third day, how haveyou categorized this?
And I said on the right werethe third world countries, which
was infection.
On the left were the morediverse and more developed
countries and theirs wasarthritis.
(07:54):
I mean, it just was obvious tome it was chronic disease versus
acute disease.
And I remember you've beenaround the WHO for a long time.
Do you buy that kind of a lookat it?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, I think that the WHO has evolved and I've
been very proud to be thedesignated focal point for the
WFC.
We have really invested indeveloping our relationship with
WHO.
The WHO has been around since1948, so they preceded us by 40
years.
They had a definition of healthwhich was a complete state of
(08:27):
physical, mental and socialwell-being, not just the absence
of disease or infirmity.
They have never changed thatdefinition in all the years that
they've been involved.
But I think, arlan, it reallyplays into what we do as
chiropractors not just focusingon symptoms but focusing on the
whole person, and the concept ofwhole person healthcare is
(08:48):
something that's very much alivewith the WHO now and they've
shifted their emphasis.
As you say, when it was startedit was about combating the
millions of people that weredying from conditions like
malaria and cholera and TB andsmallpox and syphilis and
measles.
You know these were thosecommunicable diseases, but in
(09:10):
recent years they've recognizedthe importance of
non-communicable diseases andmusculoskeletal conditions.
Low back pain, we now know, isthe largest single cause of
years liver disability on theplanet.
And who is the profession thatis well-placed to manage spinal
conditions?
It's chiropractors.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Well, you know, everybody looks at sports
injuries.
Every young student that I talkto wants to be a sports injury
doctor for a big team and Iinterviewed Monty Hessler, who
is the team physician for thePhoenix Suns and the San
Francisco Giants.
He's got like three rings forWorld Series for the San
Francisco Giants and I said helpme with this, monty, how long
(09:51):
did it take you to get to thebig leagues?
He always said it was quiteshort 14 years.
And so I throw that out whenI'm teaching in colleges, you
know, because I say don't expectto be on a big league team in
the first six months that you'reout of college, because it's
not going to happen.
And so I think probably thefuture is evolving in that
(10:12):
direction.
So they're seeing how goodchiropractic can be.
Now, what areas of chiropracticresearch excite you the most?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Well, I think there are two areas in particular.
I think one of the things thatwe need to demonstrate is cost
effectiveness.
We know that chiropractic iseffective.
We know that the interventionsthat chiropractors use in their
daily practice are effectivebecause they feature in
guidelines.
They feature in the Lancet,they featured in other WHO
(10:42):
recommendations, but when youspeak to politicians who are
going to be the decision makersin relation to the integration
of chiropractic into healthsystems, the one question they
ask is look, we know that whatyou do is effective, but you
need to show us that it's costeffective, because, ultimately,
that's the question that thebean counters are going to ask.
That's the question that thepolicymakers are going to ask.
(11:04):
So we need to make sure thatwe're not just effective but we
are cost effective, and so Ithink that's the area of
research that excites me most.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
You know, I have been assessing this whole thing
because people ask you knowyou're a veteran, yeah, like 60
years and they ask what do yousee?
And I say you know what I seehappening by 2030, half the
population in the United Statesis going to be 65 or over
(11:36):
population in the United Statesis going to be 65 or over.
The geriatric population is ahuge market and we can't put
everybody in a nursing home andso mobility is a big deal and
having chiropractors on thefront to keep them mobile and
keep them active.
So I think, but we need to havethat data published.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
You're absolutely right, arlan, and I've been
doing a lot of work in andaround public health, as you
know, for many years and I'vespoken recently on public health
and one of the things that Isay is that some of these areas
of chiropractic can be veryexciting and fast-paced, but the
key area if you want to build along-term, sustainable
(12:13):
chiropractic practice it has tobe focused about the care of
older people, because the onething, the one thing that
frightens older people more thananything else is loneliness,
(12:34):
and they find themselves lessable to move and less able to
mobilize and they become moreand more housebound, they become
socially isolated.
