American Regional Event 2025

The long weekend of March 7th-9th marked the American Regional Event (ARE) 2025, hosted at Cleveland University – Kansas City (CUKC) in Overland Park, KS. This year, the event saw a diverse group of five schools in attendance: three in person (Cleveland University – Kansas City, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and Southern California University of Health Sciences), and two virtually (Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and Life University).

The event kicked off on Friday, March 7th, with an opening address by CUKC President Dr. Carl Cleveland III, the grandson of CUKC founder Carl Cleveland Sr. The opening speech delved into chiropractic history, setting the tone for the weekend. The day continued with a series of informative talks covering topics such as the role of pain in understanding the nervous system, the challenges of transitioning from school to practice, techniques for analyzing chiropractic functional movement, and Dr. Heidi Haavik’s groundbreaking research on the triple brain network. In between the sessions, students had the opportunity to explore the force-sensing lab, tour the chiropractic college, and even test out the golf simulator.

Saturday morning began early with a volunteer session at Harvesters, a local food redistribution organization. The in-person group teamed up with CUKC’s Delta Sigma Chi professional chiropractic fraternity chapter to sort and box frozen meats for distribution. This charitable effort allowed the attendees to connect with fraternity members and make meaningful community contributions. After volunteering, the group visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of Kansas City’s most famous cultural landmarks. A favorite among the group was a statue of a man that seemed to have had spina bifida, sparking a thoughtful conversation. The day wrapped up with a tour of a local chiropractic office, where Dr. Thomas Adams, the owner, shared insights into the challenges and rewards of running a private practice.

Throughout the event, delegates participated in open, non-judgmental group discussions on various topics affecting the chiropractic field. These discussions covered a wide range of issues, including the potential impact of AI on chiropractic marketing, the influence of insurance on chiropractic practice, how the rising global cost of living could affect the industry, and strategies for making network referrals with local practitioners. Evenings offered a more relaxed environment, with delicious meals — including the region’s famous Kansas City barbecue — and ample opportunities for delegates to connect and build relationships outside the formal sessions.

Sunday morning brought a debrief session where delegates reflected on the event, highlighting their favorite moments and providing valuable feedback for future ARE gatherings. The group also expressed excitement for the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

The ARE 2025 was a memorable and valuable event, fostering connections between seasoned members and new delegates, and reinforcing the importance of international chiropractic relationships. The theme of “unity through diversity” resonated throughout, creating a strong sense of community among participants.

The CUKC chapter was proud to host this year’s event and extends heartfelt thanks to all delegates for their participation. Special thanks go to the event sponsors, Cleveland University – Kansas City and the American Black Chiropractic Association, for their financial support and dedication to making the event possible. The Americas region WCCS chapters are already looking forward to the upcoming Annual General Meeting in Odense, Denmark this July!