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President's Message: NCCAM Strategic Plan, Symposium, new website, White Paper, MD & LAc initiative
By Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH
President, AAMA
As we head into winter months and outside activities become less as the days become shorter, this is a good time from the comfort of your home to curl-up and enjoy the Academy’s journal, Medical Acupuncture. It is jam packed with lots of information from all over the world. This may be an excellent time to write-up that interesting case you thought about. If you are shy about writing, the editor-in-chief and his staff will welcome even the shy novice writer to get his/her article published. If you really enjoy the journal, you may even think of offering a gift subscription.
Is there an AAMA Chapter near you? (See list in this issue.) You may enjoy the camaraderie of others who share the same acupuncture pursuits. Perhaps there is no Chapter near you. What about getting a few of your colleagues together and discuss your acupuncture activities over a cup of coffee or for that matter a beer. Most important do not regress as a couch potato this winter. And for those of you who do not have to worry about the cold weather, count your blessings.
NCCAM Strategic Plan
Perhaps you noticed that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is in the process of formulating its Strategic Plan. There was a public invitation that closed out Sept. 30, 2010 to voice an opinion. Several overarching themes of the strategic plan which I participated in as an ex officio member on the NCCAM advisory council dealt with many topics, and in particular, it was shown that the vast majority of American’s use of CAM is aimed at ameliorating symptoms. This opened a debate by several of the physician colleagues that we need to treat the root of the problem and not the symptoms. Good medical practice has to prevail.
Also, it is becoming clear that CAM modalities must be studied across the continuum of basic, translational, efficacy and effective research. Real- world research methodologies should be employed to properly research the effectiveness of CAM for health care and promotion.
Finally, we need the input of both consumers and healthcare providers for reliable objective evidence-based information regarding CAM. Many groups around the world certainly responded. The AAMA and ICMART stood up together in a letter to the NCCAM by Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA, to express views that might influence the Strategic Plan. (See related article in this issue.)
What’s New with AAMA?
The next Symposium is being carefully planned for April 1-3, 2011 in San Diego, CA, and we are furter ahead in our planning stage than normally anticipated. Richard F. Hobbs, MD, DABMA, is working overtime with his staff to make this the best Symposium ever. Is the Academy’s website finished? Despite a lot of intense and grueling efforts to complete the site, we are being very fussy and will not go online until we feel confident that it will be appealing and meet the needs of the membership. The White Paper dealing with insurance reimbursement is gaining momentum to arrive at the final product. Other activities such as membership and education activities are moving forward. If progress seems slow, it’s because we are attempting to do it right the first time. All of this is time consuming.
MD’s Working with LAc’s
I recently was invited to join the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAOM) as a board member. As a result, Oct. 6, 2010 I organized, with their president and vice president, a video teleconference with Dr. Hobbs and me to discuss the rights of physicians to practice acupuncture in Hawaii and South Carolina among other things. I think we are in a Star Wars movie. The leaders of two planets meet to unify for a more peaceful galaxy... many disagree, but leaders see beyond the squabbles of the past...Leaders must look beyond the here and now to ensure future existence of the galaxy... acupuncture.
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Call for Symposium Poster Presentations
Members are invited to apply to present a Poster Presentation at the AAMA Symposium 2011, in San Diego, CA on April 1-3, 2011.
Please follow all instructions carefully to allow your application to be fully considered. Space and time is limited. Poster Presentations must be submitted in English.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Application to make a Poster Presentation at the AAMA Symposium, April 1-3, 2011, should be submitted no later than February 15, 2011. An abstract (summary) of the proposed Poster Presentations should be submitted via email by February 15, 2011, to administrator@medicalacupuncture.org 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 1, 2011.
AS PER CME REQUIREMENTS, 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 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, April 1st between 1-3 pm. Posters should be removed on Saturday, April 2nd 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, April 1st 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 Presentations at Symposium
Members are invited to apply to present a Free (Oral) Paper at the AAMA Symposium 2011 on April 1-3, 2011.
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.
FREE PAPER ORAL PRESENTATIONS
An abstract (summary) of a proposed Free Paper oral presentation should be submitted via e-mail by February 15, 2011 to administrator@medicalacupuncture.org 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 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 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 Papers at AAMA Symposium
Members are invited to apply to present Research Paper at the AAMA Symposium 2011 on April 1-3, 2011.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.
RESEARCH PAPER COMPETITION
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, April 1-3, 2011. The deadline for submission of research papers for the competition is February 15, 2011. If your paper is selected as one of the winners, you will be notified by March 1st, 2011. 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 San Diego, CA, April 2011.
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 2010-11 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 15, 2011. 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. E-mail submissions should be sent to administrator@medicalacupuncture.org 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 15, 2011, 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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Academy studying NCCAM Strategic Plan’s effect on member practice rights
Dr. Walburg Maric-Oehler, Dr. Chin Chan, ICMART president, and AAMA President Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, asked Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA, to coordinate the response of the AAMA and the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques regarding the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Draft Strategic Plan, dated Aug. 30, 2010. The NCCAM is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
AAMA Past President Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA,
with Walburg Marić-Oehler, MD, newly installed
general secretary of ICMART.
The Draft Plan details the process of defining, through scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and alternative medicine Interventions and their roles in improving health and health care. This is critically important issue for the AAMA, as the NCCAM findings will have a direct impact on member practice rights.
“I am pleased to participate in this endeavor with current AAMA president and NCCAM Board Member, Richard Niemtzow, MD,” said Dr.Sager.
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ABMA recertification process set for those approaching 10-year deadline
The ABMA Board of Trustees has finalized procedures for recertification for those designees who are approaching the 10-year recertification deadline. The first of those will be up for recertification by June 30, 2011.
Each candidate for recertification will be 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 will be no written examination required for recertification.
Applications for recertification will be accepted up to three months prior to the expiration of the original certification. Each submission will be submitted to the Board for review to confirm the adequacy of the Case Reports and to confirm that the continuing education requirements are met. If all requirements are met, the Board will grant a new 10-year certification.
The recertification application form and case report guidelines will be posted to the AAMA website shortly.
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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 Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Effects of Patient-Provider Communication, was published in the American College of Rheumatology’s journal, Arthritis Care and Research (Vol. 62, Issue 9, pages 1229–1236, September 2010). This three-month randomized clinical trial looked at conflicting evidence between the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and the role of placebo effects elicited by acupuncturists' behavior in 455 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers concluded that acupuncture was not superior to sham treatment. However, acupuncturists' styles had significant effects on pain reduction and satisfaction, suggesting that the analgesic benefits of acupuncture can be partially mediated through placebo effects related to the acupuncturist's behavior. Click here for details.
· Results of the study, “Acupuncture to Prevent Heart Failure,” were published in OneIndia (Sept. 30, 2010). Researchers conducted an experiment of acupuncture on heart patients in three groups. The first group of heart patients were given acupuncture at the traditional sites, the second group received it in "non-acupoint" and the third, did not receive it at all. After treatment, in the first group, blood pressure and heart rate remained unaffected and the activity of the sympathetic nerve reduced. Activity of the sympathetic nerve increased in both the non-acupoint patients and patients who did not receive it at all. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Impact of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Human Menopausal Gonadotropin Dosage Ratios on Echogenicity and Progesterone Concentrations in In Vitro Fertilization Patients,” was published in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s journal, Fertility and Sterility (Vol. 93, Issue 5, Supplement, Page S17). The study consisted of two experimental groups: patients who receive a 1:1 vial ratio of FSH:hMG throughout the stimulation cycle and those who began ovarian stimulation with a ratio of at least 3:1 FSH:hMG. Findings identified how acupuncture regulates stress hormones that impact ovulation. This coincides with another recent study showing that elevated markers for stress are associated with decreased pregnancy rates. Click here for details.
· Researchers at the Medical University of Graz in Austria recently identified that mysterious circle tattoos on a 1,000-year-old Peruvian mummy contained burned plant material -- a feat that sheds light on a possible ancient healing practice that may have been based on similar principles to acupuncture. They say circles on the mummy’s neck are close to Chinese acupuncture points. It is believed that tattooing a person at these points could have worked in a similar way to how acupuncture is thought to work. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “The Brain Effects of Laser Acupuncture in Healthy Individuals: An fMRI Investigation,” was published in PLoS One (5[9]: e12619, Sept. 7, 2010). As laser acupuncture is being increasingly used to treat mental disorders, researchers conducted the first study to determine whether it has a biologically plausible effect by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cerebral activation patterns from laser stimulation of relevant acupoints. They concluded that laser stimulation of acupoints lead to activation of frontal-limbic-striatal brain regions. Differing activity patterns depending on the acupoint site were demonstrated. That suggests that neurological effects vary with the site of stimulation, warranting further investigation. Click here for details.
· Chinese medical experts say Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially acupuncture, can help prevent suicide. Researchers at the Institute of Psychology of the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine said no suicide cases happened in the university since 1985 when the school began to use TCM in students' mental crisis intervention. The hospital said more than 500 patients have benefited from combined treatment of acupuncture and drugs. Out of 287,000 people who committed suicide each year in China, 63% suffered mental disorders. Researchers said most of those people did not seek help before they committed suicide and concluded that TCM-based treatment could have helped the depression sufferers. Click here for details.
· The New England Journal of Medicine published the clinical therapeutic, “Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain” (July 29, 2010). This study uses the case of a patient with a long-standing history of low back pain as a starting point for a review of the clinical condition and the research evidence for Tradition Chinese Medicine for chronic lower back pain and the uncertainties and challenges associated with conducting this research. Researchers reported that “an estimated 70% of persons in Western industrialized countries have back pain sometime in their lives. Furthermore, patients with back pain account for more than $90 billion annually in health care expenses, with approximately $26 billion of that amount directly attributable to the treatment of back pain.” Click here and type the article in the Search engine for details in the Subscriber area.
Please send information you find on research involving the effectiveness of medical acupuncture to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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AAMA Member News
AAMA’s 23rd Annual Symposium will be April 1-3, 2011, with the Review Course on March 29-30, 2011, the Pre-Symposium Workshops on March 31, 2011 and the ABMA Certification Exam on April 3, 2011. The location will be at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, 1441 Quivira Road in San Diego, CA. For the AAMA discounted room rate of $189/night (single/double) pending availability, call the hotel by Feb. 28, 2011 at 619/224-1234.
The Syllabus for the Academy’s 2010 Symposium and Pre-Symposium Workshops in Orlando, FL are available for purchase. Click here for an order form.
Bryan L Frank MD, FAAMA, who is ICMART vice president 2010-2012, attended the fall ICMART Board Meeting in Vienna, Austria in August. All AAMA members should remember to register and participate in the 2011 IMCART Congress, The State of the Art of Acupuncture in Integrative Medicine, May 12-14, 2011 in The Hague, Netherlands. ICMART continues, along with the AAMA, to advance education and training standards for medical acupuncture and the privileges of medical acupuncturists around the globe. The International Congresses are a great way to both participate and teach, present a poster, and learn about the status of medical acupuncture with international colleagues.
The Medical Acupuncture Review Course is available on DVD. Visit the AAMA Store to purchase this valuable learning tool.
Tapan K. Chaudhuri, MD, FACP, FAAMA, was an invited speaker at the 20th Anniversary of Trigeminal Association, held at Mayo clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, in August. His lecture was entitled, "The Beneficial Eeffect of Acupuncture in Trigeminal Neuralgia." He was also a participant in the panel discussion regarding alternative treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia the following day. It was a large gathering of 250-300 people, which was attended by many well-known neurosurgeons who are experts in trigeminal neuralgia.
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that there were 2,294 unique visits to the website referral page in August and,2,111 unique visits to the website referral page in September 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.
Nader Soliman, MD, president of Alternative Medicine Seminars, has announced spring dates for 2011. Spring activities will include seminars in "Auricular Therapy,"' "Auricular Medicine," "3 Phase Hand Acupuncture," "Xerostomia" and "Battlefield Acupuncture." Activities will also include special sessions for practicing of the VAS "vascular autonomic signal" and the clinical practice of auricular medicine protocols, as well as seminars on homeopathy designed to empower alternative medicine approaches. AAMA members will get 10% off all spring seminars. For details, look in Events Calendar of the Academy's website or visit www.alternativemedicineseminars.com.
Martha M Grout, MD, MD(H), FAAMA, just published her first book, “An Alphabet of Good Health in a Sick World,” with co-author Mary Budinger, a friend and journalist. They wrote about the different approaches to medicine: managing symptoms vs. drilling down to the core of things and fixing what's wrong. They saw that what defines the difference between conventional medicine and the homeopathic physician's approach is a focus on food, chemicals, and electromagnetic fields. The downsides of these three factors are driving epidemics of chronic disease. So they devoted the first part of the book to these considerations. The second part of the book looks at how those three pillars of today's medicine affect a number of health conditions. They listed those chapters alphabetically: Allergies, Asthma, Attention Deficit, etc. The authors were featured on Coast to Coast talk radio with George Noory for two hours in October. The book costs $19.95, plus tax, and is available online.
AAMA reminds members who meet special qualifications in Medical Acupuncture about the certification mark to convey their accomplishments. 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. An application has been submitted to the US Patent Office to register this Certification Mark so that it will be 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.
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 and copy rosalynr@aol.com.
The Academy has a limited number of the book, “Getting to Know You,” by Joseph M. Helms, MD, in stock. While they last, Practice members can purchase them at the discounted price of $20, plus $5.50 postage and handling. Click here to download an order form.
Jay Sandweiss, DO, FAAMA, will lead two courses, Cranial Manipulation: Basic Level One (“The Foundation”), Oct. 23-24, and Integrative Manual Approach to Upper Extremity Pain & Dysfunction, Nov. 13-14, sponsored by Advantage Therapy in Springfield, MO. Visit www.doctorjaysandweiss.com for details. Dr. Sandweiss wil be heading to Australia in February 2011 to teach in Sydney and Melbourne.
An International Conference on Integrative Medicine will be held Oct. 19-22, 2010 in Jerusalem. It will be a meeting of professionals in the field of medicine from around the world that will deal with ways to unite the scientific principles of modern medicine with the holistic principles of alternative medicine.
Registration includes the opportunity to present a paper. More details and registration forms are available at the Conference site: medconvention.com/.
August provided Claudia M. Cooke, MD, FAAMA, with an opportunity to spend eight days in Haiti with one of the international nondenominational service organizations providing medical and educational support in Port-au-Prince. They delivered intermediate care in makeshift surroundings to about 40 patients daily per doctor, to children and adults. Disease of profound malnutrition predominated as did the expected signs of post-traumatic shock. Distribution of vitamins and minerals, medication support, and minor surgical procedures were the order of the day. However, extemporaneous acupuncture, acupressure, and aromatherapy brought satisfying results to many in the moment. Dr. Cooke said a smile, a gentle touch and a respectful approach can provide a toe-hold for the long climb out of destitution. Anyone interested in this medical service in Haiti can contact Dr. Cooke for further information at info@drcmcooke.com.
Dr. Claudia Cooke assisting in Haiti
As part of AAMA membership, practice members are being offered access to more than 400 journal articles categorized by disease/health application which promote the efficacy of Acupuncture. Contact Phil McGee at phil@hmieducation.com to obtain your unique password to access this information anytime. Then go to www.hmiacupuncture.com and click on "LINKS."
Drs. Richard Niemtzow, Stephen Burns and others were profiled in the article, “Military turns to acupuncture as alternative to prescription painkillers,” in Stars and Stripes (Aug. 27, 2010). Battlefield Acupuncture was explained as Air Force training, run in conjunction with the Helms Medical Institute, teaching military physicians a variety of acupuncture techniques. The piece also tells about a type of acupuncture developed in 2001 by an Air Force doctor that’s being used in frontline hospitals and could be applied on the battlefield.
Helms Medical Institute announces the Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 three five-day training units with home video study over five months in a 300-hour format. Live training dates will be held in Tempe, Arizona as follows: Introductory Weekend: Dec. 9-13, 2010, with Clinical One: Feb. 18-22, 2011 and Clinical Two: May 25-29, 2011. The new brochure, full information and course application form are now available at
http://hmieducation.com.
Please send news items and photos to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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AAMA 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. E-mail Dr. Grout to get on the e-mail list for meeting announcements.
California
Chapter officers are working hard to come up with innovative ideas for CME credits. They are continuing their membership drive to make the Chapter stronger. Academy members interested in joining the California Chapter are encouraged to contact President Haleh Sheikholeslami, MD, at calchapaama@hotmail.com.
Georgia
The Georgia Association of Medical Acupuncturists will host a Journal Club and Board meeting on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 pm. Carlos Parrado, MD will speak on, "Battlefield Acupuncture and the Use of Lasers in the Acupuncture Setting."
GAMA’s 9th Annual Educational Meeting will be April 15-17, 2011 at the midtown Atlanta Loews Hotel. Lonny Jarrett will speak on, "Evolutionary Perspectives on Five Element Acupuncture." This meeting has been approved for 21 CME's by AAMA.
GAMA 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 members. For information regarding membership and seminars, contact GAMA President Anna C. Kelly, MD, at 404/255-8388 or annakellymd@gmail.com.
Illinois
The goal of current 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 Acupuncturists 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 Chapter President Stephen Burns, MD, at stephen.burns@andrews.af.mil to join MSMA.
Ohio
AAMA Ohio Chapter members would love to see more active participation of the current membership. Please join them and invite medical acupuncture colleagues. For more information or questions, contact Liz Woolford, MD, at Liz.Woolford@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
· An individual is sought with interest in expanding and enhancing Acubriefs. While it is financially stable and a helpful tool, Acubriefs deserves further energy to enhance and promote its utility as a source for online acupuncture references and promoting bibliography formation. Acubriefs also has an extensive library of journals and articles that would wonderfully enhance any library. Many of the journals and articles would be difficult to find anywhere else. Acubriefs is committed to providing access to one of the most comprehensive databases of English acupuncture references. Anyone interested in acquiring Acubriefs and helping it meet its full potential can contact Acubrief’s Webmaster J. Kimber Rotchford, MD, MPH, at JKRotchford@gmail.com.
· New York area acupuncture clinic established in 1994. Collects about $17,500/month. Seller owns the two-story building and is selling the 1,971-square-foot clinic. Clinic has a waiting room, two offices, four examination and treatment rooms, and a small foot detox room. One block off major route. Averaging about 12 new patients/month and about 23 patient visits/week. Doctor is retiring and focusing on his health. (503/645-7590, pps@practicesales.com)
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