Talk the ‘TIC unveils Video Contest

Nearly five years from its inception, Talk the ’TIC has released a major initiative that signals expansion to the broader chiropractic community: a video contest for D.C.’s. This contest, titled “Amplify Your Voice”, is part of a large vision pioneered by Dr. Erik Van Slooten, Founder of Talk the ’TIC. “Chiropractors tell me they wish Talk the ’TIC existed when they were in school,” Van Slooten remarks, “With this contest, the power of Talk the ’TIC is now available to every professional D.C. It’s your turn, doc!”

Amplify Your Voice is a video contest, allowing chiropractors everywhere to upload a five minute video of their health-talk. Once it’s uploaded, the video immediately becomes eligible for voting, rating, commentary, and sharing.  Anyone, including patients, students and other chiropractors can create an account, and view and vote on these videos.  “This initiative blends chiropractic and social media with a video contest,” explains Van Slooten. “Add to that the passion of communicating chiropractors and this contest goes viral.”

The contest commences on Chiropractic’s birthday, September 18,2011, and runs all the way through December 10, 2011. The top 5 videos, decided by the public vote, will then be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges to determine a Grand Prize winner. This panel of judges includes Drs. Jeannie Ohm, Sharon Gorman, Liam Schubel, Brad Glowaki, David Jackson, Martin Harvey, Ross McDonald, Jim Dubel, David Jackson, Erik Van Slooten and 2011 Student champion Darrell Pratt-Blackburn. On December 15^th, 2011, Dr. Van Slooten will announce the grand prize winner on the contest site.

This contest will inspire the profession but more importantly it will spread chiropractic to the world in new ways. “This reason alone will cause chiropractors to participate, but a contest is not a contest without a prize,” Van Slooten notes. “So, I’m awarding the Grand Prize winner $5,000.00 in cash.”

One of the key features of this contest is the “Challenge a Doctor” button located on the home page of the contest site.  With this tool, anyone can challenge a D.C. to enter the contest.  The more D.C.’s that step up and take advantage of this opportunity the more powerful this contest will be in transforming the community at large.

To enter the contest, challenge a doctor, or vote on your favorite health talk videos please visit http://contest.talkthetic.com.

Parker University Hosts Finals

“Parker University has been a catalyst in assisting with fostering growth initiatives for the competition,” said Dr. Erik Van Slooten, founder of Talk the TIC. “It’s great to have the outspoken support from leaders such as Drs. Fabrizio Mancini and Gilles Lamarche and the excitement they hold as an institution for this undertaking is remarkable. They have brought their time, talents, and resources to the table and assisted in fueling a vital interest in the cause.”

This year, nine institutions participated in the worldwide competition. Each institution selected a winner to advance to the finals at Parker. The nine competing finalists included Life Chiropractic College West student, Julia Pinkerton; Life University student, Mackenzie Hubert; New Zealand College of Chiropractic student, Caroline de Groot; Northwestern Health Sciences University, Megan Nelsen; Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida student, Lee Thomas; Palmer College of Chiropractic Iowa student, Magalie Lefevre; Parker University College of Chiropractic student, Derrell Pratt-Blackburn; Sherman College of Chiropractic student, Jonathan Orvis; and Southern California University of Health Sciences student, Jonathan Dawson.

The day began with the Semi-Finals Competition where the nine students battled for a spot in the final round. In the end, five students were selected as finalists to compete for the championship.

“Being able to communicate to the general public about what chiropractic is and how it benefits others is such an important skill for every chiropractor to possess,” said Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker University. “It’s through practice like this competition that you can truly master your chiropractic message.”

Competing for the first, second, and third winning titles, the five finalists presented their chiropractic message to an audience of more than 300 people. The finalists included Julia Pinkerton, Caroline de Groot, Lee Thomas, Magalie Lefevre, and Derell Pratt-Blackburn.

The presentations were carefully watched by the Talk the TIC judges including Dr. Van Slooten, Matt Eiserloh, chief marketing officer of Parker University; Brian Flanagan, a professional speaker; Gary Gillespie, a distinguished Toastmaster; Joseph Scott, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Mary Warren, Dallas, Texas, chiropractor.

The third place title was awarded to Life Chiropractic College West student, Julia Pinkerton. She was also awarded a $500 check contributed by Parker and Dr. Gilles Lamarche, vice president of Parker Chiropractic Wellness Clinics, Parker Research Institute, Parker Continuing Education, and Parker Seminars.

“The nervous system is like a two-way highway with information flowing to and from and communicating to the vital parts of your body,” said Magalie Lefevre, student of Palmer College of Chiropractic Iowa.

The judges selected Magalie Lefevre, Palmer College of Chiropractic Iowa student, as the second place winner. She was presented with a $1,000 check contributed by Parker and Dr. Lamarche.

“All of these tremendously talented participants are a testament to the future of chiropractic, which is in great hands,” said Dr. Lamarche.

The judges declared Derrell Pratt-Blackburn, student of Parker University College of Chiropractic, as the 2011 Talk the TIC Champion. He was also awarded a $2,000 check contributed by Parker and Dr. Lamarche.

“Subluxations are traffic jams blocking the normal flow of nerves and information from your brain to your body,” said Pratt-Blackburn. “They’re caused by trauma, negative thoughts, and toxins. In order for your body to work as efficient as possible those subluxations must be removed through chiropractic care.”

In addition, the most prized possession of all—The Chiropractic Torch, was awarded to Pratt-Blackburn. His name will also be engraved on the Champion’s Society Plaque in Sid Square at Life Chiropractic College West, where the competition began in 2007.

