4111.0 - Chiropractic Health Care Celebrates 30 years as an American Public Health Association section: Historical Update from 1983 to 2025.
Program: Chiropractic Health Care
Session: The History of the Chiropractic Healthcare Section
Author: Victoria Bensel
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Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this historical reflection was to provide an update of the activities and accomplishments of the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) from the years 1983 to 2025.
Methods
A scoping document analysis was performed on the CHC archives from the years of 1984 to 2025. Additionally senior members of the CHC were consulted for identification of milestones. Documents and political insights were catalogued and documented in this analysis.
Results
The CHC section history is chronicled across three time periods: the early years (1984-2005), the growth and expansion phase (2005-2015), and the most recent decade of maturation (2016-2025). The chiropractic profession was recognized as a special interest group in 1983, garnered section status in 1995, and 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of the Chiropractic Health Care section.
Conclusion
The formation of CHC involved overcoming barriers like anti-chiropractic policies and professional discrimination. Present day barriers include a decline in membership through the COVID-19 pandemic years, and a need for a new generation of service-minded chiropractors to engage in professional endeavors and rise to leadership positions. The CHC section has undergone many iterations and aspirations of its leaders but as 30-years is celebrated, there is a need for the chiropractic profession to continue to engage and collaborate in public health to further goals of integration, education, and patient safety.