Annual meetings are much anticipated in the association world, as members gather from across the country for professional development, advocacy and networking opportunities. However, with COVID-19 preventing large, in-person events, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) embarked on a plan to reinvent its annual meeting, ACA Engage, in a virtual format this year that not only enables the chiropractic community to connect, but also affords greater access to education programming and continuing education credits.

The United States Bone and Joint Initiative is an “organization of organizations” whose mission is to raise the priority of musculoskeletal (MSK) health through the collective action of all stakeholders. The intention of this mission is to improve the quality of life for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and improve the understanding, prevention and treatment of these conditions through research, education and advocacy. Its Young Investigator Initiative has mentored over 400 participants with grant funding achieved of more than $522 million.

ACA Blogs caught up with Alli Totzke, national chair of the Student ACA (SACA), to find out how plans are going for this year’s Leadership Conference, scheduled for Sept. 11-12 online, and to learn what SACA members are doing to adapt and continue their outreach and social activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a resident at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, students and new graduates alike frequently ask me about my experience as a resident and how it varied from my time as a student clerk at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. To help provide a better perspective on the two types of positions, I’ve invited three New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) students who are currently finishing their clerkships at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System to reflect on their experience. In addition, I have provided a brief description of the two positions.

ICSC presenter Carolina Cancelliere, DC, PhD, is a clinical epidemiologist who serves as research chair in knowledge translation for the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation and as a faculty member in health sciences at Ontario Tech University. She and her team are working to demonstrate how chiropractic care can be applied to help patients suffering from disabilities related to spinal disorders. At ICSC, she will participate in the session “Translating Spinal Care Research into Practice." In this ACA Blogs post, she answers questions about her upcoming presentation.

Recent history has shown that those at the scene of an accident or a mass-casualty event can play a vital role in saving lives until first responders arrive, but for some the thought of stepping in during a crisis is intimidating. Karen Konarski-Hart, DC, found herself in several situations years ago and resolved to become better skilled. Today, as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), she is involved extensively in disaster relief efforts and promoting the value of a new campaign, Stop the Bleed, designed to teach the public simple steps that can save the life of someone experiencing heavy bleeding. Learn more about this program and how chirorpactors can get involved.

When ACA decided to make some transitions last year, we were determined that this process would go deeper than just a new logo design and some brighter website colors. Today, we are committed to “living our values” by putting patients at the center of all our decisions, using the best available evidence and by collaborating with other healthcare providers. Adhering to best practices and having a positive attitude are also paramount. To this end, we are launching a new learning system, called Learn ACA, that will make it easier for chiropractors to access top-quality online education and their required continuing education units (CEUs).

While the content of Dr. Stephen Perle’s 2018 McAndrews Leadership Lecture has been intentionally kept under wraps, the title, “Grilled Cheese, Candles and Beer,” has raised a lot of questions (and a few eyebrows, frankly). In this Q&A with Dr. Perle, a respected academic and researcher, ACA Blogs tries to find some answers. To get the whole story, plan on attending the National Chiropractic Leadership Conference in person to hear Dr. Perle’s presentation on Saturday, March 3.