Engage 2026 Education Package
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Register
- Non-member - $300
- Student/Other - Free!
- Member - $150
- GAC - Free!
The courses included in this package were recorded during Engage 2026 and are now available for on-demand access.
Up to 14 continuing education (CE) credits are available in ACA-approved states, PACE-accepted states, and in California, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
You may purchase the full course package at a discounted rate or select individual courses at the regular price. If you purchase the package, you will be automatically enrolled in each course.
If you previously purchased CE for Engage 2026, you are automatically enrolled in this package. No additional action is required.
To receive CE credit, you must complete the course and pass the post-test with a score of 80% or higher. Once completed, you may download your CE certificate directly from the course platform.
Important: If you are licensed in California or Florida, your official certificate will be issued by the University of Bridgeport and sent within 45 days of course completion.
Please note that handouts may not be available for all courses.
Continuing Education (CE) Information
Questions, contact education@acatoday.org
It is the responsibility of each participating doctor to be aware of CE rules and requirements of the state(s) in which he/she is licensed, including acceptable topics for CE and license-renewal credit. Check with your state licensing board for the most current CE information and requirements for your state, related to seminars, webinars, or on-demand learning.
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Contains 2 Component(s)
Recorded On: 01/23/2026
A substantial body of high-quality research demonstrates the value of chiropractic care.
CE credit is not available for this session.
Presentation Summary: A substantial body of high-quality research demonstrates the value of chiropractic care. Clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend the services provided by doctors of chiropractic (DC) as a first-line option for spinal disorders and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Increasingly, medical physicians and other healthcare professionals seek to collaborate with DCs. As has been the case for over a century, patients report high satisfaction with their chiropractic experiences.
Despite the near universal recognition of the benefits of chiropractic care, administrative burden and persistently low reimbursement has pushed many practices to the brink of economic viability with patients experiencing the consequences of less access to high-value musculoskeletal care. While worthwhile, additional practice guidelines and research are not sufficient catalysts for change. Without changes to how practices are organized, the technology supporting practices, and the systems that govern payment and network participation, such efforts are unlikely to meaningfully improve DCs’ ability to achieve the healthcare quadruple aim and sustainably care for more people.
We are at a pivotal time for the chiropractic profession, with both significant challenges and opportunities. The goal of this lecture is to describe the strategies and tactics DCs must prioritize to capitalize on current opportunities and realize their full potential as an essential part of an effective, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system.
Despite the near universal recognition of the benefits of chiropractic care, administrative burden and persistently low reimbursement has pushed many practices to the brink of economic viability with patients experiencing the consequences of less access to high-value musculoskeletal care. While worthwhile, additional practice guidelines and research are not sufficient catalysts for change. Without changes to how practices are organized, the technology supporting practices, and the systems that govern payment and network participation, such efforts are unlikely to meaningfully improve DCs’ ability to achieve the healthcare quadruple aim and sustainably care for more people.
We are at a pivotal time for the chiropractic profession, with both significant challenges and opportunities. The goal of this lecture is to describe the strategies and tactics DCs must prioritize to capitalize on current opportunities and realize their full potential as an essential part of an effective, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system.
CE credit is not available for this session.
David Elton, DC
Arete Healthcare
David Elton, DC is co-founder of Arete Healthcare and CEO of Arete Networks. A healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group, he led major innovations in musculoskeletal care delivery, payer strategy and benefit designs, and quantifying the value-proposition of chiropractic care. Dr. Elton brings unique insights into the strategies and tactics chiropractors need to adopt in the next 5 to 10 years to remain economically viable and reach their full potential as essential members of a patient’s care team, trusted collaborators, and contributors to an optimally functioning U.S. healthcare system.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/21/2026
This course will discuss three major keys for success in becoming integrated with the medical community as a chiropractic specialist.
This course will discuss three major keys for success in becoming integrated with the medical community as a chiropractic specialist. As the chiropractic profession progresses and working with other medical specialists becomes more commonplace, these keys will help chiropractors be "the spine specialist" among healthcare professionals. Patient-centered care, proper documentation, and improving communication, both with our patients and with other medical professionals, are key to increasing your relevancy in today's healthcare environment.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Improve the focus of care to be more patient-specific, focusing on the person and
not the condition.
• Objective 2: Improve documentation to simplify interprofessional communication and prevent
medical/legal issues.
• Objective 3: Improve communication with both the patient and other health professionals.
Hourly Breakdown:
• 20 minutes of defining and improving patient-centered care,
• 20 minutes of refining proper documentation
• 20 minutes of improving patient and other healthcare professionals' communication.
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121261
Robert McKnight, DC, DIANM
Robert McKnight, DC, DIANM serves as the president of the ACA Council on Chiropractic Orthopedics. He is the clinic director at Advanced Spine & Rehabilitation of Utah LLC, a multispecialty spine care center consisting of chiropractic orthopedists and medical physicians. Dr. McKnight is a board-certified chiropractic orthopedist and has been in practice for 20 years. He is also an instructor for the University of Bridgeport. Dr. McKnight has well over 10,000 hours of direct clinical training with chiropractic orthopedists, pain management physicians, family medicine doctors, and orthopedic spine surgeons. He has assisted with thousands of interventional pain management procedures and spine surgeries. Dr. McKnight is certified in regenerative medicine. He has served as the team chiropractor for professional football and baseball teams, athletes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, professional dancers, and Broadway performers.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
In 2025, it is paramount that we shift from a model of fragility and dependence to one of empowerment and overall resilience.
In 2025, it is paramount that we shift from a model of fragility and dependence to one of empowerment and overall resilience. Despite meaning well, medical providers of all types often reinforce patients’ feelings of physical decline and helplessness instead of promoting adaptability and active participation in care. The way that we communicate with patients matters. Often, it matters more than any care that we can provide. Negative narratives associated with movement are far too common in healthcare, and providers must adapt. Attendees of this session will learn ways to improve patient empowerment and guide patients to a thriving place in their health journey through effective narratives, analogies and self-efficacy strategies.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define the concept of anti-fragility and explain its importance in the context of patient care.
• Objective 2: Identify common narratives and beliefs that contribute to patients feeling fragile, including language used by healthcare providers and societal misconceptions about pain and aging.
• Objective 3: Describe strategies to promote self-efficacy and self-care in patients, including the use of empowering language, motivational interviewing, and gradual exposure to movement.
• Objective 4: Recognize barriers to physical activity and health literacy, including kinesiophobia, chronic pain.
• Objective 5: Apply principles of effective communication to reframe pain, reduce fear, and encourage sustainable physical activity using the biopsychosocial model and patient-centered analogies.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction to Anti-Fragility and Why Patients Feel Fragile (~10 minutes)
• Promoting Self-Efficacy and Self-Care (~10 minutes)
• Barriers to Movement/Health Literacy Challenges (~10 minutes)
• Making Movement Meaningful and Simple (~10 minutes)
• Rewriting the Narrative (~10 minutes)
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121262
Adam Pembleton, DC
Adam Pembleton, DC is a chiropractor at St. Luke’s University Health Network in the Lehigh Valley, PA. He is currently a resident in the inaugural year of the network’s chiropractic residency program. He collaborates with a variety of providers in an integrated clinical practice to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care while also participating in rotations to learn about the inner workings of a multidisciplinary healthcare team in a regional healthcare network. He found his passion for working with people in pain and promoting exercise-based treatments while at The Pennsylvania State University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology. He obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the University of Bridgeport.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/24/2026
This presentation will explore the multifaceted integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into chiropractic research, education, and practice
This presentation will explore the multifaceted integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into chiropractic research, education, and practice. The discussion will highlight the application of AI methods in research relevant to the chiropractor. Specific examples will include highlighting natural language processing for clinical quality monitoring and machine learning for predictive modeling. Additionally, the talk will discuss AI's role in chiropractic education, with examples from the use of chatbots for interactive learning and use of AI tools for continuous professional development. Finally, the presentation will address the integration of AI tools into clinical practice, highlighting the emerging field of ambient AI for streamlining clinical documentation and how automation in the professional workflow can enhance patient care. The talk will conclude with a look forward to the future of AI integration in chiropractic research, education, and practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe specific applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in chiropractic research and their potential use cases.
