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

# # #

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 2011: ELEVATE

Elevate (el-e-vate) v.: to raise; to lift up; to move someone to a higher place or position from a lower one.

Since its inception, Talk the TIC has challenged students to create an asset that will repay them for a lifetime: their chiropractic health-talk. The premise of the challenge is quite simple, really. Students who master their chiropractic health-talk in school are better positioned to succeed in the real world.

Educating your future clientele concerning what chiropractic is and does is of paramount importance. Indeed, it can make or break you as a chiropractor. If you fail to effectively communicate the central concepts of chiropractic to your patients, you may be perceived as little more than a pain pil with hands! Conversely, if you clearly articulate the philosophical tenets of chiropractic (what BJ Palmer referred to as ’TIC) you will open up a whole new experience for your clientele. In essence, you will elevate their thinking. You will raise them up. You will lift them. You will move them to a place of higher understanding concerning the body’s internal capacity to regulate health and healing efforts.

Is it any wonder why ELEVATE is the chosen theme of Talk the TIC 2011? This is a campaign to elevate the preparedness and performance of students as they head in to practice. It’s a campaign to elevate the chiropractic profession’s awareness of Talk the TIC. Furthermore, it’s a campaign to elevate the public’s awareness of what chiropractic is.

Coaches often tell their teams, “You need to ELEVATE your level of play if you are to win the game.” Where is your level of play right now? If you keep playing the way you are, are you going to win in your practice? Or do you need to elevate your level of play? Do you need to practice more, rehearse more, and get in the game more?

Come ELEVATE with Talk the TIC 2011. Plug in at your local campus if you are a student. Get in the competition. All you doc’s in the field – get behind a student that you’ve mentored. Inspire them and let them inspire you.

A Word from the Founder

Your ability to communicate the chiropractic truths to the lay-public has a significant bearing on your future as a practicing chiropractor. That is precisely why Talk the ’TIC has come about. Having been raised in a chiropractor’s household, I was privileged to witness my father, week in and week out, educating his patients as to why this principled approach to health made so much sense. He called it his health care class, but it is also known as a lay-lecture, group report of findings or health-talk.

Once I invested myself in the vocation of chiropractic, I drew upon my experience from youth in making some at-large observations about the profession. Not only did I observe the behavior of chiropractic students, who also happened to be my peers, but I also observed the mannerism of practicing chiropractors, all as it pertained to their ability to articulate the chiropractic message. Within practicing chiropractors, it appeared that their skill of discussing chiropractic concepts to a lay-audience was a matter of disparity; either one was very good or seemingly not good at all. Perhaps this was due to social and personality traits of the individual. On the other hand, it was possible that those who excelled in educating their patients had prepared more effectively, and honed their skill over time.

Amongst chiropractic students, I observed that those who engaged in leadership activities usually took more initiative to develop their communication skill. They simply perceived more value in learning how to communicate effectively. What seemed more germane, however, was the sense of urgency these student-leaders expressed to educate the public. Genuine, passionate and opportunistic, these students were poised for success in practice because they were excited to advance the chiropractic principle to its rightful place in society.

Conversely, I witnessed students who flippantly invested $150,000 in their chiropractic education, and somehow managed to invest nothing in their skill of conferring that education to their future practice. This troubled me. And I saw this in a great many students. How tragic, I thought, that my peers might stumble through their first years in practice because they lack ambition to tell people what chiropractic is and does! Why let a simple inhibition be so consequential?

Of course, you could never convince me that any student sets out to fail. That is ludicrous. If you are a student of chiropractic, that is a sign of ambition in and of itself. What I can be convinced of is that some need prompting. Some need a catalyst. Some need a clear opportunity to confront this gaping hole in their skill base. And, in my mind, this ought to be a fun, supportive, communal phenomenon. Sharing the vital message of chiropractic, regardless of your predilection for or experience with public speaking, ought to be professional bonding point and chief emphasis.

Hence, Talk the ’TIC has emerged as a forum of professional advancement, joining together students and practitioners to promote excellence in communication chiropractic. Time will tell the story of this cause, but what you must know today is that you are part of the story. Insert yourself. Assert yourself. Dig in to your reservoir of determination to become all you are meant to be as a chiropractor. Splatter your fears and share the chiropractic story with reckless abandon. Stand on the shoulder of giants. Jump. Leap. Sprawl for new heights. And I will see you soon, as you, and I, will Talk the ’TIC in 2011.