National Public Health Week (NPHW), observed April 6-12 this year, is led annually by the American Public Health Association (APHA) to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight the issues that shape the health of our communities. It serves as a national moment to elevate prevention, promote evidence-based policy, and engage both professionals and the public in improving population health.
The 2026 theme, “Ready. Set. Action!”, emphasizes moving beyond awareness toward meaningful change. It encourages individuals, communities, and health professionals to reflect on public health progress while actively advancing solutions that improve health equity, strengthen systems, and support healthier futures. At its core, NPHW reinforces a simple but powerful message: good health doesn’t just happen; it’s built through collective action, policy, and community engagement.
The APHA Chiropractic Health Care Section (CHC) will be distributing NPHW-related content throughout the week on its social media channels: LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. The ACA is collaborating with the CHC this year to celebrate NPHW, sharing content and resources.
Today, we take a moment to ask several leaders of the APHA Chiropractic Section about NPHW and the history of chiropractic’s involvement. They include Aubrianna L. Jones, DC, communications chair; Vanessa Morales, DC, MPH, MS, social media coordinator; and Logan Benjamin, DC, MPH, secretary.
Q: What does the Chiropractic Section have planned for NPHW?
The APHA Chiropractic Health Care Section uses NPHW as an opportunity to highlight the role of doctors of chiropractic (DCs) within the broader public health workforce—particularly in areas such as musculoskeletal health, physical activity promotion, pain management, and nonpharmacologic care.
Our Chiropractic Section engagement during NPHW will include:
- Sharing public-facing educational content through our social media accounts on MSK health, movement, and prevention.
- Amplifying evidence-based messaging aligned with daily themes.
- Promoting interprofessional collaboration, emphasizing how our members and DCs across the country contribute to population health.
- Encouraging participation in local events, webinars, and advocacy efforts.
Q: Can DCs in the field participate?
Absolutely. NPHW is designed to be inclusive, and any DC, regardless of membership, can participate! Ways to get involved include:
- Engaging on social media: Share APHA’s NPHW resources, daily themes, and evidence-based health messages with patients and communities.
- Patient and community education: Highlight prevention strategies, physical activity, and self-management approaches in your clinic.
- Hosting or joining events: Participate in local health fairs, workshops, or interdisciplinary events during the week.
- Advocacy: Support policies that improve access to conservative care, reduce health disparities, and promote population health.
- APHA provides free toolkits, graphics, and messaging guides to make participation easy and accessible for all health professionals.
Q: Can you tell us more about APHA’s Chiropractic Health Section?
The Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section was officially established in 1995, marking its 30th anniversary in 2025. For over a decade before our official inclusion, chiropractors worked toward recognition within APHA, which had called for revoking chiropractic licensure back in 1969. When the CHC section finally gained full status, it represented a major shift in how the profession was perceived. Membership peaked at around 500 people during the mid-2000s.
Like most professional organizations, we’ve faced challenges in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but membership is again on the rise, helped along by a very engaged leadership roster. We’re currently one of 33 APHA sections and the only one with both “health” and “care” in our name.
Our work includes submitting policy resolutions on topics like musculoskeletal health and non-pharmacological pain management. Members serve on APHA committees and in leadership positions. We’ve contributed to global efforts, including advising on WHO guidelines for chiropractic training. Several CHC members edit major chiropractic and health journals. Recently, we’ve focused on developing public health competencies for the profession and creating educational resources such as a webinar series adopted by chiropractic schools and available through Learn ACA.
We also collaborate with other APHA sections and engage in contemporary public health issues such as the opioid epidemic and pandemic response.
Q: In what ways, if any, do you interact or collaborate with other APHA sections?
The CHC section has consistently prioritized collaboration with other APHA sections. Early on, in 2002 and 2003, CHC partnered with the Vision Care, Podiatry, and Oral Health sections to create a joint booth for the annual APHA meeting. The mega-booth won second place in 2002 and first place in 2003 for best exhibits.
More recently, CHC has worked across sections on policy initiatives. For example, in 2015, CHC submitted a policy on preventing prescription pain medication misuse that was co-sponsored by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Section. This collaboration eventually became part of a broader APHA policy on prevention and intervention strategies for prescription pain medications. The section is currently considering creating a joint APHA policy around the topic of Whole Health. CHC members also participate in APHA’s larger governance structures. They’ve served on the Intersectional Council Steering Committee, the Task Force on Aging, and the Bylaws Committee. One CHC member even had the honor of chairing the Annual Meeting Planning Committee, a role that included introducing the U.S. Surgeon General. Beyond formal collaborations, CHC’s work naturally aligns with priorities across multiple sections. Issues like aging, chronic disease prevention, and health equity create natural opportunities for chiropractors to work alongside colleagues from other health professions and specialties within APHA.
Q: Why is it important for doctors of chiropractic to be familiar with/involved with public health?
It is important for chiropractors to be familiar with and involved in public health because we are often a first point of contact for patients and can play a key role in shaping health behaviors, access to care, and patient understanding of health. Public health provides a broader lens for understanding how social, environmental, and systemic factors influence patient outcomes, particularly with musculoskeletal pain, where factors such as access to care and community resources play a role.
By engaging in public health, chiropractors can move beyond individual-level care and contribute to population health through prevention, health promotion, and advocacy. This includes promoting physical activity, addressing health disparities, supporting nonpharmacologic pain management, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to improve care delivery. Ultimately, involvement in public health enables chiropractors to provide more comprehensive, patient-centered care while also contributing to healthier communities.
Q: Is the APHA Chiropractic Section looking for new members? Who should consider joining and where can they learn more?
Yes—the APHA Chiropractic Health Care Section actively welcomes new members!
This section is a strong fit for:
- DCs interested in public health, prevention, and population-level impact.
- Educators and researchers focused on evidence-based practice and health systems.
- Clinicians who want to collaborate across disciplines and engage in policy, advocacy, or community health initiatives.
- Students and early-career professionals exploring nontraditional or expanded roles for chiropractic in public health.
Membership offers opportunities to connect with a national network, contribute to policy and advocacy efforts, and elevate the role of chiropractic within the broader public health landscape.
To learn more or join, DCs can visit the APHA website and select the Chiropractic Health Care Section when becoming a member.
