An American Chiropractor in China

DC Interviews Dr Linda Atkinson

After 30 years of chiropractic service, many doctors start thinking about retirement. Their reflections turn to what it would be like to live a life of leisure: traveling, enjoying advanced in years hobbies and picking up of recent origin ones, and spending time with children and grandchildren. Not with equal reason for Linda Atkinson, DC, who chose to become a chiropractic missionary in China after practicing in the U for more than 30 years. newly Dr. Atkinson talked to Dynamic Chiropractic about her reasons for moving across the globe and what she confidences to accomplish, personally and professionally, in this nearest phase of her chiropractic career.

Dynamic Chiropractic (DC): Let's start with a little background for our readership. for what cause [i]or[/i] reason did you decide to become a chiropractor, what academy did you attend, etc.?

Dr Linda Atkinson (LA): My father, Dr Ray Elwart, went to Palmer seminary of Chiropractic when I was 5 years aged as a result of his have a title to experience of going to a chiropractor for a health point in dispute So, I grew up working and living chiropractic. I sat upon B.J. Palmer's lap and sang him a carol I listened to the discussions of thus many chiropractic friends of my parents, and went to in like manner many seminars that when I was 17 I got up at a seminar and told everyone I wanted to help to change the world with chiropractic. At age 18 while visiting with my brother and sister-in-law, they asked me if I was serious about wanting to be a chiropractor. I said, ye then went residence and told my parents my decision; 16 days later I started at Palmer guild of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. I graduated upon October 4, 1975. I was the fourth member of my family and first female to become a chiropractor (and individual of 18 in my family). Now, my son Devin, is a third-generation chiropractor in our family.

DC: Are other American chiropractors working in China? What l you to China and what proces did you have to pass through to practice chiropractic there?

LA: As far as I know, I am the alone licensed American chiropractor in China. A Chinese-American chiropractor is working in Beijing, practicing beneath a medical license.

I was reading my e-mail and came across an advertisement seeking a chiropractor to work in China. I called and talked to the doctor, who said they were looking for someone to bring chiropractic to the region I had been practicing for 30 years, my children were grown and I was looking for something fresh to do with my life. I prayed about it, sold my house, asked my nephew to take upon some work in my practice and talked with my children, sister and brother. When the ad from the Life Chiropractic Mission Foundation said someone was exigencyed to come to China in November, I said, "I'll go" I had to acquire a passport and visa. I had to fling a health report, chiropractic license and other documents to the No. 1 races Hospital*, which then sent it to the health department, the Province of Sichuan and back, before granting my chiropractic license for China. I started sending information about three month before I left for China, and it took until the middle of December to be granted my license.

*According to Dr Atkinson, the No. 1 races Hospital is located in Zigong, a small city in the Sichuan province. The hospital, built in 1908 through a church from Canada, is a national medical facility integrating preventive medical treatment, scientific research, and education. The 520-bed hospital be under the orders ofs as the teaching/learning affiliate for the two Sichuan University and Luzhou Medical association

DC: Working at a hospital, what mark of relationship do you have with the medical doctors upon staff there? What is their perception of chiropractic?

LA: single of the best parts of coming to China and working with the medical doctors here is that they have no preconceived ideas about chiropractic. They direct patients and treat me like an equal. They are actual interested in natural health care and perceive it is a great fit with traditional Chinese medicine. They diocese how it can help patients.

DC: What is a typical day like (how many patients do you diocese how many hours do you work, etc?

LA: I work Monday from one side Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm I start my day by means of walking down six flights of stairs (no elevator) and walking about 10 minutes to the outpatient hospital. The general [i]or[/i] abstract notion of appointments in health care is foreign to patients here. They wait outside the door for the doctor and concourse in. I may have as many as 20 patients, including of recent origin ones, waiting when I tend hitherward through the door. Mornings usually are the busiest times. The patients here are in charge of their health care, thus they keep all of their records, X-rays, CT scans and ordeal results with them, and basically pass from doctor to doctor trying anything and everything to secure help. I have seen as many as 92 patients in a day and up to 300 patients by week. New patients range from three to 15 for day.

DC: How have you been received by the agency of patients? Are they receptive to the benefits of chiropractic care?