Engage 2023 Conference Daily: Friday, Jan. 27

The Engage 2023 Conference Daily brings you information and announcements to help maximize your ACA Engage experience, along with highlights from the day’s events. For further assistance, contact [email protected].

Updates & Reminders

Change to Wifi Access at Engage

There is a change to the Engage Wifi network that is not reflected in the printed Engage program or on printed name badges. The correct login is Network: Omni Meeting, Password: engage2023

Professional Development Workshop Saturday Open to SACA, Next Gen

All SACA and NextGen members are welcome to attend the Professional Development Workshop, Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Empire Ballroom. The event will be split into three stations: VA Discussion; NCMIC’s Starting into Practice Program (tips on post-diploma life) and a Resume Review with Interview Tips.

5 In-person Education Sessions with CEs Tomorrow

This year, Engage featured 10 in-person education sessions (offering 15 CE). Five of those sessions will take place tomorrow, the last day of Engage, so don’t miss this chance to learn and earn needed CEs. Five additional pre-recorded sessions with CE are available on Learn ACA for viewing at your own pace. Learn more.

Don’t Forget to Hashtag Your Photos!

When sharing photos from Engage 2023 on social media, use the hashtag #ACAEngage2023 and tag ACA so that we can reshare your posts with the entire ACA community.

Turn in Your Game Card

Submit your ENGAGING Activity Game at the Registration Desk. Everyone who submits their game will receive a free gift and be entered into a raffle for a FREE registration to Engage 2024.

Show Your Swag

Stop by the Registration Desk before you leave to purchase some ACA swag! Check out the new branded products and show your ACA pride!

How Did We Do?

An Engage 2023 feedback survey will be sent to all attendees tomorrow. Please fill it out and send it back as soon as you can. ACA will use your feedback for future meeting planning.

Friday, Jan. 27 News in Brief

House of Delegates Meeting

ACA President on New Foundation, Looking Forward

Dr. Maiers

ACA President Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD, opened the House of Delegates meeting today by reminding delegates of foundational changes made to ACA’s governance and brand and the new and significant steps the association has taken to move forward since then. “A few years ago, ACA laid a foundation for reinvention,” she said. “We stopped focusing so intently on the past and looked forward at not only what’s important for being a modern organization for our members, but what our patients’ and the public’s needs are–and our role in an ever-changing healthcare environment.”

Among the projects born of ACA’s reinvention are a model payment policy designed to help payers understand the clinical and cost-saving value of chiropractic care, a mapping project to put ACA chiropractors in positions of leadership and influence at organizations across the healthcare spectrum, contracts to manage operations for the Minnesota Chiropractic Association and the Alabama State Chiropractic Association that reinforce collaboration and generate new non-dues revenue for ACA, and efforts to increase diversity and inclusion across ACA committees and leadership.

“And, of course, our efforts on Capitol Hill are creating support for chiropractic at a level we’ve not seen,” she added. “Gaining over 150 cosponsors on the House [Medicare] bill and introducing a companion Senate bill is no easy feat, but we’ve done it. And we’ll do it again, and pass legislation to modernize chiropractic coverage in Medicare in the 118th Congress.”

“We’ll continue to shout about chiropractic’s value proposition, delivering patient-centered, guideline concordant treatment for spinal pain and disability,” said Dr. Maiers. “And importantly, we position chiropractic to fill the gaps in primary care, public health, disability and rehabilitation services, and healthy aging. … At ACA, we walk our talk, and we work our strategic plan. And that is the reason the ACA is the only game in town.”

Annual Report Video

Dr. Maiers’ also shared ACA’s 2022 annual report video, featuring the association’s activities, advancements and achievements of the past year. Watch it here!

HOD Deliberative Discussion

As part of their annual business meeting, members of the House of Delegates took part in a deliberative discussion, sharing their perspectives on opportunities and challenges facing the chiropractic profession at this time. The feedback was collected and will be reviewed and analyzed by the Board of Governors to inform their upcoming strategic planning process.

***

Board of Governors Elections

(L-R) Hon. Steven C. Roberts; ACA Executive Vice President Karen Silberman; Dr. Eric A. Benson; Dr. Maithy Ta; Dr. Leo J. Bronston; Dr. Michael R. Martin; Dr. Marcus Nynus

Members of the ACA House of Delegates (HoD) today voted to fill two open seats on the association’s six-member Board of Governors (BoG). Winners of today’s election are:

  • Marc Nynas, DC, of Billings, Mont.
  • Maithy Ta, DC, of Kansas City, Mo.

They join returning BoG members:

  • Leo Bronston, DC, MAppSc, of Onalaska, Wis.
  • Eric Benson, DC, FIAMA, FICC, of Grand Island, Neb.
  • Michael Martin, DC, of Plano, Texas
  • Steven C. Roberts, JD, LLM, of St. Louis, Mo.

Stepping down from the BoG this year are Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD, and Robert Jones, DC. Members of the new BoG will meet tomorrow to elect leaders for the next year.

