Member of the Month October 2021 Neil Gomes

OCTOBER 2021

MY PARTICIPATION IN (SOME UNVERIFIED) KZN
FIRSTS FOR (SA TRAINED) CHIROPRACTORS IN SOUTH
AFRICA

Hello friends / colleagues,

DISCLAIMER
I am Neil Gomes. To some who may not know me, this article
may appear to be a clandestine ‘brag’. However, the intention
is to share here, and possibly be corrected where necessary?
My hope is that some readers will find the info’ interesting and
that it stimulates others. If this article serves as a small catalyst
to add in some way to our history over the past 25 years, then
this sharing will have achieved it’s goal. I share the failures as
much as the successes.
Thanks for reading.

I grew up knowing I always wanted to do something in health
care, but was never quite sure. Until one day, I needed to see
our family Chiropractor at the time Dr Jeanna Sigvaardt, whom many of you know.
Jeanna encouraged me to look into the Chiropractic program. It had started up at Technikon
Natal (our present day DUT). I remain always grateful to Jeanna for inspiring me to seek this
path. I qualified at the end of 1996. The first South African born Chiropractor of Portuguese
descent to qualify in SA.

I then started working for the late Dr Ray Rethman in Morningside as a locum, whilst he took a
month’s holiday in the Cape. It was the best experience for me - being thrown into the deep end
and learning quickly! After his return, Ray asked me to stay on as an associate, which I did for
7 months.

I then opened up my own full time practice in the village of Umhlanga Rocks in the August of
1997. Soon thereafter, I also commenced part time practice in the newly built Netcare Umhlanga
Hospital (1997). This was the first time a Chiropractor had practiced in a private hospital in
South Africa.

Also in 1997, I undertook a post-graduate certificate in Sports Chiropractic (CCSP). This was the
first time the CCSP program was offered in South Africa. It was the fore-runner to the International
Chiropractic Sports Science Diploma (ICSSD) program.

It was around this time that I met my long time friend Dr Mike Marshall. Mike, a medical
doctor whom many of you know as a past-President of SASMA, was at the time chairman of the
KZN branch of SASMA (a multi-disciplinary sports body). I was co-opted into representing the
Chiropractic profession in the KZN region of SASMA. This was likely the first time Chiropractors
had been represented regionally on SASMA. I served in this role between 1998 and 2002.
My understanding is that other provinces began appointing their own Chiro’ reps soon thereafter.

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OCTOBER 2021

As a member of SASMA, one receives FIMS membership (the International Sports Medicine
Federation). This would also have been the first time a SA trained Chiropractor had been
admitted to the FIMS organisation.

Around this time (C1998), I became a member of the South African Spine Society (SASS).
One of the first Chiropractors in SA to be admitted as associate member to this multi-disciplinary
surgical society. Other Chiropractic colleagues have followed. Some have been invited to
present at SASS conferences, where they have been well received, and done our
profession proud.

Later, I joined the Pain Society of SA (Pain SA). One of the first Chiropractors to be admitted to
this multi-disciplinary pain management group. Others have since joined and presented at their
conferences, where again our papers have been well received.

Two opportunities presented themselves to me in the late 90’s. Offers to open rooms in two
multi-disciplinary medical centres in the Umhlanga area in 1998 and 1999. Previously those
not registered with the HPCSA had been prohibited from doing so. This proved another first for
Chiropractors.

Early in 1999, the World Congress on Trauma was hosted in Durban. I was approached by
Dr Glynn Till from the Department of Chiropractic at DUT to be part of a small team of Chiropractors.
This team put together a platform presentation on the risks associated with neck manipulation
(specifically vertebro-basilar artery insufficiency).

Dr Corrie Myburgh was part of that team and delivered the lecture. Many of you know Corrie
as a SA trained Chiropractor who is Associate Professor at the University of Odense in Southern
Denmark. This was the first time a SA trained Chiropractor had presented at this conference.

I know that Dr Warren Van Zyl had treated the Sharks rugby team and possibly the Springboks
too. It was in April 1999 that yours truly was also invited to treat the Springbok Rugby Team.
One of the first SA trained Chiropractors to do so.

Incidentally, we played Italy in Durban, and I recall the Springboks pummelling the Italians
by more than 100 points that weekend. I’ll always claim it had something to do with their
Chiropractic treatment! (smile).

In September 1999, I was invited to the University of Surrey as a guest lecturer (along with
2 other South African Chiropractors at the time, Dr Brent-Nolan Rubens and Dr Tim Wood).
This involved 5 weeks lecturing in the Chiropractic program. The first time SA trained and
practicing Chiropractors were invited to lecture at an overseas university.

In the same year (1999), I was appointed as the Chiropractor for the South African Team at the
7th All Africa Games in Johannesburg. Although other Chiro’s were also appointed to the
polyclinic at these Games, and had previously worked with other national teams, this was the
first official appointment of a Chiropractor in South Africa to a national multi-code sports team
as part of the medical staff.

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OCTOBER 2021

Around 2000, I was invited to join a group of multi-disciplinary health care practitioners in
my area, originally formed out of a GP Independent Practitioners’ Association (IPA). In 2002,
I became the first Chiropractor (in KZN and possibly SA) to serve as one of the Directors of a
Medical Management Company - the Durban North / Umhlanga (Northmed) group. I served in
this capacity between 2002 and 2004.

