Chronology of Educational and Cultural Exchanges

APRIL 24 - MAY 3, 1996 

International scientific and cultural exchange between Russia and the United States.  The American delegation included a multidisciplinary team of chiropractors, medical physicians, researchers, nurses and government officials.  Invitation was from the Russian Far East government.

The aim was to establish initial dialogue between the U.S. and Russian medical and university personnel with the goal of establishing state of the art, multidisciplinary, spine treatment & research centers focusing on chiropractic and other conservative care approaches in the Russian Far East. As a result of this exchange a project was developed to set up the first Russian chiropractic treatment, teaching and research facility in Vladivostok, Russia.

A symposium was held in the auditorium of the Regional Hospital by the American delegation and was followed by a Round Table discussion with local Russian medical specialists. Site visits to several other hospitals also took place with the visiting delegation providing care to the inpatients.

Participants included:

• Allison Krupnick – Program Manager: Russian Far East Emerging Markets Program - Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development
• Eileen Cody, RN – Washington State Representative – 11th District
• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Private Practice. Marietta, Georgia
• Robert Blanks, Ph.D – University of California – Irvine
• William R. Boone, D.C., Ph.D – Vice President of the Council on Chiropractic Practice
• John J. Gerhardt, M.D. – Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedics
• Veronica Gutierrez, D.C. – Board Member Washington State Quality Assurance Commission
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – Private Practice. Kirkland, Washington
• Evgeny Nazdratenko – Governor of Primorski Region, Russia
• Yuri Selyutin, M.D. – Head of Health Services Department – Primorski Region, Russia
• Alfred Ghartman, M.D. – Vice Governor/Head of Social Services – Primorski Region Russia
• Vladimir Bugaev – Deputy Governor – Primorski Region, Russia
• Yuri Kaminsky – Rector, Vladivostok State Medical University 
• Anatoly Belyaev – Department of Occupational Medicine/President Far East Manual Therapy Association

JULY - AUGUST 1996 

Exchange and meetings occurred between the Vice Governor of Primorski Region, Russia, President Boris Yeltsin’s representative to Primorski Region, Dr. Matthew McCoy and Life University officials to discuss the establishment of a chiropractic educational program in Russia.  Meetings also occurred with officials from CNN in Atlanta.

Participants included:

• Dr. Alfred Ghartman – Vice Governor/Head of Social Services Primorski Region, Russia
• Dr. Vladimir Ignatenko – Representative of the Russian President to Primorski Region
• Dr. Matthew McCoy – Private Practice. Marietta, Georgia
• Dr. Sid E. Williams – President – Life University
• Dr. Medhat Allatar – Director of International Programs – Life University
• Mr. Tom Johnson – President of CNN
• Mr. Eason Jordan – Senior Vice President of CNN International

NOVEMBER 1996

Educational exchange was held in Vladivostok, Russia with Dr. Kenneth Stillwell and Dr. Harold McCoy lecturing to a group of manual therapists at a children’s outpatient rehabilitation center. Meetings and planning sessions also took place with Dr. Matthew McCoy as he continued to coordinate the establishment of the first chiropractic clinic in Russia.

Participants included:

• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine” Vladivostok, Russia
• Kenneth Stillwell, D.C. – Private Practice. Tacoma, Washington. 
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – Private Practice. Kirkland, Washington
• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz
• Anatoly Belyaev, M.D. - Department of Occupational Medicine/President Far East Manual Therapy Association

JULY 1997

Educational exchange held in Vladivostok with Dr. John Gerhardt and Dr. Harold McCoy lecturing and training in the use of objective outcome assessments in spine care.

