Life Chiropractic College West is celebrating a milestone anniversary of the first chiropractic adjustment. On Friday, Sept. 18, the college marked 125 years since D.D. Palmer adjusted Harvey Lillard in Davenport, Iowa. Life West recognized the important anniversary with online and on-campus events.
A worldwide audience celebrated chiropractic’s 125th birthday online.
Life West President Ron Oberstein, DC, presided over an online party, which attracted a worldwide audience of chiropractors joining from across the United States as well as Canada, Europe, and Singapore.
“When D.D. Palmer gave that first adjustment to Harvey Lillard, he could not have predicted that the chiropractic profession would grow and spread around the world, helping millions of people live healthier and more fulfilling lives,” Dr. Oberstein said as he kicked off the proceedings. “We’re so excited to make this online party happen and celebrate with chiropractors around the world.”
The event featured presentations from Dan Murphy, DC; Selina Sigafoose-Jackson, DC; and Peter Kevorkian, DC.
“We build our practices by integrating the science of today and the science of yesterday with the contemporary philosophies of innate and universal intelligence,” Dr. Murphy said after discussing several recent scientific studies of note.
Dr. Sigafoose-Jackson, meanwhile, spoke about how philosophy affects the way chiropractors approach their work.
“The philosophy of chiropractic gives us chiropractors our melody,” she said. “It’s our life-sustaining purpose. It gives us the depth of who we are, what we are, and why we do what we do.”
Dr. Kevorkian added more on D.D. Palmer’s contributions, which went far beyond his initial thinking of having found the cure for deafness.
“D.D. Palmer thought he found the cure for disease, and he started refining his art and this service to the world,” Dr. Kevorkian said. “He realized he wasn’t curing or treating anything, as much as he was making a powerful contribution to the health and well-being of humanity.”
The hour-long event also included video submissions from a wide variety of chiropractic practitioners, including several with 50 or more years of experience in chiropractic.
Recent Life West graduate Josh Wheeler, DC, sang for the online audience as well. He inspired those in attendance to sing “Happy Birthday” at the end of the celebration.
The Life West community celebrates chiropractic’s 125th birthday at the Health Center.
“Thank you to the founder and developers of our great profession: Dr. D.D. Palmer, Dr. B.J. Palmer, Dr. Mabel Palmer, and to the first chiropractic patient, Harvey Lillard,” Dr. Oberstein said in closing. “I want to thank each of you for joining Life West in celebrating the 125th anniversary of chiropractic.”
Meanwhile, an on-campus party also took place near the entrance to the Life West Health Center. Students, faculty, staff and administration enjoyed cupcakes and a festive atmosphere, complete with balloons and a banner marking the occasion.
