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GLOBAL INITIATIVES
Global Initiatives Spreads Life University ’ s
Influence Around the World
From Marietta to China , and Geneva to Costa Rica , Life University ’ s vision for vitalistic health care is spreading around the world . Under the leadership of Dr . John Downes , Vice President for Global Initiatives , LIFE is expanding its international influence .
The Global Initiatives mission is “ building sustainable partnerships for health care and education around the world .” Dr . Downes says the office ’ s priorities fall into three areas : studentfocused opportunities , legislative advocacy and educational development . With current limitations on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Dr . Downes says the methodology for achieving progress in these areas has changed .
“ Right now , we ’ re looking at continuing to develop the programs where we already have personnel in the countries , and we ’ re waiting on how the world is going to deal with the concept of going forward with a global virus on the loose ,” Dr . Downes explains . “ Technology is currently the only pathway that is viable .”
Life University Vice President for Global Initiatives Dr . John Downes and faculty member Dr . Hussein Elsangak on November 12 , 2019 , at the headquarters of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in Geneva , Switzerland .
In prior years , travel was a way to show how important an opportunity was to the University .
“ Now , because travel is not part of the component , the internet has provided the opportunity to just set all that aside and go directly to the conversations about what are we trying to accomplish and if we have potential partners ,” Dr . Downes says . “ It ’ s not one-off opportunities ; it ’ s really looking at a strategy of how we build sustainable relationships . In this climate right now , the internet is the only methodology we have to make those contacts .”
In China , Costa Rica , Germany and Switzerland , LIFE personnel are pushing forward .
“ For example , in China , we have three people that are working directly with Olympic athletes in the National Training Center in Beijing ,” Dr . Downes describes . “ That ’ s their primary employment right now , through Life University . But secondary to that , they are developing a forum on their social media , which is WeChat , that is opening up mainland China and all of the people who use WeChat to Life University — not only its actions in mainland China , but also Life University in Marietta , talking about what Chiropractic is , student experiences and even putting together contacts to connect with Enrollment .”
A similar team of three in Costa Rica is working with a university and medical school to potentially develop a clinic and an academic program . Much of that work is currently taking place online , due to the country ’ s coronavirus restrictions , but Dr . Downes is looking to the future .
“ Five years from now , I would like Life University to be the gold standard in mainland China for the educational system of Chiropractic and expression of the profession ,” Dr . Downes says . “ Five years from now in Costa Rica , I ’ d love to see a full academic program in Chiropractic , again supported in cooperation with a university in Costa Rica , and to have outreach to the community so Chiropractic is included in the national healthcare system .
“ Five years from now in Geneva , that it would be a functional hub for outreach into three main areas : Spain , India and Kenya . The goal in each one of those would be to have fully developed educational programs and recognition of our profession within those areas .”
At this point , Dr . Downes says , the networks are in place and opportunities are starting to grow to reach those objectives .
“ The conversations have gone from clearly understanding the contacts we ’ re talking to , to ‘ possibility thinking ’ of what opportunities do we see immediately and how do we see those developing ,” Dr . Downes explains . “ Along with that , we ’ re getting requests right now . Universities have said , ‘ Yes , we want to develop a program . How do we start now , so we can do the logistical planning and development of the program ?’ When you start from scratch , you ’ re looking at anywhere from one to three years of just building the infrastructure , but all of that is active right now .”
Dr . Downes says over the last ten years , LIFE has continued to build momentum through the student experience .
“ Those students who have been to our school are drawing fellow citizens from their countries around the world to come have the educational experience on campus , here in Marietta , with the full intention of returning back to their home countries to practice Chiropractic ,” Dr . Downes says . “ That is very rewarding to see – that just the experience of being here and the quality of the education , and the message that we have academically about what Chiropractic is and how it impacts a person ’ s life , is actually seeding into new graduates so that they are inviting others to come join them in the process .”
38 Alumni . LIFE . edu | 2020