|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Print Version
President outlines gathering in Washington DC, reaccreditation, CAM survey
By Michael W. Coomes, MD, FAAMA
President, AAMA
Judging from recent media coverage, one could easily conclude that the US has been moving down a road of international isolationism. If that is the case, it is all the more significant that we are fast approaching the first combined AAMA and ICMART Symposium/International Congress. Now more than ever, we need the understanding and cooperation that comes from these kinds of intellectual and social exchanges.
I hope that all of you will have the opportunity to take some time to join us in Washington DC in April for this important event. To find out more about the combined meeting, click here to see the latest report from the co-chairmen, Drs. Tapan Chaudhuri and Bryan Frank.
In addition you may want to look on the AAMA web site to see a report by Claudia Cooke, MD, who attended the Third Worldwide Congress of Acupuncture of the World Medical Association of Acupuncture (WMAA) which took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September. This event is yet another example of how we can strengthen our ties with and learn from our fellow physician acupuncturists around the globe.
Reaccreditation process
Work continues on making sure that our CME reaccreditation process goes smoothly this year. CME committee chair, Dr. Michael Green as well as AAMA administrators Jim and Tracey Dowden, met with ACCME representatives in Chicago in November to review our documentation and application for reaccreditation. Dr. Green reports the meeting went well, but we will not receive the final report until April or May of 2006.
Meanwhile, Education and CME committees are diligently working on preparing more ongoing medical acupuncture educational opportunities for our membership. The majority of these presentations will eventually become part of our CME Digital Library to provide more cost-effective distance education.
CAM National Survey
Some of you may have seen the report of the September 2005 national survey of more than 700 physicians as to their attitudes regarding the impact of complementary and alternative medicine on US healthcare.
Of all the various complementary modalities available, more than half of the physicians (59%) believe that acupuncture can be effective to some extent. This was the highest level of acceptance of all complementary and alternative therapies reviewed. This is quite a change from only a few short years ago, when we were still struggling for professional recognition.
More and more of us are now receiving hospital privileges to use medical acupuncture, and I look forward to the day when we will see all of our medical schools offering medical acupuncture educational opportunities in their curricula.
Finally, I want to remind you all that February 1st 2006 is the deadline for full members and Fellows who are interested in being considered for nomination to the Board of Directors to submit their letters of interests, along with a resume. Detailed instructions can be found in the newsletter.
Likewise I would again encourage any of you who are interested in serving on one of our committees to go to "Academy Committees".
Informative speakers, workshops planned for AAMA Symposium, ICMART
By Tapan K. Chaudhuri, MD, FACP, FRCP(C), FAAMA
Co-Chairperson for the 2006 Symposium - ICMART 2006 Congress
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, and
Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA
Co-Chairperson for the 2006 Symposium - ICMART 2006 Congress
President, ICMART 2004-2006
International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques
We are very excited to tell you about our 2006 AAMA Symposium/ICMART Congress. As many of you may know, this Symposium is being held jointly with ICMART, and we are expecting a significant international participation in this event. The Congress is being held in Washington DC, from April 7-9, 2006.
The theme of this combined meeting is "The Expanding Horizon of Acupuncture: An International Celebration". We are fortunate to have assembled a great number of very well known and talented speakers representing several countries. They are: Tran Viet Dzung, MD and Michel Marignan, MD from France; Jacqueline Filshie, MD and Palle Rosted, MD from England; Marcos Diaz Mattelari, MD from Cuba; Everke Heinrich, MD, Dominik Irnich, MD, Walberg Maric-Ohler, MD and Beatte Strittmatter, MD, from Germany; Im Qua Smith, MD from Australia; Alejandro Elorriaga, MD from Canada; Francisco Lozano, MD from Mexico; Judith Balk, MD, Bryan Berman, MD, Tom Burgoon, MD, Bryan Frank, MD, Bruce Gilbert, MD, Jane Grissmer, MAc, Butch Levy MD, Paul Magarrelli, MD, Peter Marinakis, PhD, MAc, and members of TAI-SOPHIA group from United States.
Workshops are of varied interest and designed to be a practical hands-on type of learning experience. They will include the role of acupuncture in Detoxification Treatment, Immunological Disorders, In Vitro Fertilization, Male and Female Infertility, Medical Emergencies, Pain and Symptom Control of Cancer, Sport Injuries, and Stroke Rehabilitation. Auricular Acupuncture (Barr's School) will be presented as well as a workshop on how to Identify and Treat the Blockage in Difficult Patients. Diagnosis and Management of Patients from a 5 Element Perspective will be Demonstrated on Live Patients. A New Method of Acupuncture Point Stimulation by Pneumatic Pressure Pulse Therapy (PPAT), Acupuncture in Posturology, Acupuncture in Wilderness and Travel Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, are also scheduled.
