Northeast College of Health Sciences SACA chapter lobbies on Capitol Hill

More than 25 representatives from Northeast College of Health Sciences’ SACA chapter traveled to Washington, DC, to lobby US Congress in support of the chiropractic profession and attend the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Engage conference January 23-25.

In addition to bringing the chiropractic community together, the annual ACA event features cutting-edge education, networking, leadership opportunities and a day to convene on Capitol Hill. With help setting up meetings from alumna Caitlin Simpson (DC ’18), Northeast students and faculty from New York visited the offices of 11 congressional representatives from the state. Students from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire visited reps from their home states, a college press release noted.

#NortheastBlue support each other and HR 539/S 106

The students’ main topic of discussion with lawmakers was the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 539/S. 106), rereleased one week before the annual conference in DC. The Northeast community arrived armed with issue briefs, statistics and data to demonstrate the need for better access to chiropractic services for current and future patients.

Bill Lauretti, DC, Northeast professor and SACA advisor for the college’s chapter, noted one reason expanding access to chiropractic care is so important.

“It offers a safe, natural, drug- and surgery-free approach to healthcare, including chronic pain management,” he said. “Compare that to the opioid crisis, with so many people prescribed strong drugs that are not that effective for managing pain. The contrast makes our brand of healthcare very attractive, not only to the public, but even more so to healthcare leaders.”

Faculty, alumni and administrators, including Northeast College President Michael Mestan, DC, EdD, Associate Provost J. Todd Knudsen, DC, and Assistant Vice President Jean-Nicholas Poirier, DC, EdD, joined Lauretti and Assistant Professor Laura Passamonte, DC, who supported Northeast students during the three-day conference, which was also full of opportunities for professional camaraderie and networking with doctors and industry leaders.

#NortheastBlue students, alumni receive ACA leadership awards

Among the awards presented during the ACA conference, Northeast students Cassie Cavell (DC ‘26) won the Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) Leadership Recognition Award for leading the SACA research committee and Jade Carbuccia (DC ’26) won the Diversity Equity and Inclusion scholarship.

Northeast alum Kathryn Kennedy (DC ‘22) of South Burlington, Vermont, won the ACA Alternative Delegate of the Year award, and Brooke Green (DC ‘24) and Lauren Williams (DC ‘24) were recognized for completing their terms as SACA national chair and vice-chair, respectively.

The trip was made possible, the press release noted, by the generous contributions of many Northeast alumni and friends, particularly the New York State Chiropractic Association. The Northeast chiropractic students who attended are grateful for the opportunity.

For more information, visit northeastcollege.edu.

About Northeast College of Health Sciences

For more than a century, Northeast College of Health Sciences has been dedicated to training healthcare’s future leaders. At Northeast, health and wellness are our central focus, driving everything we do. The College’s graduate and undergraduate academic programs in areas such as chiropractic, nutrition, human anatomy instruction, massage therapy and the imaging sciences are rooted in Northeast’s mission and commitment to academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices. From our 286-acre main campus in New York’s Finger Lakes and our state-of-the-art branch campus on Long Island to our renowned faculty of expert practitioners, Northeast College provides a transformative educational experience, 100% dedicated to health sciences.