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From the President
Academy preparing to pinpoint, tackle
challenges facing medical acupuncture
By Nader E. Soliman, MD, FAAMA
PRESIDENT, AAMA
It's hard to ignore the swirling winds of change all around us on both the national and international scenes. It is obvious that our medical profession, including acupuncture practice, did not fare better and did not escape the tide of change. Naturally, as involved practitioners, we need to act and react. These are times when survival is essential and involvement is invaluable. This is a time to call upon all members to get involved in the Academy's affairs to help advance our cause, protect our rights and serve the best interest of the public. To do so, you may choose to participate in one of AAMA's committees, serve on the Board of Directors or at least provide us with your opinions, suggestions and critiques. No matter how much or how little you become involved, the Academy's best interest would be served. Please contact AAMA or contact me at nadersolimanmd@yahoo.com with any questions or inquiries.
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A special task force, headed by Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA, continues to work with other interested groups to formulate new CPT codes for acupuncture for 2004. We hope the outcome will reflect on better reimbursement for acupuncture services.
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The Institute of Medicine (IOM), at the request of the National Institutes for Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), has established a committee to explore scientific, policy and practice questions that arise from the significant and increasing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies by the American public. AAMA has been invited to participate in this committee, and William Rutenberg, MD, DABMA, has been appointed to represent the Academy.
The committee is entrusted with describing the use of CAM therapies by the American public, providing a comprehensive overview -- to the extent data is available -- of therapies in wide-spread use, identifying the major scientific, policy and practice issues related to CAM research. The committee also is charged with developing conceptual models or frameworks to guide public and private sector decision-making as research and practice communities confront challenges of conducting research on CAM. Dr. Rutenberg talks more about this in his Medical Acupuncture Advisory Committee Update on page 7.
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To catch up with the technological revolution, a special committee headed by Dr. Michael Coomes has been established to explore ways of providing services to members using the latest technological achievements. Soon, you may be able to get some Continuing Medical Education hours in acupuncture online.
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The Symposium Committee has been diligently preparing the format of the next gathering in Chicago in April 2004. Chair Roberto Jodorkovsky, MD, FAAMA, and committee members are expected to surpass the outstanding work they did for 2003 in Baltimore. On behalf of members, I would like to thank the committee for their tireless efforts to achieve excellence in education.
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And last, we are looking for volunteers to represent AAMA in the Pan Pacific Conference in New Zealand in March 2004. Pan Pacific Conferences are held every four years by medical acupuncturists of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the US. More information is available in an article on page 1. Choose to present a research project, lecture on a particular topic or enjoy the conference from the audience. Please contact Bryan Frank, MD, FAAMA, at bfrankmd@aol.com with any questions or inquiries.
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Pan Pacific 2004 details released
Details have just become available on Medical Acupuncture in the New World -- Innovation and Integration, being planned by Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum and Medical Acupuncture Society of New Zealand, March 15-19, 2004 at Wairakei Resort in Taupo, New Zealand.
AAMA is responsible for providing a day of programming (Friday, March 19, 2004). Members who are thinking of attending and willing to participate should contact Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA, at bfrankmd@aol.com, who will be organizing the AAMA program. All Pan Pacific participants and speakers are responsible for their own travel expenses and are required to register and pay the registration fee so the host country is not at financial risk.
Mornings will feature six paper presentations, followed by lunch. Then there will be six small group concurrent sessions (lectures or workshops), a break and then six more sessions in the afternoon.
There's an early bird discount on registration available for the conference until Jan. 31, 2004. For details and a registration form, e-mail masnz@apc.org.nz. Payment can be with MasterCard, Visa or check.
Members can view Wairakei Resort online at www.wairakei.co.nz. Room rates range from $120(NZ)/night standard to $160(NZ)/night executive king. Amenities include a nine-hole golf course, pools, spas, saunas, tennis and squash courts, restaurants and more. To inquire about reservations, send an e-mail to resort@wairakei.co.nz. To view this scenic area and all it offers, visit www.laketauponz.com.