Plenary sessions will include lectures on acupuncture treatment in Dental Problems, fMRI Studies on Depression Acupoints, Headache, Herpetic Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, TCM and Geriatrics, and TMJ.
This program will be further enhanced by contributions of free papers from international ICMART delegates and Academy members. There is also the opportunity to apply to make Poster Presentations and to submit papers for the research competition. Financial awards will be given for outstanding work on the free papers, poster presentations and the research competition. Click on the link below to learn how you can present your work.
On Saturday evening, we have arranged for an optional dinner cruise on the Potomac River. We will cruise past the Washington skyline and the famous landmarks while we enjoy the company of colleagues from throughout the world.
On behalf of the Academy and ICMART, we invite you to participate in this grand event and make it successful. Please mark your calendar. We will see you in Washington, DC in April.
For complete details, visit 2006 AAMA Symposium/ICMART Congress.
Check out the new website: www.DABMA.org!
The American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) proudly announces the creation of its own website, www.DABMA.org. The website asserts the ABMA's independence and confirms its unique focus: to maintain high standards for the examination and certification of physician acupuncturists as medical specialists. In so doing, the website provides visitors to the site information about the board certification process, approved educational programs and a downloadable application and affidavit.
Patients seeking Board Certified physician acupuncturists can peruse the list of Diplomates of the ABMA (DABMA's) and sort by name and location, or input a physician's last name to find his or her city and state. DABMA's can also check this list for the expiration date of their certification. The "Links" page provides immediate access to the AAMA website's "Find a Medical Acupuncturist," the Medical Acupuncture Journal and the new "Medical Acupuncture Learning Center," designed to foster awareness of the breadth and depth of acupuncture research and applications. The "Exam Validation Process" page on www.DABMA.org will be available shortly and will expound on the considerable efforts invested in developing and maintaining a fair board examination process, and will contain information about question construction, focus, review, and validation.
We urge you to visit www.DABMA.org and submit your impressions on the comments page. Tell us what you like, what you don't like, and how we can improve to meet your needs as a medical acupuncturist.
Members earn DABMA certification
The following AAMA members recently met the stringent requirements of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) and have achieved Board Certification in medical acupuncture. They have earned the designation DABMA (Diplomate, American Board of Medical Acupuncture):
Marcia A. Liberatore, MD, DABMA, Corvallis, OR; James A. Laurino, MD, DABMA, Keuterville, ID; Janis R. McCall, MD, DABMA, Greeley, CO; S. Roshanna Rothberg, MD, DABMA, Charleston, WV; Diana D. Sarkar, MD, DABMA, Knoxville, TN
A complete list of Diplomates is posted at the new website www.dabma.org. Diplomates (DABMA) are listed alphabetically by last name, along with their location, and dates of certification and expiration.
Nominations sought for AAMA Board of Directors
AAMA members interested in being considered for nomination to the Board of Directors are encouraged to submit a letter indicating their interest, along with a resume, by Feb. 1, 2006. Full members and Fellows are eligible to serve on the Board, which is responsible for developing AAMA policies and overseeing operations. Address your letter to Chairman of the Nominations Committee, c/o AAMA, 4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 428, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Also, the Academy is looking for volunteers for committees. For details on responsibilities and joining, please contact Jim Dowden (cjdowden@pacbell.net, 323/937-5514) or a member of the committee that interests you.
Prizes offered for paper, poster competitions at Symposium
You are invited to apply to present a Free (Oral) Paper, Poster Presentation, or Research Paper at the ICMART Congress / AAMA Symposium on April 7-9, 2006.
Please follow all instructions carefully to allow your application to be considered fully. While space and time are limited, we do expect a hearty number of great submissions from our international colleagues. Further, international submissions have often won awards for our Poster Presentations and Research Papers at our Symposia for many years. All Free Papers, Poster Presentations, and Research Papers must be submitted in English
INTERNATIONAL SEIRIN-3B AWARDS - FREE PAPERS
An abstract (summary) of a proposed Free Paper oral presentation should be submitted via email by January 31st, 2006 to cjdowden@pacbell.net with the e-mail subject line reading: ICMART AAMA Free Paper, in order to be properly received. Abstracts should have the title, author, affiliation, contact information and abstract text of no more than 250 words.
If your application is approved, you will be notified by February 15th, 2006. Approved Free Papers will then be eligible to compete for the Free Paper Awards competition, though presenters are not required to compete for the awards. Free Papers eligible for awards must be original, unpublished papers suitable to be published in the Conference Syllabus. The actual paper must be submitted by March 15th, 2006 via email to cjdowden@pacbell.net with the e-mail subject line reading: ICMART AAMA Free Paper Award Contest, in order to be properly received and considered for the Free Paper Awards.
