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PRESS RELEASE

WFC ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL 2021 BIENNIAL CONGRESS LINE-UP

Toronto, June 21, 2021. The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has announced the academic program for its upcoming virtual Biennial Congress - and it promises to be the most diverse line-up ever assembled at a WFC event.

The Congress, which takes place September 23-25, 2021 is being held virtually as a result of ongoing international travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WFC has partnered with Parker Seminars to host its event using a state-of-the-art hosting platform, which promises to deliver an outstanding user experience. The entire three-day event will also be accessible on-demand to those registering for the Congress.

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the WFC's Biennial Congress. Since its inaugural meeting in Toronto back in 1991, chiropractic has advanced around the globe. This year, our 16th Biennial Congress reflects an unprecedented time in our history. COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives. It has presented challenges for clinicians, educators, students and scientists within the chiropractic profession. It has also acted as a catalyst for inspiration, innovation and opportunity.

Our 2021 Biennial Congress will showcase the leading global advances in chiropractic. With contributors from around the globe, the theme of Chiropractic For A New Normal will showcase leading contemporary issues, with outstanding keynote speakers, stimulating panel discussions, ground-breaking research and inspirational subject specific content-experts.

Plenary sessions will cover themes of patient-centeredness, interprofessionalism, collaboration, futurism, and adaptation to a new normal.

Presenters have been drawn from each of the WFC's 7 world regions and 19 countries are represented by the speaker faculty.

Besides a host of prominent chiropractic speakers from the world of chiropractic, highlights in the program include: Dr Nakela Cook, Executive Director of PCORI; medical philosopher, Dr Jeremy Howick; Duke University's Director of MSK Research, Professor Steven George; and G-MUSC's Professor Andrew Briggs.

The Congress also constitutes the largest international chiropractic scientific meeting, with researchers from around the world presenting original and published abstracts. For the first time, this Congress will also feature innovative digital poster sessions.

Complete with a virtual exhibition hall, the 2021 WFC Biennial Congress has something for every chiropractor across the entire spectrum of the profession.

For more information and to register, visit wfccongress.org

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PRESS RELEASE

WFC BOARD MEMBER RECOGNIZED WITH AUSTRALIAN HONOR

Toronto, June 14, 2021. A member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has been recognized for his service to the chiropractic profession with a national honor.

Dr Andrew Lawrence was announced as a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, published today.

The Order of Australia, first instituted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1975, is the pre-eminent way Australians recognize achievements and service of their fellow citizens. Dr Lawrence joins a number of other Australian chiropractors who have been nationally recognized in this way.

Initially trained as a pharmacist, Dr Lawrence qualified from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1980 and has been in continuous private practice in Melbourne, Australia for 40 years.

Dr Lawrence served a first term of office as president of the Australian Chiropractors Association (formerly the Chiropractors Association of Australia) between 1986 and 1990. He served two further terms as President, between 2001 and 2005 and between 2014 and 2018, when he presided over an historic restructuring of the association.

Married with four children, Dr Lawrence has a particular interest in family chiropractic and health promotion. For 28 years, between 1990 and 2018, he served as a part-time lecturer within the chiropractic faculty at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Commenting on today's announcement, WFC Secretary-General Richard Brown said: "Andrew has served the chiropractic profession tirelessly over five decades and we are delighted to see his work recognized in this way. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the chiropractic profession in Australia and we are privileged to have him representing the Pacific region on the WFC Board."

The WFC Board of Directors is made up of 13 representatives, nominated or elected from each of the WFC’s seven world regions.

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PRESS RELEASE

WFC PUBLISHES POSITION STATEMENTS ON GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES AND CLAIMS SUBSTANTIATION.

Toronto, June 9, 2021. The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has approved two new position statements related to public health.

Approved in principle in February and ratified at its meeting last month, the WFC Board unanimously passed the statements, which emphasize the organization's support for globally-accepted scientific and public health practices and the need for claims made by chiropractors to be capable of substantiation.

As a non-state actor (NSA) in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the WFC collaborates with a number of departments and actively advocates for public health initiatives.

In the first of its newly-published position statements, the WFC sets out its clear support for globally-accepted scientific and public health practices, especially those of WHO.

Including reference to its promotion of evidence-based practice, high standards of chiropractic education, patient, community and societal welfare, and public health, the WFC position statement aligns with the WFC Principles, notably Principle #11, which explicitly supports WHO initiatives related to diet and physical activity, healthy ageing, anti-tobacco, injury prevention and infectious disease prevention campaigns.

Meanwhile, the WFC's position in relation to health claims aims to address statements made by chiropractors in their communications in relation to effectiveness, cure or prevention.

Its publication of its position statement on claims made by chiropractors comes amidst a WHO Global Conference on Communicating Science during Health Emergencies, which runs from 7-25 June. Last year, WHO, UN, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNAIDS, ITU, UN Global Pulse, and IFRC issued a joint statement calling on Member States to mitigate the harm caused by misinformation and disinformation. This was followed by a cross-regional statement signed by 132 nations in relation to the COVID-19 infodemic.

