Chiropractic Takes Orlando by Storm at The National
Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
With 3,000 attendees and 270-plus vendors packing the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., the Florida Chiropractic Association's The National proved to be a significant event for the profession. But if for some reason you did, here is a recap of some of the significant moments during this year's convention and expo:
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress celebrated the 123rd birthday of chiropractic with a cake-cutting ceremony and the launch of a new campaign to promote the profession.
The largest achievement-based scholarship for a student enrolled in a chiropractic college was awarded by ChiroHealthUSA. Brooke Preston, a student at Northwestern Health Sciences University, received the Foxworth Family Chiropractic Scholarship in the amount of $15,000. NWHSU will also receive $10,000.
Dr. Paul Lombardi of Cocoa Chiropractic Center was named the 2018 Convention Honoree.
The FCA Board of Directors named its DC of the Year – Dr. Susan Welsh; CA of the Year – Gloria Valdivia; and LMT of the Year – Dolly Wallace.
Dr. Scott Haldeman received the Lou Sportelli Lifetime Achievement Award.
Three lucky chiropractors won cash prizes totaling $10,000 during the Presidential Reception.
There were countless vendor giveaways including lasers, TVs, tables and more.
Several national groups attended including the World Federation of Chiropractic, American Chiropractic Association, Chiropractic Summit, F4CP, Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and Federation of Licensing Boards. Many took the opportunity to use The National as a meeting place to host private meetings.
Visit www.thenationalchiro.com to find the most up-to-date information for 2019 including dates, speakers, program details and more.
Building on a historic March 2026 meeting between Make America Healthy Again and chiropractic leadership, MAHA has announced the launch of the MAHA Chiropractic Hub, “a coordinated national partnership uniting MAHA Center, MAHA Action, and the chiropractic profession, including national associations, state organizations, practitioners, educators, researchers, and patient advocates. The Chiropractic Hub will advance federal policy, expand patient access, and build broad public support for chiropractic care across America.”
The chiropractic profession is confronting one of the most significant federal regulatory threats it has faced in decades. A new U.S. Department of Education (ED) accountability framework – commonly referred to as the “Do No Harm” (DNH) regulation – could place many chiropractic programs at risk of losing access to federal financial aid (student loans), potentially reshaping the future of chiropractic education and workforce development across the United States.
Pain has become the dominant language of musculoskeletal healthcare. Numeric pain-rating scales and symptom reports are routinely used as primary indicators of clinical success. But while pain reduction is meaningful, it is an incomplete and often misleading representation of recovery. This has real consequences for patient adherence, long-term outcomes, and how conservative care is perceived within the broader healthcare system.