Free Paper topics may be clinical or research (basic or clinical) related. Those selected for Free Paper Oral Presentations are responsible for their own transportation and housing costs and must pay Symposium registration fees in order to participate in the Free Paper Presentation Sessions.
Seirin-3B Scientific are providing funding support to offer cash awards to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place presentations, with $1000 USD, $750 USD, and $500 USD awarded, respectively. Awards will be announced at the Closing Ceremony of the Congress.
Only computer and oral presentation is allowed (No overhead projectors, whiteboards, or similar tools). Presentations for PC's (Windows 98 / 2000 professional / XP professional configurations) will be accepted, (no MAC, no UNYX). Please prepare and submit your presentation application using PowerPoint Version 97 professional, 2000 premium or XP standard. Pictures must be in the following format: jpg, gif, tif, or .bmp (format pict is not allowed as it will not be displayed correctly).
AS PER USA AMA REGULATIONS, NO COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PRODUCT OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED AND THIS WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUBMISSION.
Please save the presentation on 3.5" floppy disks (high density formatting, 1.44 MB), CDs, IOMEGA 100 MB ZIP disks or USB flash disk 64 MGB.
Standard PCs will be provided with OS Windows XP (1,136 GHz processor). The PC projectors project at XGA resolution (1 024 x 768 pixels).
You will NOT use your own laptop. Rather, you should bring the file in the manner described above.
All morning presentations must be checked with the technical staff the night before, and afternoon presentations during the morning prior to presentation. All speakers should bring media with their presentation to the technician AT LEAST TWO HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THEIR SESSION.
Time allocation for the Free Oral Papers is 20 minutes. The speaker should present for 15 minutes and allow 5 minutes for questions. The Session Chairperson will announce the 15 and 20 minute times and will stop the presentation at the 20 minute time, even if the presentation is not complete.
INTERNATIONAL SEIRIN-3B AWARDS - POSTERS
Application to make a Poster Presentation should be submitted no later than January 31st, 2006 An abstract (summary) of the proposed Poster Presentations should be submitted via email by January 31st, 2006 to cjdowden@pacbell.net with the e-mail subject line reading: ICMART AAMA Poster Presentation, in order to be properly received. Abstracts should have the title, author, affiliation, contact information and abstract body of no more than 250 words.
If your application is approved, you will be notified by February 15th, 2006. Abstracts of proposed Posters should be submitted via email as pdf files or Word doc files no larger than 10 MB.
AS PER USA AMA REGULATIONS, NO COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PRODUCT OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED AND THIS WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUBMISSION.
Accepted Poster Presentations should be formatted on paper or laminated poster presentations measuring no larger than 36 inches tall and 48 inches wide (landscape formatting). Posters should be ready for mounting with pins or tape. Accepted Posters will remain on display in the Poster area and must be installed on Friday, April 7th between 13:00 - 15:00. Posters should be removed on Saturday, April 8th by 14:00. Posters which are not removed by the stated time will be discarded.
Seirin-3B Scientific are providing funding support to offer cash awards to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place presentations, with $1000 USD, $750 USD, and $500 USD awarded, respectively. Awards will be announced at the Closing Ceremony of the Congress.
There will be no organised or moderated discussions over posters. However, you should be available to offer your explanation to interested colleagues on Friday, April 7th at the Wine and Cheese reception at 17:30 - 19:00. Please be present at that time as Poster Presentation Award winners must be present to be eligible to win an award.
Those selected for Poster Presentations are responsible for their own transportation and housing costs and must pay Symposium registration fees in order to participate in the Poster Presentations.
RESEARCH PAPER COMPETITION
This is a call for entries for the annual Acupuncture Research Award. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place awards will be presented at the ICMART Congress/AAMA Symposium 2006. If your paper is selected as one of the winners, you will be notified by February 28th, 2006. We are pleased to offer:
- First Place: $1,500 USD, Symposium registration, travel to $500, and three night's hotel lodging for the presenting author. Paper to be presented at ICMART Congress/AAMA Symposium in Washington, DC, April 2006.
- Second Place: $750 USD, Symposium registration, travel to $500.
- Third Place: $350 USD and Symposium registration.
The First Place winning paper is to be presented in a 30 minute Plenary Session at the Symposium. Papers for second and third place to be announced at the Symposium. The authors will be acknowledged there.
RULES
- Submissions must be original work, in either clinical research or basic biochemical or physiological research pertaining to acupuncture. The work must not be previously published. Work must be completed and accepted for publication during the 2004-2005 year period to be considered, if the publishing journal will allow presentation at ICMART Congress/AAMA Symposium.
- Papers should include the name and degree of the principle author and any co-workers, the institution or affiliation (if any), mailing address and telephone/fax numbers. E-mail addresses are desirable but not mandatory.