An infodemic is a proliferation of information, including false or misleading information, in digital or physical environments during a disease outbreak. Infodemics can cause confusion or risk-taking behaviors that can harm health and lead to mistrust in health authorities and an undermining of the public health response.

Both position statements are accessible on the WFC website:
• Support of globally and scientifically healthcare practices by chiropractors: wfc.org/posn_ph
• Claims of effectiveness, cure or prevention made by chiropractors: wfc.org/posn_claims

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May 21, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

WFC ANNOUNCES FIRST AFRICAN EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has appointed its first African representative to its Executive Committee.

Dr. Kendrah da Silva has served on the WFC Board of Directors since 2019 and represents the African region. She was unanimously elected on May 18 at a meeting of the WFC Board of Directors, replacing outgoing WFC Vice-President, Dr Michele Maiers.

Dr. Da Silva is a 1994 graduate of Technikon Natal (now Durban University of Technology). She runs a busy general chiropractic practice in Midrand, South Africa, balancing patient care with her work in chiropractic politics and education.

Dr Da Silva is currently serving her third term as president of the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA), the largest national chiropractic association on the continent. She became involved as a volunteer with CASA shortly after graduation and has been involved with CASA in some capacity for over a quarter of a century, including as a CASA Council Member since 2000.

During her time with the association, Dr Da Silva has developed expertise in South African health coding systems and was a contributor to the WFC's submission to the global consultation on ICD-11. As an experienced leader, she represents a region that is no stranger to health care challenges, with many countries seriously under-served and a shortage of chiropractors to meet the need for spine care and disability prevention. She has been a key contributor to the South African Competition Commission's Health Market Enquiry, which is examining equity of provision within the private healthcare sector.

On a national political level, Dr. Da Silva has represented the chiropractic profession in consultations around the implementation of the National Health Insurance scheme. As CASA President during the Covid-19 pandemic, she has also been a vocal advocate of the national vaccine rollout across South Africa.

Dr. Da Silva is a part-time lecturer on the chiropractic program at the University of Johannesburg, where she teaches clinical chiropractic to fifth year students. She serves as the Board liaison on the WFC's Public Health Committee, where she brings experience of public health in Africa. She has been a leading voice in successive World Spine Days, inspiring activities to highlight the importance of spine health and disability prevention.

Speaking on her appointment, Dr Da Silva said, "I am overwhelmed by the confidence that my fellow Board directors have placed in me. This is an awesome opportunity to serve the chiropractic profession in a new capacity. As Vice-President, I'm looking forward to continuing to support WFC initiatives, including our #BeEPIC campaign and the WFC Principles, and further cement the progress the profession has made thus far."

The WFC Board of Directors is made up of 13 representatives, nominated or elected from each of the WFC's seven world regions.

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April 29, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

WFC ANNOUNCES REPLACEMENT ACA DIRECTOR

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has nominated a successor to Dr Michele Maiers, who steps down from the WFC Board of Directors on May 5 to focus on her role as ACA President.

Dr. Dana Lawrence is the Associate Provost of Education and Research at Parker University, where he is also Director for their Quality Enhancement Plan. He was previously the Senior Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning and interim Senior Director for Continuing Education and Events at Palmer College of Chiropractic and had previously served as a member of the research department.

Dr. Lawrence began his career at National University of Health Sciences. He is a past editor of several professional scientific journals for the chiropractic profession, including the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Journal of Chiropractic Humanities, Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation and Chiropractic Journal of Australia. He is currently editor for the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic.

He has published a number of textbooks, including Fundamentals of Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management and the first edition of Chiropractic Technique (with Drs. Tom Bergmann and David Peterson). He serves on more than 20 editorial boards and is also associate editor for several.

Dr. Lawrence was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Office of Alternative Medicine, and later became the first chiropractor to be a member of the Alternative Medicine Program Advisory Council of the OAM and the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He was also invited to participate in President Clinton's health care reform program. In 1998, Dr. Lawrence was named “Researcher of the Year” by the Foundation for Chiropractic Research and Education for his service to the profession. He has also been awarded two Presidential Leadership Awards from the American Chiropractic Association and in 2013 was named Academician of the Year by the ACA.

He serves as past Chair and current vice-chair for the institutional review board (IRB) for Genesis Health Care in Davenport, IA. In addition to his DC degree, Dr. Lawrence has earned master’s degrees in medical education (MMedEd) from the University of Dundee and in bioethics and health policy (MA) from Loyola University Chicago.

WFC President, Dr Carlos Ayres, said, “We are delighted to welcome Dr Lawrence to the Board. He brings a wealth of experience and critical skill sets as we pursue our mission and vision. We know him to be a strong advocate for the WFC’s #BeEPIC campaign and look forward to benefiting from his wisdom and expertise.”

Speaking on his appointment, Dr Lawrence commented, “I am well beyond grateful to have this opportunity to serve. I sincerely hope I live up the trust that the WFC and ACA have placed in me as we move forward and I am eager and excited to play a role.”

The WFC Board of Directors is made up of 13 representatives, nominated or elected from each of the WFC's seven world regions.