The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Keiron Boosi is making the institution proud as the newly elected Board of Directors member and Director of External affairs for the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS).

Boosi, a fifth-year Chiropractic student, was elected as Board of Directors member and Director of External affairs for the WCCS, at the elections for nominations which took place during the recent WCCS Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020, an international forum representing the global student chiropractic population.

The 42nd AGM was scheduled to be held in Toronto, Canada, but due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, was moved online and held in early July 2020. “I was very excited and happy. The elections were tough and I had some stiff competition but I am grateful for this opportunity to represent the institution as well as the African region in this capacity,” she said.

Elaborating more on the role of WCCS and her role as the WCCS Director of External Affairs, she said the Director of External Affairs manages the representation of the WCCS at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the President. “They develop relationships with professional chiropractic organisations, such as the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), European Chiropractors’ Union (ECU) and others. Coordinating potential working groups related to external events. Generating strategy profiles with the President for external events such as the World Health Assembly (WHA), WFC Bi-Annual event and the World Healthcare Students Symposium (WHSS). They are also the point of contact between other groups and the WCCS, as well as responsible for creating memorandums of understanding with other groups in the interest of promoting the WCCS,” she said.

Boosi said she has been an active member in the WCCS for five years now and taken on various roles such as chapter secretary, president of the chapter, convenor of the 2019 African Regional Event at DUT and over the last year, the role as the African Regional coordinator which included her overseeing the smooth running of both the UJ and DUT chapters as well as communication between the American, European and western pacific region.

“I believe all these roles and the experience will serve me well in this next role and has provided me the skills I need in order to balance university work as well as this new position. The WCCS provides a political platform on which chiropractic students and new graduates are able to develop the leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the diversity within chiropractic, necessary to advance the chiropractic profession in the wider healthcare industry. The WCCS supports intra and inter-professional as well as multi-sectoral collaborations with the goal of improving global health and well-being,” she said.

Boosi indicated that the purpose of the WCCS is to advance and unite the global chiropractic profession through inspiration, integrity and leadership. “We are looking forward to having a live AGM in Cardiff, Wales next year, however we are cognisant of the fact that we may also have to plan ahead for another online AGM. The same can be said for the regional event. It is unfortunate that students are not able to network and have the social aspect that events like these offer, however we are grateful that technology has provided a means for us to still benefit from the knowledge that is eminent in an event as such,” she said.

She stressed that the event is expected to have both UJ and DUT students in attendance as well as alumni and practitioners. “If online, it is more than likely the event will be opened to international students. Each year, one of the colleges in each region hosts a two or three day long regional event. This is an informal weekend filled with talks, workshops and networking events. It is comparable to a mini AGM and offers students who can’t attend the AGM a similar situation to reap the benefits of joining this organisation,” she said.

Boosi said that she is hoping to be graduating very soon and to further her qualifications by studying towards a masters in paediatric chiropractic. “This is a specialty in chiropractic that is close to my heart as I have personally witnessed the profound effects chiropractic can have on the future of tomorrow,” she said.

Pictured: Keiron Boosi

Waheeda Peters