- Submissions should be received by January 31, 2006. Beyond that date, due to judging time and notification needs prior to the spring Symposium, papers cannot be guaranteed acceptance for this year.
- Submissions will be judged and rated on originality, suitability for publication, research design, and clinical or basic science relevance.
- If human subjects are involved in the research, proper informed consent must have been obtained and approval of appropriate institutional review committees obtained, where applicable.
- All submissions must be in English. All proprietary rights to the research work are reserved to the author(s), including future right to publish any and all aspects of the research.
- Acknowledgement of receipt of the submission will be sent within 15 working days. The AAMA Board of Directors will assign a panel of judges. Winners will be selected at the sole discretion of the judges and the AAMA Board. Winners will be notified in adequate time to attend the spring Symposium.
- The paper may be submitted via email, though the AAMA assumes no liability or responsibility for papers not received. Email submissions should be sent to cjdowden@pacbell.net with the e-mail subject line reading: ICMART AAMA Research Paper Award Contest, in order to be properly received and considered for the Research Paper Awards. Hard copies of the paper may be sent to be received by January 31, 2006, to:
Research Award Contest
c/o C. James Dowden
4929 Wilshire Blvd, #428
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Exciting lineup planned for participants of ICMART & AAMA in Washington, DC
By Baron Beyens, MD
General Secretary, ICMART
In Washington DC in April 2006, we are going to live a new adventure: a common adventure between the AAMA and ICMART. We are pleased and grateful to the AAMA for taking on the burden of hosting this international Medical Acupuncture Congress. The Symposium of AAMA will not be quite the same because of the input of dozens, if not more, foreign participants, giving to the event a world dimension where you will be able to hear lectures, communications and workshops from medical acupuncturists coming from other continents, giving different views of acupuncture and related techniques, as well as their experience and opinions. Foreign participants, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to merge in the world of the AAMA with its different trends.
This Medical Acupuncture Congress comes at a time of psychological, scientific and political turmoil in the world of medical acupuncture. Attitudes are changing; regulations are being proposed, some useful and some unacceptable by our community, so we must be constantly on our guard. The slow awareness of the existence of numerous groups of medical acupuncturists incites ruling bodies to try to put some order in the practice of these complementary techniques. We are attentive to their initiatives and suggest our help when we can.
The Congress promises to be exciting and thought provoking. Every year, the AAMA has invited one or more foreign speakers, thus keeping contact with other countries' representatives in our field. For the first time, members of AAMA will be mixed with an array of practitioners with different thinking processes, treatment techniques and theoretical approaches. Moreover, the great number of nationalities will enhance the quality and variety of contributions. An international experience will be taking place and it will certainly be worthwhile participating.
Then there will be the mysterious chemistry of these gatherings where you meet so many colleagues, exchange views, discover opinions and express yours, find new friends, and alternate between seriousness and laughs, professional enrichment and human knowledge.
In the name of the Bureau and the Board of ICMART (http://www.icmart.org/), I suggest that you reserve April 7-9, 2006 (AAMA Symposium / ICMART Congress), and make plans for joining the Congress. We count on your presence, and we know that you will not regret it.
Academy offering new Gokavi Transverse Technique workshop
AAMA is pleased to announce a new education opportunity, a "hands-on" workshop learning the Gokavi Transverse Technique (GTT).
Dr. Gokavi has presented this technique to Academy members first during the Pan Pacific Conference several years ago and then as a workshop at the Annual Symposium. For the first time, Academy members can learn and perfect the technique during a two-day workshop.
The GTT Workshop provides physicians, physiotherapists and other physical medical practitioners with tools to confidently treat myofascial pain syndrome and dysfunction within their acupuncture practice. Physicians will be able to identify chronic pain of musculo-skeletal origin, shortened muscle syndromes with active trigger points and other entrapment syndromes. By using the GTT, which is a dry needling acupuncture technique with high frequency electrical stimulation they will be able to get enhanced, more permanent and dramatic clinical response in treating numerous musculo-skeletal conditions.
The G.T.T. is a comprehensive system of diagnosis and treatment that can offer a potent addition to a medical acupuncture practice. Its usefulness will include a refinement of treatment skills, clinical efficacy and also enhance treatment options in the management of chronic myofascial pain syndromes.
This new workshop will be presented in February 2006 and June 2006 by Cynthia Gokavi, MBBS, CAFCI from the Gokavi Acupuncture and Pain Clinic. The workshop will combine lecture, case presentations, and "hands-on" exercises and demonstrations for physicians to become proficient with the Gokavi Transverse Technique.
AAMA has designated the Workshop for a maximum of 14 hours of category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the activity.
To assure a high-quality learning experience, attendance is limited to 40 participants per workshop.
Complete details are posted online at Gokavi Transverse Technique Workshop.
