WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 32nd annual meeting of the American Chiropractic Association, June 28-July 3, saw Dr. Kurt Hegetschweiler of Torrance, Calif., who served as the ACA's vice president the past year, succeed Dr. Russell Sawyer Jr. as president of chiropractic's largest national association.
Dr. Hegetschweiler said the biggest single issue in chiropractic is patients having unobstructed access to chiropractic care.
Dr. Hegetschweiler has been active in the Calif. Chiropractic Assoc., including positions as president, secretary and treasurer. He is co-founder of the Consortium for Chiropractic Research, and represented Los Angeles County as a delegate to the ACA from 1988-94. He also served as chairman of the ACA legislative commission for several years.
Chiropractor of the Year
Kenneth Luedtke, chairman of the ACA political action committee, was honored with the "Chiropractor of the Year" award at the ACA's 32nd annual meeting.
Although retired from chiropractic practice, Dr. Kenneth Luedtke of Madison, Wisconsin, has for many years directed the ACA's political action committee, which has raised millions of dollars for lobbying efforts. The ACA-PAC was recognized in 1994 by the Washington Post and the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call as the fifth largest and most influential health PAC in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Luedtke served as ACA president from 1987-89. He was president of the Wisconsin Chiropractic Assoc. for two terms, and twice that association's "Chiropractor of the Year."
"Dr. Ken Luedtke has almost single-handedly for many years run the ACA-PAC," said Dr. Russell Sawyer Jr., ACA's immediate past president.
On receiving the award, Dr. Luedtke thanked his family for their support. "It has just been a great time, and I really appreciate this award," he commented.
ACA's new president, Dr. Kurt Hegetschweiler, characterized Dr. Luedtke as "one of the most energetic and dedicated doctors of chiropractic the profession has ever known."
Humanitarian of the Year
William Harris, DC, renowned for his philanthropy, is the ACA's "Humanitarian of the Year."
Dr. William Harris, whose fundraising challenges have often been reported in Dynamic Chiropractic, was recognized as the ACA's "Humanitarian of the Year." Dr. Harris has often challenged organizations and individuals to contribute to worthwhile chiropractic causes by matching those contributions.
Dr. Harris is the founder/president of the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education, a non-profit organization that has contributed more the $3.2 million to chiropractic college and research.
New Exec. VP
Garrett F. Cuneo, new ACA executive vice president.
In news unrelated to the ACA convention, Garrett Cuneo, executive director of the Calif. Chiropractic Assoc. (CCA), has been hired by the ACA to succeed J. Ray Morgan as executive vice president. Mr. Morgan retires Sept. 30; Mr. Cuneo begins his new duties Oct. 1.
"So many exciting things are happening for the profession in the areas of legislation, public relations and research," Mr. Cuneo said. "I'm confident that I will be able to apply my years of experience in these areas to further advancing the ACA."
Working with the largest state assoc. the past 12 years, Mr. Cuneo administered a staff of 15 and an annual budget of 2.4 million. He has also served as the secretary/treasurer of the CCA's political action committee the past dozen years. In that capacity in the election years of 1988 and 1992, Mr. Cuneo helped raise $1 million and $750,000.
From 1981-83, Mr. Cuneo worked for the US Dept. of Health and Human Services as director of the secretary's advisory committee office. Prior to that, he was the exec. director of the Calif. Board of Chiropractic Examiners from 1974-1981.
Mr. Cuneo has a master's degree in American political history from San Francisco State University. He is married and has two children.
