Three Experienced Researchers Join Palmer Center

The research capabilities of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) in Davenport, Iowa, have been bolstered by the addition of three experienced researchers. Maria Hondras, D.C., M.P.H., Dana Lawrence, D.C., F.I.C.C., and Edward Owens Jr., M.S., D.C., joined the PCCR research faculty between November 2003 and January 2004. The PCCR is the world’s largest chiropractic research facility and headquarters of the National Institutes of Health’s Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research. The addition of these three respected research scientists to the Palmer research team comes on the heels of a recent $2.7 million grant from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a division of the National Institutes of Health. The grant allows Palmer to establish the Center for the Study of Mechanisms and Effects of Chiropractic Adjustments, a three-year, collaborative project with National University of Health Sciences, Kansas State University, the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the University of Iowa. “Adding experienced scholars like Drs. Owens, Lawrence and Hondras significantly increases our ability to expand Palmer’s research program, especially in the areas of clinical research and technology assessment. We expect each of these faculty members to use the resources of the center to pursue funding opportunities, conduct studies and publish new data regarding chiropractic theory and practice,” said William Meeker, D.C., M.P.H., vice president for research for the Palmer Chiropractic University System. Maria Hondras, D.C., M.P.H., earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Ill., in 1989, and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1993. Prior to joining the research faculty at the PCCR as associate professor, Dr. Hondras was a health and safety specialist for the UPS North Illinois District, served as a consultant to the Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research, and was a scholar-in-residence at Western States Chiropractic College. From 1986 to 1998, she served on the research, postgraduate and clinical faculty at the National College of Chiropractic and has maintained a limited home-office practice since 1989. Dr. Hondras has more than 10 years experience with the design, management and oversight of clinical trials in chiropractic and has conducted trial management workshops in North America, Europe and Australia. Since 1995, she has served on the Advisory Board of the Cochrane Collaboration Complementary Medicine Field. She has published numerous research studies in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Spine and Pain. Dana Lawrence, D.C., F.I.C.C., has more than 24 years teaching and administrative experience in chiropractic education with an emphasis on teaching spinal and extravertebral chiropractic technique and orthopedics. With expertise as a biomedical editor, writer and textbook consultant, he has served as the editor of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics since 1987, and also is editor of Journal of Chiropractic Medicine and Journal of Chiropractic Humanities. Dr. Lawrence has published numerous textbooks, including “Fundamentals of Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management,” and “Chiropractic Technique: Principles and Practice” (with Tom Bergmann and David Peterson). Dr. Lawrence received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Ill., in 1979. Prior to joining the PCCR research faculty in January 2004 as an associate professor, he was Dean of the Lincoln College of Postprofessional, Graduate and Continuing Education at National University of Health Sciences, Lombard, and concurrently served as Director of the Department of Publication and Editorial Review and a professor in the Chiropractic Technique Department. Edward F. Owens Jr., M.S., D.C., received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College in 1986, and a Master of Science in engineering science and mechanics from Georgia Tech in 1980. Prior to joining the PCCR research faculty as an associate professor, Dr. Owens was director of research for Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. He served as editor of the Chiropractic Research Journal from 1995 to 1998 and was a member of the research faculty of Life College from 1983 to 1990 and from 1994 to 1998. He also maintained a private practice in Decatur, Georgia, from 1987 to 1998. His areas of expertise are biomechanics and clinical research, with a particular interest in muscle tone changes that accompany vertebral subluxation. He has made many presentations and published numerous articles on these subjects in peer-reviewed journals.

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