Then I think that is a tragedyfor older people.
They can't, they can't go out,visit their friends, they can't
visit their grandchildren.
So making sure that we canfocus our energy on making sure
that the older people staymobile, stay active, enable them
to live happier, healthier,more active lives, is absolutely
(12:59):
the key to where I thinkchiropractic can really really
make a difference in society.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Well, you know, my wife had a knee replaced here
about five years ago and thenshe had a ligament torn in her
trochanter and so I have livedthrough the 10 months on a
walker.
For an A-type person, you knowthat's not a good thing and she
made it through with.
You know, with chiropracticcare, because, for example,
(13:26):
we're having a seminar in StLouis at Logan University on
April 12th and 13th but we'regoing to talk about geriatrics
and how to take care of peoplethat have had replaced hips and
replaced knees and things likethat.
Just so the averagepractitioner out there knows
what do I do?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Exactly.
It's so important because youknow, when you rehabilitate
someone who's had thatexperience and you know surgery
is just the first step, you knowwhat do you do post-surgery.
You know, once you've had thesurgery and the surgeons sign
you off, what happens then.
And this is where chiropracticcan make a difference
Chiropractors who understandthat it's about function rather
(14:03):
than about pain, about gettingpeople moving, getting people
stronger and rehabilitating themback into normal life.
That is life-changing forpeople.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
What advice do you give the next generation of
chiropractic leaders, those whowill take the profession forward
?
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Well, you know, it's always an interesting question
when I get asked aboutleadership and you know I've
been privileged to be in thisposition of having a leadership
role for a number of years now,as you know, and I suppose that
my advice would always beencapsulated in three letters
(14:40):
H-H-I.
And what do I mean by H-H-I?
Well, I think the key pillarsof leadership are humanity,
humility and integrity.
Are humanity, humility andintegrity.
And I think if you have thosethree and you keep your focus on
humanity, humility andintegrity, you won't go too far
(15:02):
wrong.
You can never expect yourselfto be an expert in everything,
so when you've got a good teamaround you, that's important.
You've got to recognize thatyou don't know everything, but
you've got to get a team ofpeople around you that you can
really work with and rely on.
But for me, the compass that'sreally guided me during my time
(15:26):
that I've been privileged to actin these roles have been those
three qualities, and I've triedmy hardest to stick with those
Excellent advice.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So what's next for you personally?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Well, that's always an interesting question as well.
People think I'm just going toseamlessly step into something
else, and nothing could befurther from the truth at this
time.
I would, you know.
One of the things I need to dois just take a breather.
You know, doing this role isintense and you know from the
millions of miles that you'vetraveled on and over the last
(16:01):
you know, 40 something yearsthat really it is quite a brutal
lifestyle.
You spend a lot of time onairplanes, you spend a lot of
time in departure lounges andyou spend a lot of time in
hotels.
I want to use the time to takea pause, take a breather, spend
quality time with Caroline, mywife and my daughters and my
(16:22):
grandson, and really refocus andreset on what are the really
important things in life.
Chiropractic has been such afundamental part of my existence
for the last 35 years, but youknow it's time to give them the
time that they deserve to have,because they've been putting up
with my shenanigans over thelast three decades.
(16:46):
So I've got that, but I've gotother things as well.
As you know, I've got a legalbackground as well as a
chiropractic background.
So I'll be continuing to dosome medico-legal work some
consultancy around ethics andlaw and legal principles.
I've been appointed by theMinistry of Health as a
magistrate, which means that Iwill be working within the
(17:07):
community as a justice of thepeace, which is an appointed
position by the ministry in theUK.
So I will be sitting andhearing cases on a on a wide
range of criminal law and I'mlooking forward to doing that.
And I've also still got my oneday a week where I'm in practice
.
I keep it real.
I stay working as achiropractor.
