My name is Dr. Aisha Mohammad and I graduated from CMCC in 2010 with my Doctorate in Chiropractic and Certification In Acupuncture. I further strengthened my soft tissue skills by attaining my Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy in 2012. Throughout my 13 years of practice, I not only have worked in private practice but has also trained to achieve my certification in conduction FAE’s through Work Well in addition to performing assessments through the WSIB Assessment Center and the Low Back Pain Rapid Access Clinic. Overall, my diverse array of skills have allowed me to achieve optimal patient satisfaction but it has also allowed me to work in different settings to assist patients to achieve pre-injury status. I have never viewed my career as a Chiropractor as just a “job”, instead, I often observe it as a dance; enjoyable, fluid and energizing. Helping patients achieve their goals is not just an item on the list, it is often a ripple effect throughout different aspects of their life – whether it be playing with grandchildren on the floor or being able to dance at their child’s wedding.

Furthermore, when I am not busy in practice, I like to slow down and dive into my passion for reading and most of all, writing. I have accomplished writing 2 self-published booked entitled: The Feel Good Mom Book: Short Stories For Moms & The Hyper Diaper: Adventures from A to Z.

My skills has further developed and strengthened as I have attained my RMT Diploma, FAE Certification and engaged in performing assessment and report writing through the WSIB Specialty Assessment Center and LBRAC. Over the course of 13 years, my knowledge has deepened for MSK related issues which the public faces everyday. My experience, not only in private practice, but also through the various other training and models of care, have created a widened perspective for myself which allows me to educate and communicate with my patients and colleagues with up to date information and ideas which help to eliminate obstacles and challenges.

The objective that stood out to me the most from CCA’S current strategic plan is “Strengthening Our Partnerships”. This objective is important to me, because I work alongside many different health professionals with varying viewpoints on what type of health professionals they recognize as beneficial to their patients’ needs. A collaborative approach to care is essential as there may be pre-conceived notions about Chiropractic Care which are acting as obstacles for many health professionals and minimizing the flow of patient care organically. If we could foster these relationships within different regulatory bodies earlier, then the generations to come could benefit from ease of communication and of course the future care of our patients would be positively impacted.

As the voice of Chiropractors in Canada and amongst the diversity on which Canada stands for, I believe this role of a national association in promotion of these principles is key in reaching all prospective patients and what they identify with. In Canada, we see diversity everywhere and this is something we must embrace, whether it is educational pamphlets in different languages to accommodate different cultures to highlighting bilingual Chiropractors for easy access for patients struggling with the English Language.

The CCA speaks on behalf of all Chiropractors in Canada, and we all belong to a different stream of diversity which flows in the same direction; positivity and belonging to the same association.

I graduated from National University of Health Sciences in August 2003. I currently have a multi-discipline practice in Brantford, ON. During my undergraduate I played football for the University of Guelph Gryphons and I was in my third year when I was exposed to chiropractic. I had a very positive experience, therefore, it was after my experience that I decided I wanted to become a chiropractor so that I can help people as my chiropractor had helped me on my first visit.

I feel that my history of being an athlete would help bring a different perspective on how chiropractic/chiropractors can assist with musculoskeletal injuries that can be helped with chiropractic care. My experience of treating a variety of patients with a variety of injuries would help to show the public that chiropractors can help with a lot more ailments and not just neck and lower back pain. It was when I was in my 4th year playing for the University of Guelph that an injury that I had received during a football game led me to a chiropractor and honestly it was certainly a blessing. I feel that chiropractic/chiropractors would be able to assist many people, not only athletes, down the road of recovery as what I had experienced with my first chiropractic experience.

There was one objective that stood out to me them most and that was Enhancing the Public’s understanding of chiropractic, influence improved patient access to care, inform public policy and advance the profession as evidence-based, people-centred, interprofessional and collaborative. I feel that this puts patients first in all aspects of their journey to better health.

I believe that the role of a national association is to develop and to promote policies and procedures for practice guidelines for member to follow. Ensuring diversity training and continual updates for current climate/affairs is very important and helpful. Overseeing members for compliance with Board Directives and Policies/procedures.

I graduated from CMCC in 1987 and am now in my 37th year of private practice in Hamilton. In the early stages of my career, I engaged with the Hamilton Chiropractic Society, eventually assuming the role of vice president. From the late 90’s to 2003, I serv ed as a clinician at CMCC’s Herb Lee Clinic, working with interns who would become future chiropractors.

