President, Parker Seminars & Parker College of Chiropractic FABRIZIO MANCINI came to the United States in 1978 from Colombia, South America. His dream was to become a doctor to help alleviate the suffering of others. His journey began in Dallas as he studied pre- medicine at the prestigious University of Dallas where he was preparing to be a neurosur-geon. He later discovered the chiropractic profession and enrolled at Parker College of Chiropractic as a student in 1987, having recognized the potential in preventing disease and educating patients in a wellness lifestyle for optimum performance. He opened the Mancini Chiropractic Center in 1993 in a Dallas suburb, where he has treated thousands of patients. In 1999, at age 33, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini became one of the youngest college presidents in the nation when he was named fifth president of Parker College of Chiropractic. He has been variously described as a family man; an internationally acclaimed professional speaker and educator; president of one of the leading chiropractic schools—and the largest chiropractic seminar series—in the world; healer; humanitarian and philanthropist. Add to the list of credits his recent success in co-authoring Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul, part of the best-sellingseries by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, and what emerges is the budding profile of a chiropractic icon. In an interview with The American Chiropractor, Dr. Mancini discusses his new book, as well as his vision for the future of Parker Chiropractic College, Parker Seminars, and the chiropractic profession. TAC: Give us some background information on yourself and your family. Mancini: I was born in Colombia, South America, and moved to the US in 1978 at the age of thirteen. I decided to become a doctor in high school. As a result, 1 moved to Dallas and enrolled in Pre Med courses at the University of Dallas. I wanted to specialize in neurosurgery. While there, I discovered chiropractic and enrolled at ParkerCollege of Chiropractic in 1987. I graduated in 1990 and opened practices in Miami and abroad. I later moved back to the Dallas area and established a practice in Irving, Texas. During part of that time, I also served as Director of Admissions and Assistant to the President, Dr. Jim Parker, at ParkerCollege. I've written several articles for magazines and newspapers and have spoken on radio shows about chiropractic in both English and Spanish languages. I have also been a guest on many TV shows and have co-authored the newly released Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul®, with Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield. Now, as far as awards go, I have received many humanitarian, educator, speaker, and volunteer honors. They've been awarded from various civic and professional organizations, including the World Chiropractic Association, the Texas Chiropractic Association, and Heroes for Humanity. I've been married to my love, Alicia, for seven years and have two boys, Gianni (6) and Luciano (3). TAC: What influenced you to seek chiropractic as a career? Mancini: A Parker student at a party mentioned the word chiropractic in 1986. It ► More than 50 years later, "The Parker Seminars are still a life-changing experience." Parker Seminars, sponsored by Parker College of Chiropractic, were developed more than 50 years ago by Dr. James W. Parker as a way to help educate chiropractors on efficient and effective techniques for growing and nurturing their practices. As a result of Dr. Parker's success with the seminars, and at the urging of chiropractic industry leaders. Parker College of Chiropractic was founded in 1982 by "Dr. Jim", as he was affectionately called by patients and colleagues. First held in 1951, the seminars have since grown into the most respected seminars in the chiropractic industry. With more than one million attendees since its inception, Parker Seminars are held in many major U.S. cities from coast-to-coast. They are growing internationally, with seminars in Australia and Canada this year, and one in Europe on the horizon. Each year in Las Vegas, the seminar currently attracts more than 8,000 attendees—by far, the largest single gathering of chiropractic professionals in the world. More than half the professionals in chiropractic have participated in the Parker Seminars. Held several times each year for doctors of chiropractic, chiropractic assistants, office workers, and their families, the seminars offer lectures and instruction from some of the leading chiropractors and business management experts in the country. The seminars teach participants how to better manage and build a chiropractic office, as well as techniques for patient communication, in-depth training in chiropractic philosophy, and how to properly staff their offices. In addition, chiropractors may also renew their licenses at the seminars, and take courses that satisfy continuing education requirements. Over the years, Parker College has weathered many changes, but the popularity of Parker Seminars has endured. With an anticipated registration of 10,000 professionals for Las Vegas 2004, the seminars continue to gain momentum, largely, in part, due to the untiring efforts of Dr. Fabrizio Mancini. His participation has bridged gaps between chiropractic and other health professions with the inclusion of such prominent speakers as Drs. Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer, among others. Certainly Dr. Mancini is to be applauded for the remarkable achievements of his to-date brief tenure at the helm of Parker College of Chiropractic and Parker Seminars. with fancihT,T).C. President, Parker Seminars & Parker College of Chiropractic ► From Page 19 was the first time I had heard the word. She told me her story as to why she left medical school to become a chiropractor, and I was sold. TAC: How does the fact that you are a practicing chiropractor help you in developing seminars and running a chiropractic college? Mancini: It keeps me connected to the patients. Dr. Parker shared with me that we must always keep the patients in mind as we make decisions in chiropractic. Practicing does that for me. Also, it lets me know what patients are thinking about the field, what's going on in the insurance world, etc. TAC: As a chiropractor, the president of the largest chiropractic seminar series, and college president, what motivated you to collaborate with Jack Canf ield and Mark Victor Hansen in the writing of Chicken Soup for the Chiropractic Soul? How do you see it helping in the development of a chiropractic practice? Mancini: Since I have been in the role of President of Parker College, I have recognized that we, within chiropractic, know what we do and feel great about it. But, when you look at the statistics and realize that we are not growing with the population, and that over 90% of the public has not experienced chiropractic, I am concerned. Since I know Mark Victor Hansen, I asked him if he would help us share our miracles with the world through his best-selling book series. His answer