(17:28):
I work within a medicalpractice and a GP referral basis
and I love seeing people withinthat medical practice who would
otherwise not have access tochiropractic.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Don't you think this is maybe a new model?
You know the integrationpractice.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, integration is what it's all about, and at the
start of our conversation, arlan, we talked about advancing
awareness, utilization andintegration.
You know, and and you know it'sit's no good for me to be, to
be spouting off and and andtalking about these things
without trying to live, live itand walk the walk ourselves.
So, you know, by doing what I'mdoing and it's a pro bono
(18:10):
service you know I'm not doingit for the money.
I just think that we have aduty to give back to society as
chiropractors and being able towork with my colleagues in
medical practice who are lovingthe service because, let's face
it, most GPs hate treating backpain and spinal pain.
Well, they don't know what todo with it.
(18:30):
Well, they know that they'relimited and they happily admit
that.
So, to have a chiropractor onsite in their practice that
takes out the 20-week waitinglist that many people face in
the UK before they get to seesomeone with specialist
knowledge around spinaldisorders To have someone on
site is something that theyreally like and they value, and
(18:52):
so it's been a greatrelationship that we've
developed and I'm reallyenjoying it.
I just, you know, I love beinga chiropractor.
I love the hands-on, I loveseeing people come in and tell
their stories, and nothing givesme more joy than having a
patient come to you and say thatwell, what you've done, what
you've said, what you've advised, has helped me and helped me
(19:12):
get back to normal life.
Nothing is more rewarding thanthat.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
You're right.
What's your final message?
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, you know, my final message is really that the
best is yet to come.
You know, I think that when Ilook over the course of my
lifetime as a chiropractor andI'm sure you will say the same
you know, no one would haveimagined where we would be in
2025.
(19:39):
But we shouldn't be complacent.
The best is yet to come.
Let's invest more in research.
The best is yet to come.
Let's invest more in research,let's develop the evidence base,
let's develop our integration,let's work to be part of
everyone's healthcare team.
And I think if we can do that,if we can focus on that, if we
can seize the opportunities whenthey come, we will continue to
(20:03):
thrive and chiropractic willcontinue to go from strength to
strength.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Richard Brown, the Secretary General of the World
Health Federation, stepping downfor that just shortly here, but
thank you for your service andI've seen so many good things
happen.
That's why in Activator, wewere supporting you for 10 years
, I believe, and we felt it wasworthwhile because of the good
job that you did and were doing,and you've looked for a
(20:29):
replacement and found one, sothank you very much.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Well, arlan, it's been an absolute pleasure and I
know that our friendship willcontinue.
You are a dear friend to me, asis Judy.
You have been steadfast in yoursupport throughout for the
World Federation of Chiropracticin general and me in particular
, and I can't tell you how muchI appreciate the support that
(20:53):
you've given.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Thank you and good luck.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Thank you.
I am Dr Arlen Foer, the Chairman and Founder of
Activator Methods International.
Welcome to Activate yourPractice Today.
I'm very happy to say that Ihave the Secretary General of
the World Federation, who Iinterviewed a year ago and, just
for all of our audience, I wantyou to know, he had the most
downloads 56,000, of anybodywe've interviewed over the year,
(00:25):
and we've interviewed a lot ofpeople.
So good morning, richard.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Arlan, it's wonderful to be back and thank you for
giving me the opportunity tocome and speak with you again.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I'm kind of sad about this meeting because, as you
know, richard is retiring after10 years at the WFC, and so he
has handpicked, along with hiscommittee, a new Secretary
General.
But I'm going to miss him,because we worked for at least
almost a full 10 years togethersupporting the WFC, and as you
(00:55):
step down now, what are some ofthe key milestones and
achievements that you're mostproud of during your tenure as a
Secretary General?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, it's been quite a journey, arlan, and, as you
say, we've worked together for10 years, and you know that we
worked together before that,when I was at the European
Chiropractors Union.
So you and I go back a long way, arlan, and can I just say what
an absolute privilege it's been.
And so what are the milestones?
