Beyond the narcissism in these reality television, talent contests, survivor shows etc., what amazes me is that chiropractors actually think that getting a chiroprator on Oprah is going to save this profession.

And please don't write me and tell me about all the careers she has launched and best selling books she has put on the lists, yada, yada, yada.

Once more let's get this straight:

The future of the chiropractic profession rests on its ability to demonstrate improved health outcomes secondary to reduction and/or correction of vertebral subluxation coupled with its ability to communicate that benefit and provoke outrage within the public to the extent that they perceive there is a hazard of leaving verterbral subluxation unattended.  

This is the only thing that is going to move us from seeing less than 10 percent of the population - the early adopters - and move on to the rest of the population. Oprah won't do it, being primary care physicians won't do it, prescribing drugs won't do it...
            
The perfect storm of the health care collapse consisting of unsustainable spending, GDP percentage approaching 20+ percent, entitlements, social security, aging baby boomers, Medicare and Medicaid is coming in the next 20-30 years. We'll either be out in front of it or we will be swept up in the tidal wave of reform.

While Oprah has miracle powers, she does not have influence over 20 + percent of the gross domestic product of the country. I beleive that intellectually chiropractors know this but deep down from the roots of our profession we are always looking for that one charismatic person who rides in on a white horse to save us from our oppressors.

I got news for you - NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US.

And that includes the entrenched leadership within the profession which is perfectly happy with the status quo - 30 years from now they will effectively be gone and had their fill of the bounty of this profession.

Well - the status quo has to go. And the only way it will happen is for each and every one of you to get engaged in the process.

Or we could pin our hopes on Oprah.

Are you in?

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
matthewmccoy@comcast.net
Editor  
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic
http://www.chiropracticpediatricresearch.net