AAMA
Newsletter
Serving the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
July 2001

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AAMA joins international Congress
By Marshall H. Sager, DO, DABMA
AAMA PRESIDENT

In June, AAMA Past President Bryan Frank, MD, DABMA, and I were pleased to represent the Academy at the International Congress on Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) 2001 in Berlin, Germany. The AAMA was inducted as an ICMART member organization during the Congress. Also added to the international list of ICMART members were the Medical Acupuncture Societies of Australia, Spain, Italy and Northern Greece.

ICMART offers an outstanding opportunity for the Academy to expand its prestige and influence through international contacts and mutual cooperation. The fact that Drs. Frank, Joe Helms and I were all asked to speak indicates the enthusiasm with which AAMA membership was received.

The Berlin conference offered us the opportunity to refine our understanding of the history of acceptance of complimentary and alternative therapies in other parts of the world. For example, we were interested to learn that acupuncture is part of the medical school curriculum in France, among other countries, where it is viewed as a medical specialty akin to dermatology and cardiology.

We also discovered that physician acupuncturists in Australia, England, Germany and Scotland, among others, are experiencing the same practice rights and compensation issues faced by Academy members in the US. We discussed Academy legislative and third party payor strategies, and because our efforts have been successful, were able to offer them assistance with their problems. Correspondingly, our discussions with new friends from around the world provided fertile ground for future Academy efforts in many areas.

ICMART and AAMA share many mutual goals-among them is the desire to provide evidence-based research with respect to efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of acupuncture and related techniques. Working with the World Health Organization (WHO), ICMART is striving to establish uniform standards and evaluation methods for acupuncture safety and effective practice. WHO, through ICMART, is reviewing the progress of the legal status of traditional and complementary medicines throughout the world and their integration, where appropriate, into national healthcare systems.

ICMART, like AAMA, is actively pursuing ways to educate medical students and provide them with incentives and encouragement to study medical acupuncture.

And that is only the beginning. ICMART affiliation offers AAMA unparalleled prominence, influence and opportunity. As a major player on the world medical acupuncture stage, the Academy now speaks with a force far exceeding our ever-increasing numbers. (See related Membership Committee chairman's report on the front page). Dr. Frank shot ICMART photos seen in this issue.

It's an exciting time to be an AAMA member, and we ask you to join us. There are many opportunities for Academy volunteer participation. Are you interested in expanding our membership? Does legislation interest you? Contact me (610/668-2400, 610/668-3519 fax, pksager@voicenet.com) to find your niche.

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AAMA planting seeds to reap bountiful harvest
By Gene Hong, MD, DABMA, AAMA Board Director
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR

Summer is here, finally. In Portland, OR, this is our reminder why we put up with the rain the other nine months. The garden is full of flowers and vegetables that were planted in the spring. Every evening, I am able to pick up the veggies from the garden for my dinner. Life is good.

Since AAMA's Symposium in New Orleans, the Membership Committee has been busy planting seeds that will bear a bountiful harvest for the Academy. With the help of Drs. Alejandro Elorriaga and Bryan Frank, a new class of international membership is being crafted.

International members would be able to attend Academy functions and bring to the Academy new opportunities and energy. We recognize that AAMA is part of a much greater global movement to integrate acupuncture into the practice of medicine (see article above).

If you would like to become involved with the creation and implementation of policies that will help the Academy grow, contact me (gghong@aol.com, 503/408-0865).

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Medical acupuncture training offered

HMI announces offerings, the first of which is for graduates of its basic courses for more clinical training in medical acupuncture.

Each of the intermediate courses is accredited for 24 hours of Category 1 credit through UCLA School of Medicine's Office of Continuing Medical Education. HMI Intermediate Course One is scheduled for Oct. 27-28, 2001 in Boca Raton, FL, and HMI Intermediate Course Two for Dec. 8-9, 2001 in Las Vegas, NV. They have a video study of four patient interview tapes. Because of the hands-on format of the courses, enrollment is limited to 50 participants.

Musculoskeletal Disorders
In a separate offering, Linda Rapson, MD, executive president of the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute, will lead a workshop on two occasions demonstrating the role of acupuncture therapy as primary or adjunct management for common musculoskeletal disorders.

Workshops will be held Nov. 3-4, 2001 in Boca Raton, FL and again on Jan. 5-6, 2002 in Santa Monica, CA. They are accredited for 16 hours of Category 1 CME credit through UCLA School of Medicine's Office of CME.
The format is mixed didactic, demonstration, and supervised hands-on, with patients drawn from the audience. For further information or an enrollment form, contact Helms Medical Institute (510/649-8488, MAFP@HMIeducation.com).

For more details on these courses, contact HMI (510/649-8488, MAFP@HMIeducation.com).

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