was, "Yes," and we went to work. Jack Canfield also agreed, and the publishers were thrilled. The genre of the series is a perfect match, as our stories are meant to touch the souls of the readers and inspire them to seek us out as their health care providers. It is a great tool to help build a practice, as the book tells stories of the amazing healing power of the body through chiropractic. TAC: As the president of Parker Seminars, how do you see the seminars' relevance in helping today's chiropractors and chiropractic assistants? Mancini: Our main goal is to fine-tune working procedures so that an office can manage a patient's relationship from the time he makes that first call to the point where he sees the chiropractor on a regular basis. We also have the best speakers on subjects like professional growth, personal growth, and the latest science supporting chiropractic. Our team teachers are also founders of most techniques that keep our art on the cutting edge. They are successful wellness experts who share their secrets for building and maintaining successful practices. A Parker Seminar is a total experience from personal to professional. It elevates you to a higher level of performance, whether you are a student about to open a practice or a veteran of chiropractic. We want to help chiropractors and assistants also create greater financial security so that more students will be attracted to chiropractic as a profession. TAC: What is the basis of Parker Seminars' system for professional success? Mancini: The system is based on the principles and procedures that Dr. Jim Parker taught for over fifty-one years. Many believe this system is the foundation for some of the greatest successes we have seen in our profession. We continue to ► Mancim, D.C. President, Parker Seminars & Parker College of Chiropractic ► From Page 20 evaluate and find ways to teach it more effectively. TAC: You've been quoted as saying that you and Parker Seminars want to "move the profession forward." How do you see the seminars as the vehicle to accomplish this vision? Mancini: I believe that the profession, as a whole, is a reflection of where we are individually. We, at the seminars, want to help individuals grow by teaching them ways to practice effectively. This, in turn, helps the profession grow. We want to double the patients that come to chiropractic within the next ten years. We want to lead the wellness movement and demonstrate that, together, we can all help more people. We want to bring patients to our seminars and have the best of the best give lay lectures so that those patients can become even more motivated to refer everyone they know. We want to continue to raise funds for worthy causes. We want to get our profession more fit (Parker Get Fit) and involve our children by having a program for them at every seminar (Parker Kids Club). We want to continue to be the place where everyone goes because they know everyone benefits. TAC: Parker has introduced some pretty innovative post-graduate programs. What are they, and how do they relate to "moving the profession forward"? Mancini: We have implemented many programs including neurology, acupuncture, and pediatrics. This fall we will be starting the Parker Business Academy. This program is designed and operated by some of the greatest business minds out there. We joined forces with Dr. Nathan Jones and his team of experts to create a program that teaches basic business skills in managing an office. We have realized that most chiropractors love being doctors, but they may not be the best CEO's in their offices. We now will have a program that will teach them. This, in turn, will increase the financial ► « ,5 /} JabridcK mancmi, D.C. President, Parker Seminars & Parker College of Chiropractic ► From Page 20 welfare of the profession, allowing us to further advance chiropractic. TAC: What are your thoughts on the role of Parker Seminars in leading the way to the creation of a new paradigm in overall weiiness? Mancini: I believe that Parker Seminars bring all parties together in recognizing that even though our opinions may differ, we still have common goals—and that we should work together in achieving our objectives. We believe that we should be the ones to help define what weiiness means and to lead the weiiness movement (including patients). TAC: James W.Parker, the founder of Parker Seminars, developed the original Parker Principles. How do those principles relate to today's chiropractic professionals and other weiiness practitioners? Mancini: I believe the principles never change. In order to give justice to Dr. Parker, each team teacher shares one principle and how it changed his/her life at each seminar. This helps the audience consistently hear the message that the principles work and have many effects on people. TAC: Parker Seminars Las Vegas has become THE event for the chiropractic profession. What is your vision for Las Vegas in 2004? Mancini: Our vision for Vegas 2004 is to have more than 10,000 professionals registered. We hope that all that came last January will come again and bring someone with them. We have received a lot of feedback on what they loved in past seminars and what they would like to experience, so we are prepared to give them what they want. We also plan to have the largest gathering of patients ever— so they can be our champions in spreading the word in their respective communities. We will be bringing in many celebrities from outside our profession and will continue to bring the best from within our profession. We want all the associations and groups within chiropractic to learn, communicate, be inspired, and be entertained. We plan to have the media involved so that it can spread a greater awareness as to who we are and what we do. TAC: Any final words for our readers? Mancini: Dr. Jim Parker taught me one of the most profound lessons in my life. He said, "Develop a compassion to serve that is greater than the compulsion to survive." My message to the profession is that we should not just survive—but be sensitive to the needs of humanity and become its greatest resource for health and wellness. We need to grow from within and keep a vision that is greater than all of us individually. This profession was not meant to be for a selective few; it was meant to be for ALL. You may contact Dr. Fabrizio Mancini by telephone at 1-800-438-6932, or by e-mail at pixjJ>kknt(iUpxwAL'j:cc:,ei/ii. | TAG'S MISSION: We are dedicated to the continuing education & advancement of the chiropractic professional—YOU! To the right Dr. Fabrizio Mancini speaks before thousands of chiropractors attending the Parker Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 2003. As many as 10,000 chiropractors are expected to attend the event in January 2004. Raising money for the Save Our Subluxation (SOS) campaign, a legal suit instigated by the ACA, Dr. Mancini is joined onstage by many of the leaders in the profession, who presented contributions to the fund totaling over $600,000. Las Vegas Seminar 2003. Dr. Mancini presents Dr. Wayne Dyer with a special achievement award at the Las Vegas Parker Seminar 2003.
