Welcome To The West Hartford Group

• The West Hartford Group, Inc. is neither a political organization nor service organization but a think-tank that has put forth a model of chiropractic care that is consistent with that of the World Federation of Chiropractic and the Chiropractic Strategic Planning Conference. This model is of the chiropractic physician as the spinal health care expert within the health care system, i.e. society’s primary spine care physician*.

• The WHG is a pro-active and positive force moving in the direction of cultural, social, and professional authority to improve the profession's standing within the health care system and society. Please view our informative videos about back and neck pain and how to select a chiropractor.

• West Hartford Group, Inc. (WHG) was incorporated in 2006 after a group of concerned progressive reform minded chiropractic physicians realized that reform was essential to advance the chiropractic profession in order to achieve social, professional, and cultural authority.

• Disclaimer: In many jurisdictions chiropractors are legally categorized and labeled as “physicians.” In WHG’s view chiropractors are primary spine care physicians and WHG supports and promotes this premise. WHG also recognizes, however, that some WHG members practice in jurisdictions where the term “physician” is title protected by law or otherwise restricted, consequently, a WHG member practicing in one of these areas has to be mindful of, and abide by, the laws, rules and regulations of his/her local jurisdiction when referring to him/herself or his or her practice. In areas where the term is restricted, a WHG chiropractor should refer to themselves as a doctor of chiropractic, chiropractic doctor, chiropractic practitioner, provider or other nomenclature that comports with local law until such a time as the laws of local jurisdiction are modified and updated to allow the use of the term "physician."

• The West Hartford Group, Inc. is a think tank dedicated to the acquisition of social, cultural and professional authority for the chiropractic profession, where the doctor of chiropractic (i.e., chiropractic physician in some jurisdictions) serves within the mainstream health care delivery system as a patient-centered, evidence-based, non-surgical, primary spine care health care professional. 

• After spending 5 years of active service in the US Marine Corps with a 1 year tour in Vietnam,  Dr. Hyde attended Florida Sate University and graduated with a BA in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.  While there, he met his future wife, Susan, married and spent their honeymoon moving to St. Louis to attend Logan College of Chiropractic.  Dr. Hyde graduated in 1977. He and Susan have one daughter, Jennifer. Upon graduation they moved to Miami, FL where Dr. Hyde practiced until sustaining a significant injury forcing him out of practice. He was hired by Graston Technique where he taught for 10 years.  This led to the creation, with another DC,  of Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR). He was co-editor, with Dr. Marianne Gengenback, DC and contributor to 2 text books on Conservative Management of Sports Injuries. Dr. Hyde has written a number of peer reviewed articles, several chapters in other text books and countless articles for a variety of publications.  He continues to lecture while enjoying his hobby of climbing mountains for charity, hiking, and photography.  He and Susan live in Asheville, NC. 

Dr. Radford is the third generation in his family to practice chiropractic medicine. His undergraduate studies at Robert Morris were in biology, his chiropractic degree was obtained at National College of Chiropractic, he earned a Master of Science degree in Advanced Clinical Practice at National University of Health Sciences. His studies and training there expanded his clinical practice into integrative and functional medicine. In his dissertation he presented an evidenced based means to help patients with autoimmune disease reverse the process with vitamin D, diet and lifestyle changes.  

Dr. Radford is fellowship trained in neurophysiology and electrodiagnosis. He has had more than two decades of experience in the field. He has had 5 years of clinical experience integrated in hospital settings working in their departments of neurology, orthopedic and neurosurgery. During these years he evaluated hospital patients planning their treatment. Pre and post surgically he helped rehabilitate chronic pain patients using physiotherapy, manual therapy, exercise, and nutrigenomics.  He uses his research experience in vitamin D deficiency, genetics, epigenetics and nutrigenomics to help patients deal with their comorbidities.   He has published his work in the professions clinical journals and he has presented on advanced practice topics throughout the country. He is board certified in chiropractic medicine and electrodiagnosis. He and his wife Mary live in Chagrin Falls, OH.

• Dr. Mara graduated cum laude from the University Of Bridgeport College Of Chiropractic in 2006.  He began his career in a private practice setting, before joining Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth Spine Care, Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 2010.  In 2012, he was appointed the Associate Director of Spine Care.  The Spine Care Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth is a multidisciplinary service dedicated to providing high value care to the community for spine related disorders. The chiropractors employed within this hospital serve in the role of Primary Spine Practitioners and function within a dedicated clinical care pathway to provide first-line management, case coordination and follow-up of patients with spine related disorders. In addition to these clinical services, Dr. Mara has also served on various boards and committees within the hospital and frequently donates his time to the local athletic communities. 