- Illustrate how AI tools, such as interactive chatbots and literature review platforms, can enhance learning experiences and support continuous professional development within chiropractic education.
- Identify ways in which AI integration can enhance efficiency and optimize workflows within a chiropractic practice.
- Understand AI limitations and articulate the critical importance of human oversight and professional judgement when utilizing AI tools in Clinical or educational settings.
- Recognize the broad implications and evolving potential of AI for the future landscape of chiropractic research, education, and diverse aspects of clinical practice.
Hourly Breakdown:
Introduction (5 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Research (15 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Education (10 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Practice (15 mins)
Future Outlook and Conclusion (10 mins)
Q&A (5 mins)
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124261
Brian C. Coleman, DC, MHS
Brian C. Coleman, DC, MHS is a clinician-scientist with a primary interest in the application of clinical informatics in pain research. Dr. Coleman’s background as a biomedical engineer, chiropractor, and informaticist has supported his early career work focusing on data mining, machine learning, and natural language processing of electronic health record data. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, including the application of machine learning and natural language processing to data collected in chiropractic clinics. He has also published responses to the COVID-19 pandemic during clinical research, including leading the publication of a measure to assess individual impacts on pragmatic clinical trial study participants.
Dr. Coleman’s work has focused on pain care and clinical research in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) as part of the Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center at VA Connecticut. His responsibilities include collaboration with the VA’s National Chiropractic Program Office, the VA Health Services Research & Development Pain/Opioid Consortium of Research, and the NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center (PMC3). Dr. Coleman also provides chiropractic care to U.S. military veterans at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/21/2026
Today’s pediatric chiropractors are uniquely positioned to lead in early intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and parent education—especially when managing complex cases such as tongue ties, torticollis, feeding difficulties, and delayed milestones
Today’s pediatric chiropractors are uniquely positioned to lead in early intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and parent education—especially when managing complex cases such as tongue ties, torticollis, feeding difficulties, and delayed milestones. Yet, many DCs and students lack structured strategies to navigate these challenges confidently and collaboratively.
This session will empower both students and practicing chiropractors with evidence-informed frameworks to enhance clinical decision-making, communicate effectively with families and providers (e.g., lactation consultants, pediatricians, SLPs), and advocate for chiropractic’s role in pediatric wellness. Participants will explore real-world case scenarios, discuss red flags, and learn how to position themselves as trusted pediatric leaders while working within a patient-centered, team-based care model.
Pediatric chiropractors play a vital role in early identification, musculoskeletal support, and collaborative care for infants and young children. However, to expand our impact in healthcare, we must go beyond the adjustment—leveraging clinical clarity, confident communication, and leadership within interdisciplinary teams.
This session equips both chiropractic students and practicing DCs with the tools to step into leadership roles in pediatric care. Using evidence-based approaches, patient-centered care, and shared decision making, attendees will learn how to manage common pediatric presentations—such as torticollis, tongue/lip ties, and feeding dysfunction—while building trust with families and healthcare providers.
Participants will leave with actionable strategies to elevate their clinical voice, enhance care outcomes, and lead the next generation of pediatric chiropractic innovation and collaboration.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Identify key clinical indicators and red flags in infants that require interdisciplinary referral or collaborative management.
• Objective 2: Communicate confidently with pediatric providers and caregivers using evidence-based language that enhances trust and referral relationships.
• Objective 3: Apply a leadership framework to expand confidence in pediatric healthcare settings—whether in solo practice, multi-disciplinary settings, or teaching environments.
• Objective 4: Educate and empower parents to make informed decisions about their child’s care and provider options.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction- 1 minute
• Objectives- 1 minute
• Communication strategies and considerations: 7 minutes
• History and exam components: 10 minutes
• Assessment considerations for pediatric patients: 10 minutes
• Red flag and referrals review: 5 minutes
• Evidence applied to pediatric MSK treatment/clinical relevance: 10 minutes
• Treatment plans and considerations: 10 minutes
• Resources: 5 minutes
• Closing remarks: 1 minute
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121263
Ashley Randermann, DC
Dr. Ashley Randermann, DC, MS is a chiropractor with a clinical and academic focus in prenatal and pediatric care. Dr. Randermann holds a Master of Science in Neuroscience, is certified in dry needling, and is AVCA-certified in animal chiropractic. Webster Certified, she has clinical experience collaborating with prenatal and pediatric healthcare providers to support families through early development. She serves as an Assistant Professor at Parker University, where she teaches clinical development topics and prenatal/pediatric content within an evidence-based framework.
She is particularly passionate about equipping both students and practicing doctors of chiropractic with practical tools for evidence-based decision making, ethical leadership, and collaborative, patient-centered care in both the field of chiropractic and interdisciplinary settings. Through her clinical work, teaching, and professional engagement, Dr. Randermann advocates for a credible role for chiropractic within the prenatal and pediatric community.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/24/2026
This presentation is intended to be an opportunity to highlight the collaborative work of those in chiropractic who also hold various liaison roles in other organizations. Specifically, these individuals have been encouraged by members of the Health Policy and Advocacy Commission (HPAC) to hold these roles and share a seat at the table as chiropractors in different settings such as the National Quality Forum, PCORI, and more. This discussion is presented on behalf of HPAC.
This presentation is intended to be an opportunity to highlight the collaborative work of those in chiropractic who also hold various liaison roles in other organizations. Specifically, these individuals have been encouraged by members of the Health Policy and Advocacy Commission (HPAC) to hold these roles and share a seat at the table as chiropractors in different settings such as the National Quality Forum, PCORI, and more. This discussion is presented on behalf of HPAC.
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124264
Alli Totzke-Hitzeroth, DC, MPP
Dr. Alli Totzke-Hitzeroth, DC, MPP, has been a leader in the profession from early on. She had been involved with professional organizations with a multitude of titles including the ACA, World Federation of Chiropractic, ChiroCongress, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, and the Unified Virginia State Association. She has engaged with policymakers at all levels, with an extensive background of legislative and advocacy work spanning topics from the Medicare bill, rural healthcare accessibility, nutritional research, and diplomacy. She has often been a voice for change in connecting other chiropractors with roles that fit them well, providing fellowship and guidance to others along the way. She is a graduate from National University of Health Sciences, practices acupuncture and chiropractic in rural Virginia, and works to educate the future of healthcare as an anatomy instructor at South University as an adjunct professor.