During this time, I also took on the role of clinical faculty coordinator, overseeing clinicians on-site. Since 2005, I have volunteered with the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board, serving as an examiner for the clinical skills examination. I have maintained this role to the present. Over the last decade, I have been actively involved with the Ontario Chiropractic Association, recently completing my term as the board’s chair. In the past, I served as treasurer and board member. Additionally, I have pursued governance courses in recent years.

The CCA’s strategic plan involves four separate objectives: Change the Conversation, Support our members; Strengthen our partnership and Empower our Team. After examining the CCA’s strategic objectives, I believe my ten-year tenure as a director on the OCA board and attending several governance training courses, has equipped me with the skills needed to make meaningful contributions to the CCA board. I collaborated with the CEO in preliminary talks regarding strategic plans and engaged in strategic planning sessions. Active participation in diverse OCA committees, Chair of Finance and Audit Committee, Treasurer and Chair of the OCA board, has provided me with valuable insights and knowledge but has also enhanced my leadership skills. The amalgamation of my governance training, decade-long directorship, and diverse leadership roles equips me with a robust skill set to contribute effectively to the CCA Board to the best of my ability.

Strengthen our partnerships was the objective that stood out the most. This is important to me as I feel nurturing relationships with provincial associations, CCPA, chiropractic stakeholders, and other healthcare professions only strengthens our profession which benefits each member across Canada.

The CCA working collaboratively with stakeholders allows the profession to move forward, in a synergistic way. When we all work together to move our profession forward it strengthens chiropractic respect within Canada’s healthcare system. The CCA working collaboratively provides insight from various associations and other stakeholders for increased clarity from different points of views.

Strengthening of partnerships, and working collaboratively, provides for a more efficient and effective use of time, financial resources and common ground, which are used to move the profession forward to further integrate our profession into Canada’s healthcare system. I experienced this first hand during my tenure on the OCA Board, working collaboratively with the CCA, strengthening our relationship between the OCA and the CCA.

The role of a national association in promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) involves creating and implementing policies, initiatives, and educational programs that foster a more inclusive environment. This includes advocating for diversity in leadership, addressing systemic inequities, and promoting equal opportunities for all members withing the association.

I am a 2009 graduate of CMCC. I am currently in practice in Toronto with a special interest in pre- and post-natal care. I have been involved in international outreach work in Uganda and am interested in making more of a difference closer to home. I currently serve on the OCA awards committee but am looking to take on a larger role in our profession.

In addition to my family practice I have also had the privilege of working with the Rapid Access Clinic – Low Back Pain (formerly ISAEC) for the past 5 years. This has given me the opportunity to work more closely with primary care physicians and the hospital system and the chance to experience how beneficial truly integrated care can be for our patients. I would welcome the opportunity to be a part of the CCA and help to shape the future of our profession.

My experience with the RAC-LBP allows me to contribute unique knowledge related to working with programs within hospitals and under provincial health programs. My time volunteering overseas allowed me to work directly with physicians, dentists, nurses, and students and has given me insight into how to build those relationships as well as how to teach the new generation. In addition, I have been writing for Research Review Service since 2011 which keeps me up to date on current research.

Change the conversation – I believe the future of chiropractic rests in changing the public’s perception of what chiropractors do and are. Making chiropractic care accessible to individuals who do not have extended health care benefits, who are new to Canada, and who do not live in urban centers is paramount to changing how we are viewed and how much of an impact we can have on health in Canada. In order to do this we must become more entrenched in the health care system on a federal and provincial level. We cannot expect to be able to provide care to marginalized groups if our care is only available through private clinics, which are often cost prohibitive. However, the only way to provide care without the price tag is to become integrated into family wellness teams, community clinics, and hospitals. This is a lofty goal, but one that is worth continuing to strive for in the future.

I believe that this needs to be managed at a national level. I have experienced life and practice in a very diverse city and also life and the patient experience in a small rural town in a significantly homogeneous province and they are very different. Leaving the work needed on DEI to the provinces does not consider the bigger picture. It is hard to see the importance of DEI when you are living and working in an area where there is limited diversity. Canada has to move forward as one nation. Therefore, we need to be having discussions about moving forward in a way that celebrates DEI at a national level.

