ON Chiropractic Spring 2014 | Page 22

Community G RA SSROOTS PR OMOTION OF CHI ROPRACT I C E very day there are chiropractors across Ontario working to promote the profession on a volunteer basis. Each of them will tell you that their drive to give time and energy in this way is deeply rooted in their love of chiropractic and their belief that chiropractors can be making an even greater contribution to Ontario’s health than they are today. These three chiropractors exemplify these efforts. S ince graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in 2006, Dr. Katherine Tibor has spent many evenings and weekends sharing her story and the story of chiropractic with a wide array of audiences. “People often ask me how many years it takes to become a chiropractor. By making people aware of how in depth our training and knowledge is, people understand that chiropractic does in fact have a true place within health care,” Dr. Tibor said. In addition to building the credibility of chiropractic, Dr. Tibor also focusses her outreach efforts on raising the profile of the profession. “When we get involved in community events we allow people to put a face to chiropractic,” she believes. Dr. Tibor sees it all the time. Someone approaches her at a community event with a look of hesitation on their face. After a few moments of dialogue, that person has come to understand chiropractic and how it can help them deal with specific concerns. Their spouse is typically the next person in line. Dr. Tibor encourages all chiropractors to find opportunities to share the benefits of chiropractic in their communities. Get started by tapping into your existing social network. “You'll be amazed at how many people will be willing to connect you with the health and wellness coordinator at their office or invite you to offer a lecture their church,” she counsels. “And keep it fun! You can be informative and entertaining at the same time.” W hile pursuing her undergraduate degree at Western University, Dr. Paulina Reiban was heavily involved with the university’s Service Learning Program. The program allows students to travel abroad while volunteering for worthy causes. This past October, she opened Back 2 Action, a free biweekly chiropractic clinic within The Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care. “I sought ways to offer my specialized services in our own backyard, and to my surprise, there is more help needed here than I thought there Dr. Amy Brown speaks with a student and Dr. Katherine Tibor participates in a panel discussion at CMCC’s Practice Opportunities 2014. 22 SPRING 2014