|
President comments on Symposium, new DABMA website, educational opportunities
By Michael W. Coomes, MD, FAAMA
President, AAMA
April 2006 is approaching fast! Springtime in Washington, DC should be a beautiful venue for our combined ICMART/AAMA Symposium. We will be meeting at the historic Marriott Wardman Park Hotel located on the Metro, with easy access to many popular points of interest in downtown DC.
The 2006 Symposium Committee, under the leadership of co-chairmen Drs. Tapan Chaudhuri and Bryan Frank, is putting together the finishing touches on what, I think, will be a fascinating program of speakers from the US and abroad. Currently president of ICMART, Dr. Frank has been working closely with the Symposium Committee to coordinate our international presentations. I'm looking forward once again to our "annual reunion," where we can both learn from and teach each other in a unique atmosphere of collegial friendship.
Meanwhile, work in the "trenches" continues. The Academy's CME Committee, chaired by Dr. Michael Green, has been preparing for our upcoming ACCME reaccreditation. This involves reviewing, clarifying and documenting AAMA's policies and procedures for developing and delivering quality CME. It also requires applying a rigorous Continuous Quality Improvement program of self-evaluation. Our final meeting with the ACCME representatives will be in November. Occurring every four years, this process is critical to the maintenance of our CME accrediting status through the AMA.
With Dr. Ravinder Mamtani stepping down, Dr. Glenn Rothfeld has accepted the position of Education Committee chairman. This group interfaces with the CME Committee to develop and coordinate our ongoing CME presentations. A new workshop - developed and presented by Jay Shaw, MD, addressing new approaches to the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain - has been very well received. It will likely be offered again. Numerous other educational offerings are in the process of being evaluated and developed for use by AAMA chapters, as well as by outside organizations that the Academy will be cosponsoring. I would like to thank Dr. Mamtani and the many committee members in AAMA for their ongoing contributions to the work of the Academy.
NEW DABMA WEBSITE
If you have not already done so, you will want to visit the new American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) Web site at www.dabma.org. We now have nearly 400 physicians who have become diplomats of the ABMA, earning the designation DABMA. The ABMA is rapidly becoming the standard for medical acupuncture excellence nationally. As new Board chairman, Dr. Robert Gross continues to bring new energy and enthusiasm to the ABMA. Dr. Narda Robinson is chairing the effort to enhance the Board Certification exam. She and a number of your fellow colleagues who are experts in their field met as a special task force for subject matter and question development this summer in Chicago. Their work will ensure that our Board Certification exam will continue to maintain the highest standards of excellence.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Lastly, I want to report that Dr. Mitch Krause has agreed to head our Distance Education Program. He will work under the auspices of the Education Committee, and interface with the CME Committee as well, to develop and distribute cost-effective ongoing CME for members based on numerous educational opportunities the Academy sponsors.
In addition, Mitch has been serving on the Symposium Committee to help develop our educational offerings in Washington, DC, in April 2006. He is yet another example of how our volunteer members drive the quality and content of this Academy. As we mature as an organization, we are seeing our membership numbers begin to level off, as has enrollment in various medical acupuncture training programs in the US. While not unexpected, this underscores the need for more of us to reach out and get involved in the work of the Academy. Without your contributions, AAMA would not be able to continue to provide the services it does.
With each passing day, it seems that medical acupuncture is gaining greater recognition and acceptance by our colleagues and our patients. There are now several thousand physicians with training in medical acupuncture either through the UCLA course or some other program. And yet, many of those physicians are not active members in the Academy.
We are strongest when we truly represent the bulk of physicians practicing in this area. We speak with a louder voice at meetings of the AMA and its various committees, such as the CPT Editorial Panel, and we have greater clout when called on to respond to state legislative initiatives. Our educational programs are better, too, when we include the great diversity of ideas and experiences of all professionals out there who are practicing medical acupuncture. There really is strength in numbers and many other benefits besides. If you know of colleagues in your area or at your institution who have an interest or have training in this field, steer them to the Academy (www.medicalacupuncture.org). We need them to be involved as members...we all benefit.
Our strength lies in our common commitment to the growth, excellence and acceptance of medical acupuncture in the US. I look forward to seeing all of you again in April 2006!
BACK TO TOP
Member summarizes Third Worldwide Congress of Acupuncture in Brazil
By Claudia Machado Cooke, MD, FAAMA
Member, AAMA Board of Directors
The Third Worldwide Congress of Acupuncture of the World Medical Association of Acupuncture (WMAA) took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in September. I was pleased to attend the conference and meet many new colleagues among Brazilian and international participants in our burgeoning field.