Participants included:

• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Consultant & Director of Research - Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Director of Diagnostics – regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Yuri Safronov, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Vitchislav Mirgordovsky, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – President – International Spinal Health Institute
• John Gerhardt, M.D. – Board Member – International Spinal Health Institute

AUGUST 1997

Educational exchange involving Dr. Donald Mears Jr. lecturing on the Mears Upper Cervical Technique and consulting and treating patients at the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine” Dr. Harold McCoy additionally attended who lectured and instructed on computerized manual muscle testing. Ongoing meetings held with representatives of Vostok 1, Fishing Kolkhoz.

Participants included:

• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Consultant & Director of Research - Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Director of Diagnostics – regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Yuri Safronov, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Vitchislav Mirgordovsky, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – President – International Spinal Health Institute
• Donald Mears Jr, D.C. – Enfield, Connecticut
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz

OCTOBER 1997

Dr. Harold McCoy returns to Vladivostok for meetings with Dr. Matthew McCoy, the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine” and Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz to discuss a Five Year Plan for the center.

Participants included:

• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Consultant & Director of Research - Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Director of Diagnostics – regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Yuri Safronov, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Vitchislav Mirgordovsky, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – President – International Spinal Health Institute
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz

NOVEMBER 1997

Educational and cultural exchange with Dr. Kirill Anisov traveling to the United States to observe chiropractors in private health care settings.  His visit additionally included two days at the University of Washington Pain Center observing James Robinson, MD, Ph.D.

Participants included:

• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – President – International Spinal Health Institute
• Kenneth Stillwell, D.C. – Private Practice. Tacoma, Washington. 
• Veronica Gutierrez, D.C. – Board Member Washington State Quality Assurance Commission
• Stephen Renner, D.C. – Private Practice. Washington. 
• James Robinson, M.D., Ph.D – University of Washington

JANUARY 1998

Educational and cultural exchange with Dr. Ekaterina Malakhova and Olga Volkova to explore the possibilities of securing chiropractic educational scholarships and to observe the private practice of chiropractic in clinical settings.

• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Director of Diagnostics – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Olga Volkova – Head Translator – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Harold McCoy, D.C. – President – International Spinal Health Institute
• Kenneth Stillwell, D.C. – Private Practice. Tacoma, Washington. 
• Veronica Gutierrez, D.C. – Board Member Washington State Quality Assurance Commission
• Stephen Renner, D.C. – Private Practice. Washington. 

APRIL – JUNE 1998

Donald Mears Jr, D.C. arrives in Vladivostok, Russia to spend three months living, working and teaching at the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
           
OCTOBER 1998

Educational and cultural exchange to Vladivostok, Russia involving a team of chiropractors from the United States: Dr. Dennis Woggon, Dr, David Butler and Dr. Stephen Saunders. The team spent two weeks lecturing and seeing patients at the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”

Participants included:

• Dennis Woggon, D.C. – St. Cloud, Minnesota
• David Butler, D.C. – Alexandria, Minnesota
• Stephen Saunders, D.C. – Seattle, Washington.
• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Kirill Anisov, M.D. – Staff Doctor - Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Yuri Safronov, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Vitchislav Mirgordovsky, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine
• Alexsei Filshin, M.D. – Staff Doctor – Regional center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1999 

Educational exchange between the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine” in Vladivostok, Russia with Life University College of Chiropractic, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Northwestern University of Health Sciences, the International Chiropractors Association and the World Chiropractic Alliance.  Purpose was to explore the potential of developing a chiropractic educational program with the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, Russia

Participants included:

• Dr. Kirill Anisov – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic – Spine
• Dr. Ekaterina Malakhova – Regional Center for Chiropractic – Spine
• Dr. Matthew McCoy – Life University
• Dr. Ismay Campbell – Private Practice. Marietta, Georgia.
• Dr. David Koch – President, Sherman College of Chiropractic
• Dr. Sid Williams – President, Life University
• Dr. Robert Hoffman – President – International Chiropractors Association
• Dr. Dennis Woggon – Private Practice. St. Cloud, Minnesota
• Dr. Stephen Saunders – Private Practice. St. Cloud, Minnesota
• Dr. Gary Lawrence – Private Practice. Stillwater, Minnesota
• Dr. David Butler – Private Practice. Stillwater, Minnesota
• Dr. Veronica Gutierrez – Private Practice. Arlington, Washington      

