American Chiropractic Association

American Chiropractic Association
Formation	1963
Headquarters	Arlington, Virginia
Membership	15,000 doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic students
Key people	Executive Vice President William O'Connell President Keith Overland,DC Chairman Robert Mastronardi,DC Vice President Anthony Hamm,DC
Website	http://www.ACAtoday.org/

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, VA, representing doctors of chiropractic. Its stated mission is to preserve, protect, improve, and promote the chiropractic profession and the services of Doctors of Chiropractic for the benefit of the patients they serve.

Purpose and mission

The stated purpose of the ACA is to provide leadership in health care and a positive vision for the chiropractic profession and its natural approach to health and wellness. On behalf of the chiropractic profession, the ACA furthers its mission by affecting public policy and legislation, promoting high standards in professional ethics and quality of treatment, funding chiropractic research, and generally seeking to ensure the professional growth and success of the chiropractic profession.

Overview

The American Chiropractic Association was founded in 1922, and in 1930 merged with the Universal Chiropractors Association to form the National Chiropractic Association (NCA). In 1963, the NCA was reorganized, once again under the title of the American Chiropractic Association.

The House of Delegates, the legislative body of the Association, is composed of 125 delegates representing all 50 states, ACA’s Specialty Councils, and the Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA). The House of Delegates meets twice per year, including a session during the Association’s annual meeting each September.

The ACA formally recognizes 11 specialty areas^[1] of chiropractic practice through its specialty councils:

• Chiropractic Diagnostic Imaging (DACBR)
• Chiropractic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (DACRB)
• Chiropractic Acupuncture (DABCA)
• Chiropractic Nutrition (DACBN/CBCN)
• Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management of Internal Disorders (DABCI)
• Chiropractic Orthopedics (DACO/DABCO)
• Chiropractic Clinical Neurology (DACAN/DACNB)
• Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP/DACBSP)
• Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCP)
• Chiropractic Occupational Health (DACBOH)
• Forensic Sciences (DABFP)

ACA News is the flagship publication of the association.^[2] Other publications include the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association Online (JACA Online), a peer-reviewed, primary source journal that is focused on the advancement of chiropractic health care principles and practice^[3] and Week in Review, an electronic newsletter which provides ACA members with the latest chiropracticnews and developments.^[4] The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), the chiropractic profession's pre-eminent research journal owned by National University of Health Sciences and published by Elsevier, is included on the list of membership benefits available to all ACA members. The ACA endorses certain consumer products and companies. The ACA claims to only offer endorsement of a product or service after a thorough review by ACA staff, ACA specialty council and committee members, and other qualified doctors of chiropractic.

The American Chiropractic Foundation is the charitable arm of the association. The Foundation provides grants for research, education, and scholarships.

History

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is an organizational descendant of one of the first national chiropractic membership societies – the Universal Chiropractors Association (UCA), established at the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1906.

The UCA was originally designed to thwart efforts by organized medicine to jail chiropractors. Over time, the ACA began to increase the number of services offered to include educational opportunities for doctors, malpractice insurance, research funding, and accreditation for chiropractic colleges.

In 1963, the National Chiropractic Association reorganized into the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). The ACA currently provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, funds research regarding chiropractic and health issues, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession.^[5][6]

References

1. ^ "Approved Chiropractic Specialty Programs". American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/userImages/File/Microsoft_Word_-_Approved_Chiropractic_Specialty_Programs_6.22.09(1).pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
2. ^ "ACA News". American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=34&T2ID=218&CFID=15485886. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
3. ^ "JACA Online". American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=11&T2ID=53. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
4. ^ "Week in Review". American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=34&T2ID=221. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
5. ^ "A Century of Organized Chiropractic". American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=816. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
6. ^ Keating, JC (2006). "The gestation and difficult birth of the American Chiropractic Association". Chiropractic History (Association for the History of Chiropractic) 26 (2): 91–126. ISSN 0736-4377. 

External links

• ACA official site
• ACA "Find a Doctor" Listing
• Health Tips From ACA