ARTICLE
The future of chiropractic is on the campuses of chiropractic colleges, and the Texas Chiropractic Association has been a frequent visitor at both Texas colleges over the past few year. All three TCA Executive Officers – myself, Vice President Dr. Andrew Oteo, and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Korey Rose – have spoken at Parker University, sharing our insights on running a successful practice and how to be a leader in our profession. A big thank you to Parker’s Department of Student Affairs as well as Parker’s STCA and SACA clubs for the invitation and the opportunity to connect with these soon-to-be DCs! While the current TCA execs are proud Parker alumni, we don’t play favorites. We have made trips to Texas Chiropractic College, speaking at STCA events, graduation, and participating in the Next Gen Summit at the TCC Convention. While now is our time to lead state and national associations, we realize we won’t be in these roles forever. It’s our responsibility NOW to educate and inspire the doctors who will come after us and give them the tools to build on our momentum and catapult our profession to the next level. Dr. Rose, for example, shared with Parker and TCC students the monumental challenges Texas chiropractors have faced in recent years. In the past decade alone, our rights to diagnose, treat nerve-related conditions, and perform chiropractic acupuncture were nearly ripped away by the medical lobby in Texas. It’s still hard to fathom! On each occasion, TCA rose to the challenge and prevailed, thanks to our TCA leadership team and Legislative Affairs Committee, our dedicated members, and our expansive network of supporters – especially Parker and TCC! Let me be clear: our TCA Executive Officers aren’t doing all the heavy lifting. TCA’s Next Gen DCs Committee, led by Dr. Sammie Mees for several years and now chaired by her associate Dr. Rachel Gammon, has carried much of the load, connecting with students and preparing them for their first days in practice. We launched our Next Gen Next Mentor program to match new DCs with veteran chiropractors to private guidance and support. We’ll be putting out a call for mentors and mentees soon for our 2026 class, so stay tuned! You probably remember when you were a student, when surviving the next test or passing the boards was your sole focus. Or, you look back at your first year or two in practice as an associate or opening your own clinic. You were lost and probably made some costly mistakes, but it doesn’t have to be that way for your future colleagues. I strongly encourage you to be a mentor by hosting students or new DCs in your clinic, giving them valuable opportunities to gain knowledge and insights and ask questions. In addition, reach out to Parker, TCC, or your alma mater to find out about the programs they have in place, like Parker’s CBI Doctor program or TCC Connect. Who knows? You might find a rising star that can join your team down the road. There’s a popular saying that chiropractors “eat their young,” and I couldn’t disagree more. TCA is here for you, and we want EVERY Texas chiropractor to be wildly successful. Remember, we are still reaching less than a quarter of our market, and our goal is to get as many Texans as possible in chiropractic care. Thanks for being a TCA member! It’s an honor to represent you, and I welcome your input. Best! Don White, DC TCA President