Cynthia Chapman, DC, MPH
Cindy Chapman, DC, MPH, is an ORISE research and evaluation fellow with the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Division of the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In this capacity, she works to support and analyze the effectiveness and impact of the EPC program and other AHRQ programs. She is also an adjunct associate professor at Northeastern College of Health Sciences.
At ACA, Dr. Chapman serves on the Public Health Advisory Board and as vice chair of the Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee, which is part of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In 2024, she was selected to be an ACA Health Policy Fellow.
Before joining AHRQ, Dr. Chapman was a practicing clinician for over 20 years with additional training in acupuncture and chiropractic for pregnant people. She has served as a peer reviewer for many conferences and journals and is a frequent conference presenter. She has held leadership roles in state and national professional associations, including the American Public Health Association and the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. She completed a practicum at the RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health Institutions (REACH) Center, and in 2023 was selected as a participant in the MAR-PHTC Public Health Leadership Institute.
Zachary Cupler, DC, MS
Zachary Cupler, DC, MS has been a chiropractor and licensed acupuncturist for 10 years. For the past nine years, he has served as a staff clinician at VA Butler Health Care System. He leads the interdisciplinary pain management team and provides clinical care for acute and chronic pain conditions within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Cupler chairs the VA Butler Health Care System Pain Management and Opioid Review Committees and serves as the facility’s pain point of contact for the Pain Management, Opioid Safety and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. He was named to the SpineLine’s 2022 class of “20 Under 40.”
Currently, he is a Scientific Commission board representative to Clinical Compass, a not-for-profit think tank to improve patient outcomes by advancing evidence–based care to transform health care through knowledge translation. He also serves as a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s Opioid and Research Advisory Boards and the North American Spine Society’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Council.
Dr. Cupler’s research interest spans the evaluation and management of acute and chronic spinal pain conditions. His investigations include systematic and scoping reviews as well as retrospective observational cohorts. He has more than 15 peer-reviewed publications and has served as a subject matter expert for national and multinational clinical practice guideline development for spine condition management.
Morgan Price, DC
Morgan Price, DC, is a staff chiropractor at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Wash. She is an attending for their chiropractic residency program and educates a variety of chiropractic and non-chiropractic residents and students in her clinic. Dr. Price is also a provider in a multidisciplinary clinic in her VA system called “Movement is Medicine,” which consists of herself, a physiatrist, and a rehab psychologist and that focuses on exercise programming and patient activation.
Della Schmid, DC, MS
Della Schmid, DC, MS has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 32 years in Newtown, Conn., while running her own private practice since 1993. A major contributor to her community, her chiropractic practice was recognized by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce in 2011, earning the Business of the Year Award. She also earned the Connecticut Chiropractic Association Community Service Award in 2001, underscoring her service-oriented nature.
In April of 2025, Dr. Schmid was elected to the AMA Healthcare Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC) as an advisor representing the American Chiropractic Association. As an ACA member, Dr. Schmid volunteers on the association’s Code Utilization and Application and Code Utilization and Application Subcommittees, which fall under the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In these roles, she offers expert guidance to ACA staff and members on coding and related matters. In January 2025, she successfully completed ACA’s inaugural ACA Health Policy Fellowship, which was designed to develop competencies in the creation, revision, and valuation of chiropractic and physical medicine CPT codes and the navigation of the AMA CPT and RUC processes.
Dr. Schmid demonstrated her collaborative approach to health care by sharing her extensive knowledge and clinical experience as a chiropractic consultant with the Leeway Hospital in New Haven between 1996 and 2007. She enjoys the outdoors in her spare time, especially the beach, walking her dog, and gardening. She loves to entertain and cook for family and friends.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/21/2026
Designing Your Practice with Compassion is a practical and inspiring session that explores how trauma-informed care principles can be integrated into every aspect of chiropractic practice.
Designing Your Practice with Compassion is a practical and inspiring session that explores how trauma-informed care principles can be integrated into every aspect of chiropractic practice. Participants will learn how intentional choices in office layout, communication, and clinical interactions can help patients feel safer, more respected, and more engaged in their care. This session addresses the impact of power dynamics in the provider-patient relationship and offers concrete strategies to build trust, support autonomy, and recognize signs of discomfort or trauma history. Topics include nonverbal communication, informed consent practices, and approaches to adjusting that prioritize patient agency. Attendees will also examine how practice policies, staff culture, and branding can reflect values like empathy, inclusivity, and accessibility. The presentation encourages reflection on systems that prevent provider burnout and promote sustainable, purpose-driven care. By the end of the session, participants will leave with actionable tools and mindset shifts to design a chiropractic practice rooted in compassion—one that enhances both clinical outcomes and the overall patient experience.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define trauma-informed care and describe how its core principles apply to chiropractic practice.
• Objective 2: Identify key power dynamics in provider-patient interactions and strategies to foster trust, safety, and autonomy.
• Objective 3: Evaluate elements of office layout and environment that can support or hinder patient comfort and emotional safety.
• Objective 4: Apply trauma-sensitive communication techniques, including informed consent and nonverbal awareness, in clinical encounters.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction & Objectives – 5 minutes
• What Is Trauma-Informed Care? – 10 minutes
• Power Dynamics in Chiropractic Settings – 10 minutes
• Designing a Compassionate Office Environment – 10 minutes
• Communication & Consent with Compassion – 10 minutes
• Practice Policies That Promote Safety & Trust – 10 minutes
• Q&A / Closing Reflections – 5 minutes
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121264
Kristy Carbonelli, DC
Parker University
Kristy Carbonelli, DC is the department chair of basic sciences at Parker University, where she leads faculty across foundational science disciplines and oversees critical teaching environments, including the Gross Anatomy Lab and the Willed Body Program. Her leadership centers on strong curriculum design, student support, and preparing future chiropractors to deliver care that is both effective and compassionate.
From 2005 to 2017, Dr. Carbonelli served patients in private practice before transitioning into academia as a clinic faculty doctor from 2017 to 2019. These experiences continue to inform her of her commitment to bridging education with the practical realities of patient care and professional sustainability.
A certified trainer in trauma-informed care, Dr. Carbonelli’s scholarship and teaching emphasize how communication, environment, and policy influence a patient’s sense of safety and engagement. She redesigned the Business of Chiropractic course at Parker to ensure students graduate with the tools to build operationally sound, patient-focused practices that support personal and professional well-being.
Dr. Carbonelli serves as president of the Faculty American Chiropractic Association (FACA) and as faculty advisor to the Student ACA (SACA), helping strengthen advocacy, leadership, and professional development within the chiropractic community. She presents nationally on trauma-informed approaches and innovation in chiropractic education.
Her work is grounded in a clear belief: When we intentionally design how we show up, communicate, and structure care, patients benefit and providers thrive. A compassionate practice is not accidental; it is built thoughtfully from the start.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/24/2026
An estimated 60-70 million Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life.
An estimated 60-70 million Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life. This session examines why digestion should be considered in the chiropractic office due to its impact on soft tissue integrity. A focus on poor protein absorption, zinc depletion and hypochlorhydria, within the framework of three major factors impacting digestive health, will be presented. Attendees will examine factors indicating that digestion may be impacting chiropractic results, learn about nutrients that support digestion and absorption and gain the tools needed to take action to reduce loss of muscle mass and maximize health outcomes in patients seeking chiropractic care.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Identify the importance of addressing gut health to maximize musculoskeletal integrity.
Objective 2: Analyze patient presentation to determine how gut health may be impacting patient management.
