This year, 2005, marks the 10th anniversary of the chiropractic group becoming a full-fledged section within the APHA structure. Prior to that we had only been a Special Primary Interest Group.
What is so special about a Chiropractic Section with APHA? And what have these 10 years meant to our profession within APHA and our potential for the future?
APHA is the oldest, largest, and most influential public health association in the United States -- and in the world. For our chiropractic profession to be a part of this multi-disciplinary organization is of major significance to our profession’s recognition and visibility and enhances our communication and credibility with other health care professions and the publics we serve. Consider the alternative: where would we be if we were the only major health profession that was not part of APHA?
Over the past 10 years since achieving full section status at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego in 1995, the Chiropractic Health Care Section has earned full equity and parity with the other health professions. Chiropractors have served on most APHA committees and held high offices within APHA -- even on the APHA Executive Board and its policy-making Governing Council. Our exhibit booths at APHA Annual Meetings have won awards, and our educational sessions have been widely acclaimed. As a Section we receive a budget and are allotted seats on the APHA Governing Council and on important committees. Chiropractic is the only one of the APHA sections to have both the terms “Health,” and “Care” in its section name.
Leaders in government and health, and in health education and research, among other health disciplines, have recognized our contributions. APHA has been the vehicle by which our profession achieved a much greater level of integration into mainstream health care in the United States. At one time we had no “seat at the table,” and in fact up until 1983 chiropractic was labeled by APHA as an “unscientific hazard to the health of American citizens,” and an anti-chiropractic policy was widely disseminated to leaders in government and health and to consumer groups. However, thanks to the efforts of the chiropractic leaders within APHA, since 1983 the Association has officially recognized chiropractic as “safe and effective for neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions and particularly for low back disorders.” Our input is now sought, and we participate in a variety of health care programs and projects at the local community, state, national and international levels thanks to our recognized expertise and status through APHA. Where we were once excluded we are now invited and welcomed.
The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) was accepted for membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993. A positive recommendation by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) was a large part of the successful application by the WFC. In that recommendation letter the contribution of chiropractic leaders working within the APHA structure and forming the Chiropractic Health Care section of APHA was cited as an example of how modern chiropractic contributes to the health care system.
Chiropractic has had a major impact within APHA, and our active participation has had a major impact on how chiropractic is perceived in America and the world. In fact, our work in APHA is an important part of the history of the chiropractic profession. And we will continue to have impact through and within APHA into the future.