What are the achievements?
Well, you know, it's been quitea journey and it's been
(01:22):
exciting.
I think one of the things thatsticks in my mind the most is
our Be Epic campaign.
This is something that welaunched around 2017, with the
EPIC acronym standing forEvidence-Based, people-centered,
interprofessional andCollaborative, and little did I
know at the time that welaunched this that it would
(01:43):
really catch on around the world.
It would catch on with nationalassociations, it would catch on
with student bodies, it wouldcatch on with educational
institutions, and the Be Epiccampaign is something that is
simple.
It's been effective and it'sgiven people a focus.
It's given the WFC a focus.
So I think I'm really proudthat that has really taken off.
(02:06):
I think also the fact thatwe've developed as an
international organization.
I think one of the things thathas been really rewarding is the
fact that we have thisconvening power, the opportunity
to bring people together fromall backgrounds, all nature of
the profession, and it's beenreally exciting.
So I think it's been reallyexciting.
So, you know, I think it's beenquite a ride and you know, as
(02:28):
you say, I'm coming to the end,but you know, there's a lot of
stuff to look back on and also alot of stuff to look forward to
.
Well, how do you think theprofession has evolved?
Well, you know the professionhas evolved through.
(02:51):
You know, a number of things.
We developed a vision and thatvision is a world where all
people, in all nations, of allages, have access to
chiropractic, so thatpopulations can thrive and reach
their full potential.
And coupled with that, we haveour mission, which is to advance
awareness, utilization andintegration of chiropractic
internationally.
So I suppose, when we look backand we look at how the
profession has evolved, I wouldlike to think that through
having this focus, this mission,this purpose, you know, more
(03:13):
people know about chiropractic,more people are using
chiropractic and chiropractic isnow integrated into health
systems internationally and alsointegrated into people's
personal health teams.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
What do you think the biggest challenge you faced
during the whole tenure?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, I think that the biggest challenge that we
faced during the tenure and I'msure this is not for me, just as
the Secretary General, I'm surethat almost every other CEO of
almost every other organization,of almost every other
organization, would look back onthe last 10 years and say that
the COVID-19 pandemic wasprobably the biggest challenge
we faced it came out of nowhere,we had no real experience of
(03:59):
dealing with anything of thatmagnitude and it was really a
journey into the unknown.
So we were like many others.
We were having to navigate aglobal pandemic with no
instruction manual.
So it was really just trying towork with our members, trying
to listen to the challenges, bea listening ear for our 96
(04:20):
country members and try and helpthem navigate through the
challenges in their owncountries with their own
particular challenges.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
What progress has been made in integrating
chiropractic into mainstreamhealth care?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Well, I think that really there has been a shift
globally towardsnon-pharmaceutical, non-surgical
interventions.
When you look at some of theguidelines that have come out,
the international documents thathave come out, this has really
driven a shift in the status ofchiropractic globally, because
(04:57):
the evidence now Arlan, is onour side, you know, guideline
after guideline, recommendationafter recommendation, is talking
about the very interventionsthat chiropractors are trained
and educated to deliver.
And so, with the guidelinesstating that, whether it's
(05:17):
manipulation or exercise,prescription, or patient
education, or thebiopsychosocial model, this all
plays into the model of carethat the majority of
chiropractors globally adopt.
So, you know, it couldn't havebeen better for us in that
respect.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Well, you know, I used to have a sign in my office
and it said try chiropracticfirst, medicine second and
surgery last.
Now I'm not so sure that wasn'ta pretty good sign last.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Now I'm not so sure that wasn't a pretty good sign.
I think that was entirelyaccurate.
I mean, my daughter is anorthopedic surgeon, so her life
is surgical intervention, and Ithink she would say exactly the
same as what you've just said.
You know, I always think themark of a good surgeon is their
reluctance to operate unlessthere are clear indications to
do so.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
You know, the WFC placed an emphasis on diversity
and inclusion in recent years.