Objective 3: Differentiate appropriate nutrients to support gut health.
Objective 4: Develop a clinical thought process to organize action steps that reduce loss of muscle mass and function while improving strength and stability.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Introductory story
o Review of learning objectives Main Body Content (40 minutes)
• Summary & Conclusion (5 minutes) Three ways to take action & reduce loss of muscle mass in our patient population.
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124262
Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP
Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport. She created the first interdisciplinary health center in her community before returning to academia, where she currently serves as a faculty clinician and assistant professor at a chiropractic college. As a former elementary teacher, she enjoys continuing to teach by mentoring student interns and providing evidence-informed care to a diverse patient population in an academic setting. Her clinical excellence extends to her recent work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she played a role in a nationally recognized, multi-institutional study on chiropractic therapy for chronic low back pain in veterans providing chiropractic and acupuncture care at two VA locations.
In addition to her clinical and academic accomplishments, Dr. Johnson is a passionate advocate for community health education and military family wellness. With a grandfather that served in WWII, she recognized the unique needs associated with military service and developed a program that has provided more than $6 million in complimentary chiropractic clinical care for active-duty service members, veterans, and their dependents within a chiropractic college system. As a result of this program, she chose to serve as president for the Rock Island Arsenal Association of the United States Army Chapter for two terms and was nominated in 2019 to become an Army reserve ambassador. Appointed by the chief of the Army Reserve, ambassadors hold a Department of Army Protocol Precedence as a major general (2-star) equivalent and work to develop awareness and advocacy for the reserves in this key outreach and engagement program. She is serving in her second three-year term as one of 11 women in the nation to hold this position, and the first chiropractor.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
The Evidence-based Practice Center Program at the Department of Health and Human Services strives to improve the health of the United States population
The Evidence-based Practice Center Program at the Department of Health and Human Services strives to improve the health of the United States population. To do so, the Center systematically reviews evidence and produces evidence-based reports that discuss benefits and harms of treatments and/or preventative services. These reports can be used as a trusted resource for clinical decision-making in practice. At the conclusion of this educational presentation, the attendee will be able to describe how the EPC Program produces evidence reviews to achieve the goal of helping consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed and evidence-based healthcare decisions. The attendee will understand what goes into creating a high-quality systematic review. 1 Topics covered in this portion of the presentation will include use of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2, risk of bias 3, and strength of evidence. The attendee will be able to list recent reports relevant to the target audience such as Nonpharmacological Treatments for Mental Health Conditions 4 and Fall Prevention. 5 As a group we will discuss strategies for implementation of the content of these evidence-based publications into clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Describe how EPC Program evidence reviews contribute to achieving the goal of helping consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed and evidence-based healthcare decisions.
Objective 2: Comprehend the content of a quality systematic review (e.g., Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA), risk of bias, and strength of evidence).
Objective 3: List relevant EPC Program evidence-based publications.
Objective 4: Formulate strategies for implementation of EPC Program evidence-based publication findings into clinical practice.
Hourly Breakdown:
Presenter introduction 2 minutes
Introduction to the EPC Program 10 minutes
Understanding systematic reviews 20 minutes
Examples of reports 8 minutes
Translating the evidence into practice 8 minutes
Conclusion 2 minutes
Questions 10 minutes
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP123262
Cynthia Chapman, DC, MPH
Cindy Chapman, DC, MPH, is an ORISE research and evaluation fellow with the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Division of the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In this capacity, she works to support and analyze the effectiveness and impact of the EPC program and other AHRQ programs. She is also an adjunct associate professor at Northeastern College of Health Sciences.
At ACA, Dr. Chapman serves on the Public Health Advisory Board and as vice chair of the Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee, which is part of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In 2024, she was selected to be an ACA Health Policy Fellow.
Before joining AHRQ, Dr. Chapman was a practicing clinician for over 20 years with additional training in acupuncture and chiropractic for pregnant people. She has served as a peer reviewer for many conferences and journals and is a frequent conference presenter. She has held leadership roles in state and national professional associations, including the American Public Health Association and the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. She completed a practicum at the RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health Institutions (REACH) Center, and in 2023 was selected as a participant in the MAR-PHTC Public Health Leadership Institute.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
Recorded On: 01/21/2026
The chiropractic profession stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity—one that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce and the broader healthcare system
The chiropractic profession stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity—one that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce and the broader healthcare system. As the demand for prevention-focused occupational medicine services continues to rise, chiropractors are uniquely positioned to meet this need. Conservative, non-invasive approaches to treating work-related injuries are not only increasingly accepted but actively sought out by employers, insurers, and employees alike. This shift creates a strategic opening for chiropractors to not only expand the breadth of their current patient base but also their impact beyond traditional musculoskeletal care.
By incorporating occupational medicine services—such as injury treatment, return-to-work evaluations, ergonomic assessments, DOT examinations, and functional capacity evaluations—chiropractors can significantly broaden their clinical offerings. This integration not only diversifies revenue streams and strengthens practice sustainability but also improves patient outcomes through a holistic and preventive care model. Moreover, chiropractors engaged in occupational health contribute valuable expertise to interdisciplinary care teams, enhancing their professional visibility and relevance.
For chiropractic leadership, the implications are even broader. Embracing occupational medicine as a strategic initiative can drive substantial growth across the profession. It positions chiropractic care as essential to workplace safety, injury prevention, and employee wellness—areas of increasing priority for employers and policymakers. Leadership that advocates for and supports the integration of these services can influence public health policy, employer health strategies, and healthcare reimbursement models, thereby amplifying chiropractic’s voice and role in shaping the future of healthcare.
In summary, occupational medicine is not just a clinical opportunity, it is a vehicle for advancing the chiropractic profession and virtually all of its specialty subsets on multiple fronts. By championing this integration, chiropractic leaders can ensure the profession remains responsive to modern healthcare demands while reinforcing its place as a vital component of workforce health and well-being.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define occupational medicine and its relevance to chiropractic practice.
• Objective 2: Identify the core competencies chiropractors bring to these settings.
• Objective 3: Evaluate potential integration pathways for occupational medicine into chiropractic services.
• Objective 4: Recognize current market demands and workforce gaps that chiropractic can fill.
• Objective 5: Formulate strategic plans to support chiropractic inclusion in occupational medicine roles at local, state, and national levels.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction (Welcome, overview of profession's evolution, importance of diversification and growth) 5 minutes
• Defining Occupational Medicine (Core services, key players) 10 minutes
• The Strategic Fit: Why Chiropractors Are Ideal For Occupational Health Roles (Natural conservative options, cost-effective) 10 minutes
• Opportunities For Integration (TPA, DOT, insurers, case examples) 15 minutes
• Market Demand and Workforce Needs (shortage of providers, increased demand, regulation) 10minutes
• Implementation Pathways (Education and credentialing, legal compliance) 5 minutes
• Summary and Call to Action (Recap, leadership support, professional development) 5 minutes
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121265
Christopher Murray, DC DABCI, ND, CME
Murray Natural Health
Christopher Murray, DC DABCI, ND, CME has been in practice in Hastings, Neb., since 2008. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and has provided multi-disciplinary continuing education classes across the United State in areas of examination, diagnosis, lab analysis, and nutrition. Dr. Murray is a certified medical examiner with the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. He is the immediate past president of the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association. As an advocate for the chiropractic profession, he has testified at the state legislative level regarding the chiropractic profession’s ability and need to diagnose and perform examinations. Dr. Murray’s passion in class is to educate doctors about the importance of their portal of entry role in health care and the reality that the chiropractic profession saves lives.