Member News
AAMA Vice President Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, conducted the 6th Annual Medical Acupuncture Seminar for Japanese physicians in Hammamatsu Japan October 2005. At the seminar, he focused on 4 Examination Methods: pulse diagnosis, tonification and dispersement techniques,trigger point application, and Shigo technique. About 25 patients were examined in an impromptu fashion. Some of the Japanese physicians will attend AAMA's Annual Symposium in Washington, DC in April.
 |
Dr. Tony Lu's first trip to Mongolia to study "Eight Medicine Buddha Mediation" and Traditional Mongolian medicine with Khamba Lama Dr. Natsagdorj in July 2005 was historical and successful. Sixteen people came on the trip, at which the mayor of Ulan Bator presided over the opening ceremony. Three local TV stations covered the event and the closing ceremony. Their next trip to Mongolia will take place in August 2006. That itinerary and more details are posted at Mongolia 2006 trip.
AAMA is accredited by the ACCME to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. As an accredited provider, the Academy is able to jointly sponsor CME activities with other non-ACCME Accredited organizations. For the last several years, the Academy has limited its joint sponsorship to those programs organized by Academy Chapters. The Academy is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from others too. The first application from an "outside" organization for Academy sponsorship has been approved. "Five Element Acupuncture Physician Training Program - Basic Program", sponsored by AAMA and presented by Academy members, Drs. Charles Moss and Ron Puhky, will take place February 25-28, 2006. For information about Academy sponsorship, contact Tracey Dowden - tracey.dowden@att.net
The 18th Annual AAMA Symposium will be held in conjunction with ICMART XII Medical Acupuncture Congress -- www.icmart.org (International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques) on April 7-9, 2006 at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Park, NW in Washington, DC. The Academy has negotiated a discounted rate of $199/night (single/double) available through March 3, 2006 or until the block of rooms sells out. Be sure to mention AAMA when calling 202/328-2983 to reserve this special rate. The Review Course will be offered on April 4-5, 2006, followed by Pre-Symposium workshops on April 6, 2006 and the Board Certification Exam on April 9, 2006. In addition to national and international speakers who typically present at the AAMA Symposium, a large participation of international colleagues is expected in the poster presentations and the free papers section. These venues will give attendees increased numbers and breadth of presentations to attend in the Medical Acupuncture Congress.
Carole Agin, MD and Gerald Grass, MD FAAMA from the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook, presented an introductory acupuncture lecture and hands-on workshop to an international gathering of Anesthesiologists during the 59th meeting of the Post Graduate Assembly in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in December entitled, "Acupuncture and Its Use in an Anesthesia Practice." Attendees from the US, Germany, New Zealand, Netherlands and Australia were introduced to the history and biological basis of acupuncture, auricular therapy and Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture. They were instructed on basic needling techniques, anatomical landmarks for major acupuncture points and the use of acupuncture for the perioperative treatment of anxiety, nausea and vomiting, as well as, its use in the treatment of post-operative pain. The presentation was enthusiastically received by all, and details were given to obtain more information and training in medical acupuncture.
The Best of Both Worlds Foundation has received a public charity status as a 501 C-3 Foundation. It continues to provide grant support for the efforts of www.acubriefs.com, which is the largest online source of references pertinent to acupuncture. The Arizona Chapter of AAMA is a proud sponsor of Acubriefs. Dr. Kimber Rotchford, president of the Best of Both Worlds Foundation, is looking for other Chapters to be supportive, as well, and is seeking contributions from Academy members. An annual subscription to Acubriefs' Librarian Service is available for $60 at www.acubriefs.com/librarian.htm. Visit online www.acubriefs.com or www.acubriefs.com/bbw for information on resources and on how you can support the foundation. You may view 138 new citations listed at: http://www.acubriefs.com/citations/11.05.citations.htm.
The winter edition of the NIH Newsletter, CAM at the NIH, is now available on the NCCAM Web site. In addition to this newsletter, members may also be interested in subscribing to the "NCCAM Update" eBulletin, which is sent monthly.
Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA, led a team to Nepal in September for medical missions. The team of four served more than 650 persons in Kathmandu and the hills beyond. Conventional medical care, acupuncture and health education were offered and well received. Academy members interested in serving on short-term missions may contact Dr. Frank at bfrankmd@aol.com or at www.globalmission.us . The next missions are in Nepal (February 2006) and Ecuador (June 3-17, 2006).
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that 95 calls came into national headquarters and 4,064 website hits to the referral page in September, and 118 calls and 4,753 website referral hits in October from patients seeking medical acupuncturists in their area. The toll-free number that patients are calling is 800/521-2262.
