Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), New York Chiropractic College (NYCC), and Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) have announced that they will be the first chiropractic programs to establish an automatic one-year membership in the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) for all doctor of chiropractic students. Beginning with the fall 2009 incoming class, students will be enrolled at the start of the term in which they take their first public/community health class.
SCU Interim President Dr. John Scaringe is excited about the benefits that the new program brings to the students: "Providing our chiropractic students with APHA membership will expose them to mainstream public health activities and engage them politically through the association's student assembly," he said. "Furthermore, the membership provides doctors of chiropractic opportunities to pursue post-graduate education in public health, or employment and careers in public health, government, research, or policy-making."
As part of their APHA membership, students will receive the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) and The Nation's Health (TNH) publications. AJPH is a monthly online resource for evidence-based skills and applied community health and wellness; TNH is a newspaper, published 10 times annually, which covers all major news in health care.
NYCC President Dr. Frank Nicchi is also enthusiastic about the college's new association with APHA: "Supporting student membership will expand chiropractic involvement with the APHA and ultimately, the profession's contribution to the field of public health," said Dr. Nicchi. "Undoubtedly, this will enhance our ability as a profession to integrate into health care systems, providing new and exciting opportunities for our graduates."
WSCC President Dr. Joseph Brimhall believes the time to act is now. "Given the current focus on health care policies, now is a critical time for the chiropractic profession to participate in public health activities that promote healthy living and educate consumers about healthcare decisions. Our students, as future doctors of chiropractic, will benefit from their association with APHA in learning to integrate treatment options with lifestyle choices in order to better serve their patients and their communities."
According to Dr. Rand Baird, public health committee chair for the World Federation of Chiropractic, there are advantages to establishing closer ties between the chiropractic and public health professions. "I see this as an important step in inculcating a public health and service mentality in a generation of our young chiropractors," he said. "That's good for them, for both professions, and for the American public. The Chiropractic Health Care section of APHA is the voice of chiropractic in public health. This infusion of new members will make it a louder and more effective voice, increase its working budget, and its number of delegate seats in the APHA Governing Council. This is more than those 'win-win' situations we hear about - this is a win, win, win."
About American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve public health since 1872.The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. The association represents a broad array of health professionals and others who care about their own health and the health of their communities.
About Southern California University of Health Sciences
Southern California University of Health Sciences incorporates the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, the School of Professional Studies, and the University Health Center. Since 1911, the university has been a leader in preparing practitioners and providing care in complementary and alternative healthcare, and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and the Council on Chiropractic Education.
About New York Chiropractic College
New York Chiropractic College, a private educational institution located in Seneca Falls, N.Y., offers accredited, degree-granting programs in chiropractic, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, diagnostic imaging, applied clinical nutrition, and clinical anatomy. Established in 1919, the college instructs an integrative, holistic, and collaborative health care approach.
About Western States Chiropractic College
Western States Chiropractic College has been a pioneer in chiropractic education since its inception in 1904. The college was the first to set up a four-year course of study; one of the first to be transferred from private ownership to nonprofit status; the first to require two years of pre-professional requirements to enroll; one of the first to adopt a curriculum inclusive of all the basic sciences; and the first to be awarded a federal research grant. The doctor of chiropractic degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education, and the college is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Source: Joint press release from APHA, SCU, NYCC and WSCC.
When I graduated from chiropractic college in 1981 and started practice, I heard it all, and very little was positive. “You are a quack; you do not know what a subluxation is; you couldn’t get into a real health care program, so you chose the one that is slightly above a mail-order degree; you have no proof that chiropractic works; Are you really licensed?”, and so much more.
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