Every so often in your career you get an experience that reminds you just how big your profession really is.
Last month I had the privilege of travelling to Las Vegas for the Parker Seminars, the largest chiropractic conference in the world. Imagine more than 5,000 chiropractors from across the globe gathering in one place to learn, share ideas and help push the profession forward.
It was quite a sight.
For many UK chiropractors, this event is looked upon as a bit of a pilgrimage. You hear about Parker Seminars early in your career and think: one day I’d love to go to that. I was incredibly fortunate this year to attend as a VIP guest in my role as President of the British Chiropractic Association, which meant I even got a bit of backstage access to the speakers.
Now, Las Vegas is a pretty extraordinary place. Everything is bigger, louder and brighter than anywhere else. It’s the only city I know where you can walk past the Eiffel Tower, a Roman palace and a Venetian canal all within about ten minutes… and still somehow be inside a hotel.
But the real reason we were there was to learn.
One of the highlights of the week was hearing from Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur and host of the Diary of a CEO podcast. His talk was fascinating. He spoke about his humble upbringing and how success often comes from being willing to fail – sometimes repeatedly – before you finally get things right.
One point really stuck with me. After building a hugely successful company, Steven realised he didn’t want to be known as the CEO of just one type of business. So he stepped away and went on to create successful companies across completely different industries. It was a powerful reminder that growth often means being brave enough to try something new.
Another surreal moment was meeting boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. It’s not every day you come face-to-face with someone whose dedication, resilience and discipline helped make them one of the greatest athletes in history.
But perhaps the most valuable part of the week wasn’t the famous speakers. It was the conversations with chiropractors from America, Europe and Asia. We talked about the challenges facing healthcare, shared ideas and discussed how we can continue to improve patient care.
It’s always reassuring to realise that, wherever you go in the world, chiropractors are all trying to do the same thing: help people move better, feel better and live healthier lives.
Of course, this being Las Vegas, my week in the Nevada desert ended in style and a splash of glamour.
The final evening finished with a huge rooftop celebration with thousands of chiropractors overlooking the famous fountains of the Bellagio Hotel. It was wild watching this amazing aquatic show while standing in a crowd of chiropractors from all over the world, all celebrating the fact that we’re all part of the same profession. It felt pretty special.
A massive thank you must go to Bill Morgan, one of the most influential chiropractors on the planet, who very kindly hosted me during the event.
Now, you might be wondering what all this has to do with Cleve Chiropractic back here in Bristol, thousands of miles away from the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Well, one of the most important things in healthcare is that should never stop learning. Conferences like this bring together the best minds in the profession, sharing the latest research, treatment ideas and rehabilitation strategies.
The knowledge doesn’t stay in Vegas. It comes home with us.
So while the setting may have been slightly more glamorous than our clinic on a rainy Tuesday morning in Bristol, the goal is exactly the same: helping our patients stay active, move well and live healthier lives.
And if there’s one thing I took away from the week, it’s this: whether you’re an entrepreneur, an Olympic boxer, or a chiropractor from Bristol… success usually comes from the same place – hard work, resilience and a willingness to keep learning.
Although I must admit, the Bellagio fountains were a nice bonus!
Now it’s back to the clinic and the day-to-day mission to look after all our lovely patients… that’s always a special place to be.