Ysao Yamamura, MD, PhD, is the current president of the WMAA and founder of AMBA (Brazilian Medical Acpuncture Association). Dr. Yamamura heads the Sector of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture within the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Federal University of Sao Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina. The author of two seminal works, Traditional Acupuncutre (Editora ROCA Ltd) and Alimentos: Aspectos Energeticos (Foods: Energetic Aspects; pub. TRIOM), Dr. Yamamura and his students and colleagues have been successful in installing medical acupuncture as a subspecialty department in a number of Brazilian medical schools, including those of Sao Paulo, Rio Preto, Recife, and Florianopolis, among others. There are currently an estimated 10,000 practicing medical acupuncturists in Brazil. The program at Escola Paulista de Medicina which Dr. Yamamura directs is a three-year program which currently enrolls roughly 90 students per year. At this institution, the medical acupuncture department runs 40 active outpatient acupuncture beds for four hours on a daily basis.
The WMAA was co-founded by Dr. Yamamura of Brazil, Nguyen Van Nghi of France, and Dr. Bruno Esposito of Italy. This year's President of the Congress was Angela Tabosa, MD, PhD. Dr. Tabosa is a Professor of Neurosciences within the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Escola Paulista de Medicina. She and Dr. Yamamura have collaborated on numerous clinical and laboratory research projects, many published in the Revista Paulista de Acupunctura. Dr. Tabosa and her research group gave several presentations, including their findings on effects of electroacupuncture to classical acupuncture points versus sham acupuncture on sciatic nerve regeneration in Wistar rats. Other presenters included Tran Viet Dzung of France who addressed acupuncture in women's health, and Gaudenzio Garozzo, MD, of Italy, orthopedic surgeon and researcher, who discussed the theoretical basis and approach to respiratory disturbances.
The majority of lecturers, however, were represented by the Brazilians, medical doctors and researchers, who gave very fine presentations on topics ranging from facial acupuncture, to maternal emotions and fetal development, treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, and electroacupuncture in analgesia, among others.
More than 20 poster presentations were also featured on the floor. Poster topics included "Evaluation of cutaneous end-organ response induced by zusanli point in wistar rats: a study of the bioavailability of the radiopharmaceutical sodium pertechnetate-99MTC" by a collaborative group out of the Departments of Medicine and Biophysics of the State University of Rio de Janeiro; traditional tongue diagnosis in ALS; and anthropological aspects of acupuncture in the contemporary medical setting.
An interest in closer ties with the AAMA was expressed by Dr. Yamamura. The possibility of future collaboration between AAMA on various levels of theorietical and clinical exchange is something that could strengthen both our organizations and the cause of medical acupuncture internationally.
BACK TO TOP
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 as an entity separate from the AAMA, 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 expound on the considerable efforts invested in developing 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.
BACK TO TOP
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):
Ahmed Saad Abdel-Aziz, MD, DABMA, Greenwood, MS; Shiyi Abla-Yao, MD, DABMA, Lewisburg, PA; Chi H. Chang, MD, DABMA, Mount Vernon, NY; Wing Chau, MD, DABMA, Richland, WA; Ivan Figueroa-Otero, MD, DABMA, San Juan, PR; Roy R. Hall, MD, DABMA, Missoula, MT; Craig G. Johnson, MD, DABMA, Altanta, GA; Michael Krafczyk, MD, DABMA, Bethlehem, PA; Jee S Lee, MD, DABMA, Cedartown, GA; Ida G. Leong, MD, DABMA, Santa Cruz, CA; Stephen Leverett, DO, DABMA, Falmouth, ME; David D. Liu, MD, DABMA, Little Rock, AR; Diane MacDonnell, MD, DABMA, Glens Falls, NY; J Michael Marcum, MD, DABMA, Ogden, UT; Diane McCormick, MD, DABMA, Toledo, OH; Harsha S. Mehta, MD, DABMA, Galesburg, IL; Jeffrey N Pierce, MD, DABMA, New Bern, NC; Lawrence J. Rossi, Jr., MD, DABMA, Morton, IL; Paul M. Schlosser, MD, DABMA, Eau Claire, WI; Carla Waldron, MD, DABMA, New York, NY; Steve H. Windley, MD, DABMA, Seymour, IN
There's a new website at www.dabma.org honoring these physicians. Additionally, the Academy has posted a list of members who are Board Certified online at http://www.dabma.org/physicians.asp. Diplomates (DABMA) are listed alphabetically by last name, along with their location, and dates of certification and expiration.
BACK TO TOP
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.