New Nominating Committee Members

Members of the House of Delegates voted today to fill two open seats on the ACA Nominating Committee. The new members are:

  • Cindy Howard, DC, of Orland Park, Ill., who will serve a three-year term.
  • William “Beau” Foshee, DC, of Dallas, Texas, who will serve a one-year term.

***

McAndrews Leadership Lecture

Nakiesha Pearson, DC, ACA’s 2022 Academician of the Year and a proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion in the chiropractic profession, gave the prestigious McAndrews Leadership Lecture at Engage 2023. Her presentation, “Switching the Script: Lights, Camera, Action,” explored how ethnicity and race can impact patients’ perceptions of pain and their ability to access effective pain management. Dr. Pearson noted that a provider’s lack of understanding of the significant differences that culture as well as family values can pose in providing adequate care can lead to negative consequences for patients’ health as well as their well-being. “A perceived discrimination position is associated with hopelessness, high hopelessness is associated with poor pain management, and poor pain management leads to poor quality of life,” she said.

***

ACA Annual Awards Presented

Each year, ACA honors select members in recognition for their exceptional leadership and accomplishments on behalf of the chiropractic profession. Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the ACA Annual Awards:

Dr. Bruns

Richard Bruns, DC, of Bangor, Maine, received ACA’s highest honor, the Chiropractor of the Year Award. He is recognized as a steadfast advocate for the chiropractic profession and its patients, with a talent for diplomacy and bringing people to the table for discussions that move things forward. Dr. Bruns served in the ACA House of Delegates for 25 years, first as the alternate delegate for Maine, then delegate and later as chairman of the ACA Board of Governors.

Anthony Lisi, DC, of West Haven, Conn., received ACA’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, acknowledging his tireless efforts to increase veterans’ access to chiropractic care. Since 2007, Dr. Lisi has served as the national director of chiropractic services for the Veterans Health Administration, working to increase opportunities for chiropractors to serve veterans.

Elise Hewitt, DC, DICCP, of Portland, Ore., received the Academician of the Year Award, which recognizes individuals for their efforts to advance the profession through academic or educational excellence. Dr. Hewitt is an adjunct professor in the College of Chiropractic at the University of Western States. She is also the founding program director of the new Master of Science in Integrative Pediatrics program at Logan University.

Martha Funabashi, DC, of Toronto, Canada, received the George B. McClelland Researcher of the Year Award, recognizing an individual for developing, refining and/or expanding the body of knowledge in chiropractic. Dr. Funabashi is a clinical research scientist and assistant professor in the division of research and innovation at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

Robert Leach, DC, MS of Starkville, Miss., received the Delegate of the Year Award, and William Foshee, DC, of Dallas, Texas, received the Alternate Delegate of the Year Award. Both awards recognize members of the ACA House of Delegates who have demonstrated exceptional service, achievement and/or leadership.

Maurice Pearl Jr., DC, of Rogers, Ark., received the Flynn-Lynch Award, which recognizes an outstanding member with no more than five years of experience serving in the House of Delegates.

Additional Awards and Honors Presented

At the House of Delegates meeting, ACA President Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD, presented four ACA members with special President’s Awards for demonstrating outstanding service to ACA and the chiropractic profession. Congratulations to:

  • Robert Jones, DC, APC, of Albuquerque, N.M.
  • William Foshee, DC, of Dallas, Texas
  • Kris Anderson, DC, MS, of Grand Forks, N.D.
  • Maithy Ta, DC, of Kansas City, Mo.

***

SACA Elects New Leadership

As part of its annual meeting at ACA Engage, members of the Student ACA (SACA) met to elect new leadership. Congratulations to:

  • Hannah Goltz of Northwestern Health Sciences University – National Chair
  • Matt Smolen of Keiser University – National Vice Chair
  • Alexandria Aruck of Northeast College of Health Sciences – National Legislative Chair
  • Nadya Bordewick of Cleveland University, Kansas City – National Vice Legislative Chair
  • Katy Kennedy, DC – Immediate Past Chair

NextGen Member of the Year Announced

The NextGen Member of the Year Award, officially called the Dr. Michele Maiers Leadership Award, recognizes someone who has significantly contributed to Next Gen by showing exceptional service, achievement, and leadership to the chiropractic profession Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Sarahfina Wipf, DC, of Charlottesville, Va.

New NextGen Leadership Team Takes Office

NextGen, ACA’s group for early-career practitioners, elected a new leadership team at ACA Engage. Congratulations to:

  • Chair: Danielle Pettet, DC
  • Vice Chair: Alexa Garcia, DC
  • Esteban Sandoval, DC
  • Maya Shamsuddin, DC
  • Sam Schut, DC

Upcoming Events on Saturday, Jan. 28

Schedule at a glance:

  • Education Session: Lower Extremity Tendinopathy Rehab (8 a.m. ET)
  • Expo Hall Open (9 a.m. ET)
  • Education Session: The Role of Chiropractic in the Management of Post-Concussion Syndrome (10:15 a.m. ET)
  • Professional Development Workshop (11 a.m. ET)
  • Education Session: Disparities in Pain Care (12:30 p.m. ET)
  • Education Session: Postural Neurology (2:45 p.m. ET)

View the full schedule.

Special Thanks to Engage 2023 Sponsors