The 2005 Symposium Syllabus for Medical Acupuncture: Mystique to Mainstream is available at the AAMA Book Store, along with the The Syllabi for the four Pre-Symposium workshops. Symposium tapes are available, and that order form is posted at http://www.softconference.com/storefront/250330.
Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, is chairing a task force of members to develop a survey for the membership to seek information on how the Academy can better meet your professional needs. Look for that survey in early 2006.
The spring 2006 Helms Medical Institute (www.hmieducation.com) Medical Acupuncture for Physicians course will be co-sponsored with the School of Medicine at Stanford University. The Introductory Weekend will be held in San Francisco, and the clinical units are at the usual Pittsburgh and Tempe hotels. The fall 2006 course will again be co-sponsored with UCLA.
Members are reminded that the Academy's online events calendar lists a variety of meetings, workshops and conferences (where CME and CEU credit can be earned) online. More details on each event can be obtained by visiting the website listed or contacting the sponsoring organization. Academy sponsored events are noted with the logo
.
Brian Berman, MD, was named by the Bravewell Collaborative as recipient of the $100,000 
Bravewell Leadership Award 2005. Dr. Berman is founder and director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which was the first clinic of its kind in the nation. He has dedicated his career to the expansion of evidence-based integrative care and is acclaimed for both his groundbreaking research studies, as well as his patient-centered treatment that focuses on the whole person - mind, body and spirit.
Dr. Berman is particularly noted for his landmark research study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in December 2004, which proved acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of arthritis. The study, one of the largest clinical trials of acupuncture ever done, is considered a model for how scientific testing can evaluate alternative therapies. In October 2005, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) announced a $10 million grant to Dr. Berman to conduct additional evidence-based investigation to advance the understanding of the potential benefits and underlying mechanism of ancient Chinese medicine including acupuncture and herbal treatments. Details on this award are posted online. Dr. Berman will speak at the AAMA Symposium 2006 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Tony Lu announces a Medical Qigong Study and Treatment Trip to Beijing, China with Master Wan Su Jian in September 2006. The itinerary and more details are posted at Medical Qigong Study Trip 2006
If you've read any good books on acupuncture or related products recently, please send that information to AAMA headquarters to be shared with the membership. You can also post a review of the publications in the Academy's online bookstore. Visit www.medicalacupuncture.org, click on AAMA Store and then on Check Out Our Comprehensive Selection. Next click on the book cover (or More Info) and then on Post a Review.
Dr. Nader Soliman, immediate Past President of AAMA, has announced the formation of Alternative Medicine Seminars (AMS), which will provide continuing medical education in the fields of Acupuncture, Auricular Therapy, Auricular Medicine and Homeopathy. For more information, visit www.AlternativeMedicineSeminars.com.
Donald R. Counts, MD, FAAPP, FABMA, ABHM, FAAMA, has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners for a six-year term. The Board is responsible for the licensure, continuing education and discipline of all acupuncturists in Texas. Comprised of nine members, the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners functions under the Texas Medical Board.
Please send news items and photos to bdortberg@aol.com.
Medical Acupuncture Research News
A new study from China shows that acupuncture may improve sperm quality in idiopathic male infertility. In Fertility and Sterility (Fertil Steril. 2005;84:141-147), the chief investigator, Jian Pei, PhD, from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the People's Republic of China, noted that acupuncture had a positive effect on sperm concentration and motility, an increase in testosterone, and some improvement in luteinizing hormone (LH) level, as well as an increase of normally shaped sperm and a significant decrease in the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm.
The study consisted of 40 men with unexplained sperm abnormalities (oligospermia, asthenospermia, or teratozoospermia). 28 of the men (70%) received acupuncture twice weekly for five weeks. The semen samples from both groups were quantitatively analysed by transmission electron microscopy. After acupuncture, there was a statistically significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm, and improvement in overall morphology of the sperm without defects seen in the total ejaculates. Specific sperm pathologies in the form of apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis did not change significantly between the control and treatment groups before and after treatment.
For more details, visit http://www.nycacupuncture.com/ivf.html.
Please send information you find on research involving the effectiveness of medical acupuncture to bdortberg@aol.com.
AAMA Chapter News
Arizona
Monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at 9 am at Dr. Martha Grout's office. For more details, call 602/787-8500 or e-mail drmartha@crossroadsclinic.net. There are monthly speakers on topics related to medical acupuncture, as well as Chinese and Functional/Integrative medicine. E-mail Rebecca Wilks, MD, at info@drwilks.com to get on the e-mail list for meeting announcements, etc.
Recent speakers include:
- Nancy Roberts Rizzo on the Russian GDV equipment, which measures the body's bioelectric field and relates it to the meridians by analyzing both organ and energetic imbalance. Dr. Grout is traveling to Russia in February to purchase this machine, and get the training to use it. She will do a demonstration at one of the upcoming meetings - probably in March.
