Dr. David Buettner was awarded a life membership by the Chiropractors’ Association of Saskatchewan (CAS) earlier this week. The honour goes to chiropractors “who have demonstrated excellence in the profession and provided exemplary service to their patients, profession and the Association.”
The recognition had Buettner at an uncharacteristic loss for words.
“I was almost speechless, which I generally am not,” he said. “I’m with the Community Players here in town and generally if I can’t say anything, I can fake it … It came totally as a surprise and a shock. It just didn’t seem like I did the things that I did, and I certainly didn’t do them for any recognition.”
Yet Buettner’s resumé speaks for itself. Since graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1976, he has served in a number of positions on the CAS Board of Directors and several CAS committees.
He is also an active member of the local community. At various times Buettner has served as vice-president of the Prince Albert Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, president of the Saskatchewan German Council and a board member with the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority.
“Basically, we look for contributions to the association and to the membership as a whole and what they do for their communities,” CAS vice-president Dr. Kevin Henbid said. “It’s not awarded every year. And we just felt with (Buettner’s) contributions that he’s done — because he’s been the registrar, the vice-president, the president, he’s been on many committees over the years, and he’s been a member of … the Canadian Chiropractic Association board of governors — we felt that it would be nice to bestow that upon him.”
I was almost speechless, which I generally am not. - Dr. David Buettner
Buettner received a special plaque from CAS president Dr. Daryl Kashton. The award puts him at the peak of a profession that he entered after a career change four decades ago.
“I used to be a schoolteacher, in a previous life,” he said. “But I always … ever since I was a small child, wanted to be a chiropractor. My mother went to one and it was always kind of intriguing. So when I got into teaching and wasn’t really satisfied there, I moved on.”
After being feted by colleagues in his new profession for decades of work, it seems Buettner has found a satisfying career. But that recognition isn’t going to the good doctor’s head.
“It’s pretty humbling to be recognized for that,” he says.