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Contains 2 Component(s) Recorded On: 01/23/2026
A substantial body of high-quality research demonstrates the value of chiropractic care. CE credit is not available for this session.
Presentation Summary: A substantial body of high-quality research demonstrates the value of chiropractic care. Clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend the services provided by doctors of chiropractic (DC) as a first-line option for spinal disorders and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Increasingly, medical physicians and other healthcare professionals seek to collaborate with DCs. As has been the case for over a century, patients report high satisfaction with their chiropractic experiences.
Despite the near universal recognition of the benefits of chiropractic care, administrative burden and persistently low reimbursement has pushed many practices to the brink of economic viability with patients experiencing the consequences of less access to high-value musculoskeletal care. While worthwhile, additional practice guidelines and research are not sufficient catalysts for change. Without changes to how practices are organized, the technology supporting practices, and the systems that govern payment and network participation, such efforts are unlikely to meaningfully improve DCs’ ability to achieve the healthcare quadruple aim and sustainably care for more people.
We are at a pivotal time for the chiropractic profession, with both significant challenges and opportunities. The goal of this lecture is to describe the strategies and tactics DCs must prioritize to capitalize on current opportunities and realize their full potential as an essential part of an effective, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system.
Despite the near universal recognition of the benefits of chiropractic care, administrative burden and persistently low reimbursement has pushed many practices to the brink of economic viability with patients experiencing the consequences of less access to high-value musculoskeletal care. While worthwhile, additional practice guidelines and research are not sufficient catalysts for change. Without changes to how practices are organized, the technology supporting practices, and the systems that govern payment and network participation, such efforts are unlikely to meaningfully improve DCs’ ability to achieve the healthcare quadruple aim and sustainably care for more people.
We are at a pivotal time for the chiropractic profession, with both significant challenges and opportunities. The goal of this lecture is to describe the strategies and tactics DCs must prioritize to capitalize on current opportunities and realize their full potential as an essential part of an effective, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system.
CE credit is not available for this session.
David Elton, DC
Arete Healthcare
David Elton, DC is co-founder of Arete Healthcare and CEO of Arete Networks. A healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group, he led major innovations in musculoskeletal care delivery, payer strategy and benefit designs, and quantifying the value-proposition of chiropractic care. Dr. Elton brings unique insights into the strategies and tactics chiropractors need to adopt in the next 5 to 10 years to remain economically viable and reach their full potential as essential members of a patient’s care team, trusted collaborators, and contributors to an optimally functioning U.S. healthcare system.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/21/2026
This course will discuss three major keys for success in becoming integrated with the medical community as a chiropractic specialist.
This course will discuss three major keys for success in becoming integrated with the medical community as a chiropractic specialist. As the chiropractic profession progresses and working with other medical specialists becomes more commonplace, these keys will help chiropractors be "the spine specialist" among healthcare professionals. Patient-centered care, proper documentation, and improving communication, both with our patients and with other medical professionals, are key to increasing your relevancy in today's healthcare environment.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Improve the focus of care to be more patient-specific, focusing on the person and
not the condition.
• Objective 2: Improve documentation to simplify interprofessional communication and prevent
medical/legal issues.
• Objective 3: Improve communication with both the patient and other health professionals.Hourly Breakdown:
• 20 minutes of defining and improving patient-centered care,
• 20 minutes of refining proper documentation
• 20 minutes of improving patient and other healthcare professionals' communication.This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121261
Robert McKnight, DC, DIANM
Robert McKnight, DC, DIANM serves as the president of the ACA Council on Chiropractic Orthopedics. He is the clinic director at Advanced Spine & Rehabilitation of Utah LLC, a multispecialty spine care center consisting of chiropractic orthopedists and medical physicians. Dr. McKnight is a board-certified chiropractic orthopedist and has been in practice for 20 years. He is also an instructor for the University of Bridgeport. Dr. McKnight has well over 10,000 hours of direct clinical training with chiropractic orthopedists, pain management physicians, family medicine doctors, and orthopedic spine surgeons. He has assisted with thousands of interventional pain management procedures and spine surgeries. Dr. McKnight is certified in regenerative medicine. He has served as the team chiropractor for professional football and baseball teams, athletes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, professional dancers, and Broadway performers.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
In 2025, it is paramount that we shift from a model of fragility and dependence to one of empowerment and overall resilience.
In 2025, it is paramount that we shift from a model of fragility and dependence to one of empowerment and overall resilience. Despite meaning well, medical providers of all types often reinforce patients’ feelings of physical decline and helplessness instead of promoting adaptability and active participation in care. The way that we communicate with patients matters. Often, it matters more than any care that we can provide. Negative narratives associated with movement are far too common in healthcare, and providers must adapt. Attendees of this session will learn ways to improve patient empowerment and guide patients to a thriving place in their health journey through effective narratives, analogies and self-efficacy strategies.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define the concept of anti-fragility and explain its importance in the context of patient care.
• Objective 2: Identify common narratives and beliefs that contribute to patients feeling fragile, including language used by healthcare providers and societal misconceptions about pain and aging.
• Objective 3: Describe strategies to promote self-efficacy and self-care in patients, including the use of empowering language, motivational interviewing, and gradual exposure to movement.
• Objective 4: Recognize barriers to physical activity and health literacy, including kinesiophobia, chronic pain.
• Objective 5: Apply principles of effective communication to reframe pain, reduce fear, and encourage sustainable physical activity using the biopsychosocial model and patient-centered analogies.Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction to Anti-Fragility and Why Patients Feel Fragile (~10 minutes)
• Promoting Self-Efficacy and Self-Care (~10 minutes)
• Barriers to Movement/Health Literacy Challenges (~10 minutes)
• Making Movement Meaningful and Simple (~10 minutes)
• Rewriting the Narrative (~10 minutes)This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121262
Adam Pembleton, DC
Adam Pembleton, DC is a chiropractor at St. Luke’s University Health Network in the Lehigh Valley, PA. He is currently a resident in the inaugural year of the network’s chiropractic residency program. He collaborates with a variety of providers in an integrated clinical practice to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care while also participating in rotations to learn about the inner workings of a multidisciplinary healthcare team in a regional healthcare network. He found his passion for working with people in pain and promoting exercise-based treatments while at The Pennsylvania State University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology. He obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the University of Bridgeport.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/24/2026
This presentation will explore the multifaceted integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into chiropractic research, education, and practice
This presentation will explore the multifaceted integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into chiropractic research, education, and practice. The discussion will highlight the application of AI methods in research relevant to the chiropractor. Specific examples will include highlighting natural language processing for clinical quality monitoring and machine learning for predictive modeling. Additionally, the talk will discuss AI's role in chiropractic education, with examples from the use of chatbots for interactive learning and use of AI tools for continuous professional development. Finally, the presentation will address the integration of AI tools into clinical practice, highlighting the emerging field of ambient AI for streamlining clinical documentation and how automation in the professional workflow can enhance patient care. The talk will conclude with a look forward to the future of AI integration in chiropractic research, education, and practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe specific applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in chiropractic research and their potential use cases.