“I have a strong passion for seeing students go into the profession prepared to communicate what chiropractic is to their patients,” said Dr. Van Slooten. “It’s important for us to empower our future generation in perfecting this.”

For more information about Talk the TIC, visit www.talkthetic.com

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About Parker University

Dallas-based Parker University, formerly known as Parker College of Chiropractic, is one of the world’s leading educators of health care professionals. Founded in 1982, this private, nonprofit, educational institution prepares men and women to become doctors of chiropractic. In addition, Parker University awards additional wellness-focused degrees including a bachelor of science in anatomy, a bachelor of science in health and wellness, massage therapy certificates, and continuing education specializations and certifications. Parker University also includes Parker Research Institute, which provides sound, scientific evidence supporting health and wellness; three chiropractic wellness clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; Parker Seminars, the largest chiropractic seminar organization in the world, and Parker SHARE Products that provide innovative, high quality products, and current information on chiropractic wellness. For additional information about Parker University, visit the website at www.parker.edu.

Parker CC to Host Talk the TIC 2011

Talk the TIC is pleased to announce, along with the warm endorsement of Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, that Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas will be the host of the Talk the TIC 2011 National Finals.

This decision comes along with a broad set of growth initiatives for Talk the TIC in 2011. Whereas this competition has included up to five different chiropractic colleges in past years, participation is expected to reach anywhere between 10-15 schools in 2011. Along with increased overall participation amongst schools, student participation within schools is expected to grow at least 25%, bringing in anywhere from 20 to 40 participants per campus. Another major growth initiative targets practicing D.C.’s, as it is anticipated that D.C.’s will extend both morale and support to those students they’ve mentored, provided they understand the context and purpose of the effort.

Parker College of Chiropractic, which just recently hosted the World Congress of Chiropractic Students, is looking to be a catalyst which fosters these growth initiatives. Essentially, what makes this possible is the outspoken support from leaders such as Drs. Mancini, Lamarche and Russell. The excitement they hold as an institution for this undertaking is remarkable. They are bringing their time, talents and resources to the table in hopes of fueling a vital professional interest in the cause.

Talk the TIC is the annual chiropractic health-talk competition which takes place at selected schools. Next year, schools will hold their competition on campus from January through June 2011, selecting a winner who will advance to the national finals. The finalists will present their health-talk to an audience of up to 1,000+ at Parker during student assembly on July 6, 2011. Sponsors and donors to the cause will present cash and prizes at the conclusion of the national finals. The most prized possession of all – The Chiropractic Torch – will be awarded to the Talk the TIC National Champion. The champion will also be engraved on the Champion’s Society Plaque in Sid Square at Life Chiropractic College West, where the competition began in 2007.

Talk the TIC 2010: Ignite

There was no question about the most appropriate theme for this year’s competition – Ignite. This effort is igniting chiropractic campuses across the nation, serving to engage students in one single cause: improving their principled, chiropractic health-talk. And while this is a student-led movement, some of the most seasoned D.C.’s out there are captivated by this phenomenon. Furthermore, faculty and staff of participating schools are also being ignited by this cause, and are showing their desire to see students grow in the art of communicating the principles of chiropractic to the lay-public.

For the last three years, this competition has been cultivated at Life Chiropractic College West. The professional fraternity of chiropractic [Delta Sigma Chi], which resides on LCCW’s campus, extended this cause in light of its mission to advance the chiropractic principle, and join together students and practitioners for the same. Whereas the competition started in 2007 as an event exclusively held at the LCCW campus, news spread quickly through student communities such as the WCCS and SICA. In years 2008 and 2009, up to four other campuses participated, resulting in a full-blown national competition.

On the dawn of 2010, approximately 10 chiropractic schools have made it clear they want in. Student leaders are stepping up to the plate to administer this competition on their respective campus so that friends and colleagues can benefit from the cause. A curiosity amongst those who have heard about, but not experienced Talk the ’TIC is creating ignition for a flame that will burn brightly within the profession.

Participation is the distinct feature of this effort. Why it has proven beneficial, and transferable, to chiropractic students nationally, even internationally, is precisely because it is so fun to participate. Students have come to grips with the reality that there are considerable gains to be made through sharpening their communication of the chiropractic message. At the same time, the doc’s who’ve taken notice of this effort have been saying, “Boy, I wish they would’ve had that when I was in school.” Their experience has shown them the paramount importance of owning the chiropractic message. So students are now taking steps to arm themselves for the real world, to equip their mind and heart and voice to deliver chiropractic to the public with professionalism, optimism and confidence.

Contestants of years past know the highest reward to be gained from participating is not material. Rather, it is the discovery of one’s voice. It is the process of investing in that voice, valuing it, honing it and eventually creating a real asset. Those who truly embody the purpose behind the competition, then, dwell not on who is judging their talk, nor how it was judged, but on the idea that they are stimulating growth in their professional life. That growth process has the long-term potential of serving as the cornerstone of a million dollar practice. And if you observe the society of students who have emerged in years’ past as champions, you can be certain great things are coming their way.

In April of 2010, the surviving contestant from each school will travel to Life University in Georgia, where arrangements have been made to host the TTT Finals. The finalists will compete for over $10,000 in prizes, including a complete paperless software management system from Co-Action, a premier sponsor behind this event. The winner’s name will be engraved on the Talk the ’TIC Champion’s Society plaque, which resides in Sid Square on LCCW’s campus. This plaque was donated by the competition’s founder, Erik Van Slooten, and serves to honor excellence in communication of the chiropractic principle. Rumors have also spread about a traveling award, which embodies the competitive spirit amongst institutions represented by these students, and thus will be placed at the winner’s campus until the following year.