Welcome To The West Hartford Group
Leaders in Chiropractic Medicine
About Us
About Us
- 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.
Our History
- 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."
Our Mission
- 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.
About The Board
Dr. Tom Hyde
- 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. David C Radford--Vice President
- Dr. Radford is a non-surgical spine care specialist. He has forty years of experience in spine care, physiologic therapeutics, and orthomolecular or functional medicine. He has had more than two decades of experience in neurophysiology and electrodiagnosis with 5 years in hospital settings working in their departments of neurology, orthopedic and neurosurgery, where he evaluated hospital patients planning their treatment and prior to surgery. He implements plans for the rehabilitation of chronic pain patients using physiotherapy, exercise, nutrition and botanical medicines. Dr. Radford is currently one of only two doctors of chiropractic medicine in Ohio who have earned a Master’s of Science degree in Advanced Clinical Practice or AP. He uses his research experience in vitamin D deficiency human genetics, epigenetics and nutrigenomics to help patients deal with their comorbidities. He applies the patient’s data to provide precision or personalized care for the treatment of autoimmune and chronic degenerative diseases, as well as debilitating mental health conditions. He has published his work in clinical journals and he has presented on these advanced practice topics throughout the country. Dr. Radford graduated from Robert Morris College and obtained a master's degree and doctor of chiropractic medicine degree from National University of Health Sciences. He has completed an internship, residency, and fellowship--the last at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, OH.
Dr. Michael Simone--President
- Dr. Simone graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BS in biology. He then spent 3 years on active duty as an Army officer (and 19 more years in the Army reserves). Dr. Simone graduated from Logan University in 1986. He is a former Chairman of the Board for the American Chiropractic Association. Dr. Simone has served his community as a mayor, school board president, police commissioner, planning commission chairman and member of the local housing authority board. He taught anatomy and physiology, general biology and pathology at various colleges and nursing programs. Dr. Simone currently serves on the Northern Colorado Medical Center Board of Trustees and Inc. Board. He practices in Fort Lupton, Colorado. Dr. Simone's passion is to promote the chiropractic profession as an ethical, conservative-first, evidence based musculoskeletal specialty, focusing on non-surgical treatment options and the judicious use of prescriptive and non-prescription medication options by properly trained chiropractic physicians and other health care providers.
Dr. Gregory V. Mara
- 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. Stephen Perle--Past President
- 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.
Dr. Michael J Hubka
- 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. Yevgeniya Boyko--Secretary
- 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. Andrew W. Fitzsimons--Treasurer
- 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. Bev Foster
Our Messages To The Chiropractic Profession
Spinal Care Model
- How can chiropractic medicine become a respected mainstream profession? Click button below to download Podiatry Paper.
- Subluxation: Dogma or science? Click button below to download paper.
- Chiropractic as spinal care: A model for the profession. Click button below to download paper.
Chiropractic Education
- The Necessary Future of Chiropractic Education: A North American Perspective. Click button below to download file.
- Bringing Chiropractic into the Mainstream in the 21st Century. Click below to download part 1 and part 2.
Mainstreaming Chiropractic Medicine
- Mainstreaming Chiropractic: The Miserable Medicare Model. Click button below to download file.
- The establishment of a primary spine care practitioner and its benefits to health care reform in the United States. Click Here
Press Releases
Choosing Wisely
Research Grant
Disclaimer
- The WHG does not endorse any diagnostic test or clinical procedure, or any instrument, product or service that does not pass rigorous policy development and review processes outlined in the WHG charter and bylaws. The outcomes, conclusions, views, opinions or commentary contained in any writing or recording displayed on or connected with the WHG Website or any other WHG publication that has not passed through the WHG policy-making adoption process, are solely those of the publication's author(s) or speakers; are not endorsed by the WHG; do not constitute official WHG policy or position statements; and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or conclusions of the WHG leadership or the WHG membership at large.
Other Position Papers
Radiography Position Paper
Vaccination Position Paper
Patient Bill of Rights Paper
Colorado Chiropractic Association Resolution Paper