Malcom E. MacDonald, D.C., has been honored by the 20 members of Virgin Islands chiropractic society for his longtime efforts to establish chiropractic in the U.S. Virgin Islands and improve access to chiropractic care for island residents.
MacDonald opened the first chiropractic office in the U.S.V.I. in 1979 in Red Hook on St. Thomas, after successfully challenging the Virgin Islands Medical Board of Registration in court when they attempted to block the practice out of his home on St. Thomas.
He began his practice in Falmouth, Mass., in 1952. MacDonald has been honored many times, serving three consecutive terms as president and president emeritus of the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society from 1964 to 1967. During that time, he spearheaded the successful drive to license chiropractic in that state against intense opposition by the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In 1966, he was appointed to the newly established Massachusetts Board of Chiropractic Examination and Registration on which he served for 20 years, 15 as chairman, under four different governors. He also holds license No. 1 in that state.
MacDonald founded the New England Journal of Chiropractic and was its editor from 1970 to 1975. He was coordinator for the National Council of Chiropractic State Association presidents from 1970 to 1976.
He has served as delegate for the USVI American Chiropractic Association for the past 25 years and was presented with the Eagle Pride Award for excellence and dedication to his profession for over 50 years at their annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in 2005.
He and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 58 years and have five children and six grandchildren. His extended family includes many chiropractors including his father, wife, aunts, uncles, cousins and son David.
After 58 years in practice, MacDonald said, he has treasured his time as a resident of St. Thomas, enjoying the wonderful people he has come to love here.