BACK TO TOP
Instructions for free (oral) Papers, Poster Presentations and Research Papers
You are invited to apply to present a Free (Oral) Paper, Poster Presentation, or Research Paper at the ICMART Congress / AAMA Symposium 2006 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 the English language
FREE PAPER ORAL PRESENTATIONS
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 Email 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 Email 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.
Free Paper Awards will be offered to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place presentations, with $1,000 USD, $750 USD, and $500 USD awarded, respectively. Awards will be announced at the close of the Symposium Congress.
Only computer and oral presentation is allowed (No overhead projectors, whiteboards, or similar). 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, 100 MB ZIP disks 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 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.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
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 Email 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 greater 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.
Poster Presentation Awards will be offered to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place presentations, with $1250 USD, $1000 USD, and $750 USD awarded, respectively. Awards will be announced at the close of the Symposium 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 will 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 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 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 Email 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
BACK TO TOP
ICMART & AAMA Symposium being held jointly in Washington, DC in 2006
By Baron Beyens, MD
General Secretary, ICMART
In Washington DC in 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, I suggest that you reserve April 7-9, 2006 (ICMART/AAMA Symposium), and make plans for joining the Congress. We count on your presence, and we know that you will not regret it.
BACK TO TOP
Member News
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 here.
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.
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. Visit online www.acubriefs.com or www.acubriefs.com/bbw for information on resources and on how you can support the foundation.
Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, will conduct the sixth Japan Tour at Hamamatsu, Japan in October. All Japanese physicians are required to read Dr. Joseph Helms' Acupuncture Energetics and basic text books used in clinical settings. Patients are brought into the classroom in an impromptu fashion. Various approaches will be discussed. Following acupuncture treatments, the final outcome will be evaluated by participants. Dr. Nakazawa also has been invited to two medical schools to speak on the current status of complementary and alternative medicine in the US.
The latest 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 Mexico (Nov. 17-20), Nepal (February 2006) and Ecuador (June 3-17, 2006).
Dr. Frank will be presenting at the 13th International Congress of Oriental Medicine: Ways to a Better Life in and Ageing Society Oct. 20-23, 2005 in Seoul, Korea. He will represent the AAMA and ICMART as ICMART President and make a lecture presentation on Phase Dynamics: Key to Auricular Therapy.
Also, Dr. Frank will present to the Sao Paulo Acupuncture International Congress 2005 on Oct. 28-30, 2005. He will make several presentations, including ICMART 2005: Status of the Council, Auricular Therapy: Shen Men Does NOT Exist!, Multi-Paradigm Acupuncture: Best of the Best, and Beyond Acupuncture: Neural Therapy for Chronic Pain.
Warren D. Tuttle, MD, died on July 22, 2005. The AAMA member was born on May 22, 1919 in Harrisburg, IL. Dr. Tuttle graduated from University of Illinois Medical School and completed his medical and surgical internship at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. He served his country during WWII, achieving the rank of captain, US Medical Corps, Surgical Services at Bushnell General Hospital in Utah. After the war, Dr. Tuttle returned to Harrisburg, where he was in private practice of medicine and surgery from 1954-2005. He was actively involved in his community. Dr. Tuttle is survived by wife Jane, children and other family.
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that 149 calls came into national headquarters and 4,200 website hits to the referral page in July, and 150 calls and 4,809 website referral hits in August 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 online bookstore along with 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.
Nader E. Soliman, MD, FAAMA, immediate past president of AAMA, was featured in two national publications recently. USA Today and Health magazine published major articles about the growth and effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment modality in the US. Both articles mentioned AAMA's role in promoting acupuncture in the nation.
The World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) event, "the International Symposium of Acupuncture -- Acupuncture: New Ways, New Worlds, the 21st Century Medicine," will be held Nov. 4-6, 2005 in Lisboa, Portugal. For details, contact (011) +351 21 716 79 08, info@mitsu-group.com.
Members who would like a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) fact sheet on acupuncture can check online at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/ or contact the NCCAM Clearinghouse.
Lee Grotte, MD, along with Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, will present, Magic for Medical Professionals, Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas, NV. Sponsored by McBride School of Magic, this is the first "magic of healing" program designed to teach magic tricks to doctors, so they can help patients develop motor skills after an injury. Recent articles in AMA News and JAMA suggest that physicians should learn acting techniques to project an empathetic persona. For details on the magic seminar, contact 702/697-7002, losttraditions@drgrotte.com or visit www.magicalwisdom.com/details.php?id=336.
Members are reminded that the Academy's online calendar lists a variety of meetings, workshops and conferences (where CME and CEU credit can be earned). 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
Dr. Tony Lu announces a Medical Qigong Study and Treatment Trip to Beijing, China with Master Wan Su Jian in September 2006.
