In an effort to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, Cleveland Chiropractic College’s Kansas City and Los Angeles campuses conducted several educational activities in recognition of National Public Health Week (NPHW), April 6-12. Established in 1995, the goal of NPHW is to promote overall health and to examine issues that are crucial to improving the health of the general public. This year’s theme was “Building the Foundation for a Healthy America.”
Thought-provoking and informative activities were planned for NPHW on both campuses as the College continues to help its students and employees achieve good health. These activities represent the College’s focus on health, including the upcoming launch of a new degree program, a Master of Science in Health Promotion.
Presentations and activities included the following: a smoking cessation presentation; a discussion of public health and the legislative process; a presentation on the value of a healthy diet; a “Biggest Loser” weight-loss contest; and a luncheon hosted by the Student American Chiropractic Association that included distribution of a health quiz.
Kansas City Provost Dr. Ashley Cleveland noted that “Cleveland Chiropractic College has a pool of talent in the areas of health promotion and health education that is deep and rich, so we were able to plan for a smoking cessation session led by Dr. Cheryl Hawk, vice president of research and scholarship, and a nutrition session led by Dr. Dan Redwood, associate professor and editor in chief of Health Insights Today, a Web newsletter. These were offered over the lunch hour so that employees and students could attend and get help to change these critical health behaviors.”
She added, “We made a conscious effort this year to focus on encouraging our employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle.” The College challenged its employees to exercise for the recommended
30 minutes a day for five days a week. Those who did so were entered in a raffle to win one month’s membership at the Cleveland Chiropractic College YMCA Express Fitness Center. Instructor John McGlaughlin was the winner.
“The theme of this year’s National Public Health Week was a perfect fit for us because we truly believe that we are educating doctors who can transform the health of individuals and communities with chiropractic care, health promotion and lifestyle changes” Cleveland said.
Donna Sapiandante, Student Council president in Los Angeles, agreed saying that the focus on NPHW makes sense because it is “intimately integrated with our profession.”
Dr. Will Evans, dean of graduate studies and director of the Health Promotion degree program, was pleased with the week’s activities.
“We were able to host several events including lectures and panels on health promotion topics," Evans said. "It was an opportunity for us to showcase how chiropractic plays a significant role in promotion of health.”
Additional evidence of the College’s commitment to health arrived with the announcement that Rich King, a student on the Kansas City campus and president of the campus' Public Health Club, has been named Student Section Chairman of the Kansas Public Health Association. He will provide the voice of all students represented in the association during his one-year term.
Founded in 1922 by the Cleveland family, Cleveland Chiropractic College is recognized as a major chiropractic institution, holding both specialized and regional accreditation. The Cleveland postgraduate programs attract doctors from around the globe for educational seminars. Led by Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III as president, a fourth generation doctor of chiropractic and grandson of the college founders, Cleveland Chiropractic College is an independent, not-for-profit multi-campus institution of higher education with a mission focused on education, scholarship and service. The college maintains campuses in Kansas City and Los Angeles. More information on the college can be found at www.cleveland.edu.