What steps have you taken tomake chiropractic a more
inclusive profession?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Well, you know, one of the things that I've said
right from the beginning is thatthe WFC should be there for the
many, not for the few.
Wfc should be there for the many, not for the few.
So it's important that what wedo is relevant to the majority,
if not all, of our stakeholders.
You know, we have members fromseven world regions and, of
(06:37):
course, with the socialdeterminants of health, what
health looks like from onecountry to another, what region
to another, is entirelydifferent.
And when I talk about thesesocial determinants of health,
these are the conditions inwhich people are born, grow,
live, work, age and die, and sothat can be hugely different
between the United States andcountries like Botswana, for
(07:02):
example, where I've worked.
I had experience working therewith World Spine Care and I've
seen it firsthand, some of thechallenges that people face with
healthcare.
So the fact that the WFC canhave relevance in the United
States, relevance in Botswana,relevance in our other regions,
is really, really important.
And the other thing is thatit's important that, as the WFC,
(07:24):
the people at the WFC arerelatable to the community that
we serve, and that's reallyimportant too.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I remember being a delegate to the WHO, the World
Health Organization, and my wifesaid, as we walked out after
about the third day, how haveyou categorized this?
And I said on the right werethe third world countries, which
was infection.
On the left were the morediverse and more developed
countries and theirs wasarthritis.
(07:54):
I mean, it just was obvious tome it was chronic disease versus
acute disease.
And I remember you've beenaround the WHO for a long time.
Do you buy that kind of a lookat it?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, I think that the WHO has evolved and I've
been very proud to be thedesignated focal point for the
WFC.
We have really invested indeveloping our relationship with
WHO.
The WHO has been around since1948, so they preceded us by 40
years.
They had a definition of healthwhich was a complete state of
(08:27):
physical, mental and socialwell-being, not just the absence
of disease or infirmity.
They have never changed thatdefinition in all the years that
they've been involved.
But I think, arlan, it reallyplays into what we do as
chiropractors not just focusingon symptoms but focusing on the
whole person, and the concept ofwhole person healthcare is
(08:48):
something that's very much alivewith the WHO now and they've
shifted their emphasis.
As you say, when it was startedit was about combating the
millions of people that weredying from conditions like
malaria and cholera and TB andsmallpox and syphilis and
measles.
You know these were thosecommunicable diseases, but in
(09:10):
recent years they've recognizedthe importance of
non-communicable diseases andmusculoskeletal conditions.
Low back pain, we now know, isthe largest single cause of
years liver disability on theplanet.
And who is the profession thatis well-placed to manage spinal
conditions?
It's chiropractors.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Well, you know, everybody looks at sports
injuries.
Every young student that I talkto wants to be a sports injury
doctor for a big team and Iinterviewed Monty Hessler, who
is the team physician for thePhoenix Suns and the San
Francisco Giants.
He's got like three rings forWorld Series for the San
Francisco Giants and I said helpme with this, monty, how long
(09:51):
did it take you to get to thebig leagues?
He always said it was quiteshort 14 years.
And so I throw that out whenI'm teaching in colleges, you
know, because I say don't expectto be on a big league team in
the first six months that you'reout of college, because it's
not going to happen.
And so I think probably thefuture is evolving in that
(10:12):
direction.
So they're seeing how goodchiropractic can be.
Now, what areas of chiropracticresearch excite you the most?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Well, I think there are two areas in particular.
I think one of the things thatwe need to demonstrate is cost
effectiveness.
We know that chiropractic iseffective.
We know that the interventionsthat chiropractors use in their
daily practice are effectivebecause they feature in
guidelines.
They feature in the Lancet,they featured in other WHO
(10:42):
recommendations, but when youspeak to politicians who are
going to be the decision makersin relation to the integration
of chiropractic into healthsystems, the one question they
ask is look, we know that whatyou do is effective, but you
need to show us that it's costeffective, because, ultimately,
that's the question that thebean counters are going to ask.
