Mark Bronson's Conflicted Role in NBCE’s Pilot Exam: Magical Thinking and Hidden Agendas

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) recently unveiled its redesigned Part IV exam, touting technological advancements and claiming to prepare chiropractors for real-world scenarios. Among those lauding this so-called innovation is Dr. Mark Bronson, the Chair of the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) and a prominent figure in NBCE’s testing operations. However, Bronson’s praise for the new exam, combined with his conflicts of interest and questionable scientific claims, raises serious concerns about his role in shaping the future of chiropractic testing.

We have previously reported on the ethical and legal concerns about the role that the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners plays in national chiropractic politics, regulation and education.

The NBCE’s Pilot Exam and Bronson’s Enthusiasm

Dr. Bronson, who serves as Chief Examiner for the pilot Part IV exam at Parker University among a number of other ethical conflicts of interest related to the NBCE and FCLB, has been effusive in his praise. He claimed that the new format challenges critical thinking and better evaluates chiropractors’ competency. According to Bronson, the use of dual-camera video recordings to review patient interactions ensures “accuracy and fairness.” Yet, behind these glowing endorsements lies a web of conflicts of interest and a history of pushing pseudoscientific ideas that damage the credibility of the chiropractic profession.

Bronson’s Conflicts of Interest: Regulatory Capture at Its Worst

Bronson’s involvement with the NBCE extends far beyond his role as a state board chair. As a key figure in both the NBCE and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB), Bronson is part of a tightly knit network of organizations that dominate chiropractic licensure, education, and regulation. This “Texas Triangle” of power and influence enables Bronson and his peers to shape policies that serve their own interests rather than the public or the chiropractic profession.

His overlapping roles create a classic case of regulatory capture. As Chair of the TBCE, Bronson is supposed to ensure the ethical and fair regulation of chiropractic in Texas. However, his deep involvement with private corporations like the NBCE and FCLB suggests he is more interested in maintaining the monopolistic control of these groups than in protecting chiropractors and their patients.

Bronson’s membership in the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) further complicates his position. Both of these organizations promote political and philosophical agendas that do not represent all licensed chiropractors in Texas. This situation leaves Bronson conflicted between his obligations as a public official and his loyalties to private organizations.

Magical Thinking and Bronson’s Acupuncture Claims

Bronson’s conflicts of interest aren’t the only issue. His testimony in the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's legal dispute against the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners reveals a troubling tendency toward pseudoscience. Bronson argued that acupuncture needles are so thin they "slide between the cells of the skin rather than cutting through it," a claim that is not only scientifically inaccurate but also borders on magical thinking.

This fantastical claim undermines the scientific credibility of chiropractic and acupuncture alike. As experts in skin anatomy have pointed out, the idea that acupuncture needles could pass between tightly packed skin cells without causing any disruption is absurd. This kind of pseudoscience is not just embarrassing for the profession; it’s dangerous, as it distorts public understanding of healthcare practices. If Bronson would lie about something like this under oath what else is he capable of?

Disdain for Subluxation and X-rays: A Hypocritical Approach

In addition to his magical thinking about acupuncture, Bronson has publicly expressed disdain for chiropractors who focus on subluxation correction—a core principle for many in the profession. According to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Bronson admitted that he doesn’t understand what it means to “correct” a subluxation and therefore doesn’t attempt to do so in his practice. He also criticized the use of X-rays in tracking subluxation correction, calling it “inappropriate.”

This hypocrisy is striking. While Bronson readily endorses acupuncture based on mystical, unfounded claims, he dismisses objective, evidence-based practices like subluxation correction and X-rays, which many chiropractors use to measure and improve patient outcomes. His role in both the NBCE, FCLB, ACA, TCA and the TBCE gives him undue influence to push these views, further marginalizing practitioners who focus on subluxation-based chiropractic care.

The Texas Regulatory Crisis: Public Trust Eroded

Bronson’s role in the NBCE pilot exam is just one facet of a broader problem facing the chiropractic profession in Texas. The entanglement between the NBCE, FCLB, and the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners has created a regulatory environment where public officials prioritize the interests of private corporations over those of chiropractors and their patients. The monopolistic control of the NBCE over chiropractic licensure stifles competition and keeps the costs of chiropractic educaiton unnecessarily high, to the detriment of students, practitioners, and the public.

As the Chief Examiner for the NBCE’s Part IV exam at Parker, Bronson is part of a system that financially benefits from maintaining these restrictive and costly exams. His deep ties to the NBCE and his position as a state regulator create a conflict of interest that undermines public trust. Texas chiropractors, students and patients deserve better from their regulators—leaders who will prioritize public safety and professional integrity over personal and organizational gain.

The Need for Reform

The chiropractic profession in Texas is at a critical juncture. The close relationships between the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the NBCE, and the FCLB represent a significant breach of public trust. It’s time for Texas chiropractors, students and the broader chiropractic community to demand an end to these conflicts of interest and push for reforms that restore transparency and accountability.

Texas lawmakers and regulatory bodies must take action to investigate these conflicts, introduce alternative pathways to licensure, and ensure that public officials like Bronson cannot continue to use their positions to advance private interests at the expense of the profession and the public. Only through such reforms can the integrity of chiropractic care in Texas be restored.

Conclusion

Dr. Mark Bronson’s involvement in the NBCE’s Part IV exam pilot is emblematic of the deeper issues plaguing the chiropractic profession in Texas. His conflicts of interest, pseudoscientific claims, and disregard for evidence-based chiropractic care call into question the validity of the exam and the motives of those promoting it. Texas chiropractors must unite to challenge the monopolistic control of the NBCE and demand a regulatory framework that serves the profession and the public with integrity and transparency.