Noticias/Publicaciones

September 11, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

Toronto, September 11, 2020. Professor Christine Goertz DC, PhD has been named as Interim Chair of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) Research Committee.

Professor Goertz, a 1991 graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences University, serves as Professor and Director of System Development and Coordination for Spine Health Duke University School of Medicine and holds a position as adjunct professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa. She is also currently chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (U.S.). Prior to joining Duke University, Professor Goertz spent a decade at Palmer College of Chiropractic as Vice-chancellor of Research and Health Policy.

Professor Goertz’s appointment comes after Research Committee Chair, Professor Greg Kawchuk, informed the WFC of his decision to step down from the committee. Professor Kawchuk has served as Chair since 2015, having first been appointed to the committee in 2011. He is one of the founding members of the Chiropractic Academy for Research Leadership (CARL) and holds positions at the University of Alberta, the University of Southern Denmark and Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

Research Committee members, Iben Axén, Martin Descarreaux, Simon French, Jan Hartvigsen and Carolina Kolberg have also announced their resignations from the Research Committee.

WFC President Dr Vivian Kil commented, “We are grateful to Professor Kawchuk for his service as Research Committee Chair over the past five years. Under his dedicated leadership, the committee has made great strides forward and is an invaluable resource for the WFC Board. The scientific component of our congresses has been greatly transformed in large part due to his innovations. This includes launching the WFC Suggested Reading List, which has benefited both the profession and the patients we serve, around the world. At this time, we also recognize and thank the other departing members of the committee for their service.

“The WFC is committed to the promotion of evidence-based, patient-centered, interprofessional and collaborative chiropractic care – our EPIC principles – in supporting our national association members around the world and the many thousands of chiropractors they represent. Science and research are key elements of all health professions and our Research Committee continues to be a highly-valued resource of the WFC.”

The primary role of the WFC Research Committee is to advise the WFC Board on matters of science and research relevant to the practice of chiropractic, including quality, outcomes, and clinical relevance. It also serves as a resource for research-related questions arising from the WFC Board and our national association members.

PRESS RELEASE

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has today published its new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. The policy, ratified by the WFC Board of Directors at its meeting on August 18, replaces the outgoing Equality and Diversity Policy and is the product of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders within and outside the chiropractic profession.

The policy expands upon previous commitments to address discrimination and promote inclusivity in all areas of the WFC’s work. Importantly, it shifts its language from equality to equity, recognizing that different individuals and groups may need particular support in accessing services and benefiting from opportunities. By taking affirmative action, the WFC will work to ensure that those who are commonly subjected to discrimination and are under-represented will have their voices heard.

With a global mandate, the WFC is committed to ensuring that people from all regions, cultures and backgrounds can take part in, and benefit from, its projects and initiatives. The new policy sets out a series of commitments on issues of recruitment, appointments and promotional activities and undertakes to create an inclusive environment for all.

Discrimination occurs when people are treated less favorably on the grounds of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

Secretary-General Dr Richard Brown commented, “Events of 2020 focused the world’s attention on issues of racial inequity, prejudice and injustice. This policy reaffirms our commitment to tackling discrimination in all its forms and to ensuring that we positively embrace diversity and inclusion at all levels of our organization. By doing so, we can be an engine for growth and can foster innovation, creating thinking and problem solving.”

The new policy can be found at www.wfc.org/equity