That's the question that thepolicymakers are going to ask.
(11:04):
So we need to make sure thatwe're not just effective but we
are cost effective, and so Ithink that's the area of
research that excites me most.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
You know, I have been assessing this whole thing
because people ask you knowyou're a veteran, yeah, like 60
years and they ask what do yousee?
And I say you know what I seehappening by 2030, half the
population in the United Statesis going to be 65 or over
(11:36):
population in the United Statesis going to be 65 or over.
The geriatric population is ahuge market and we can't put
everybody in a nursing home andso mobility is a big deal and
having chiropractors on thefront to keep them mobile and
keep them active.
So I think, but we need to havethat data published.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
You're absolutely right, arlan, and I've been
doing a lot of work in andaround public health, as you
know, for many years and I'vespoken recently on public health
and one of the things that Isay is that some of these areas
of chiropractic can be veryexciting and fast-paced, but the
key area if you want to build along-term, sustainable
(12:13):
chiropractic practice it has tobe focused about the care of
older people, because the onething, the one thing that
frightens older people more thananything else is loneliness,
(12:34):
and they find themselves lessable to move and less able to
mobilize and they become moreand more housebound, they become
socially isolated.
Then I think that is a tragedyfor older people.
They can't, they can't go out,visit their friends, they can't
visit their grandchildren.
So making sure that we canfocus our energy on making sure
that the older people staymobile, stay active, enable them
to live happier, healthier,more active lives, is absolutely
(12:59):
the key to where I thinkchiropractic can really really
make a difference in society.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Well, you know, my wife had a knee replaced here
about five years ago and thenshe had a ligament torn in her
trochanter and so I have livedthrough the 10 months on a
walker.
For an A-type person, you knowthat's not a good thing and she
made it through with.
You know, with chiropracticcare, because, for example,
(13:26):
we're having a seminar in StLouis at Logan University on
April 12th and 13th but we'regoing to talk about geriatrics
and how to take care of peoplethat have had replaced hips and
replaced knees and things likethat.
Just so the averagepractitioner out there knows
what do I do?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Exactly.
It's so important because youknow, when you rehabilitate
someone who's had thatexperience and you know surgery
is just the first step, you knowwhat do you do post-surgery.
You know, once you've had thesurgery and the surgeons sign
you off, what happens then.
And this is where chiropracticcan make a difference
Chiropractors who understandthat it's about function rather
(14:03):
than about pain, about gettingpeople moving, getting people
stronger and rehabilitating themback into normal life.
That is life-changing forpeople.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
What advice do you give the next generation of
chiropractic leaders, those whowill take the profession forward
?
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Well, you know, it's always an interesting question
when I get asked aboutleadership and you know I've
been privileged to be in thisposition of having a leadership
role for a number of years now,as you know, and I suppose that
my advice would always beencapsulated in three letters
(14:40):
H-H-I.
And what do I mean by H-H-I?
Well, I think the key pillarsof leadership are humanity,
humility and integrity.
Are humanity, humility andintegrity.
And I think if you have thosethree and you keep your focus on
humanity, humility andintegrity, you won't go too far
(15:02):
wrong.
You can never expect yourselfto be an expert in everything,
so when you've got a good teamaround you, that's important.
You've got to recognize thatyou don't know everything, but
you've got to get a team ofpeople around you that you can
really work with and rely on.
But for me, the compass that'sreally guided me during my time
(15:26):
that I've been privileged to actin these roles have been those
three qualities, and I've triedmy hardest to stick with those
Excellent advice.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So what's next for you personally?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Well, that's always an interesting question as well.
People think I'm just going toseamlessly step into something
else, and nothing could befurther from the truth at this
time.
I would, you know.
One of the things I need to dois just take a breather.
You know, doing this role isintense and you know from the
millions of miles that you'vetraveled on and over the last
(16:01):
you know, 40 something yearsthat really it is quite a brutal
lifestyle.
