The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) presented its 2012 awards during its House of Delegates meeting in Washington, D.C. ACA's annual awards are given to outstanding volunteer members and other individuals for their contributions to advancing the chiropractic profession.
The association's highest honor, the Chiropractor of the Year Award, was presented to ACA member and longtime research consultant Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, vice chancellor for research and health policy at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. The award recognizes exceptional service, achievement and/or leadership to the profession.
Dr. Goertz, who wears multiple hats within the profession, exhibits all of these qualities and more. She is the only doctor of chiropractic appointed to the board of governors of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a multidisciplinary panel created to assist federal health care reform efforts by examining the relative health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of various health care treatments. Dr. Goertz also oversees three major clinical trials to assess chiropractic treatment for military readiness in active-duty personnel.
Ret. Brig. Gen. Becky Halstead, a spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress who has shared her inspiring personal story of achieving wellness through chiropractic, received ACA's Humanitarian of the Year Award. The award recognizes not only her support of the chiropractic profession but also her dedication to improving veterans' access to the services provided by doctors of chiropractic.
Other 2012 award recipients include:
- Dennis Marchiori, DC, PhD, Chancellor, Palmer College of Chiropractic; Academic of the Year Award
- Donald Murphy, DC, of Pawtucket, R.I.; George B. McClelland, DC, Researcher of the Year Award
- Daniel Staight, DC, of Casper, Wyo.; Delegate of the Year Award
- Michael Kane, DC, of Brookfield, Conn.; Alternate Delegate of the Year Award
- Lawrence Davis, DC, of Reno, Nev.; Flynn-Lynch Award, which recognizes a member of the HOD who has served fewer than five years
"No victory, large or small, for this profession could be achieved without the dedication, passion and hard work of ACA's volunteers and supporters," said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. "Our profession owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to those that go above and beyond to help advance the chiropractic profession, so it is with great appreciation that ACA bestows these awards."
