In case you weren’t at the Life Chiropractic College West Festival over the weekend, you may not know that Dr. Gerry Clum will be stepping down as president on January 28, 2011.
I received this tragic news within seconds of stepping on campus Friday morning where I was presenting “The Patient in Patient Education” talk as part of the annual festivities. When Dr. Clum told me about the announcement he had made just hours earlier, I was saddened. Many agree that he is amongst the brightest minds in chiropractic today and his absence will be sorely felt. His 30-year contribution at the helm of Life West, his involvement with CCE and the World Federation of Chiropractic has left a permanent mark on the chiropractic profession.
However, my outlook brightened when I learned that his successor would be long-time friend, Perfect Patients website client, New Zealand native and president of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic since 2003, Dr. Brian Kelly! This is great news for the students and faculty of Life West and for chiropractic in the Northern Hemisphere.
Best wishes to Dr. Clum. Thankfully he isn’t retiring, but seeking
“…opportunities that will allow me to apply my strengths for the betterment of the profession.” When you’re at the top of your game it’s the perfect time to reinvent yourself. I did it in 1999 and it was the most difficult, painful, wonderful, rewarding, exciting thing I’ve ever done. I hope Dr. Clum will be similarly blessed.