You spend a lot of time onairplanes, you spend a lot of
time in departure lounges andyou spend a lot of time in
hotels.
I want to use the time to takea pause, take a breather, spend
quality time with Caroline, mywife and my daughters and my
(16:22):
grandson, and really refocus andreset on what are the really
important things in life.
Chiropractic has been such afundamental part of my existence
for the last 35 years, but youknow it's time to give them the
time that they deserve to have,because they've been putting up
with my shenanigans over thelast three decades.
(16:46):
So I've got that, but I've gotother things as well.
As you know, I've got a legalbackground as well as a
chiropractic background.
So I'll be continuing to dosome medico-legal work some
consultancy around ethics andlaw and legal principles.
I've been appointed by theMinistry of Health as a
magistrate, which means that Iwill be working within the
(17:07):
community as a justice of thepeace, which is an appointed
position by the ministry in theUK.
So I will be sitting andhearing cases on a on a wide
range of criminal law and I'mlooking forward to doing that.
And I've also still got my oneday a week where I'm in practice
.
I keep it real.
I stay working as achiropractor.
(17:28):
I work within a medicalpractice and a GP referral basis
and I love seeing people withinthat medical practice who would
otherwise not have access tochiropractic.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Don't you think this is maybe a new model?
You know the integrationpractice.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, integration is what it's all about, and at the
start of our conversation, arlan, we talked about advancing
awareness, utilization andintegration.
You know, and and you know it'sit's no good for me to be, to
be spouting off and and andtalking about these things
without trying to live, live itand walk the walk ourselves.
So, you know, by doing what I'mdoing and it's a pro bono
(18:10):
service you know I'm not doingit for the money.
I just think that we have aduty to give back to society as
chiropractors and being able towork with my colleagues in
medical practice who are lovingthe service because, let's face
it, most GPs hate treating backpain and spinal pain.
Well, they don't know what todo with it.
(18:30):
Well, they know that they'relimited and they happily admit
that.
So, to have a chiropractor onsite in their practice that
takes out the 20-week waitinglist that many people face in
the UK before they get to seesomeone with specialist
knowledge around spinaldisorders To have someone on
site is something that theyreally like and they value, and
(18:52):
so it's been a greatrelationship that we've
developed and I'm reallyenjoying it.
I just, you know, I love beinga chiropractor.
I love the hands-on, I loveseeing people come in and tell
their stories, and nothing givesme more joy than having a
patient come to you and say thatwell, what you've done, what
you've said, what you've advised, has helped me and helped me
(19:12):
get back to normal life.
Nothing is more rewarding thanthat.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
You're right.
What's your final message?
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, you know, my final message is really that the
best is yet to come.
You know, I think that when Ilook over the course of my
lifetime as a chiropractor andI'm sure you will say the same
you know, no one would haveimagined where we would be in
2025.
(19:39):
But we shouldn't be complacent.
The best is yet to come.
Let's invest more in research.
The best is yet to come.
Let's invest more in research,let's develop the evidence base,
let's develop our integration,let's work to be part of
everyone's healthcare team.
And I think if we can do that,if we can focus on that, if we
can seize the opportunities whenthey come, we will continue to
(20:03):
thrive and chiropractic willcontinue to go from strength to
strength.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Richard Brown, the Secretary General of the World
Health Federation, stepping downfor that just shortly here, but
thank you for your service andI've seen so many good things
happen.
That's why in Activator, wewere supporting you for 10 years
, I believe, and we felt it wasworthwhile because of the good
job that you did and were doing,and you've looked for a
(20:29):
replacement and found one, sothank you very much.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Well, arlan, it's been an absolute pleasure and I
know that our friendship willcontinue.
You are a dear friend to me, asis Judy.
You have been steadfast in yoursupport throughout for the
World Federation of Chiropracticin general and me in particular
, and I can't tell you how muchI appreciate the support that
(20:53):
you've given.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Thank you and good luck.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Thank you.
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