- Illustrate how AI tools, such as interactive chatbots and literature review platforms, can enhance learning experiences and support continuous professional development within chiropractic education.
- Identify ways in which AI integration can enhance efficiency and optimize workflows within a chiropractic practice.
- Understand AI limitations and articulate the critical importance of human oversight and professional judgement when utilizing AI tools in Clinical or educational settings.
- Recognize the broad implications and evolving potential of AI for the future landscape of chiropractic research, education, and diverse aspects of clinical practice.
Hourly Breakdown:
Introduction (5 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Research (15 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Education (10 mins)
AI in Chiropractic Practice (15 mins)
Future Outlook and Conclusion (10 mins)
Q&A (5 mins)
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124261
Brian C. Coleman, DC, MHS
Brian C. Coleman, DC, MHS is a clinician-scientist with a primary interest in the application of clinical informatics in pain research. Dr. Coleman’s background as a biomedical engineer, chiropractor, and informaticist has supported his early career work focusing on data mining, machine learning, and natural language processing of electronic health record data. He has published his research in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, including the application of machine learning and natural language processing to data collected in chiropractic clinics. He has also published responses to the COVID-19 pandemic during clinical research, including leading the publication of a measure to assess individual impacts on pragmatic clinical trial study participants.
Dr. Coleman’s work has focused on pain care and clinical research in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) as part of the Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center at VA Connecticut. His responsibilities include collaboration with the VA’s National Chiropractic Program Office, the VA Health Services Research & Development Pain/Opioid Consortium of Research, and the NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center (PMC3). Dr. Coleman also provides chiropractic care to U.S. military veterans at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/21/2026
Today’s pediatric chiropractors are uniquely positioned to lead in early intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and parent education—especially when managing complex cases such as tongue ties, torticollis, feeding difficulties, and delayed milestones
Today’s pediatric chiropractors are uniquely positioned to lead in early intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and parent education—especially when managing complex cases such as tongue ties, torticollis, feeding difficulties, and delayed milestones. Yet, many DCs and students lack structured strategies to navigate these challenges confidently and collaboratively.
This session will empower both students and practicing chiropractors with evidence-informed frameworks to enhance clinical decision-making, communicate effectively with families and providers (e.g., lactation consultants, pediatricians, SLPs), and advocate for chiropractic’s role in pediatric wellness. Participants will explore real-world case scenarios, discuss red flags, and learn how to position themselves as trusted pediatric leaders while working within a patient-centered, team-based care model.
Pediatric chiropractors play a vital role in early identification, musculoskeletal support, and collaborative care for infants and young children. However, to expand our impact in healthcare, we must go beyond the adjustment—leveraging clinical clarity, confident communication, and leadership within interdisciplinary teams.
This session equips both chiropractic students and practicing DCs with the tools to step into leadership roles in pediatric care. Using evidence-based approaches, patient-centered care, and shared decision making, attendees will learn how to manage common pediatric presentations—such as torticollis, tongue/lip ties, and feeding dysfunction—while building trust with families and healthcare providers.
Participants will leave with actionable strategies to elevate their clinical voice, enhance care outcomes, and lead the next generation of pediatric chiropractic innovation and collaboration.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Identify key clinical indicators and red flags in infants that require interdisciplinary referral or collaborative management.
• Objective 2: Communicate confidently with pediatric providers and caregivers using evidence-based language that enhances trust and referral relationships.
• Objective 3: Apply a leadership framework to expand confidence in pediatric healthcare settings—whether in solo practice, multi-disciplinary settings, or teaching environments.
• Objective 4: Educate and empower parents to make informed decisions about their child’s care and provider options.Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction- 1 minute
• Objectives- 1 minute
• Communication strategies and considerations: 7 minutes
• History and exam components: 10 minutes
• Assessment considerations for pediatric patients: 10 minutes
• Red flag and referrals review: 5 minutes
• Evidence applied to pediatric MSK treatment/clinical relevance: 10 minutes
• Treatment plans and considerations: 10 minutes
• Resources: 5 minutes
• Closing remarks: 1 minuteThis course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121263
Ashley Randermann, DC
Dr. Ashley Randermann, DC, MS is a chiropractor with a clinical and academic focus in prenatal and pediatric care. Dr. Randermann holds a Master of Science in Neuroscience, is certified in dry needling, and is AVCA-certified in animal chiropractic. Webster Certified, she has clinical experience collaborating with prenatal and pediatric healthcare providers to support families through early development. She serves as an Assistant Professor at Parker University, where she teaches clinical development topics and prenatal/pediatric content within an evidence-based framework.
She is particularly passionate about equipping both students and practicing doctors of chiropractic with practical tools for evidence-based decision making, ethical leadership, and collaborative, patient-centered care in both the field of chiropractic and interdisciplinary settings. Through her clinical work, teaching, and professional engagement, Dr. Randermann advocates for a credible role for chiropractic within the prenatal and pediatric community.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/24/2026
This presentation is intended to be an opportunity to highlight the collaborative work of those in chiropractic who also hold various liaison roles in other organizations. Specifically, these individuals have been encouraged by members of the Health Policy and Advocacy Commission (HPAC) to hold these roles and share a seat at the table as chiropractors in different settings such as the National Quality Forum, PCORI, and more. This discussion is presented on behalf of HPAC.
This presentation is intended to be an opportunity to highlight the collaborative work of those in chiropractic who also hold various liaison roles in other organizations. Specifically, these individuals have been encouraged by members of the Health Policy and Advocacy Commission (HPAC) to hold these roles and share a seat at the table as chiropractors in different settings such as the National Quality Forum, PCORI, and more. This discussion is presented on behalf of HPAC.
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124264
Alli Totzke-Hitzeroth, DC, MPP
Dr. Alli Totzke-Hitzeroth, DC, MPP, has been a leader in the profession from early on. She had been involved with professional organizations with a multitude of titles including the ACA, World Federation of Chiropractic, ChiroCongress, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, and the Unified Virginia State Association. She has engaged with policymakers at all levels, with an extensive background of legislative and advocacy work spanning topics from the Medicare bill, rural healthcare accessibility, nutritional research, and diplomacy. She has often been a voice for change in connecting other chiropractors with roles that fit them well, providing fellowship and guidance to others along the way. She is a graduate from National University of Health Sciences, practices acupuncture and chiropractic in rural Virginia, and works to educate the future of healthcare as an anatomy instructor at South University as an adjunct professor.
Cynthia Chapman, DC, MPH
Cindy Chapman, DC, MPH, is an ORISE research and evaluation fellow with the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Division of the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In this capacity, she works to support and analyze the effectiveness and impact of the EPC program and other AHRQ programs. She is also an adjunct associate professor at Northeastern College of Health Sciences.
At ACA, Dr. Chapman serves on the Public Health Advisory Board and as vice chair of the Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee, which is part of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In 2024, she was selected to be an ACA Health Policy Fellow.
Before joining AHRQ, Dr. Chapman was a practicing clinician for over 20 years with additional training in acupuncture and chiropractic for pregnant people. She has served as a peer reviewer for many conferences and journals and is a frequent conference presenter. She has held leadership roles in state and national professional associations, including the American Public Health Association and the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. She completed a practicum at the RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health Institutions (REACH) Center, and in 2023 was selected as a participant in the MAR-PHTC Public Health Leadership Institute.
