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In honor of Black History Month, TCA is proud to spotlight Doctor/Rev. Romanuel Washington. Dr. Washington was the first licensed Black chiropractor in Texas and a founding member of the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA). TCA was given the opportunity to interview Dr. Washington, who still practices in Houston, and we're happy to share his responses. How long have you been a chiropractor? Since April of 1951, 70 years! Have you practiced in other states? No Where did you go to chiropractic college? International Chiropractic College of Dayton, OH What do you love most about being a chiropractor? Being a vessel used by God to assist the body’s ability to heal itself as it was designed by the Creator. What’s one of your favorite memories of practice? A female patient who had been confined to a wheelchair for several months coming to us all the way from Hearne, TX and walking out of our office, pushing the very wheelchair that she was pushed in by her two daughters after the first visit! What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far? Helping many patients avoid surgery and unwanted use of pharmaceuticals. What’s one thing would you like to tell a young chiropractor just out of school? Trust God to direct you in all of your ways (If you don’t know Him, get to know Him!) How do you define success? Proven results of rendered treatment time and time again. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Put God first and keep Him close (by my father) When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time? Traveling with family and mentoring young people. What’s something about you (a fun fact) not many people know? I am extremely mischievous, as I was the oldest of five (my youngest sibling, my brother Henry and I sandwiched three girls). I love to dance and act silly (especially doing “The train”, a popular dance in my day.) I used to allow my girls to drive (way before they were of age and secretly from my wife.) I mostly eat healthy but I have an enormous “sweet tooth” and always have! What did you want to be growing up? Either a teacher (like my mother) or a preacher (like my dad and maternal grandfather) Where did you grow up? In Normangee, TX (On several acres of land owned by my maternal grandfather) of which I still own nearly 100 of those acres. Do you exercise daily? Tell us about what you do. Up until my late 80’s I was doing my age or more in push-ups and I liked walking and riding bikes until my girls stopped me for my safety. Are you the first Black chiropractor to be licensed in TX? Yes, immediately after graduating in April of 1951 Did you help start the American Black Chiropractic Association? What is the importance of that organization? Yes, I was one of the original founding members (8 doctors and many of us were first in our various states.) I am also the last surviving charter member of this organization. The importance of the ABCA is to spread awareness of the benefits of Chiropractic care in the African American community as in many cases those in our communities felt that Chiropractic care was a “White man’s” treatment. How many interns have you trained to become chiropractors? Too numerous to count Why did you choose to become a chiropractor? I had suffered a classic whiplash injury from a motor vehicular accident that I was involved in while serving in the US Army. After being honorably discharged, I continued to suffer horrible headaches, a post nasal drip, sinus problems and the threat of having to have my tonsils removed for several months. I sought relief from these symptoms by going to several medical doctors and even tried many over the counter remedies to no avail. After seeing one of my dad’s church members perk up after a long illness, I asked her what she had done and she had gone to see a new doctor, Dr. Sanderson, who was a young Chiropractor. After my first visit with him, I knew that I wanted to be a Doctor of Chiropractic because I was relieved immediately of ALL of my symptoms and still have my tonsils to this day! What church do you attend? Fourth Missionary Baptist Church, in third ward, here in Houston, TX, where I have served as one of the associate ministers for many years.
In honor of Black History Month, TCA is proud to spotlight Doctor/Rev. Romanuel Washington. Dr. Washington was the first licensed Black chiropractor in Texas and a founding member of the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA). TCA was given the opportunity to interview Dr. Washington, who still practices in Houston, and we're happy to share his responses.
How long have you been a chiropractor? Since April of 1951, 70 years! Have you practiced in other states? No Where did you go to chiropractic college? International Chiropractic College of Dayton, OH What do you love most about being a chiropractor? Being a vessel used by God to assist the body’s ability to heal itself as it was designed by the Creator. What’s one of your favorite memories of practice? A female patient who had been confined to a wheelchair for several months coming to us all the way from Hearne, TX and walking out of our office, pushing the very wheelchair that she was pushed in by her two daughters after the first visit! What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far? Helping many patients avoid surgery and unwanted use of pharmaceuticals.
What’s one thing would you like to tell a young chiropractor just out of school? Trust God to direct you in all of your ways (If you don’t know Him, get to know Him!) How do you define success? Proven results of rendered treatment time and time again. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Put God first and keep Him close (by my father) When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time? Traveling with family and mentoring young people. What’s something about you (a fun fact) not many people know? I am extremely mischievous, as I was the oldest of five (my youngest sibling, my brother Henry and I sandwiched three girls). I love to dance and act silly (especially doing “The train”, a popular dance in my day.) I used to allow my girls to drive (way before they were of age and secretly from my wife.) I mostly eat healthy but I have an enormous “sweet tooth” and always have! What did you want to be growing up? Either a teacher (like my mother) or a preacher (like my dad and maternal grandfather) Where did you grow up? In Normangee, TX (On several acres of land owned by my maternal grandfather) of which I still own nearly 100 of those acres. Do you exercise daily? Tell us about what you do. Up until my late 80’s I was doing my age or more in push-ups and I liked walking and riding bikes until my girls stopped me for my safety. Are you the first Black chiropractor to be licensed in TX? Yes, immediately after graduating in April of 1951 Did you help start the American Black Chiropractic Association? What is the importance of that organization? Yes, I was one of the original founding members (8 doctors and many of us were first in our various states.) I am also the last surviving charter member of this organization. The importance of the ABCA is to spread awareness of the benefits of Chiropractic care in the African American community as in many cases those in our communities felt that Chiropractic care was a “White man’s” treatment. How many interns have you trained to become chiropractors? Too numerous to count Why did you choose to become a chiropractor? I had suffered a classic whiplash injury from a motor vehicular accident that I was involved in while serving in the US Army. After being honorably discharged, I continued to suffer horrible headaches, a post nasal drip, sinus problems and the threat of having to have my tonsils removed for several months. I sought relief from these symptoms by going to several medical doctors and even tried many over the counter remedies to no avail. After seeing one of my dad’s church members perk up after a long illness, I asked her what she had done and she had gone to see a new doctor, Dr. Sanderson, who was a young Chiropractor. After my first visit with him, I knew that I wanted to be a Doctor of Chiropractic because I was relieved immediately of ALL of my symptoms and still have my tonsils to this day! What church do you attend? Fourth Missionary Baptist Church, in third ward, here in Houston, TX, where I have served as one of the associate ministers for many years.