ACC-RAC in Review

Every year the Association of Chiropractic Colleges holds a meeting in conjunction with the Research Agenda Conference (ACC-RAC).  Researchers, political leaders, educators and clinicians gather to discuss ways to advance the chiropractic profession. This year’s event was held just outside of Washington, D.C., in Tyson’s Corner, Va. The goal of the conference was to provide information regarding “Cultural Authority” to the attendees. From the perspective of young practitioners attempting to cultivate cultural authority in an interdisciplinary hospital environment, the message of the conference was both relevant and inspiring.

Many brilliant sessions and presentations were woven into the ACC-RAC program. Wayne Jonas, MD, opened the conference by discussing the Future of Evidence Based Practice for Integrative Medicine. He commended the chiropractic profession for improving research efforts and spoke positively of the steps the profession is taking to enhance cultural authority. He presented ways to build an “evidence house” where clinical care is based on a firm foundation of quality research.

In an exciting and thought provoking break-out session, How Can Chiropractic Medicine Become a Respected Mainstream Profession? The Example of Podiatry, Donald Murphy, DC, DACAN, espoused a message of reform. Gaining insight from the history of podiatric medicine, Dr. Murphy contended that chiropractic should “establish a clear identity.”  He suggested that chiropractors promote themselves as non-surgical spine specialists who focus their efforts on conditions related to the spine and work in collaboration with the medical community. In the pursuit of cultural authority, he strongly urged chiropractors to become active members of the ACA, become champions of public health (by joining APHA), improve the educational system, utilize standard medical terminology, and denounce unethical and unscientific behavior.  Following Dr. Murphy’s presentation, a lively discussion ensued. The room was impressively full with many of the profession’s most recognizable leaders in attendance; for the most part, the audience agreed with the concepts presented and discussed the most plausible ways to promote both a clear identity and cultural authority.

The conference was brought to a close with a session presented by a few of the profession’s heaviest hitters (Haldeman, McGregor, Khalsa, Kowalski and Silber). The final presentations focused on the development of cultural authority and the means by which chiropractors can use their education and skills to promote a profession that is trusted and respected.

The theme of this year’s conference brought to mind a quote by Albert Einstein: “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Chiropractors must demand greatness by overcoming the practices and ideas that are mediocre. As new members of the profession, ACC-RAC delivered insight into the challenges and adventures that the future may hold and provided practical ways to cultivate cultural authority.

Authors: Kristen Bentson, DC, and Scott Bentson, MS, DC

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It's Official - ACA Supports APHA!

The American Chiropractic Association at it House of Delegates meeting drafted a resolution (below) that affirms its support of APHA.

ACA is the largest chiropractic association in the United States.

AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest, largest, most influential, and most diverse public health association in the USA and in the world; and,
WHEREAS, the APHA in 1995 established its Chiropractic Health Care section having full equity and parity with all the other multidisciplinary sections in the APHA; and
WHEREAS, the APHA has continued to recognize, support, and encourage chiropractic participation within APHA; and,
WHEREAS the APHA has been shown to be one of the most effective vehicles for integrating the chiropractic profession into mainstream public health activities; and,
WHEREAS, the ACA has been an official Agency Member of the APHA continuously since 1984; and,
WHEREAS, the ACA has established and funded a standing ACA Committee on APHA for many years; and,
WHEREAS, the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) is also an official Agency Member of the APHA;

THEREFORE, the ACA House of Delegates hereby reaffirms its support for the APHA and issues this 2008 resolution encouraging all ACA members and all Doctors of Chiropractic to join and maintain membership and become active in the APHA henceforth.

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JMPT: Annual Focus on Public Health

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics will begin publishing an annual public health-themed issue in conjunction with the 2008 APHA Annual Meeting. The first annual issue containing four public health related articles will be published in this year's July/August edition, which is just in time for the APHA Annual Meeting that will convene at the end of October in San Diego.

When planning your future submissions and publications, please keep in mind that future public health-themed issues will require and welcome public health-themed articles.

Articles to be considered for the 2009 public health-themed issue of JMPT can be submitted throughout this year and should be submitted no later than Feb. 1, 2009. Guidelines for submissions can be found at www.mosby.com/jmpt or by contacting the editor at cjohnson@nuhs.edu.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to disseminate your research and simultaneously draw attention to chiropractic and public health, the APHA Annual Meeting, and the Chiropractic Health Care Section by submitting your research to the special public health issue of the JMPT.

Sincerely,

Claire Johnson, MSEd, DC - JMPT Editor

Jonathon Egan, DC, MPH - APHA CHC Membership Chair

Elaine Cooperstein, DC - APHA CHC Section Chair

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Obtain a Wellness and Health Certification

Wellness & Health Promotion Certification Program

Cleveland Chiropractic College

100 hours in Applied Health Promotion

Six - 12 hour sessions

One – 28 hour distance-based module

The need for prevention and health promotion in chiropractic practice has never been greater than it is today. Patients at risk for chronic spine disease are also at risk for a variety of co-morbid conditions that will potentially reduce their lifespan. Chronic spine patients are at risk for problems such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and other physical conditions.

Featured program instructors:

Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD, CHES        

Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES           

Ron Rupert, MS, DC                     

Jim Gerber, MS, DC, DACBO, DACBN                              

Ron Kirk, MA, DC                   

Meridel Gatterman, MA, DC, MEd                            

Steven Conway, DC, DACBOH, Esq.                                

Mike Perko, PhD, CHES                

Lisa Killinger, DC

Ron Williams, PhD, CHES

Web site:

http://www.cleveland.edu/about/continuing_Education/specialPrograms

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DCs Get Involved in Public Health in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society will be participating in the Channel 7/Partners Health Care Health & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Convention Center from June 21-22.

In addition to performing spinal subluxation screenings and Postural assessments, the volunteer DCs will be on hand to answer health related questions and we have been given the opportunity to educate the attendees through two half-hour presentations, one on Saturady and one on Sunday. 

Dr. Patti Guiliano will be speaking on Saturday:  Chiro 101 (since we are in a college town) What the public needs to know, Part 1, and Dr. Scott Darragh on Sunday will present Chiro 101 -- What the public needs to know, Part 2. 

More than 80,000 people should be in attendance, so if you are nearby you should check it out!

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An Educational Video About Public Health

This video is a great tool to use to talk about public health!  Please share!

http://www.thisispublichealth.org/index.html

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