Dr. Shapiro Elected as Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors

Dr. Ira A. Shapiro, director of the Plaza Chiropractic Center in Old Bridge, New Jersey has been elected a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors (FICC), during ceremonies held during the most recent meeting of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on Sports Injuries & Physical Fitness.

Election to the International College of Chiropractors, Inc. as a Fellow is one of the highest honors for service given by the chiropractic profession. The recognition is limited to a maximum of three percent of the membership of the ACA and the Canadian Chiropractors who have contributed to the advancement of health care and sports chiropractic in the U.S. and Canada. It acknowledges exceptional leadership in the chiropractic field and outstanding contribution to health care progress outside the profession.

Presenting the honor to Dr. Shapiro at the annual ACA event in Scottsdale, Arizona was Dan O’Brien, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon, and Dr. Philip T. Santiago, Secretary General of the Federation Internationale de Chiropatique du Sport (FICS), the international organization representing sports chiropractic. “It was my great pleasure to provide Dr. Shapiro with this extremely prestigious designation,” says Dr. Santiago. “He is a longtime friend and associate, who continually demonstrates the finest aspects of the profession through the extraordinary care of patients ranging from world-class athletes to local individuals suffering from all forms of painful disorders.”

“This was a deeply moving honor,” adds Dr. Shapiro. “The selection not only recognizes the contributions of a very small percentage of chiropractors, but also acknowledges the outstanding accomplishments of colleagues located throughout North America. It is a privilege to now be included within this group of professionals.”

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Dr. Shapiro has attended to the chiropractic needs of thousands of athletes competing in hundreds of regional, state, national and international events. In the summer of 2004, Dr. Shapiro became only the 9th chiropractor ever selected to the medical staff of any United States Olympic event. As an official member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic medical team, Dr. Shapiro offered his expertise to nearly 550 American athletes participating in the Olympic games in Athens, Greece. Nearly two years later, he also became the first chiropractic ever named to the medical staff of a second U.S. Olympic team when he was chosen by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to work with more than 220 U.S. athletes competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Prior to his recent work at the 2011 Pan American Games, he has also served as an attending physician at numerous events including the USA Track & Field National Championships, National Finals Rodeo, Gatorade Ironman Triathlon World Championship, World Sport Aerobic Championship, U.S. Figure Skating Championship, National Collegiate Tae Kwan Do Championship and US Olympic Trials. This is in addition to supporting the activities of many other leading sports organizations such as the International Jet Sports Boating Association, United States Kickboxing Association, American Amateur Racquetball Association, National Karate Do Federation, Professional Bowlers Association, Pro Beach Volleyball and the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association.

As a result of these combined efforts, Dr Shapiro was honored with the Sports Doctor of the Year award issued by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on Sports Injuries & Physical Fitness. Other notable honors include the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, Pro Sport Outstanding Service Award, Certificate of Recognition from Senator Vincent J. Gentile, Sports Chiropractic First Frontier Circuit Doctor of the Year and the Sports Chiropractor of the Year honor provided by the New Jersey Chiropractic Society Sports Council. He has also been honored with a Proclamation for Chiropractic Excellence from the Governor of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly and citations from the City Council of New York and New York State Assembly.