AROUND CAMPUS

Lobbyist Working to Make Northwestern’s Voice Heard at State Capitol

In conjunction with the Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA), Northwestern Health Sciences University has been an effective voice for natural health care at the Minnesota State Capitol for many years. This is largely due to the efforts of Dave Kunz, the University’s lobbyist, according to Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern.

In lobbying for the University, Kunz monitors all bill introductions, and talks with legislators and departments that oversee programs that affect Northwestern. He keeps the Northwestern community informed on the laws that affect the University. Kunz gives a lecture on the legislative process and student involvement to a class taught by Terry Erickson, DC. “I help students become informed and involved in the political process,” Kunz says.

Many issues facing Northwestern’s programs are addressed by lobbying efforts. According to Kunz, curriculum issues based on the scope of practice, current regulatory requirements of practice, and tax issues are regularly looked at by the legislature. Kunz says the bills he worked on last year were successful, without any adverse affects. These bills included regulatory health care reform, scope of practice, reimbursement issues, and bills and changes of the health care policy.

According to Dr. Zeigler, having a lobbyist is very necessary. “It’s important that we have a representative to ensure Northwestern’s position is clear on the issues affecting our profession during the legislative session,” he says. “Kunz does a great job for the University and the MCA. He knows the history and has a good understanding of what issues of importance have been, and those that will continue to evolve.”

This year, Kunz expects to continue working on health care reform issues, and a potential $3 to $4 billion deficit in the state budget. The deficit could affect reimbursement, research funds, and access to chiropractic, acupuncture, and/or massage therapy services.

Dr. Zeigler and Kunz encourage students from all three programs to become involved in legislative efforts. “Students should get involved with student organizations, and join efforts when we go to the Capitol,” says Kunz. “I’m currently working with the Student Senate and we’re trying to build stronger student involvement at the Capitol.”

Natural Care for Those in Need
The Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies Teams up with the Volunteers of America to Change Lives

Northwestern Health Sciences University is collaborating with the Volunteers of America of Minneapolis, Minn., to provide more accessible natural health care to the elderly in the community. The organization provided $150,000 to Northwestern’s Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies to produce a one-of-a-kind project, focusing on the organization’s services for the elderly. According to Roni Evans, MS, DC, dean of research at Northwestern, “The primary goal is to determine the feasibility of developing a sustainable and replicable model for providing integrated chiropractic, acupuncture and massage services for Volunteers of America’s elderly residents. A secondary goal is to provide fellowship training experiences to chiropractic, acupuncture and massage practitioners, focused on providing integrated care to the aging population.”

According to Dr. Evans, the integrated services will be offered to elderly residents with varying degrees of impaired physical and mental function. “We would like the Volunteers of America residents to experience an increased function and quality of life through our services,” she says.

Included in the process is: Establishing doctors’ orders, developing methods for sharing information and documenting services, and identifying resource needs. Kristine Westrom, MD, associate professor at Northwestern and a principal investigator in the project says, “The Volunteers of America funded this pilot project because they believed treatment with acupuncture, Oriental medicine, chiropractic and massage could positively affect the lives of geriatric patients; especially regardingpain, sleep, medication use, balance, strength and function.”

The expected completion date of the project is December, 2010. According to Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern, “This is an opportunity for the University to reach out to a population that has not had open and available services to natural health care. Hopefully we can create new relationships with Volunteers of America and other institutions.”

Northwestern Remembers Acupuncture Pioneer Edith Davis

Edith Davis, whose passion and persistence helped shape the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine in Minnesota, died May 19, 2008 of cardiac complications at age 87. Davis was passionate about teaching and practicing Oriental medicine, and promoting its integration into the current health care system. She dreamed of acupuncture being more widely used and accepted in today’s health care system. Due to her dedication and perseverance, her dream is coming true.

Her legacy at Northwestern Health Sciences University will live on in the Northwestern clinic that bears her name: The Edith Davis Clinic, which is the teaching clinic of the  Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Northwestern is also working with the family to create a continuing education seminar named after Davis. According to Mark McKenzie, MOm, LAc, dean of the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, “The seminar will be an ongoing event to honor her commitment to education.”

Northwestern Loses a Friend and Benefactor: Dr. William Harris

“The only way you are going to improve the quality of chiropractic is to improve the quality of the education,” said William Harris, DC, long-time benefactor of Northwestern. “When you change the destiny of a school, you change the destiny of the profession.”

Dr. Harris lived by those words, changing the destiny of many people through his generous contributions to chiropractic education. Sadly, having suffered a fracture of his C2 vertebrae, Dr. Harris subsequently contracted pneumonia and passed away on Nov. 9, 2008, with his children by his side. He was 90 years old.

Northwestern Health Sciences University was lucky to be one of the recipients of Dr. Harris’ generosity over the years, receiving $1 million for the construction of the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies; a $200,000 grant to fund a chair in business and practice management; and a $500,000 donation to help fund the Wolfe-Harris Center for Excellence. “He was a generous visionary who believed in education,” says Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern. “His financial contributions to Northwestern have been long-lasting and can be seen today throughout the University.”

BRIEFLY

• AGB Consultants Assess Northwestern’s Strategic Theme
• Northwestern Presents 128 Students with Degrees at Fall Commencement Ceremonies
• University Hires New Director of Office of Data Management for Research
• Northwestern Partners with St. Paul School in Unique Health Care Program
• Clinics Make Administration Changes as Partnerships Expand
• Students Learn about Natural Health Care Careers at Northwestern’s Annual Career Day
• Dr. Sweere Takes on New Position in University’s Development Office
• New University Clinic Targets the Senior Population
• Northwestern’s President Featured in Minnesota Publication
• Home at Last – Undergraduate Studies Courses are Now On-Campus
• Northwestern Educates Community through New Publication
• La Clinica de la Mariposa Puts Northwestern Students into Practice
• Self-Study Process Well Underway at Northwestern
• Vendors Meet and Greet Students and Display Products at Vendor Day