Terms of Reference (October 2020) 

Chair

Professor Christine GOERTZ DC, PhD (Chair) (USA). Professor of Musculoskeletal Research, Duke Clinical Research Institute. Director of System Development and Coordination for Spine Health, Dept. Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University. Chairperson, Board of Governors, PCORI (Person Centered Outcomes Research Institute, U.S.). CEO Spine Institute for Quality. Former Vice Chancellor of Research and Health Policy, Palmer College of Chiropractic Primary research interest in patient-centered, non-pharmacological treatment for spine-related disorders.

Chair Emeritus

Dr Scott HALDEMAN DC, MD, PhD, FRCP (Chair Emeritus) (USA). Adjunct Professor, School of Epidemiology, University of California (Los Angeles). Clinical Professor, Dept. Neurology University of California (Irvine), Past President, North American Spine Society. International Ambassador for the Decade of the Bone and Joint (presided over Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders). Founder, World Spine Care. On Editorial Board of 8 journals. Over 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Author/Editor of 8 text books.

Dr Marc-André BLANCHETTE DC, MSc, PhD (Canada). Assistant professor at University of Quebec à Trois Rivières (UQTR). Special interest in occupational back pain, musculoskeletal epidemiology, health services research. Doctorate in public health (2017, University of Montreal). Recipient of post-doc CIHR Health System Support Scholarship. Research Collaboration with McGill University, Chiropractic Knowledge Hub (Denmark) and University of Montreal.

Dr Mitch HAAS DC, BS, MA (USA). Dr. Haas is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Integrative Health & Wellbeing Program of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. He has been the principal investigator for a number of federally-funded grants awarded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NCCAM/NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) evaluating chiropractic care for low back pain and headaches, as well as developing evidence-based practice culture. He has been principal investigator on five randomized trials investigating the dose-response of spinal manipulation and has conducted four trials on construct validity and efficacy of indicators for spinal manipulation. He sits on the editorial board of six journals and has published many papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has a BS in physics from S.U.N.Y. at Albany, a MA in physics from the University of California at Berkeley, and DC degree from Western States Chiropractic College.

Dr Anne JENSEN BSc, DC, DPhil, MSc, MS (Australia). Lecturer, Dept. of Chiropractic, Central Queensland University. Doctorate in Philosophy in evidence-based healthcare (University of Oxford, 2015), Masters in evidence-based social interventions (University of Oxford, 2007), Master in psychology (Capella University, 2007). Research interests in kinesiology.

Dr Melissa KIOH BSc (Chiro), MSc(PH), PhD(c) (Malaysia). Lecturer, International Medical University, Malaysia. PhD candidate, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya. Masters in public health (University of Dublin, 2017). Research interests in falls, postural stability, geriatrics and nutrition.

Dr Imran Khan NIAZI MS, PhD (New Zealand). Senior Research Fellow, New Zealand College of Chiropractic. PhD biomedical science and engineering (University of Aalborg, 2012), Masters in biomedical engineering (University of Lübeck). Research interests in patient-centered rehabilitation engineering using brain-computer interfaces. Currently investigating neurophysiological effects of chiropractic care on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Currently engaged in 12 international collaborations.

Dr Keseri PADAYACHY PhD, MChiro (South Africa). Lecturer and chair of Research Dept., Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology. Member, Ethics Review Committee, Durban University of Technology. PhD in Anatomy (University KwaZulu Natal, 2017). Active in clinical chiropractic practice.

Professor Steven PASSMORE DC, MS, PhD (Canada). Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba PhD in Kinesiology (McMaster University, 2013). CCRF Professorship in Spine Biomechanics and Human Neurophysiology. Assistant Professor, Ontario Tech University. Assistant Professor, New York Chiropractic College. Member, Canadian Pain Task Force, External Advisory Panel. Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative guideline development initiative member. 2020 Canadian Chiropractic Association Researcher of the Year.

Dr Katie POHLMAN DC, MS, PhD (USA). Director of Research, Parker University. PhD in Pediatrics (University of Alberta, 2019). Masters in Clinical Research, 2010. Formerly Clinical Research Fellow and Project Manager, Palmer College of Chiropractic. Member, Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine Research Review Committee. Research interests: chiropractic pediatrics, patient safety. 2020 American Chiropractic Association Researcher of the Year .

Assoc. Professor Sidney RUBINSTEIN DC PhD (Vice-Chair) (Netherlands). Dept. Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. PhD in adverse events following chiropractic care (VU University, 2008). Member Cochrane Back and Neck Review Group. Former Chair, ECU Research Committee. Former Research Director, European Academy of Chiropractic. Research Committee member, Netherlands Chiropractic Association. Independent reviewer, multiple peer-reviewed journals. Netherlands-registered epidemiologist. Author, Cochrane Systematic Reviews (acute and chronic low back pain). Active in clinical chiropractic practice.

Dr Stacie SALSBURY RN, MSN, PhD (USA). Assoc. Professor of Research, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic. Registered Nurse. PhD in Nursing (University of Iowa, 2007). Masters degree in nursing (1999). Research and Development, U.S. Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Board Member, Chiropractic Educators Research Forum.Research interests: geriatrics, chiropractic care, interprofessional care, chronic low back pain, patient safety, qualitative methodology. Independent reviewer, multiple peer-reviewed journals.

Professor Michael SCHNEIDER DC, PhD (USA). Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh. PhD Rehabilitation Science (University of Pittsburgh, 2008). 2013 American Chiropractic Association, Researcher of the Year. Author, 8 book chapters and books. Member, Institutional Review Board, University of Pittsburgh. Research interests: profiling biomechanical. biological and behavioral phenotypes of chronic low back pain; spinal manipulation and patient self-management in the prevention of chronic low back pain; resolving the burden of low back pain in military service members.

Dr Dana Lawrence, DC MMedEd MA
WFC Board Liaison

Dr Richard Brown DC LLM
Ex-officio member
WFC Secretary-General