REPORT FROM THE NBCE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT — FEBRUARY 2008

1. NBCE Holds Student Forum

On May 4, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) held its Annual Board Meeting in coThe National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) held its annual Student Leadership Forum on January 18, 2008. Representatives from the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA), Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA), Student International Chiropractors Association (SICA) and World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS) attended. These student leaders represent 10 chiropractic colleges and four associations in the United States, Mexico and New Zealand.

The NBCE hosts the annual forum to increase cooperation, communication and collaboration with the student leaders and the student population around the world. Another goal of the event is to give student leaders the opportunity to engage and share their ideas and goals for chiropractic.

In welcoming the student leaders, NBCE President Dr. Vernon Temple asked the students to guard against any preconceptions they might hold, whether they are institutional, collegial or philosophical. He asked that they keep an open mind throughout the day, especially about the NBCE testing process.

“This forum has become a tradition here at the NBCE, an important opportunity to promote a better understanding of our organization as well as to open the doors of communication,” said Dr. Temple. “I feel it is incumbent on me as president of the board to cultivate an atmosphere of open, honest and direct communication and I want to include you in this environment.”

The student leaders listened to an in-depth orientation about the National Board’s processes for development and administration of the written and practical exams, as well as methods used in scoring exams. They also toured the NBCE facility and met staff members.

“We were most impressed by the staff morale and were overwhelmed by their sincere hospitality,” said WCCS Chairperson Jaime Pinillos Montano. “The meticulous structure and organization along with the clear vision of NBCE’s goals is outstanding and should provide certainty and assurance to all students partaking in the examinations.”

At the end of the day, the students expressed their gratitude for the in-depth presentations as well as their commitment to help promote improved communications between their student bodies and the NBCE.
“I believe we had an excellent meeting with the students and they will better understand the National Board in the future and will be able to share an accurate and positive view with their fellow students,” said NBCE Executive Vice President Horace Elliott.

The student forum attendees included:

ABCA:
Charmaine Herman, National Student Representative, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic
Bryant Harris, Western Region Representative, Life College Chiropractic West
Jermaine Ware, Central Region Representative, Logan College of Chiropractic
Alaric Diggs, Eastern Region Representative, Life University, College of Chiropractic

SACA:
Julie Potter, Ph.D., National Chair, Northwestern Health Sciences University
Peter L.C. Hicks, National Vice-Chair, New York Chiropractic College
Jason Godbout, National Legislative Chair, University of Bridgeport, College of Chiropractic
Courtney Centrelli, National Legislative Vice-Chair, New York Chiropractic College

SICA:
Eva Sepulveda, SICA Congress Chair, Southern California University of Health Sciences
Brandon Schultz, SICA Congress Vice-Chair, Cleveland Chiropractic College–Kansas City
Barbara Kaiser, SICA Congress Secretary, Northwestern Health Sciences University

WCCS:
Jaime Pinillos Montano, Chair, 2006 Graduate–Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec
Ali Postles, Vice-Chair, New Zealand College of Chiropractic

2. NBCE 2008 Annual Meeting

During the week of April 28-May 3, the NBCE Board of Directors will hold its annual board and state delegates meeting in conjunction with the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards’ 82nd Annual Educational Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

At the business meeting on Friday, May 2, the NBCE Board of Directors will present a progress report on current NBCE programs, along with the 2007 financial report. Delegates will also consider action on proposed bylaws changes and the election of the District IV Director. Each state board must have designated its delegate and alternate delegate to the meeting by March 3, 2008.

For more information about the business meeting, please contact the NBCE Executive Department at 1-800-887-4320 or by e-mail to elliott@nbce.org.

Annual Meeting Timeline:

3. Test Administrators Receive Training

With test sites around the world, the NBCE relies on its trained test administrators to ensure secured, uniform and standardized testing conditions. Being an NBCE test site administrator (TA) and assistant test site administrator (ATA) therefore requires continuous training. On December 3-5, 2007, administrators from Australia, New Zealand and Texas attended a three day seminar in Greeley covering test site protocols and procedures.

Pam Kurtz, Director of Administration, led the training seminar. “I am confident that these new TA’s and ATA’s have been given the knowledge and tools to be organized and to run a successful NBCE exam administration,” Kurtz said. “They were very attentive and enthusiastic about their new roles with the NBCE.”

NBCE test administrators all have previous experience in the exam administration and testing processes, either with the NBCE or at other institutions.

These administrators oversee every aspect of exam administration at their respective test sites. They have the authority to uphold and enforce the rules and regulations of the NBCE regarding the administrations of their exams. Therefore, the NBCE routinely trains them on new policies and procedures that are required to administer a successful test.

The TA/ATA’s primary responsibilities include:

• To recruit, train and supervise competent proctors as needed.
• To inspect test site facilities and designate examinee seating arrangements.
• To receive and inventory all exam materials.
• To guard the security of the exams.
• To supervise the exam administration.
• To account for and return all exam materials to the NBCE headquarters.
• To report any irregularities or conditions of the exam.

In addition to the training at new test sites in Australia and New Zealand, administrators in the United States who are new to their positions received training at Greeley headquarters. The NBCE is very proud of and most appreciative of the excellent skills of the following new administrators who were in attendance:

Kevin Collins, Test Administrator, RMIT University, Australia
Peggy Hartness, Test Administrator, Parker College of Chiropractic, Texas
Jenny Keenan, Test Administrator, New Zealand College of Chiropractic, New Zealand
Joshua Mohr, Assistant Test Administrator, Parker College of Chiropractic, Texas
Shana Mohr, Assistant Test Administrator, Parker College of Chiropractic, Texas
Glenys Wood, Chief Invigilator, Murdoch University, Australia

4. Part II and Physiotherapy Meet

The Part II and Physiotherapy Test Committee gathered for its annual meeting on October 19-20, 2007, at the NBCE headquarters.