Zachary Cupler, DC, MS
Zachary Cupler, DC, MS has been a chiropractor and licensed acupuncturist for 10 years. For the past nine years, he has served as a staff clinician at VA Butler Health Care System. He leads the interdisciplinary pain management team and provides clinical care for acute and chronic pain conditions within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Cupler chairs the VA Butler Health Care System Pain Management and Opioid Review Committees and serves as the facility’s pain point of contact for the Pain Management, Opioid Safety and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. He was named to the SpineLine’s 2022 class of “20 Under 40.”
Currently, he is a Scientific Commission board representative to Clinical Compass, a not-for-profit think tank to improve patient outcomes by advancing evidence–based care to transform health care through knowledge translation. He also serves as a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s Opioid and Research Advisory Boards and the North American Spine Society’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Council.
Dr. Cupler’s research interest spans the evaluation and management of acute and chronic spinal pain conditions. His investigations include systematic and scoping reviews as well as retrospective observational cohorts. He has more than 15 peer-reviewed publications and has served as a subject matter expert for national and multinational clinical practice guideline development for spine condition management.
Morgan Price, DC
Morgan Price, DC, is a staff chiropractor at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Wash. She is an attending for their chiropractic residency program and educates a variety of chiropractic and non-chiropractic residents and students in her clinic. Dr. Price is also a provider in a multidisciplinary clinic in her VA system called “Movement is Medicine,” which consists of herself, a physiatrist, and a rehab psychologist and that focuses on exercise programming and patient activation.
Della Schmid, DC, MS
Della Schmid, DC, MS has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 32 years in Newtown, Conn., while running her own private practice since 1993. A major contributor to her community, her chiropractic practice was recognized by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce in 2011, earning the Business of the Year Award. She also earned the Connecticut Chiropractic Association Community Service Award in 2001, underscoring her service-oriented nature.
In April of 2025, Dr. Schmid was elected to the AMA Healthcare Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC) as an advisor representing the American Chiropractic Association. As an ACA member, Dr. Schmid volunteers on the association’s Code Utilization and Application and Code Utilization and Application Subcommittees, which fall under the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In these roles, she offers expert guidance to ACA staff and members on coding and related matters. In January 2025, she successfully completed ACA’s inaugural ACA Health Policy Fellowship, which was designed to develop competencies in the creation, revision, and valuation of chiropractic and physical medicine CPT codes and the navigation of the AMA CPT and RUC processes.
Dr. Schmid demonstrated her collaborative approach to health care by sharing her extensive knowledge and clinical experience as a chiropractic consultant with the Leeway Hospital in New Haven between 1996 and 2007. She enjoys the outdoors in her spare time, especially the beach, walking her dog, and gardening. She loves to entertain and cook for family and friends.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/21/2026
Designing Your Practice with Compassion is a practical and inspiring session that explores how trauma-informed care principles can be integrated into every aspect of chiropractic practice.
Designing Your Practice with Compassion is a practical and inspiring session that explores how trauma-informed care principles can be integrated into every aspect of chiropractic practice. Participants will learn how intentional choices in office layout, communication, and clinical interactions can help patients feel safer, more respected, and more engaged in their care. This session addresses the impact of power dynamics in the provider-patient relationship and offers concrete strategies to build trust, support autonomy, and recognize signs of discomfort or trauma history. Topics include nonverbal communication, informed consent practices, and approaches to adjusting that prioritize patient agency. Attendees will also examine how practice policies, staff culture, and branding can reflect values like empathy, inclusivity, and accessibility. The presentation encourages reflection on systems that prevent provider burnout and promote sustainable, purpose-driven care. By the end of the session, participants will leave with actionable tools and mindset shifts to design a chiropractic practice rooted in compassion—one that enhances both clinical outcomes and the overall patient experience.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define trauma-informed care and describe how its core principles apply to chiropractic practice.
• Objective 2: Identify key power dynamics in provider-patient interactions and strategies to foster trust, safety, and autonomy.
• Objective 3: Evaluate elements of office layout and environment that can support or hinder patient comfort and emotional safety.
• Objective 4: Apply trauma-sensitive communication techniques, including informed consent and nonverbal awareness, in clinical encounters.Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction & Objectives – 5 minutes
• What Is Trauma-Informed Care? – 10 minutes
• Power Dynamics in Chiropractic Settings – 10 minutes
• Designing a Compassionate Office Environment – 10 minutes
• Communication & Consent with Compassion – 10 minutes
• Practice Policies That Promote Safety & Trust – 10 minutes
• Q&A / Closing Reflections – 5 minutesThis course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121264
Kristy Carbonelli, DC
Parker University
Kristy Carbonelli, DC is the department chair of basic sciences at Parker University, where she leads faculty across foundational science disciplines and oversees critical teaching environments, including the Gross Anatomy Lab and the Willed Body Program. Her leadership centers on strong curriculum design, student support, and preparing future chiropractors to deliver care that is both effective and compassionate.
From 2005 to 2017, Dr. Carbonelli served patients in private practice before transitioning into academia as a clinic faculty doctor from 2017 to 2019. These experiences continue to inform her of her commitment to bridging education with the practical realities of patient care and professional sustainability.
A certified trainer in trauma-informed care, Dr. Carbonelli’s scholarship and teaching emphasize how communication, environment, and policy influence a patient’s sense of safety and engagement. She redesigned the Business of Chiropractic course at Parker to ensure students graduate with the tools to build operationally sound, patient-focused practices that support personal and professional well-being.
Dr. Carbonelli serves as president of the Faculty American Chiropractic Association (FACA) and as faculty advisor to the Student ACA (SACA), helping strengthen advocacy, leadership, and professional development within the chiropractic community. She presents nationally on trauma-informed approaches and innovation in chiropractic education.
Her work is grounded in a clear belief: When we intentionally design how we show up, communicate, and structure care, patients benefit and providers thrive. A compassionate practice is not accidental; it is built thoughtfully from the start.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/24/2026
An estimated 60-70 million Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life.
An estimated 60-70 million Americans report digestive issues annually that range from minor and temporary to complex and chronic problems that greatly influence daily quality of life. This session examines why digestion should be considered in the chiropractic office due to its impact on soft tissue integrity. A focus on poor protein absorption, zinc depletion and hypochlorhydria, within the framework of three major factors impacting digestive health, will be presented. Attendees will examine factors indicating that digestion may be impacting chiropractic results, learn about nutrients that support digestion and absorption and gain the tools needed to take action to reduce loss of muscle mass and maximize health outcomes in patients seeking chiropractic care.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Identify the importance of addressing gut health to maximize musculoskeletal integrity.
Objective 2: Analyze patient presentation to determine how gut health may be impacting patient management.
Objective 3: Differentiate appropriate nutrients to support gut health.
Objective 4: Develop a clinical thought process to organize action steps that reduce loss of muscle mass and function while improving strength and stability.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Introductory story
o Review of learning objectives Main Body Content (40 minutes)
• Summary & Conclusion (5 minutes) Three ways to take action & reduce loss of muscle mass in our patient population.
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP124262
Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP
Julie Johnson, DC, CFMP is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport. She created the first interdisciplinary health center in her community before returning to academia, where she currently serves as a faculty clinician and assistant professor at a chiropractic college. As a former elementary teacher, she enjoys continuing to teach by mentoring student interns and providing evidence-informed care to a diverse patient population in an academic setting. Her clinical excellence extends to her recent work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she played a role in a nationally recognized, multi-institutional study on chiropractic therapy for chronic low back pain in veterans providing chiropractic and acupuncture care at two VA locations.
