Christopher Kent, D.C., member of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) Board of Directors, was elected chairman of the NGO Health Committee at its business meeting June 28, 2001. The meeting was held in the Dag Hammarskjold room at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

The NGO Health Committee has approximately 100 members from 18 countries, representing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) interested in health issues. The Committee also has representatives from six academic and research institutions and five representatives from the private sector.

In 1998, the WCA was granted status as an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information and has since been active in the NGO health committee. Prior to his election as chairman, Dr. Kent filled the office of treasurer. He succeeds the outgoing president, Elaine Wolfson, Ph.D., and will serve a two-year term.

The purpose of the NGO Health Committee is to provide worldwide cooperation on issues of health in keeping with the UN principles and concerns by providing a forum for the exchange of global health concerns, policies, services and research; facilitating network building with all sectors at all levels regarding health; collaborating with UN departments, bodies, organizations and agencies in order to promote improved health and well being of all people, and; convening meetings for the purpose of education and the exchange of views on issues concerned with health.

This spring, the NGO Health Committee co-sponsored a program at UN Headquarters titled, "Perspectives on Chiropractic Care in Women's Health and Quality-of-Life." Previous programs have featured speakers from WHO, World Bank, UNICEF, UNAIDS, Rockefeller Foundation, and Harvard University.

In addition to his WCA posts, Kent is co-founder and director of research for the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. He has been honored as "Chiropractic Researcher of the Year" by the WCA and ICA, and was named "Chiropractor of the Year" by the ICA in 1998.

Terry Rondberg, D.C., president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, said, "We are proud of WCA's accomplishments in the international community. Since WCA's recognition as an NGO by the Department of Public Information, we have seen several important 'firsts' for chiropractic. These include the first chiropractic presentation at the International Conference of NGOs in Seoul, Korea; the first chiropractic presentation at UN Headquarters; and now, the first chiropractor to chair the NGO Health Committee. These are all landmark events, which will go far in making our global vision of chiropractic a reality."