In 2000, we also began a 9 year process of establishing a Back Clinic at Umhlanga Hospital.
This consisted of approximately 8 to 10 health care practitioners. I served as Director between
2000 to 2008.

Netcare KZN regional supported this initiative, which was to become the first truly
multi-disciplinary back care facility within a private hospital in the country. Sadly, no patients
were ever seen here, as many of the involved allied practitioners pulled back when it came time
to final commitment. A missed opportunity!

In April 2000, I travelled to Australia with the SA Men’s hockey team on a four nation’s tour as
their team Chiropractor. The first time a Chiropractor had been appointed as part of this national
team.

In this same year (2000), I commenced a much (personally) anticipated Masters in Sports Medicine
degree. This was through the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in Durban. I graduated in
2003. I am aware of Dr Willem Boshoff having done his postgraduate masters in anatomy at
Wits University at some stage, but the former was the first time a SA trained Chiropractor had
qualified with a Masters in Sports Medicine from a medical school in SA.

Related to this, I was then invited to deliver platform presentations at the SASMA International
Conferences in Cape Town in 2003 and again in Johannesburg (in 2005). This was the first
time a SA trained Chiropractor had presented at any SASMA conference. Others (including our
CASA past-President Dr Simon Lawson) have presented papers at subsequent SASMA
conferences, and been very well received.

In 2007 and August 2008, I was the first SA trained Chiropractor to present at the Pain SA
Conference in Drakensberg, and at the UKZN medical students’ conference.

In the early 2010’s, I was approached by Prof Jacques Snyman from Resolution Health to help
develop a Centre of Excellence for managing back pain. Resolution later became Agility Holdings.
I was appointed a Designated Service Provider (DSP) for the medical aid administrators Agility
Global Health Solutions between 2013 and 2016. This was the first time a Chiropractor had
been appointed a DSP by any medical scheme / administrator in KZN, and possibly SA. Sadly,
only one patient was ever seen from this agreement, as a new medical officer within the company
had implemented his own program!

He was replaced by Dr Martin De Villiers. Martin helped me tremendously in formulating the
first business case for chiropractic management of back pain to medical schemes by a medical
scheme administrator. Martin has since been succeeded by Dr Martie Conradie, who has also
been very open to including Chiropractic services into Agility’s offerings.

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OCTOBER 2021

Covid has unfortunately scuppered the launch of this program to the medical schemes.
However, Jacques has recently expressed renewed interest in CASA and Agility restoring our
discussions. We look forward to working together in the near future.

In 2014, I commenced discussions with Momentum Health regarding a Back Care Program.
The first time Chiropractic services would be added to any of their plans. Due to Covid, this
program has unfortunately ground to a halt. We shall resurrect things in due course.

Also in 2014, I was invited by the head of Anaesthetics at Albert Luthuli (state) Hospital Dr Eric
Hodgson to be the Chiropractic consultant to their small Back Clinic. I served there between
2014 and 2015. This paved the way for Eric to invite the Chiropractic students from DUT
to manage patients in this state facility.

This was one of the few state hospitals in KZN that the Chiropractic students were able to work
in. Other state hospitals in the greater Durban area had also been used for academic purposes,
including but not limited to:
- St Aidan’s Hospital (Clarewood)
- RK Khan Hospital (Chatsworth) and
- McCord Hospital (Berea).
The first state hospital in the country to have provided Chiropractic services was Kimberley
Hospital in the Northern Cape.

Throughout this time, I maintained a (part-time) hand in education, as a consultant clinician in the
Chiropractic Department at the DUT between 1998 and 2015 (with a short return in 2019 and
2020). In the former years, a ‘POD system’ had been developed by the Department.

This was a mentoring program where consultant clinicians actively engaged with senior students
(5th and 6th years), educating and nurturing them. I was privileged to be part of this first
structured mentoring program within the SA Chiropractic education system. Sadly, efforts to
resurrect this program more recently have proven unsuccessful.

I became one of the first SASMA Accredited Sports Chiropractors in SA between 2014-2016.

In 2018, I was one of approximately 20 Chiropractors to obtain a Certificate in Primary Spine
Care. We became the first SA Chiropractic graduates from the University of Johannesburg to
undergo this training.

I have practiced in the Richards Bay area for the past 6 years – and since October 2018 within
a Virgin Active gym facility. The first Chiropractor to operate from a Virgin Active in KZN.
My practice partner Dr Karmen Manda runs the La Lucia Virgin Active practice.

Dr Robin Maris in Gauteng was probably the first Chiropractor in the country to establish a
practice within a Virgin Active gym club.

In early 2020, I initiated discussions with Bestmed Medical Scheme, who are still interested
(post-Covid) in partnering with CASA to provide Chiropractic services to their members for
the first time.

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OCTOBER 2021
The Discovery Health Spine Care Management Program launched this year (2021). This is the
first medical scheme program providing Chiropractors an opportunity to manage patients in the
prevention of spinal surgery. Unfortunately the numbers of patients seen by Chiro’s is still
relatively low, but this should improve as time passes.
To the Chiropractors reading this article, I hope this has been of interest to you. I also hope it
reminds you to pursue all your possibilities, even when you think the odds are stacked
against you.

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