The Engage 2025 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
Just added: Chiropractic Forensics – A Patient Perspective (1 CE)
Interested in delving deeper into chiropractic forensics? Don’t miss this newly added session on Saturday, Jan, 25 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Executive Room. Presented by Crystal Zagwyn, DC, DABFP, FICC, CME.
Education: Innovative Topics, Tailored to Different Learning Styles
ACA Engage 2025 education programming features a mixture of topics and formats to suit different interests and learning styles, along with the opportunity to earn up to 11 CE credits. Included are 4 pre-recorded sessions on Learn ACA for viewing at your own pace. (Pre-recorded sessions will be available Jan. 23-Feb. 13. Up to 4 CE credits are available.) In addition, 7 in-person education sessions will take place Jan. 24–25 on-site at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. (Up to 6 CE credits available from on-site sessions.). Learn more.
Get a Discount on a GAC Membership
Thinking of upgrading your regular ACA membership to Governors Advisory Cabinet status? ACA members who upgrade to GAC during Engage 2025 will receive a 25% discount. Just stop by the registration desk before the conference ends tomorrow and sign up!
Stay Engaged on the Event App
To make the most of your conference experience, create a schedule in the event app or desktop platform. If you have questions about the platforms, email [email protected] or visit the registration desk.
Engage with #ACAEngage2025
Share your ACA Engage 2025 experience with the entire ACA community! Throughout the conference, share photos on social media with the hashtag #ACAEngage2025 and tag ACA so that we can reshare your posts. Also remember to hashtag and/or email photos from your congressional meetings to [email protected].
Instagram & X (Twitter): @acatoday
Facebook & LinkedIn: American Chiropractic Association
Friday, Jan. 24 News in Brief
House of Delegates Convenes to Discuss Issues, Hold Elections
In remarks to the House of Delegates and ACA members today, ACA President Leo Bronston, DC, reflected on the past year of challenges and triumphs for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), which is taking definitive action to adapt to the rapidly evolving field of health care. “The last decade has been a whirlwind of change,” he observed. As a result, ACA is continually evaluating its objectives to meet the needs of members. 
In addition to updating ACA’s strategic plan, Dr. Bronston touched on several recent association initiatives that focus on positioning ACA and the chiropractic profession for future success. These include a health policy fellowship program that adds “bench strength” to the association’s work on coding and documentation issues by nurturing future, trusted advocates and a E/M white paper that one payer has already implemented. He also pointed to important changes to some of ACA’s committee structures that allow for more cohesion and collaboration and less duplication of efforts among the association’s valued volunteers.
Making an impact in health policy remains one of ACA’s most powerful ways of positioning the chiropractic profession for future success. Passage of the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 539/S. 106) remains ACA’s No. 1 legislative priority. To that end, the ACA-PAC was successful in raising more than $269,000 in the last election cycle, supporting pro-chiropractic candidates. “Health policy is a part of ACA’s identity and it’s only going to grow,” Dr. Bronston said. “We have more support than ever in Congress for our Medicare bill.”
“Now more than ever, ACA is the voice of chiropractic,” he continued. “We are part of the big picture that puts patients first. We have a lot to be proud of.”
Delegates Learn About AI Uses in the Clinical Setting
As part of their annual business meeting, members of the House of Delegates took part in a deliberative discussion, which enables them to learn and share their ideas and perspectives on various issues facing the chiropractic profession. This year, delegates focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in the clinical setting.
AI, also known as machine learning and statistical modeling, is being widely adopted across health care and in a variety of ways. Gina McKernan, Ph.D., vice chair of data science and rehabilitation analytics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, shared examples of AI-related studies that Pitt is currently conducting to determine how it can contribute to better outcomes for patients.
McKernan said the ultimate goal is to free up the clinician’s time to focus on patient care. “Let [AI] do the tedious work…and free up your time. That’s really the best case of it,” she said. “I don’t think it will ever replace the clinician’s judgement. AI should be used as a tool to help you make better decisions.”
Board of Governors Elections
Members of the ACA House of Delegates (HOD) today voted to fill three open seats on the association’s seven-member Board of Governors (BOG). Winners of today’s election are:
- Michael Massey, DC, of Athens, Tenn.
- Robert Ault, DC, MBA, of Hudson, Ohio.
- Michael Welker, DC, of Butte, Mont.
They join returning BOG members:
- Marc Nynas, DC
- Maithy Ta, DC
- Kris R. Anderson, DC, MS
- Adrian Stratton, MBA
Note: Members of the new BOG will meet tomorrow to elect leaders for the next year.
New Nominating Committee Member Selected
Members of the House of Delegates voted today to fill one open seat on the ACA Nominating Committee. Congratulations to David Paris, DC, MS, DACRB of Redding, Calif.
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ACA Annual Awards Presented
Each year, ACA honors select members in recognition for their exceptional leadership, accomplishments and service on behalf of the chiropractic profession. Congratulations to the 2025 ACA Annual Awards winners:
Marcus Nynas, DC, of Billings, Mont., received ACA’s highest honor, the Chiropractor of the Year Award, honoring his service to the chiropractic profession through leadership and involvement in critical policy areas such as Medicare and payer equity.
Chiropractic military spouses are collectively recognized this year with the Humanitarian of the Year Award. These women and men who, despite challenges inherent to military life, pursue their chiropractic careers in tandem with spouses who serve on active duty around the world.
William Reed, DC, PhD, of Birmingham, Ala., received the George B. McClelland Researcher of the Year Award, which recognizes individuals for developing, refining and/or expanding the body of knowledge in chiropractic. Dr. Reed is one of the leading scholars to investigate how spinal adjustment impacts health on both the skeletal and cellular level.
Michael Schneider, DC, PhD, of Pittsburgh, Pa., received the Academician of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual for their efforts in advancing the profession through academic or educational excellence. Dr. Schneider was instrumental in the development of the University of Pittsburgh’s new Doctor of Chiropractic program – the first of its kind at a research-intensive public university.
David Paris, DC, MS, DACRB, of Redding, Calif., and Kathryn Kennedy, DC, of South Burlington, Vt., received the Delegate and Alternate Delegate of the Year Awards, respectively. Both awards recognize members of the ACA House of Delegates who have demonstrated exceptional service, achievement and/or leadership.
Mia R. Ortega, DC, DIANM, MAEd, of Fredericksburg, Va., received the Flynn Lynch Award, which recognizes an outstanding member with no more than five years of experience serving in the House of Delegates.
President’s Awards
At the House of Delegates meeting, ACA President Leo Bronston, DC, presented President’s Awards to individual members who were especially supportive of him during his year in office. Congratulations to:
- Maithy Ta, DC
- Mathew Christopher, DC
- Kris Anderson, DC
- Jeffrey King, DC
- Craig Little, DC
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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:
- Jesse D. Greening – National Chair
- Sofie Eisenbach – National Vice Chair
- Victoria Farrar – National Legislative Chair
- John Asmus – National Vice Legislative Chair
Upcoming Events on Saturday, Jan. 25
Schedule at a Glance
- Coffee (8:30 a.m. ET)
- Education Session: Update on The VA Community Care Network: What Practicing DCs Need to Know (8:30 a.m. ET)
- Closing Remarks (9:30 a.m. ET)
Special Thanks to Engage 2025 Sponsors:
