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President's Message: Promote AAMA to your peers, get them to join & to attend Symposium
By Rey Ximenes, MD, FAAMA
President, AAMA
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the 5th Annual Addiction Symposium here in Austin, TX. My topic was about how holistic measures can help in the treatment of addiction.
To most of us, the use of acupuncture and other holistic methods is almost a reflex, but we forget that many of our colleagues in western medicine are not as familiar with these techniques. Despite being aware of this, I was still surprised when people approached me after the lecture and thanked me for presenting this "new" information.
Sometimes we forget how the AAMA is on the cutting edge of medicine in so many ways. I hope none of you have forgotten how important you are to the future of medicine. What we are doing is more than acupuncture. It is getting closed ears to open and listen to potentially better ways of dealing with patients.
Talk It Up!
One of the ways we can spread the word is to tell others what we do. Tell others how acupuncture has helped us to better care for our patients. Encourage others to join in using acupuncture as a tool in their practices. The more people we get to join in on this adventure and join with us in the AAMA, the more we gain credibility from the sheer numbers.
Do you know who is practicing acupuncture in your area? Are they members of the AAMA? Do they know of our upcoming Symposium in Baltimore, MD?
If you do know someone, ask them if they are a member. Ask them why not. Ask them to join us in our 25th year celebration, May 2-5, 2013 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace in Baltimore, MD.
It is you, the members at the grass roots level, that can do your AAMA a lot of good. Remember, it is with numbers that we gain in strength.
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Mark your calendar now for Symposium 2013
The final touches are being put on the program to celebrate the 25th Anniversary AAMA Symposium, May 3-5, 2013 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace in Baltimore, MD, chaired by Dr. Jay Sandweiss.
We will be continuing the tradition with great programming. Highlights include: National and international faculty; timely and useful clinically useful content, plenary, mini-workshops and indepth sessions. Hear the latest research, master clinical techniques and explore new systems.
Guest Faculty Confirmed to Date
Joseph Audette, MD; Steven Aung, MD; Dan Bensky, DO, Thomas Burgoon, MD, Brodie Burris, LAc; Chip Chace, LAc; Mitchell Elkiss, DO; Michael Hammes, MD; Jan Hendryx, DO; Lixing Lao, MD, Charles Moss, MD; Louisa Silva, MD; Nader Soliman, MD, and W. Weidenhammer, PhD.
This will be a great time in a great city. Make new and renew professional social connections. You will find enjoyable opportunities to visit and socialize with colleagues.
Look for the program to be finalized and posted on the AAMA website soon, along with online registration opening. Save $50 by registering online.
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Call for Poster Presentations
This is the Call for Entries to present Poster Presentations at the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture's Symposium 2013, in Baltimore, MD May 3-5, 2013.
Please follow all instructions carefully to allow your application to be fully considered. Space and time is limited. Posters must be submitted in English.
Application to make a Poster Presentation at the AAMA Symposium should be submitted no later than February 28, 2013. An abstract (summary) of the proposed Poster Presentations should be submitted via email by February 28, 2013, to jdowden@prodigy.net with the e-mail subject line reading: 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.
Poster Presentation Awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place presentations, with $750, $500 and $250 awarded, respectively. Awards will be announced at the close of the Symposium.
If your poster application is accepted, you will be notified by March 15, 2013.
AS PER CME REQUIREMENTS, ALL PRESENTERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMERCIAL DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AS NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCT OR SERVICE OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND THIS WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUBMISSION.
Accepted Poster Presentations should be formatted on paper or laminated poster presentations measuring no greater than 48 inches tall and 72 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, May 3, 2013 between 1-3 pm. Posters should be removed on Saturday, May 4, 2013 by 2 pm. Posters that are not removed by the stated time will be discarded.
There will be no organized or moderated discussions over posters. However, you should be available to offer your explanation to interested colleagues on Friday, May 3, 2013 at the Wine and Cheese reception at 5-7 pm. 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.
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Call for Free Paper (Oral) Presentations
You have until February 28, 2013 to apply to present a Free (Oral) Paper at the AAMA Symposium 2013, in Baltimore, MD May 3-5, 2013.
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. All Free Papers must be submitted in English.
An abstract (summary) of a proposed Free Paper oral presentation should be submitted via e-mail by February 28, 2013 to jdowden@prodigy.net with the e-mail subject line reading: 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.
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.
Free Paper Awards will be offered to up to three presentations based on the committee's sole judgement as to the quality of the paper, research and value as a contribution to the medical acupuncture scientific literature. Awards will be announced at the close of the Symposium. All paper authors and presentors will be listed in the final Symposium program.
Only computer and oral presentation is allowed (No overhead projectors, whiteboards or similar aids). 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 2007 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 CME REQUIREMENTS, ALL PRESENTERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMERCIAL DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AS NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCT OR SERVICE OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND THIS WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUBMISSION.
Please, save the presentation on a CD or USB flash disk.
Standard PCs will be provided with OS Windows XP (1,136 GHz processor). The PC projectors project at XGA resolution (1024 x 768 pixels).
You will NOT use your own laptop. Rather, you should bring the file in the manner described above.
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.
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Call for Research Paper Competition
You have until February 28, 2013 to apply to present a Research Paper at the AAMA Symposium 2013 in Baltimore, MD on May 3-5, 2013. 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.
This is a call for entries for the annual Acupuncture Research Paper Award. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place awards will be presented at the AAMA Symposium. The deadline for submission of research papers for the competition is February 28, 2013. If your paper is selected as one of the winners, you will be notified by March 15, 2013. We are pleased to offer:
First Place: $1,500, Symposium Registration, travel to $500, and three night's hotel lodging for the presenting author. Paper to be presented at AAMA Symposium in Baltimore, MD, May 2013.
Second Place: $750, Symposium Registration, travel to $500.
Third Place: $350 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. 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 have been previously published. Work completed and accepted for publication during the 2012-‘13 year period will be considered, if the publishing journal will allow presentation at AAMA Symposium.
Papers should include the name and degree of the principle author and any coworkers, 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 February 28, 2013. 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.
AS PER CME REQUIREMENTS, AUTHORS OF THE FIRST PLACE PRIZE MUST COMPLETE A COMMERCIAL DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AS NO COMMERCIAL PRODUCT OR SERVICE OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
The paper may be submitted via email, though the AAMA assumes no liability or responsibility for papers not received. E-mail submissions should be sent to jdowden@prodigy.net with the e-mail subject line "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 February 28, 2013, to:
Research Award Contest
c/o C. James Dowden, Executive Administrator
1970 E. Grand Ave., Ste. 330
El Segundo, CA 90245
310/364-0193
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Physicians earn Board Certification in medical acupuncture
The following physicians 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):
Juan Cabrera, Jr., MD, of Evansville, IN; Tamarah Fratianni, DO, of Flagstaff, AZ; Eric Goldman, DO, of Allentown, PA; Karen Lin, MD, of Philadelphia, PA; Iman Majd, MD, of Seattle, WA; Alison Schick, MD, of Shiprock, NM; and Michael J. Weber, MD, of Madison, WI.
The Academy has posted a list online of physicians who are Board Certified. Diplomates (DABMA) are listed alphabetically by last name, along with their location, and dates of expiration.
Click here for more on the Board Certification process.
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Physicians complete process for 10-year ABMA recertification
The following physicians have completed the process set by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture Board of Trustees to be recertified as a Diplomate for another 10 years:
Kevin Barry, MD, of Mendham, NJ; Robert J. Gross, MD, of Portland, OR; Joe A. Jackson, MD, of Biloxi, MS; Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, of Boston, MA; Tony Y. Liu, MD, of Johnson City, NY; Ravi Ramaswami, MD, of Saugerties, NY; Divya Swaroop, MD, of Ellicott City, MD; and Joseph Y. Wong, MD of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
After 10 years, each candidate for recertification was required to submit the following:
· Application for recertification.
· Copy of current active medical license.
· Documentation of 150 hours of continuing education credits in medical acupuncture since certification. CME credit is preferred. Topics must be primarily acupuncture. Independently awarded CEU credits may be acceptable, at the discretion of the Board.
· Submission of two written Case Reports on actual cases treated to demonstrate continued knowledge and proficiency in the discipline. Specific Case Report Guidelines will be provided.
· Payment of a recertification fee of $250.
There is no written examination required for recertification.
Applications for recertification should be submitted at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the original certification to assure sufficient time for Board review and approval. Each submission is submitted to the Board for review to confirm the adequacy of the Case Reports and to confirm that the continuing education requirements were met.
For those designees who are unable to complete the process by the expiration date, an automatic extension of up to three years is available upon request.
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AAMA prepares to offer free webinar on Nov. 28, workshop on chronic pain
By Claudia E. Harsh, MD
Chair, Education Committee, AAMA
claudia.harsh@gmail.com
The Education Committee of the AAMA is interested in providing high-quality acupuncture education for members throughout the year. This free Webinar has now been scheduled:
"Acupuncture Trauma Protocol (ATP) "
Mitchell Elkiss, DO
Wednesday, Nov 28th at 8pm EST
"In this webinar, I will review the diagnostic, pathophysiologic, and
therapeutic aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.)," said Dr. Elkiss. "In particular, I
will discuss the Acupuncture Trauma Protocol (ATP), an Auricular treatment for
acute and chronic aspects of PTSD. I will highlight the theoretical basis for
this protocol, the methods of identification and stimulation of the points, and
will present clinical material. This is a technique that has the potential to
simply address the complex neuroanatomical and psychoemotional aspects of trauma
spectrum symptomatology."
Register for Webinar - this is FREE for current AAMA members; however,
there are limited spaces available for the "live" event. Please indicate your
interest in attending through the form below. Instructions for joining the
Webinar will be sent to the provided email address.
NOTE: For this webinar, you should use your computer speakers for best
audio quality, and this platform requires FLASH to view on your device so you
aren't able to view with an iPad for example. You should ensure that you have
the most up to date version of Adobe Flash Player in order to access the
webinar.
To Register - fill out this online form.
There are several practice management webinars available on the AAMA website that are free to members. With support from the office, we have changed companies and tweaked the webinar format, and are now ready to again offer webinars to the membership.
All we need is YOU! If you would like to present a topic to the membership, please contact me. We are looking for either case studies in your own practice, a literature review of a specific clinical situation (eg back pain, fibroid tumors etc.) or a topic of your choice.
Weekend Workshop
Also, highly-successful weekend workshop on chronic pain given by Peter T. Dorsher, MD, and Dr. John P. Kohler, MD, FAAMA, last summer will be repeated in early February 2013 in the Southeast. In addition, we have successfully recorded several lectures that will be offered to the membership for CME credit.
Thank you for sharingg your interests and passion with your colleagues.
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Dr. Nakazawa leads 13th Japan Seminar in Hamamatsu
By Hirohsi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA
On Oct. 7-9, the 13th consecutive AAMA-Japan Seminar was held at Mamiya Clinic in Hamamatsu. With slow but steady recovery from the disaster in 2011, many physicians and acupuncturists gathered together, and it was most successful.
The protocol is a didactic lecture first, then the reports and presentation of participating physicians during the past year, in the morning sessions. The newer introduction of theory and instrument demonstration of " Frequency Medicine" by AAMA menbers Drs. Hidenori Takahashi and Yosuyoshi Mamiya was "eye-popping" for its diagnostic acumen and suggestion of treatment methodology.
In the afternoon, there was as ususal, clinincal sessions similar to my office hours. First I demonstrated techniques with participants how to reach the diagnosis of "Sho" with so-called 4-Examination method, including Pulse diagnoisis. Once the "Root Treatment" was performed, the "Branch Treatment" was all inclusive- American, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and other styles suitible to the patients.
Before the demonstration, I asked all participants to jot down their impressions as diagnosis and their thinking of treatment process while observing those demonstrations. At the end of the day, we disscussed all cases in a Q&A period.
I found this type of "eduction program" has been effective as well received here. This past spring, I was able to demonstrate this type of acupuncture education program at the University of Alberta, being invited by Steven KH Aung, MD, OMD, PhD. According to Dr. Aung, the presentation was well recieved by particiapants.
Learning "new" is always stimulating as the years go by.
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Acupuncture Eases Pain
Research revealed involing 29 acupuncture studies with 17,922 patients
Acupuncture to treat chronic pain is better than placebo (sham) acupuncture or no acupuncture, researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, wrote in the JAMA journal Archives of Internal Medicine (Sept. 10, 2012). That was their conclusion after analyzing data from 29 randomized controlled human studies involving 17,922 patients – believed to be the largest study of acupuncture to date.
Medical News Today reports that while researchers found acupuncture is used extensively to treat chronic pain, its acceptance is mixed -- and there is controversy about its efficacy and value.
In the recent study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search of well-designed clinical trials evaluating the effects of acupuncture on four different types of chronic pain, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain.
Researchers found that when compared to sham acupuncture or no acupuncture, true acupuncture was significantly more effective in reducing all four types of chronic pain. Pain scores were significantly reduced for all pain types when true acupuncture was compared to sham acupuncture, and the effect sizes were greater when true acupuncture was compared to no acupuncture treatment at all. Authors noted that the significant differences between sham and true acupuncture indicate that the effects of acupuncture may be more than a suggested placebo effect.
Sources of Benefit
In addition, results from the study provide robust evidence that the effects of acupuncture on pain are attributable to two components: The larger component includes factors such as the patient’s belief that treatment will be effective, as well as placebo and other context effects. A smaller acupuncture-specific component involves such issues as the locations of specific needling points or depth of needling.
Although millions of Americans use acupuncture each year, often for chronic pain, there has been considerable controversy surrounding its value as a therapy and whether it is anything more than an elaborate placebo. Research exploring a number of possible mechanisms for acupuncture’s pain-relieving effects is ongoing.
Researchers found that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic pain. Therefore, additional research is warranted, concludes the study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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Medical Acupuncture Research News
The following is a review of reported research results and related news recently announced or released through Internet outlets:
·The abstract, “A randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer,” was published in Annals of Oncology (Oct. 24, 2012). Participants had two hour-long educational sessions on oral care or 8 weekly 20-minute sessions of group acupuncture targeting points believed to influence salivary glands. Researchers found that participants were between 1.65-2.08 times more likely to report improvements in 5 of 6 dry mouth symptoms.
·The abstract, “High-frequency electroacupuncture versus carprofen in an incisional pain model in rats,” was published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (Aug. 23, 2012). Researchers tested the effects of electro-acupuncture to determine its ability to reduce postoperative pain caused by incisions. The study compared a control group with a medication group, an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Researchers concluded that acupuncture reduces postoperative pain.
·The abstract, “Acupuncture relieves menopausal discomfort in breast cancer patients: A prospective, double blinded, randomized study,” was published in The Breast (Aug. 19, 2012). A randomized-controlled study of 94 women compared an acupuncture group, a sham acupuncture group and a non-treatment control group. The acupuncture group showed significant improvements in quality sleep and relief from hot flashes, while the others did not. Researchers concluded that acupuncture is effective for the relief of hot flashes and sleep disturbances in women treated for breast cancer.
·Results of the study, “Chronic Electrical Stimulation at Acupuncture Points Improves Dyspeptic Symptoms,” were just revealed at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 77th Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers used a digital microstimulator to assess electrical stimulation at acupuncture points on gastroparesis symptoms in diabetic patients with refractory gastroparesis. They concluded that diabetic patients suffering from gastroparesis may find that chronic electrical stimulation at acupuncture points could relieve gastroparesis symptoms
·The abstract, “Acupuncture may Benefit Parkinson’s Patients,” was published in Complementary Medicine News (Sept. 20, 2012). A fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) was used to measure effects of needling acupuncture point GB34 (Yanglinqquan) on parts of the brain affected by Parkinson's Disease. Researchers concluded that acupuncture may help relieve some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as it appears that needling reactivates parts of the brain that have become too deactivated.
·The abstract, “Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management in labour,” was published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 3. This review examined evidence supporting the use of acupuncture and acupressure for pain management in labor. It included 13 trials with data on 1,986 women. Researchers concluded that acupuncture may have a role with reducing pain, increasing satisfaction with pain management and reduced use of pharmacological management.
·The abstract, “Acupuncture activates signal transduction pathways related to brain-tissue restoration after ischemic injury,” was published in Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 7, Issue 24, August 2012). A study used a protein chip to understand changes in brain-tissue proteins after acupuncture. The number of activated proteins increased after acupuncture at Dazhui, Baihui, and Renzhong, and they were mostly key proteins that contributed substantially to signaling pathways. Researchers concluded that acupuncture can activate multiple signaling pathways to promote the restoration of brain tissue following ischemic injury.
Please send information you find on research involving the efficacy of medical acupuncture to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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Planners need your Symposium photos
Committee members organizing special events to celebrate the 25th Anniversary AAMA Symposium are seeking your help. They are collecting photographs and memorabilia from the early Symposium meetings and Academy events. We are looking for any photos that members may have of the early meetings of the Academy -- any photos of speakers, conference delegates or other interesting related images. Please take a look to see what you might have that you can share with us, so the committee can consider using them in the celebration events being planned for the Baltimore Symposium.
Please contact Dr. Sandi Amoils (Sandi.Amoils@myhealingpartner.com ) or Dr. Marshall Sager (dr.mhs@verizon.net ), who are heading up the Celebration efforts, or send your photos to Executive Administrator Jim Dowden (jdowden@prodigy.net ).
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Member News
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that there were 2,119 unique visits to the website referral page in August, 2,021 visits in September and 1,884 in October from patients seeking medical acupuncturists in their area. Members interested in participating in the Patient Referral Program should visit the physician listings online to verify that they are listed. Only Practice level members are eligible to participate, and the Academy staff needs explicit notice to include a member in the program.
The Academy has hosted free webinars for members. "Getting Started: Setting Up an Acupuncture Practice" by Dr. Claudia Harsh; "How To Get Paid: Reimbursement Principles and Pearls for Workers Compensation and Accidents" by John P. Kohler, MD, FAAMA, and "Billing 101 -- The Basics of Getting Paid," by Rey Ximenes, MD, FAAMA are posted in the Member Area of the AAMA website.
Stevan A. Walkowski, DO, DABMA, was involved with the study, “Acupuncture attenuates exercise-induced increases in skin sympathetic nerve activity,” concerning dermatology problems. The article was published in Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical (July 5, 2011). He found that acupuncture has the capacity to attenuate the increased skin sympathetic nerve activity.
Physician Acupuncture Training will offer, The Chicago Conference on Integration in Medicine, 9am-5pm, Nov. 17-18, 2012 at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Penthouse Conference Room, 13th Floor, in Chicago, IL. Instructor will be Christian Nix, MA, LAc, of Barefoot Medicine Training. For details, call 866/841-9139, Ext. 1011 or visit http://physicianacupuncturetraining.com/PAI/.
If you are a Full Member or Fellow of the AAMA with DABMA certification, you should be printing the Medical Acupuncture certification mark on your stationary, b usiness cards or other listings to promote your special accomplishments in medical acupuncture. The certification mark is available only to Full Members and Fellows of the AAMA who are currently Board Certified by the ABMA. See the image of logo posted online. The mark has been registered with the US Patent Office as a Certification Mark that is available for the exclusive use of those who meet the specified credentials. See the Certification Mark Guidelines posted online for standards on how the mark should be used in printed materials including acceptable type face, size, color, etc. For an electronic copy of a reproducible jpeg copy of the logo to provide your printer, Full Members and Fellows who are currently Board Certified through the ABMA may send a request to administrator@medicalacupuncture.org. Upon verification of your status, a jpg file will be sent to you.
AAMA’s 25TH Annual Symposium will be held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace in Baltimore, MD. The Review Course will be April 30-May 1, 2013, followed by Pre-Symposium Workshops on May 2, 2013, the Symposium May 3-5, 2013 and then the ABMA Exam on May 5, 2013. To book a room at AAMA’s discounted rate of $199/night (sgl/dbl), call (410) 547-1200 or 800-535-1201 by April 7, 2013 and mention the AAMA Symposium.
The 6th Annual Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum will be held Nov. 14-18, 2012 on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. Academy members are encouraged to learn more about this conference. There are four days of programs with clinical presentations from participants of each of the four societies. Look through the materials posted here to get more details on the schedule, registration fees and hotel. A fair number of Academy members have participated in these Pan Pacific Forums in the past and many have come back reporting on what a valuable and enjoyable experience it was. For details, contact AAMA Executive Administrator Jim Dowden (310/364-0193, administrator@medicalacupuncture.org).
Acupuncture will be considered an "essential health benefit" in California and will be covered by individual and small group health plans starting in 2014, reports Acupuncture Today. On Sept. 30, Gov. Jerry Brown signed measures SB 951 and AB 1453, which included acupuncture to be covered under the federal health reform also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The health care law will require all insurance plans to cover a specific set of benefits.
Colonel (retired) Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, director of the US Air Force Acupuncture Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, led an official group of seven US military acupuncture physicians to a meeting with the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, China to exchange acupuncture information in October. This was the first Sino-American Military Acupuncture Conference.
Raman Kapur, MD, announces the 15th National Conference of Acupuncture Association of India, Dec. 7-9 at the India International Centre in New Delhi, India. It is designed to provide participants with information on different approaches to the treatment of common conditions seen in clinical practice, so that they may tailor acupuncture treatments to the needs of individual patients. The conference will focus on clinically relevant treatment approaches and techniques that the acupuncture practitioner can put to immediate use. The Symposium is designed for instruction and training of health care professionals practicing acupuncture.
Alternative Medicine Seminars has announced the spring 2013 schedule. Featured are basic and advanced seminars in auricular therapy, auricular medicine, three-phase hand acupuncture, and homeopathy for physicians and acupuncture practitioners. Also featured are weekend workshops for practicing the Vascular Autonomic Signal and auricular medicine protocols. For more information, visit the Academy's calendar of events or log onto www.alternativemedicineseminars.com.
Editor-in-Chief Dr. Richard Niemtzow of the journal, Medical Acupuncture, is seeking volunteer reviewers to review manuscripts. Reviewers will access manuscripts online. Reviews must be completed and returned within one business week. Reviewers successfully completing a series of timely, high-quality reviews may be invited to join the Editorial Board (at the discretion of the editor in chief). Please send brief qualifications and contact information to n5ev@aol.com.
Attention all DABMA designees: The ABMA is now into the second year of certification renewals. More recent Diplomates have been completing the renewal process quicker, as they are aware of the requirements and are prepared to meet them. As a reminder, you must document completion of 150 hours of continuing education credits in medical acupuncture-related courses at the time of re-certification. Those who are short are asked to complete those credits before your certification comes up for renewal.
A screening was recently held for, "Escape Fire: The Fight To Rescue American Healthcare," a critically acclaimed heathcare documentary that Mitch Prywes,MD,  FAAMA, sponsored at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT. The film features Drs. Andrew Weil and Dean Ornish, as well as AAMA Past President Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH. It also features Dr. Erin Martin, a primary care physician from Oregon (on Dr. Prywes’ right), and Dr. Pamela Ross, an ER physician from the University of Virgina (to the left of Dr. Niemtzow). Both Drs. Martin and Ross are classmates of Dr. Prywes from the Arizona Fellowship in Integrative Medicine established by Dr. Weil. They were all on hand withtheState of Connecticut Health Advocate for a Q&A following the screening, which drew 300+ attendees.
General Secretary Walburg Maric-Oehler, MD, recently announced that the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniqes (ICMART) Congress will be held Nov. 29-Dec. 3, 2013 in Vienna, Austria. ICMART is an international non-profit association involving 35,000 doctors in 90 medical acupuncture associations. More details are available on the ICMART website.
Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, FAAMA, authored, “One Medicine, One Acupuncture” (Animals, 2012). It forges a synthesis between human and veterinary acupuncture requires consistency in point location across species so that meaningful comparisons can be made. This paper reveals incongruities that remain between human and veterinary acupuncture points, illustrating the need to analyze anatomical characteristics of each point to assure accuracy in selecting transpositional acupuncture locations.
As part of AAMA membership, members are being offered access to more than 400 journal articles categorized by disease/health application that promote the efficacy of acupuncture. Contact The Helms Medical Institute at mafp@hmieducation.com to obtain your unique password to access this information anytime. Then go to http://hmieducation.com/home and click on "Published Articles." Scroll down to "View Articles Not in the Public Domain."
The International Congress on Naturopathic Medicine (ICNM) will take place in Paris, France from July 7-9, 2013 at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Centre.ICNM will gather multi-disciplinary naturopathic physicians, therapists, professors and health care professionals from around the world, to improve patient care and define alternative healthcare.
Please send news items and photos to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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Chapter News
Arizona
Arizona Chapter meetings are held at 9 am the second Saturday of the month at Dr. Martha Grout’s office, Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine, 9328 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. For details, call 480/240-2600 or e-mail drmartha@arizonaadvancedmedicine.com. There are monthly speakers on topics related to medical acupuncture, as well as Chinese and Functional/Integrative medicine. Email Dr. Grout to get on the email list for meeting announcements.
Georgia
The Georgia Association of Medical Acupuncturists invites everyone to visit their website to learn more about their organization’s philosophy, mission, events and much more. Their site includes a “Member” page, which includes contact information for each GAMA member. For information regarding membership and seminars, contact GAMA President Carlos Parrado, MD, at parrado.pena@att.net.
Illinois
The goal of President Lorene Wu, MD, DiplAc, and Secretary/Treasurer Anthony DeLorenzo, DO is to provide education and support to members. They plan to interface more with the wider acupuncture community by serving on the Illinois Acupuncture Board and by attending meetings of the local acupuncture society.
Meetings are held every other month at Memorial Hospital in LaGrange, IL.
Maryland
The Maryland Society of Medical Acupuncture, in association with the Maryland Acupuncture Clinic and Lhasa OMS, was proud to sponsor the” Auriculotherapy Seminar,” by Raphael Nogier, MD, in Rockville, MD Oct. 25-27, 2012. This was the first time that Dr. Nogier has lectured on Auriculotherapy in the United States. The class was well attended, with more than 70 attendees from throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
Dr. Nogier was informative and entertaining, and worked seamlessly with his interpreter. He started with the origins of Auriculotherapy, including his father’s work, Dr. Paul Nogier, father of Auriculotherapy.
Dr. Nogier went over the anatomy and innervations of the ear and how they correlate to specific parts of the body. For example, C2 on the body can be found on the “C2” point of the antihelix. He went on to discuss the early landmark studies the showed the connection between auricular points and body pathology.
The ear is sensitive enough to show specific changes in its surface due to acute and chronic changes in the body. In addition to diagnostic information, he went on to show that the ear can be used to treat the body pathology in a quick and efficient manner.
He addressed issues including laterality, scars and dental foci. He included numerous easy to use protocols for treating everything from hot flashes to headaches and advanced arthritis to repetitive infections. He entertained participants with live patients from the audience, in addition to his own cases.
Dr. Nogier gave attendees insights into his new book regarding acupuncture and food allergies.
Both participants and Dr. Nogier had a wonderful time and then he was fortunate enough to leave New York City just ahead of Hurricane Sandy.
Chapter members are thrilled that he has agreed to come back to Maryland in 2013 year for another seminar. If you are interested, contact either Dr. Joan Ordman or John Howard at the Maryland Acupuncture Clinic, www.mdacuclinic.com, (301) 515-7272.
The MSMA is planning the following upcoming speakers
1. Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, on his recent visit to China to discuss acupuncture with the Chinese Military. TBA
2. Dr. Nasir Bashirelahi, Professor, University of Maryland School of Dentistry on Nutrition for Antiaging.
3. Joan Ordman, MD, FAAMA, Inpatient Acupuncture treatments on the newly injured Wounded Warriors returning from the battlefield.
Joan Ordman, MD, FAAMA, is president of the Maryland Society of Medical Acupuncturists. The chapter offers educational programs and wants to increase participation. Treat yourself to a nice evening. It is free, and members whose dues are paid receive a nice free meal. The lecture is on the Chapter. Contact Dr. Ordman at jordman@aol.com to join MSMA.
Ohio
 
The Ohio Chapter held a very successful seminar entitled, “Integrative Systemic Dry Needling for Pain Management,” presented by Yun-Tao Ma, PhD, LAc, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in October. Participants attended from all over the US, including Texas and California.
Ohio Chapter members would love to see more active participation of the current membership, as well as new members. Please join them and invite medical acupuncture colleagues. For more information or questions, contact President Dr. Steve Amoils at Steve.Amoils@myhealingpartner.com.
New Jersey & Pennsylvania
John Kohler, MD, FAAMA, is the president of the Pennsylvania Chapter. Visit www.pamedicalacupuncture.com/ for details on this chapter.
Click here for an up-to-date listing of AAMA Regional Chapter officers, their contact information, Websites and members. Think about joining a Chapter to learn more about medical acupuncture specific to your area. And if there’s not a Chapter in your region, please consider forming one by contacting Jim Dowden, AAMA executive administrator, at administrator@medicalacupuncture.org. Chapters provide fellowship, professional camaraderie, education and curbside consults.
Chapter representatives, please send your news and photos for the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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Employment Opportunities
·A medical acupuncturist is sought at a stroke therapy center – the first of its kind on the Island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. Participants would be fully compensated for the once-per-month visit. With no acupuncture support there, they must outsource. They would pay for all airfare, meals, accommodations and ground transportation, along with the participant’s requested fee while there each month. Interested physicians can contact Mariella Chatoor at 868/479-4848 or mariellachatoor@gmail.com.
Send your employment vacancy or position sought to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com for a free listing on AAMA’s website.
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