FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky Association of Chiropractors
(859) 554-4498 | kac@thekac.org
LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 30, 2026): The Kentucky Association of Chiropractors (KAC) has named Dr. Rachel Wendt its 2026 Kentucky Chiropractor of the Year, the highest honor the association gives to a Kentucky doctor of chiropractic. The recognition was the idea of the KAC Board of Directors, which unanimously nominated Dr. Wendt at the Annual Business Meeting during the KAC 110th Annual Convention, held September 25-27, 2026, in Lexington. No objections were raised by the members in attendance.
The award came as a complete surprise. Dr. Wendt, who serves as the KAC’s Executive Director, believed the board would be nominating three previous winners for this year’s award. Instead, Dr. Jeff Meyers, KAC Immediate Past President, announced that the board had chosen her.
“This award symbolizes not only the amount of time, effort, dedication and sacrifices a person has given to this profession, but also the respect they have earned from their peers. It recognizes someone who has gone above and beyond what is asked of them, someone who has worked to strengthen our profession, advocate for our patients and our doctors, and help move chiropractic forward in Kentucky,” Dr. Meyers said. “We have tried nominating her for multiple years, but she has always refused. This year we decided not to give her a choice.”
Dr. Wendt has led the KAC as Executive Director since 2021. Under her leadership, the association has grown its continuing education offerings, including the annual LB Payne Insurance Seminar, where she presents Kentucky insurance and legislative updates each January. She has guided the KAC’s advocacy for Kentucky doctors of chiropractic and led the launch of the KAC Connection mobile app in 2026 and the redesigned thekac.org website in October 2026.
Before coming to Kentucky, Dr. Wendt served the Colorado Chiropractic Association for seven years, first as Director of Education and Member Development and then as Executive Director from 2016 to 2021. She practiced as a chiropractic physician in Illinois and Colorado. She earned her Doctor of Chiropractic from National University of Health Sciences in 2012, where she also completed 100 hours of acupuncture certification, and her Bachelor of Arts from Hope College. She is licensed in Kentucky and Colorado.
Dr. Wendt is active in the profession nationally. She serves as Treasurer of the ChiroCongress Board of Directors, after previously serving as Secretary, Executive Director at Large and District IV Director. She has served on the Chiropractic Future Leadership Committee since 2019, including as Chair in 2024. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Kentucky Society of Association Executives.
Her earlier honors include the Colorado Chiropractic Association’s Presidential Award (2015), Rising Star Chiropractor of the Year (2015 and 2016) and Distinguished Chiropractor of the Year (2017 and 2018).
Because the KAC moved to electronic voting for this award last year, a change designed to give more members the opportunity to participate, both the 2025 and 2026 Chiropractor of the Year awards were presented at the 110th Annual Convention. Dr. James Taylor of Middlesboro received the 2025 award. Read more about Dr. Taylor.
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About the Kentucky Association of Chiropractors
The Kentucky Association of Chiropractors is the only state chiropractic association in Kentucky empowering the chiropractic profession in Kentucky to improve the health and well-being of the public. Learn more at thekac.org.