MAY - JUNE 2000 

Meetings in Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia to further explore the development of a chiropractic educational program in the Russian Far East and the establishment of a clinic in Moscow.  Meetings occurred with the President of Far Eastern State University and the Chairman of the Board of Health for Primorski Region.  Purpose was to investigate legal issues of establishing an educational program and to survey potential physical locations.  This trip also helped to coordinate the shipping and arrival of new equipment to the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”

Participants included:

• Dr. Matthew McCoy – Clinic Instructor, Life University
• Dr. Ekaterina Malakhova – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Valery N. Prikhodko – Chief of the Board of Health – Primorski Region, Russia
• Vladimir I. Kurilov – President, Far Eastern State University – Vladivostok
• Nina M. Pestereva – Vice Rector, Far Eastern State University – Vladivostok
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz
• Lysbeth J. Rickerman – Consul General of the United States

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2000 

Educational exchange with Dr. David Bellin to Moscow and Vladivostok Russia to further explore the development of a chiropractic clinic in Moscow and a chiropractic educational program in Far Eastern Russia.  Included meetings with the President of Far Eastern State University and local Russian Government officials.

Participants included:

• Dr. David Bellin – Clinic Instructor – Life University
• Dr. Ekaterina Malakhova – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Vladimir I. Kurilov – President, Far Eastern State University – Vladivostok
• Nina M. Pestereva – Vice Rector, Far Eastern State University – Vladivostok
• Alexander Perednya – Chairman of the Board – Vostok 1 Fishing Kolkhoz

OCTOBER 2001 

Presidential Scholarship to Life University granted for Ekaterina Malakhova, MD – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine.” Dr. Malakhova travels to Marietta, GA to begin her studies. She is offered a position as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Chiropractic teaching clinics.

NOVEMBER 2003 

Educational and fact finding exchange between the Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic and Life University, Sherman College of Chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic.  Purpose was primarily to explore the further development of a chiropractic educational program and clinic abroad program.

Participants included:

• Matthew McCoy, D.C. – Director of Research – Life University
• Ekaterina Malakhova, M.D. – Research Programs Manager - Life University
• Mr. Vladimir Uzhva – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Ben DeSpain, Ph.D – President, Life University
• Judy Johnson, Ph.D – Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Marc Schneider, D.C. – Assistant to the VP for Academic Affairs
• John Downes, D.C. – Dean Life University College of Chiropractic
• Cynthia Boyd, D.C. – Assistant to the President
• Pamela Stone, D.C. – Private Practice. Kennesaw, Georgia
• Myron Brown, D.C. – Provost – Sherman College of Chiropractic
• Tim Gross, D.C. – Dean of Clinics, Palmer College of Chiropractic. Davenport, Iowa    

DECEMBER 2004

Representatives of the International Spinal Health Institute and the Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic participated in an Educational and fact finding trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The purpose was to explore the further development of a chiropractic clinical and educational program in Russia. 

Participants included:

• David Bellin, D.C. – Board Member, International Spinal Health Institute
• Zia Wong Bellin, D.C.  – International Spinal Health Institute
• Mr. Vladimir Uzhva – Director of the Regional Center for Chiropractic “Spine”
• Charles Register, D.C. - Private Practice. Moscow, Russia
• Sherry Durret, D.C. – Private Practice. Houston Texas
• Jill Howe, D.C. – Private Practice. Chicago, Illinois
• Larry Berg – Chicago, Illinois
• Anatoliy Scherbakov - Chief of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Health
• Dr. Voladin - Head in the Ministry of Health & Social Development
• Dr. Petrov - Head of the Department for cooperation with Domestic and International Medical Institutions. St. Petersburg Government Public Health Committee.
      
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