The test committees are composed of faculty members from various chiropractic colleges who are selected based on their expert knowledge in specific subject areas. During the meeting, the test committees create examinations according to the guidelines provided by the test plans that the NBCE will administer in 2008.

The Part II Examination tests clinical science areas which include general diagnosis, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis, diagnostic imaging (X-ray), principles of chiropractic, chiropractic practice, and associated clinical sciences that candidates must pass prior to becoming licensed doctors of chiropractic.

Physiotherapy is an elective examination that assesses patient evaluation, physiotherapy modalities, their indications, contradictions and applications of modalities, and therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation. Individuals who obtained physiotherapy instruction while in chiropractic college may take this exam to demonstrate their competency in the subject to state licensing boards.

“The fall Part II and Physiotherapy Test Committee members did an outstanding job of selecting and editing the subject test questions; I believe their efforts will be evident when these exams are administered next year,” said NBCE Director of Written Testing Dr. Ray Townsend.

Part II attendees were:

General Diagnosis:
C. Robert Humphreys, D.C., National University of Health Sciences
Renee M. Prenitzer, D.C., Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic
Jonathan C. Williams, D.C., Northwestern Health Sciences University
Maya Dokson, D.C., NBCE Moderator

Neuromusculoskeletal Diagnosis:
Michael W. Hall, D.C., Parker College of Chiropractic
Karen L. Numeroff, D.C., Life University, College of Chiropractic
Dorrie M. Talmage, D.C., Texas Chiropractic College
Heather Kauffman, D.C., NBCE Moderator

Diagnostic Imaging:
Beverly L. Harger, D.C., Western States Chiropractic College
Dominick J. Scuderi, D.C., Palmer College of Chiropractic, West Campus
Greg Crawford, D.C., NBCE Moderator

Principles of Chiropractic:
Karen M. Dishauzi, D.C., Logan College of Chiropractic
Keith A. Wells, D.C., New York Chiropractic College
Ray Townsend, D.C., NBCE Director of Written Examinations and Moderator

Chiropractic Practice:
Michael L. Bovée, D.C., Palmer Chiropractic College, Davenport Campus
Stephen A. Foster, D.C., Texas Chiropractic College
David M. Sikorski, D.C., Southern California University of Health Sciences
Chad Maola, D.C., NBCE Staff Chiropractic Specialist and Moderator

Associated Clinical Sciences:
James H. Guest, D.C., Parker College of Chiropractic
Julie A. Plezbert, D.C., New York Chiropractic College
Robert C. Shiel, Ph.D., National University of Health Sciences
Michelle Clark, D.C., NBCE Moderator

Physiotherapy attendees were:

Julia D. Bartlett, D.C., Northwestern Health Sciences University
James W. George, D.C., Logan College of Chiropractic
Craig Kawaoka, D.C., Southern California University of Health Sciences
Dean Vandergon, D.C., NBCE Moderator

5. Part IV Standardized Patient Trainers Gather for Workshop

The NBCE hosted 18 patient trainers who were selected based on their expertise in the chiropractic profession or previous experience as standardized patients for the annual Part IV Standardized Patient Trainers Workshop on September 15, 2007, in Greeley.

Staff Chiropractic Specialist Dr. Judi Gerstung welcomed the patient trainers. NBCE Part IV consultants Dr. John Hyland and Dr. Margaret Seron led the workshop. The patient trainers reviewed DVDs and manuals, and discussed procedures regarding the training and consistency the standardized patients must employ at chiropractic colleges administering the November Part IV Examination.

Standardized patient trainers prepare and train standardized patients in simulating specific conditions commonly encountered in practice. Standardized patients are used during the case management portion of the exam. The examinee will address or interact with the standardized patients as though that patient actually has the condition that he or she is simulating and diagnose the patient’s condition. The patient trainer is also responsible for the orderly rotation of standardized patients as well as their safety and debriefing on the day of the exam.

The use of standardized patients has been a key feature of the National Board’s practical exam since its inaugural administration in January 1996. Members of the NBCE Department of Practical Testing attended the 2007 Association of Standardized Patient Educators conference in Toronto in June 2007. Director of Practical Testing Research and Development Dr. Paul Townsend participated in an interdisciplinary panel discussion concerning the use of standardized patients, and made a presentation about Part IV to the general audience.

Those who attended the workshop were:

Dr. Dan Armstrong, Texas
Angela Atencio, California
Dr. Gary Bohman, Texas
Dr. Bill Bowers, California
Dr. Teresa Brennan, Georgia
Ben D’Aubery, Oregon
Dr. Stephen Eble, New York
Dr. Lynelle Hinden, Missouri
Dr. Thomas Kirchhofer, Georgia
Dr. Donna Mannello, Missouri
Dr. Paige Morgenthal, Colorado
Eve Muller, California
Dayna Quinn-Castillo, California
Dr. Michael Raper, Texas
Dr. Janusz Richards, New York
Dr. David Smith, Minnesota
Dr. Larry Swank, Iowa
Dr. John Toro, California

6. NBCE Calendar

National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
901 54th Avenue
Greeley , Colorado 80634
970-356-9100

nbce@nbce.org

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