This has been a busy year for the Chiropractic Health Care Section. Although our section is small compared to the whole of APHA, we have a very dedicated group of working members who have a vision for the future of chiropractic and a vision for improved health for America. Our 2011 annual conference program will include two joint sessions with the Public Health Education and Health Promotion PHEHP Section and the Occupational Health Section. Our Program Chair Mike Schneider, DC, PhD, has been aided in these efforts by Bart Green, DC, MSEd and Will Evans, DC, PhD. This year’s Annual Meeting will offer an excellent program and one that will allow for collaboration. At the 2011 CHC midyear meeting, Section members voted to develop a long term strategy. This planning process will be headed up by Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd. We were represented at APHA’s midyear meeting by our incoming chair, Lori Byrd, MS, and communications chair, Dr. Johnson. Lori and Claire put together a summary report of this meeting that articulated the potential role for the chiropractic profession in health care reform. The CHC Section is also honored to have as one of its founding members the current chair of APHA’s Bylaws Committee, Mitch Haas, DC, MS.

As the outgoing chair, it is my hope that the CHC Section will continue to focus on various ways to address the important public health concern of musculoskeletal disorders.  I am pleased to see the CHC Section moving in the direction of developing cultural authority within APHA, especially in the area of musculoskeletal disorders. We look forward to an exciting Annual Meeting, and I look forward to seeing each of you there.