– standing for re-election for another 3 year term on the CCA Board

– 41 years experience in clinical practice

– 8 years on the Manitoba Chiropractors Association Board serving as Registrar

– 27 years on the Board of CFSR/CCRF including 3 years as President

– 8 years on Board of CFCREAB and MB representative on CCEB Board

– 12 years on faculty at CMCC

I have been on many Boards within and outside the profession over the past 40 years. During my first term on the CCA Board I have participated in several workshops and educational sessions to further enhance my skillset as a contributing Board member. I am “up to speed” on past and current Board initiatives and have been part of several very difficult situations that the Board has dealt with recently. I possess both clinical and people skills that will continue to help the CCA’s strategic direction and overall performance. Finally, I have a unique background of experience in advocacy, regulation, research and education for the chiropractic profession.

I love the concept of “change the conversation”. This applies in so many ways. Healthcare in Canada has been heavily influenced by the allopathic model which makes drugs and surgery at the forefront of patient care. At least for NMSK problems, the evidence is supporting SMT, soft tissue therapy, exercise and patient education, which chiropractors are the best qualified to provide. As we change the conversation and attempt to make the patient the focus of care and advocate for what is best for Canadians, stakeholders should have no option but to make chiropractic care more accessible for Canadians.

I find it ironic that many of the procedures performed by DC’s that were ridiculed by the medical profession and other detractors when I started in practice are now recommended in many medical clinical practice guidelines. The CCA must change the conversation to include chiropractic when we have been ignored in the past.

– the CCA can continue to advocate for affordable care and access to chiropractic for marginalized and previously ignored Canadians.

– it is also important to educate and make it easier for these groups to pursue a career in chiropractic if they so desire

I graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in 2017 and began my chiropractic career in my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2019, I returned to Ontario to set roots and to be closer to my wife. I have since been practicing alongside medical doctors, orthopedic surgeons and pain specialists in a sports medicine setting. I have also been teaching at CMCC in the Clinical Diagnosis department for the past 2 years. I am a certified Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach and I am also trained in Neurofunctional Acupuncture (McMaster). While practicing in Halifax, I was a supervisor for 4th year Kinesiology students who were aspiring to be chiropractors. At the current time, I now offer guidance to chiropractic students through mentorship. I have been invited as a guest speaker to advocate for chiropractors at various institutions and on several platforms, including the CCA’s “Telehealth: In Practice”.

I possess significant experience in public speaking and have been involved in CCA webinars along with representing chiropractic at various institutions. Over the years of teaching at CMCC, I’ve left a lasting impression on numerous students, becoming a mentor figure for many. As a representative of the younger demographic, I believe it is crucial for our voice to be heard within the chiropractic community. I am also committed to using my influence to encourage my cohort to participate more in member activities and surveys. Throughout my time in Nova Scotia, I actively participated in general meetings. Within my first week of practice, I attended a meeting where I voiced my support for our profession. Despite being in a room filled with opposing opinions, I remained steadfast in my advocacy efforts. I also have experience working in two provinces and seeing first-hand the challenges our profession faces. My background working in a multimodal setting alongside orthopedic surgeons and pain specialists has equipped me with the skills to purse evidence-based, interprofessional collaborative care. Further, I am fully receptive to ongoing learning in governance and am prepared to take on the reasonability of overseeing fiduciary aspects of the organization.

A couple of points stood out to me most. Integrating chiropractic into the healthcare system and to work collaboratively amongst other healthcare providers is extremely important to me. Throughout my practice history, I have ample experience working alongside medical doctors, orthopedic surgeons and pain specialists along with allied healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, this is viewed as uncommon. I would love for the profession to advance into collaborative care and for this to be a natural occurrence. I also think it is extremely important to enhance the publics understanding of chiropractic and to advance the profession as evidence based and people centred. There appears to be a lack of understanding about chiropractic care among the general public, compounded by inconsistencies within the profession itself. This lack of consistency contributes to confusion and in my opinion, impedes the profession’s ability to effectively address specific public health concerns.

I am supportive of the CCA’s position and strategy on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). I believe a national association has a crucial role in setting standards and guidelines for its members to follow, to ensure that DEI principles are integrated into their policies and practices. I believe it is also important to offer education and training programs to members through workshops/ seminars and to offer resources, that can enhance knowledge and awareness related to diversity, equity and inclusion. National associations can also facilitate collaboration on DEI initiatives amongst members who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ2S+, to share best practices and exchange ideas. This collective effort strengthens the impact of DEI initiatives across our profession. I am truly enthusiastic about the prospect of integrating greater diversity in leadership roles within our association. As a visible minority and BIPOC individual, I have personally experienced discrimination. It is my firm commitment to advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our association, and profession as a whole. different stream of diversity which flows in the same direction; positivity and belonging to the same association.