Dear Friends and Colleagues

We have come to the successful conclusion of our 2nd year as a Regional Body, The East Mediterranean & Middle East Chiropractic Federation (EMMECF).
My warm congratulations to all of you for showing such commitment and unity to move the profession forward under very difficult social, political and economic conditions in our region. Let’s all work united for a better 2013 for our EMMECF!

I am very proud of the fact that our 2nd EMMECF Joint conference with the Near East Spine Society, in Beirut-Lebanon in June 2012 was very successful and has opened the door
to closer co-operation with the medical community as well as other Health groups. Our thanks must also go to WFC and in particular to David Chapman-Smith for his generous help and support for the meeting and to our hosts Dr Ayman Kanj and The Lebanese Chiropractic Association.

For 2013 our top priority must be a strategic plan to establish at least one Chiropractic University Based Program (in any country) in our region in order to help us consolidate and develop the profession. I can assure you that both the EMMECF and WFC will fully support any credible Educational Initiative. I urge all of you to go to our website www.emmechirofed.org and make sure that your country details are correct and for those that have not yet provided a list of your Executive council and members contact details please urgently communicate with Dr. Phylactis Ierides (ierides@cablenet.com.cy) to add your missing information to the website. We note an increased use of our website by patients to contact chiropractors in different countries. A special section has now been created in the website for you to advertise for Employment offers, new associates or if you have something to sell. Make good use of it!

Once again, I want to remind you that Dr. Alana Callender, the Chiropractic Historian and I are putting together an article on the history of the profession in our region. At this stage, I must thank all those who have responded already and remind the rest “to put pen to paper” as soon as possible to make sure that your national chiropractic history is also included. Find attached a PDF file with the questions. Kindly also supply any relevant pictures that will add value to the article. Please act now! Time is running out.

Having just returned from a very successful WFC congress and assembly, I am happy to report to you that an African Chiropractic Federation has been formed and also a magnificent publication of the 25 year history of WFC has been presented. I urge all of you to order a copy from the WFC website to see what global unity can do for the profession in such short time. Finally, I want to again bring to your attention that due to security and visa problems for Bahrain, our 3rd EMME Congress for 2013 has been shifted to Dubai on October 25th & 26th, 2013. Also, the SPINE conference will again be held in Beirut on June 19-22, 2013.

Dr Efstathios (Stathis) Papadopoulos, DC, FFEAC, FICC