- Jayne Brown on NLP and hypnosis, and how this technique can assist with acupuncture treatments.
- Anastacia White on Chinese herbal prescription.
A presentation is expected in the spring, open to all AAMA members and free to Arizona Chapter dues-paying members. Speaker will be Anastacia White on the use of Chinese Herbal Formulae in the Clinic.
Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla had an article on hyperemesis accepted for publication. It will appear in the January edition of Medical Acupuncture.
California
The California Chapter has been formed with the support and approval of the national organization. This Chapter's mission is to provide CME opportunities, increase public and medical awareness in medical acupuncture, address important regional issues related to the practice of medical acupuncture (including office management such as coding and billing), and to provide an enjoyable forum for physician acupuncturists to associate and share ideas, including case sharing.
Please e-mail officers regarding interest in the California Chapter (see contact information below), and they will send a membership application. They hope to have the support of as many medical acupuncturists in California as possible. They welcome ideas of how the Chapter can serve your needs.
Haleh Sheikholeslami, MD
President
Edmund Shaheen, MD
Secretary
Robert Bonakdar, MD
Treasurer
Wadie Najm, MD
Officer at large
Contact information: calchapaama@hotmail.com
Georgia
Georgia Association of Medical Acupuncturists will present, Constitutional Five Element Acupuncture, with Lonny S. Jarrett, MAc, March 25-26 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta, GA. Five Element fundamentals, the power of Sheng and Ke cycle in treatment planning and the healing imagery contained in the acupuncture point names will be discussed. Sponsored by AAMA, this event has been planned in accordance with the essential areas and policies of the ACCME and AAMA has designated this activity for a maximum of 13 hours in Category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. 13 CEUs also are offered by NCCAOM. For more information, contact Anna Kelly, MD, at 404/255-8388.
Illinois
On Feb. 1, the Illinois Chapter, led by President, Tony V. Lu, MD, FAAMA, will host a talk by Aaron J. Michelfelder, MD, FAAMA, FAAFP, on "Integrating Acupuncture into a Busy Medical Practice." Dr. Michelfelder is an assistant professor of both family medicine and bioethics and health policy, and practices medical acupuncture and integrative medicine at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. This event will be taped by the AAMA for possible use in a virtual on-line series being developed by the Academy.
New Jersey
The joint AAMA Chapters of New Jersey and Pennsylvania will sponsor the conference, Management of Non Orthopedic Musculoskeletal Problems using Acupuncture, by Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, MD,
on Jan 28-29 at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ. Contact Lois V. Stefanowitz, DO, to register (215/483-0801, lastef@msn.com). Chapter members' cost is $750.
New York
Throughout 2005, members of the New York Chapter have been active nationally, with Dr. Robert Schulman serving on the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) and four others, Drs. Claudia M. Cooke, Bruce R. Gilbert, Susan G. Kaplan and Roberto A. Jodorkovsky, serving on the AAMA Board of Directors.
On the local level, Drs. Robert Duarte and Bruce R. Gilbert have been working with the North Shore LIJ Health system to grant physician privileges for acupuncture. At least one of the member hospitals, North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove, has already credentialed two members, Drs. Barry Root and Bruce R. Gilbert, with systemwide credentialing expected during 2006. Drs. Robert Duarte and Bruce R. Gilbert have also helped organize and participated in, a day-long conference sponsored by the North Shore LIJ Health Care System entitled, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence Based Overview for the Healthcare Provider held in December at the Long Island Marriott Hotel and Conference Center Uniondale, NY. Of the 300 attendees, more than 150 were physicians.
The New York Chapter is actively seeking new members and members interested in leadership positions. This is a great opportunity to get involved locally with the Academy. We need your active involvement to be able to continue to expand activities. For additional information, contact Chapter President Bruce R. Gilbert, MD, PhD (bruce.gilbert@verizon.net, 516/487-2700).
Ohio
The Ohio Chapter continues to hold regular Journal Club meetings. These are excellent opportunities to learn about the dynamic changes in acupuncture, interact with like-minded colleagues and improve your acupuncture techniques. The Chapter's next Journal Club meeting will be on Jan. 22 at the Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine in Cincinnati. Psychiatrist, neurologist and acupuncturist Dr Henry Kenkel will discuss and review the treatment of migraines and chronic headaches. Please e-mail Dr. Sandi Amoils (amoilsss@healthall.com) if you are interested in attending.
Members had another stimulating and successful workshop presented by Dr Michael Greenwood in October. They would enjoy having more AAMA members in the vicinity participating in their efforts to create a Chapter that is educational and collegial, so please join by contacting Dr. Amoils at amoilsss@healthall.com.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Chapter just hosted an educational event with Kalpana Patankar, MD, Mac. She is a physician certified in pediatrics and followed through with a MAc. at Tai Sophia. She presented a program on 5 elements and its perspective on the fall/winter season and how to treat these patients. The program was very successful.
