First-Ever Chiropractic Workshop in Malaysia

Date: November 13, 2009

Source: IMU

31 October 2009 was a significant and memorable day for the International Medical University (IMU) and its Chiropractic Department. For the first time ever in Malaysia, IMU had organised a Chiropractic Workshop supported by the Chiropractic Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Ministry of Health, the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division at its Bukit Jalil campus. Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that is rapidly expanding throughout the world, including Malaysia. In fact, it is currently the third largest primary healthcare profession after medicine and dentistry. Chiropractors are trained as back-care experts who can determine the cause of the pain, provide effective treatment, and make referrals to appropriate specialists when necessary. The Head of the new chiropractic programme at IMU, Professor Michael Haneline, hosted the two days meeting, which presented 12 hours of cutting-edge continuing professional development for practitioners in the region. The special workshop was attended by almost 30 practicing chiropractors from Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia for a session of knowledge sharing. In addition, this workshop is designed to be of interest to health care professionals, as well as the general public. In his welcoming address, the President of IMU, YBhg Tan Sri Dato" Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman made specific reference to the importance of the region commencing chiropractic education at an international standard. YBhg Tan Sri acknowledged the university"s close working relationship with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency of the Ministry of Higher Education and with the Ministry of Health, governmental organisations that had made significant input into the design of the chiropractic curriculum. Dr Shamsaini Shamsuddin, the Principal Assistant Director of the Practice and Registration Section of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine from Malaysian Ministry of Health was invited to officiate this significant event. During the weekend, members of the Chiropractic Association of Malaysia (CAM) met in a break-out session and the President, Dr Vishwadeep Sandhu, said that while continuing professional development (CPD) was not yet a formal requirement. Nonetheless, the members appreciated the opportunity to interact in their own country with four internationally renowned and highly regarded speakers. The presenters were Dr Paul Noone of Australia on Functional Neurology, Dr George Le Beau (USA) on Chiropractic Technique, Professor Phillip Ebrall (Australia) on the Chiropractic Subluxation, and Professor Michael Haneline, formerly of Palmer-West and now Head of Chiropractic with IMU Malaysia, on Evidence-Based Chiropractic. Almost 200 members of the public, including prospective chiropractic students and their families, attended a concurrent information session on the discipline of chiropractic and its valuable role in managing low back pain, a prevalent public health issue in Malaysia. Prof Ebrall spoke on the causes, treatments and prevention of low back pain; Dr Le Beau demonstrated the analysis and correction of the spine in a typical patient with low back pain; and Prof Haneline explained chiropractic in general. The audience was very receptive to the presentation erupting into applause on several occasions and asking many questions. According to Prof Haneline, the chiropractic programme would commence in February 2010 with an initial cohort of 40. He expressed appreciation for the valuable assistance of the Chiropractic Association of Malaysia (CAM) in general, and Dr Graham Hunt and Dr Thomas Ong in particular. An important element of the new programme will be the development of practice-integrated learning opportunities throughout Malaysia, including community outreach visits for the express purpose of not just providing care opportunities, but for better informing the profession and its students of the diverse need for care in such a multi-cultural country. Prof Haneline said he intended for the workshop to become an annual seminar of significance in the region and expressed the University"s appreciation of the profession"s strong support for the inaugural meeting. He also announced that during the week preceding the workshop the Senate of IMU confirmed the appointment of Phillip Ebrall as Adjunct Professor (Chiropractic) with the Faculty of Medicine. Prof Ebrall said he deeply appreciated the opportunity to work with such a progressive University to help the development of a curriculum that would become a world benchmark in chiropractic education. IMU will be offering the Chiropractic programme in February 2010. This will be the first and only complete Chiropractic educational programme in Malaysia, as well as in all of Southeast Asia. Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chiropractic in 4 years, followed by a 1 year housemanship. Graduates are eligible for registration under Malaysia"s Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act.