• Dr. Perle joined the inaugural faculty of the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic in 1991. He is a Professor of Clinical Sciences and the Coordinator UB-China Programs having taught in China for UB for three years. He has taught a wide range of courses in the College of Chiropractic and has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses for other programs at the university.  After graduation from Texas Chiropractic College in 1983 he practiced in New York City until 1991.  In 1986 he qualified as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP), which he was a member of from 1990-4, and in 2002 he earned a MS in Exercise Science from Southern Connecticut State University.  Dr. Perle has been the medical director of various athletic events culminating with the 1991 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, making him the first chiropractor in the U.S. to be the medical director for a major Olympic sport’s national championships.  He currently serves as the Research Commission chair and the North American Representative of the Executive Council of the Fédération Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS – International Federation of Sports Chiropractic). Dr. Perle has published more than a half dozen textbook chapters and over 30 peer reviewed publications. His major research interest is on the biomechanics and biomechanical effects of manipulation and on the quality of chiropractic care. He has been an associate editor of Chiropractic & Manual Therapies (Chiropractic & Osteopathy) since 2008 and has been on the editorial board since 2005.  He is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium of Evidence-Informed Practice Educators.  In 2004, he was honored as the American Chiropractic Association’s Academic of the Year and has twice received an ACA Presidential Leadership Award.  He is the chairperson of ACA’s Research Review and Advisory Committee.  The Connecticut Chiropractic Association in 2010 honored him with The Malcolm J Doyle Backbone Award. Dr. Perle is an original member of the West Hartford Group, Inc. Board of Directors having served as Secretary, Vice-President and President. 
   

• Chiropractor at US Spine & Sport, San Diego, California 
• Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
• Associate Professor, Southern California University of Health Sciences
• Chiropractic residency, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• Interest includes identifying subclasses of mechanical spine pain and addressing specific deficits using targeted therapy. Dr. Hubka has published and presented over 20 scientific papers, and written 3 book chapters. He is married to Dr. Jenna Marie Lemon. His leisure activities include running, hiking, and cycling.

• Dr. Boyko graduated with honors from the University of Bridgeport with both a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Master of Science in Human Nutrition.  While completing her rigorous studies she was a very active leader in the Student American Chiropractic Association and was presented with two awards for excellence. She currently practices as a chiropractic physician and clinical nutritionist in New Jersey.  Dr. Boyko speaks Russian and dabbles in Spanish and Ukranian.  She believes it is her professional duty to offer patients the highest quality of care—integrating the most recent supported scientific literature with her clinical experience. Her expertise allows the combined use of nutrition and rehabilitative exercise to improve their overall quality of life. Dr. Boyko’s desire is for chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, and other health care professional to continue to expand their collaboration so patients may recover faster and obtain better overall health. 

• Dr. Fitzsimons  has been in private practice  since 1993. His focus is treating musculoskeletal issues and building bridges with the local medical community.  He is certified in Graston Technique, Active Release Technique®  and Dry Needling. He has post-doctoral training in Orthopedics, Spinal Rehabilitation, Soft Tissue and Myofascial Therapies, Occupational Health, and Ergonomics.  He was the Director of Clinical Chiropractic For Oxford Health Plans and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chiropractic Association as a District Director.  He is a graduate of  the University of Connecticut and The National College of Chiropractic.

•  Dr Foster is in private practice in Little Rock Arkansas. She practices primary spine care and has been voted "Best of the Best" for 20 years by multiple Arkansas publications.She served on the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for 15 years during which time she developed a plan for acceptance of National Board Part IV in lieu of a state examination among many other projects. She has served on several test committees for the NBCE. Dr. Foster currently serves on the Arkansas Department of Health. She lectures fourth year medical students on Chiropractic medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.She is Vice President and co-founder of the Academy of Advanced Practice Chiropractic Medicine.She was a founding board member of the Arkansas Chiropractic Society,formed over 25 years ago, to promote evidence-based chiropractic medicine as an alternative to the existing association of subluxation-based practitioners. Her husband,T. Martin Davis, is an attorney and has volunteered countless hours writing pro-chiropractic briefs, and donating legal services to the profession. She has three sons, two are lawyers (twins), and the eldest is Lieutenant Commander USN.