The Pennsylvania Chapter is planning on a combined educational with the New Jersey Chapter of AAMA Jan. 28-29. It will involve a new hands-on seminar presented by Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, M.D. This will apply to all muscular-fascia orthopedic problems not helped by any traditional means. They will learn hands-on how to identify and treat these problems. The course will be limited to the first 34 physicians applying so they can have hands-on teaching. The event will be held in South Jersey, very close to Philadelphia so transportation and lodging will be easy for any out-of-town attendees.
For further information, contact mbarry77@mindspring.com or go online to www.pamedicalacupuncture.com.
Further plans are being made to bring a Korean hand acupuncture course in the late winter or early spring. Watch for further information on that event.
For details on other Chapter events in eastern Pennsylvania, go online to www.pamedicalacupuncture.com.
Does your state have a regional AAMA chapter? If not, please consider forming one. Chapters provide fellowship, professional camaraderie, education and curbside consults. E-mail Dr. Bruce Gilbert (bruce.gilbert@verizon.net) for more information.
Chapter representatives, please send your updates for the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail to bdortberg@aol.com.
Medical acupuncture-related classified ads
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeks an outstanding clinician to create and lead an Integrative Medicine Consult Service (IMCS) at the NIH Clinical Center (CC) in Bethesda, MD. The world's largest hospital devoted exclusively to clinical investigation, the CC is the research hospital of NIH.
Reporting to NCCAM's clinical director, the IMCS Director will assemble a cadre of attending physicians and fellows to ensure delivery of the highest quality of integrative medicine consultation and clinical care to CC patients. Other responsibilities will include developing a teaching program, establishing administrative infrastructure, and managing staff resources. The IMCS will consult on and, as appropriate, treat CC in- and out-patients, availing such integrative medicine therapies as acupuncture, meditation, massage, and Reiki, among others.
Applicants must have:
- An MD, DO or equivalent degree
- Board certification in internal medicine, pediatrics, or family medicine
- A license to practice a medical discipline in the United States
- Experience identifying and managing complex medical issues in both in- and out-patient settings
- Strong leadership and management skills
Formal training and/or experience in integrative medicine are highly desirable. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience. Qualified individuals are encouraged to email their CV, bibliography, three references, and cover letter summarizing relevant experience to nccamdirector-r@mail.nih.gov (subject line: IMCS Search). Candidates needing reasonable accommodation may fax application materials to 301-402-4741. The application deadline is Feb. 28, 2006. For updates on this position and to learn more about NCCAM, visit www.nccam.nih.gov.
-----------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, PC has an immediate opening for a physician acupuncturist one day per week at the George Mason Clinic in Falls Church, VA. A physician in primary care, neurology, rheumatology, orthopedics or PM&R preferred. Will do general intake h and p to access for integrative modalities for the patient's condition. The patient mix is 95% adult. Medical conditions are predominantly chronic pain, oncology and women's health. Physician must have training in acupuncture, and knowledge of additional CAM modalities is preferred. Respond with CV via e-mail to Kelly.l.vrana@kp.org or apply online at http://physiciancareers.kp.org.
-----------------------------------------------
For sale: Helio Pantheon 6 Channel Stimulator, new - never used, includes facial stimulator probes, list price $420, now $350 including shipping. Contact Dr. Susan Kaplan at drsgkaplan@msn.com.
-----------------------------------------------
Practice for sale. Enjoyable solo practice limited to medical acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Office is located very accessibly on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio, 20 minutes from downtown and 5 minutes from comfortable rustic suburban living. Lots of opportunity for growth for an ambitious medical acupuncturist. Contact Charles May, MD, 440/460-9401, fax 440/460-9402, e-mail drmay@charlesmaymd.com.
-----------------------------------------------
Physician with established integrative pain management practice seeks experienced physician with acupuncture and/or manual medicine skills to participate in Baltimore, MD area outpatient center. Excellent clinician with strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills needed. Extensive knowledge of complementary treatment options also desirable. Commitment to excellence, integrity and collaborative teamwork required. Exciting opportunity to make a difference in people's lives and to be part of a model center for integrative pain management. Contact mjfishburn@att.net or fax 410/821-1789.
-----------------------------------------------
Medical acupuncture practice with 30-year patient network for sale in Berkeley, CA. Creative arrangement. HMI/UCLA graduate only. E-mail cb@hmieducation.com.
-----------------------------------------------
Acupuncturist/Chinese/natural path doctor needed for New Day Spa &Wellness Center opening in 2006 in Boca Raton, FL. Contact Gayle Wentworth (561/414-1777, timespa@aol.com).