In addition to her clinical and academic accomplishments, Dr. Johnson is a passionate advocate for community health education and military family wellness. With a grandfather that served in WWII, she recognized the unique needs associated with military service and developed a program that has provided more than $6 million in complimentary chiropractic clinical care for active-duty service members, veterans, and their dependents within a chiropractic college system. As a result of this program, she chose to serve as president for the Rock Island Arsenal Association of the United States Army Chapter for two terms and was nominated in 2019 to become an Army reserve ambassador. Appointed by the chief of the Army Reserve, ambassadors hold a Department of Army Protocol Precedence as a major general (2-star) equivalent and work to develop awareness and advocacy for the reserves in this key outreach and engagement program. She is serving in her second three-year term as one of 11 women in the nation to hold this position, and the first chiropractor.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits
The Evidence-based Practice Center Program at the Department of Health and Human Services strives to improve the health of the United States population
The Evidence-based Practice Center Program at the Department of Health and Human Services strives to improve the health of the United States population. To do so, the Center systematically reviews evidence and produces evidence-based reports that discuss benefits and harms of treatments and/or preventative services. These reports can be used as a trusted resource for clinical decision-making in practice. At the conclusion of this educational presentation, the attendee will be able to describe how the EPC Program produces evidence reviews to achieve the goal of helping consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed and evidence-based healthcare decisions. The attendee will understand what goes into creating a high-quality systematic review. 1 Topics covered in this portion of the presentation will include use of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2, risk of bias 3, and strength of evidence. The attendee will be able to list recent reports relevant to the target audience such as Nonpharmacological Treatments for Mental Health Conditions 4 and Fall Prevention. 5 As a group we will discuss strategies for implementation of the content of these evidence-based publications into clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Describe how EPC Program evidence reviews contribute to achieving the goal of helping consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed and evidence-based healthcare decisions.
Objective 2: Comprehend the content of a quality systematic review (e.g., Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA), risk of bias, and strength of evidence).
Objective 3: List relevant EPC Program evidence-based publications.
Objective 4: Formulate strategies for implementation of EPC Program evidence-based publication findings into clinical practice.
Hourly Breakdown:
Presenter introduction 2 minutes
Introduction to the EPC Program 10 minutes
Understanding systematic reviews 20 minutes
Examples of reports 8 minutes
Translating the evidence into practice 8 minutes
Conclusion 2 minutes
Questions 10 minutes
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: IP123262
Cynthia Chapman, DC, MPH
Cindy Chapman, DC, MPH, is an ORISE research and evaluation fellow with the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Division of the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). In this capacity, she works to support and analyze the effectiveness and impact of the EPC program and other AHRQ programs. She is also an adjunct associate professor at Northeastern College of Health Sciences.
At ACA, Dr. Chapman serves on the Public Health Advisory Board and as vice chair of the Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee, which is part of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. In 2024, she was selected to be an ACA Health Policy Fellow.
Before joining AHRQ, Dr. Chapman was a practicing clinician for over 20 years with additional training in acupuncture and chiropractic for pregnant people. She has served as a peer reviewer for many conferences and journals and is a frequent conference presenter. She has held leadership roles in state and national professional associations, including the American Public Health Association and the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. She completed a practicum at the RAND Research Across Complementary and Integrative Health Institutions (REACH) Center, and in 2023 was selected as a participant in the MAR-PHTC Public Health Leadership Institute.
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Contains 5 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 01/21/2026
The chiropractic profession stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity—one that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce and the broader healthcare system
The chiropractic profession stands at a pivotal moment of opportunity—one that aligns with the evolving needs of today’s workforce and the broader healthcare system. As the demand for prevention-focused occupational medicine services continues to rise, chiropractors are uniquely positioned to meet this need. Conservative, non-invasive approaches to treating work-related injuries are not only increasingly accepted but actively sought out by employers, insurers, and employees alike. This shift creates a strategic opening for chiropractors to not only expand the breadth of their current patient base but also their impact beyond traditional musculoskeletal care.
By incorporating occupational medicine services—such as injury treatment, return-to-work evaluations, ergonomic assessments, DOT examinations, and functional capacity evaluations—chiropractors can significantly broaden their clinical offerings. This integration not only diversifies revenue streams and strengthens practice sustainability but also improves patient outcomes through a holistic and preventive care model. Moreover, chiropractors engaged in occupational health contribute valuable expertise to interdisciplinary care teams, enhancing their professional visibility and relevance.
For chiropractic leadership, the implications are even broader. Embracing occupational medicine as a strategic initiative can drive substantial growth across the profession. It positions chiropractic care as essential to workplace safety, injury prevention, and employee wellness—areas of increasing priority for employers and policymakers. Leadership that advocates for and supports the integration of these services can influence public health policy, employer health strategies, and healthcare reimbursement models, thereby amplifying chiropractic’s voice and role in shaping the future of healthcare.
In summary, occupational medicine is not just a clinical opportunity, it is a vehicle for advancing the chiropractic profession and virtually all of its specialty subsets on multiple fronts. By championing this integration, chiropractic leaders can ensure the profession remains responsive to modern healthcare demands while reinforcing its place as a vital component of workforce health and well-being.
Learning Objectives:
• Objective 1: Define occupational medicine and its relevance to chiropractic practice.
• Objective 2: Identify the core competencies chiropractors bring to these settings.
• Objective 3: Evaluate potential integration pathways for occupational medicine into chiropractic services.
• Objective 4: Recognize current market demands and workforce gaps that chiropractic can fill.
• Objective 5: Formulate strategic plans to support chiropractic inclusion in occupational medicine roles at local, state, and national levels.
Hourly Breakdown:
• Introduction (Welcome, overview of profession's evolution, importance of diversification and growth) 5 minutes
• Defining Occupational Medicine (Core services, key players) 10 minutes
• The Strategic Fit: Why Chiropractors Are Ideal For Occupational Health Roles (Natural conservative options, cost-effective) 10 minutes
• Opportunities For Integration (TPA, DOT, insurers, case examples) 15 minutes
• Market Demand and Workforce Needs (shortage of providers, increased demand, regulation) 10minutes
• Implementation Pathways (Education and credentialing, legal compliance) 5 minutes
• Summary and Call to Action (Recap, leadership support, professional development) 5 minutes
This course is presented as part of the ACA Engage 2026 educational programming.
This course is worth 1 CE credit in ACA-approved and PACE-accepted states. CEUs have been applied for in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
View a list of accepted and approved states.
PACE ID: ON121265
Christopher Murray, DC DABCI, ND, CME
Murray Natural Health
Christopher Murray, DC DABCI, ND, CME has been in practice in Hastings, Neb., since 2008. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and has provided multi-disciplinary continuing education classes across the United State in areas of examination, diagnosis, lab analysis, and nutrition. Dr. Murray is a certified medical examiner with the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. He is the immediate past president of the Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association. As an advocate for the chiropractic profession, he has testified at the state legislative level regarding the chiropractic profession’s ability and need to diagnose and perform examinations. Dr. Murray’s passion in class is to educate doctors about the importance of their portal of entry role in health care and the reality that the chiropractic profession saves lives.
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Phone: 703-276-8800
Fax: 703-243-2593
Email: memberinfo@acatoday.org
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