Carlo Guadagno, DC, DACBSP, ICSC, FICC and Krista Burns, DC, DHA, represented National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) at the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) annual Engage conference in Washington D.C. The 2025 event was held January 22-25. Dr. Guadagno also represented the state of Florida in the ACA House of Delegates. Together, all Team NUHS members made an impact lobbying on Capitol Hill to gain support for increased Medicare coverage for chiropractic services.

NUHS-Florida students attending the event included: John Asmus, Max Shiver, Irving Leon, Jacob Thompson, and Carter West. NUHS-Illinois students who were in attendance included: Christina Sweiss, Josh Franz, Ryan Thometz, Klairice Schwartz, Brycen Valiga, Kaithlyn Servin, Kaley Walsh, Nicole Levandowski and Taylor Nelson.

“National University can be proud that our students are engaged on the Hill informing our members of Congress on the Medicare Coverage Modernization Act,” said Dr. Carlo Guadagno.

In addition, NUHS alumna Alli-Totzke-Hitzeroth, DC, MPP, ’21, was an online presenter for this year’s conference. Her presentation, Social Determinants of Health in the Chiropractic Setting (SDOH) explored the concept of SDOH, practical approaches to screening and the evolving policy language surrounding it. Dr. Totzke-Hitzeroth’s history of advocacy began during her student days at NUHS-Illinois. She is a long-time advocate on Capitol Hill for patient accessibility and is currently employed as the Associate Doctor at Montpelier Family Chiropractic in Montpelier, Virginia.

NUHS Students Attend NBCE Leadership Forum

In addition to their prolific leadership activities in the nation’s capital, NUHS students represented NUHS at the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) 22nd Annual Student Leadership Forum in Greeley, Colorado. NUHS-Florida student, Dylan Kahn, along with representatives from five national student organizations and eight chiropractic colleges, attended to gain a deeper insight into the NBCE. Additionally, they sought to gain a greater understanding of the rigorous exam process that affects Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine students as they strive to attain licensure.

“The warm welcome was even more appreciated given that it was sub-freezing and snowing — which I absolutely loved by the way!” said Mr. Kahn. “This whole trip made it crystal clear to me that every member of the (NBCE) board is in the business of trying to further our profession and make it so that every new generation of chiropractic physicians will be able to not only serve and protect our communities, but also to uphold the values I know we all stand for.”

Being a part of something like this has really lit a fire under me and motivated me to continue pushing through the latter half of this program, he added. “But even more so, it has given me a new appreciation for how standardized national boards have played a role in unifying the career and ensuring the quality of those practicing chiropractic medicine.”

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Photos: Top – NUHS Team-FL (L to R): Dr. Krista Burns, Max Shiver, Dr. Carlo Guadagno, Jake Thompson, John Asmus, Irving Leon and not pictured, Carter West.

Middle – Lobbying on Capitol Hill (L-R): Brycen Valiga, NUHS-IL; Dr. Ben Mikla (ACA WI Alternate Delegate); Klairice Schwartz; Rep. Tony Wied (WI 8th Congressional District); Tymaris Odoms (Northwestern Health Sciences University Student) and Dr. Eugene R Yellen-Shiring (ACA WI Delegate).

Lower – NBCE 2025 (L-R): Front Row – Gabby Ford, Women Chiropractors; Kayla Cassidy, Texas Chiropractic College; Brooke Green, Student American Chiropractic Association; Ivon Garcia Fuentez, Cleveland University/Kansas City; Middle Row – Karla Fernandez Molinary, Universidad Central del Caribe; Joeli Koenig, International Chiropractic Association; Savannah Guelda, Logan University; Haiden Garrett, University of Western States; Diana Palacios, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress; Dr. Karlos Boghosian, NBCE President; Back Row – Dr. Norman Ouzts, NBCE Chief Executive Officer; Dylan Kahn, National University of Health Sciences-FL; Arianne Colabella, Sherman College of Chiropractic; Trzur Lee, Student American Black Chiropractic Association and Thomas Brassard, Northwestern Health Sciences University.