The 4th International Seminar on Auriculomedicine will be held Dec. 5-10, 2005 in Lyon, France, with all faculty being direct students of Dr. Paul Nogier. For more information, contact isabelle.glem@wanadoo.fr or visit online at http://www.glem.org/ for program details.
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.
The 13th International Congress of Oriental Medicine (ICOM) will be held Oct. 20-23, 2005 at the Daegu convention center, Daegu, the Republic of Korea, hosted by International Society of Oriental Medicine (ISOM) and the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM). ISOM is a professional organization to promote Oriental medicine, including medical acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine. Many Oriental medicine practitioners and scholars from many countries are currently members of ISOM. ICOM is one of the most important activities of ISOM and has been convened every two years. The congress was one of the leading academic forums promoting scientific research and exchanging knowledge of Oriental medicine. For further information, visit online at www.isom.or.kr and www.icomworld.org.
Please send news items and photos to bdortberg@aol.com.
BACK TO TOP
Medical Acupuncture Research News
The report, "A Randomized Clinical Trial of Acupuncture Compared with Sham Acupuncture in Fibromyalgia," was published in the July 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (Vol. 143, pages 10-19), with authors N.P. Assefi, K.J. Sherman, C. Jacobsen, J. Goldberg, W.R. Smith and D. Buchwald. The study used 100 patients (with pain at least 4 on a scale to 10) to assess whether or not true acupuncture was more effective at treating fibromyalgia pain then sham acupuncture treatments. Patients were assigned to groups receiving twice-weekly treatment for 12 weeks. Researchers found that patients who got true acupuncture had similar pain ratings to patients in the sham acupuncture groups. However, they noted that the study may have been too small to detect small differences among the groups. Patients could continue other fibromyalgia therapies during the study, so this study applies to the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to other therapies.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine just developed a new in-depth research report that discusses CAM approaches to treating rheumatoid arthritis, including the use of acupuncture.
NIH recently developed a Web site with information for researchers and institutions affected by Hurricane Katrina.
National survey results released in September show that 700 physicians are divided evenly on the impact of complementary and alternative medicine on US heath care. 64% of those doctors have recommended CAM, such as medical acupuncture, to patients, and 65% believe NIH should fund research on alternative treatments. The survey was conducted by HCD Research and the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religion and Social Studies of the Jewish Theological Seminar. 59% of the physicians believe acupuncture can be effective to some extent. "The message here is that techniques, like acupuncture, which have made it into the mainstream, are recognized by physicians as useful complements to scientific medicine," said Dr. Alan Mittleman, director of the Finkelstein Institute. Acupuncture received higher marks than other forms of CAM.
Please send information you find on research involving the effectiveness of medical acupuncture to bdortberg@aol.com.
BACK TO TOP
AAMA Chapter News
New York
The New York Chapter is planning an educational and organizational meeting in the fall. Members interested in helping coordinate that event can contact Dr. Gilbert (516/487-2700, bruce.gilbert@verizon.net).
Ohio
The Ohio Chapter is looking forward to their upcoming CME program with Michael T. Greenwood, MA, MB (MD), BCHIR, FCFP, CAFCI, FAAMA, FRSA, entitled "Dynamic Interactive Acu- Bodywork Workshop" Oct. 22- 23, 2005. Dr. Greenwood is a frequent author of excellent journal articles in Medical Acupuncture. The medical director of Victoria Pain Clinic has also written several outstanding books. The workshop will be limited in size. For details, contact Dr. Sandi Amoils at Amoilsss@Healthall.com.
The 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. Their recent meeting on assessment of musculoskeletal issues was led by Dr. Jim Leonard, orthopedic surgeon and acupuncturist. Their next presenter in January 2006 will be Dr. Henry Kenkel, psychiatrist, neurologist and acupuncturist.
The Chapter is actively seeking and recruiting members. Those interested can e-mail Dr. Sandi Amoils at Amoilsss@Healthall.com.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Chapter is planning a joint meeting with the New Jersey Chapter this fall. There will be a separate meeting to elect the officers for the next year. Possible speakers have been contacted to speak at other meetings later in the year. They will be announced as soon as all arrangements are completed..
Does your state have a regional AAMA chapter? If not, please consider forming one. Chapters provide fellowship, professional camaraderie, education and curbside consults. Contact AAMA Executive Director Jim Dowden (cjdowden@pacbell.net, 323/937-5514, x11.
Chapter representatives, please send your updates for the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail to bdortberg@aol.com.
BACK TO TOP
Medical acupuncture-related classified ads
- 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).
|
