Submitted by Paul Dougherty, DC
Chiropractic Health Care Section Chair
The Chiropractic Health Care Section celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2010. The Section has had a very interesting history dating back to the late '70's when Rand Baird, DC, developed a passion to see chiropractic represented in this important multidisciplinary organization. The history of the CHC Section was published in 2006 by Egan et al. in the Journal of Chiropractic History.
The CHC Section has had a busy and exciting year. We have a wonderful group of leaders who tirelessly give to see the Section remain productive. Over the past year we have seen developments including: expanding auto-enrollment of chiropractic students into APHA at four chiropractic colleges, the submission of a policy to raise the awareness of the public health burden of musculoskeletal disease, the development of two exciting joint sessions with Occupational Health And Safety and Health Education and Health Promotion Sections and the development of a strategic plan.
Auto-enrollment: Through the tireless efforts of Drs. Egan and Baird, the Southern California University of Health Sciences, New York Chiropractic College, Northwestern Health Sciences University, and University of Western States, College of Chiropractic have initiated the enrollment of the students taking the public health class into APHA. The intent of this policy is to expose our chiropractic students to APHA and mainstream public health activities, with the hope that a percentage of them will continue with involvement in public health, in APHA, and maintain their active membership with the CHC Section.
Policy submission: Drs. Dougherty, Haas, Johnson, Meeker and Stites have been an integral part of developing an important policy statement outlining the importance of musculoskeletal disease on public health. Musculoskeletal disease is a leading cause of morbidity in the United States and costs approximately $850 billion per year. This statement outlines the importance of public education concerning prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disease. This is the first policy statement submitted by the CHC Section.
Joint Sessions: The CHC Section is participating in two joint sessions this year. The first session is with Occupational Health. This session is being organized and moderated by Bart Green, DC. Dr. Green has done a great job of getting high quality speakers. The title of the session is: Back Pain in the Work Place: Challenges, Prevention, Management, and Research. The second session is being organized by Will Evans, DC, PhD. He is continuing to confirm the speakers for this joint session with Health Education and Health Promotion. Program Chair Michael Schneider, DC, PhD, is doing a great job of coordinating these joint sessions as well as organizing the scientific sessions. The 2011 Annual Meeting should be excellent this year.
Strategic Planning: Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd, is heading up the strategic planning ad hoc committee. Strategic planning is an important step to assure the continued success of the CHC Section. Dr. Johnson is currently vetting the most up to date iteration of the strategic planning document to the CHC Sectio and is looking for feedback and participants. We are looking forward to developing short and long range plans that will ultimately result in improved health of the public through joint initiatives of the CHC Section with other sections within APHA at large.
Leadership: In addition to the above mentioned activities, we are very proud to announce that Mitch Haas, DC, MA, has been appointed as chair of the APHA Bylaws Committee, the first CHC Section member to be deployed as chair of an APHA association-wide committee.
In conclusion, it has been my privilege to serve for the past two years as chair of the CHC Section. I look forward to the leadership of Lori Byrd, MS, in the future. I would like to thank all of the Section leadership for their tireless work for the success, not just of the CHC Section, but ultimately improved public health.
Paul Dougherty, DC