A golf tournament is being planned for Wednesday, March 17, 2004 (a free day from the forum) on Wairakei International Golf Course adjacent to the resort. US Golf Digest has rated this course to be among the top 20 in the world outside America. Other festivities planned include visiting a prawn farm and having dinner, a boat trip, wine tasting and a conference dinner. Kayak trips, fishing and other water activities will be scheduled for March 17, 2004, as well as tours and items of interest for partners accompanying physicians to New Zealand.
POST-FORUM OFFERING
There will also be a Post Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum, Aung Medical Qi Gong Spiritual Retreat Program with Steven KH Aung, MD, FAAFP March 20-22, 2004 in Whirinaki Forest, New Zealand (between Taupo and Rotorua). For more information, contact Dr. Aung (780/426-2760, draung@aung.com).
Founded in 1988 in New Zealand, the Pan Pacific Forum is comprised of medical acupuncturists in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Each country hosts the conference every four years (1992 in Canada, 1996 in Australia and 2000 in Las Vegas).
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AAMA gearing for membership efforts
By Gene G. Hong, MD, DABMA
OUTGOING CHAIR
AAMA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Hello fellow AAMA members. I guess all good things come to an end. My chairmanship of AAMA's Membership Committee has been concluded. I hand the position to Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, FAAMA. The work of expanding and improving membership services will be in excellent hands.
I have appreciated the opportunity as chair to implement new ideas and projects. It has not been an easy time, but the support from the other board members and, you, the AAMA member, has been phenomenal. We did get things done.
But challenges remain: We need to intensify our efforts in recruiting members from all ABMA-approved programs. All newly trained physician acupuncturists need to know about AAMA. They need to know about the benefits of joining this community of physicians who practice the newest specialty of medicine, medical acupuncture.
We also need to more aggressively inform our non-acupuncture colleagues about the benefits of medical acupuncture in the care of their patients. They need to know that they can refer their patients to us. We are fellow physicians.
And, of course, we will continue to listen to the AAMA membership, so that our organization can respond quickly and effectively to you and your needs.
I will remain a member of the Membership Committee and a member of AAMA's Board of Directors. Again, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to serve, to learn and to have fun.
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Details now available about ICMART
Website has details on 11th World Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Details just became available online (www.amba.org.br/congress) about the International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) 11th World Congress, hosted by the 9th annual Brazilian Medical Association of Acupuncture (AMBA) Congress of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2003, at the Casa Grande Hotel in Guaraja, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
International lecturers include Drs. Han Shisheng of Beijing, Toshi Yamamoto of Japan, Francois Beyens of Belgium, Walburg Maric-Oehler of Germany, Jacqueline Filshie of England, Hardy Gaus of Germany, Daniel Asis of Argentina, Bryan Frank of USA, Daniel Traum of Australia, Gilbert Lambrechts of Belgium, Li Chun Huang of USA and others. For further information, visit the ICMART website www.icmart.org.
Registration information is available in a brochure from AAMA offices. Registration fee is $150, plus the Congress Course fee of $25 per course.
For more information, call +55(11) 5572-1666, fax: +55(11) 5575-7613, visit www.amba.org.br/congress or e-mail congress@amba.org.br.
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Member News
The World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) International Acupuncture Symposium will be held Sept. 12-14, 2003 in Oslo, Norway. The theme is "The evidence, safety and application of acupuncture." Topics and faculty are listed at http://www.wfas2003.no/prelim_program.htm. The symposium, which will be presented in English, is being sponsored by the Norwegian Acupuncture Association. For more information, contact event sponsor WFAS (+47 22 20 84 84, www.wfas2003.no, info@wfas2003.no).
Jay Sandweiss, DO, DABMA, will be teaching myofascial and functional release and integrative medicine at the American Back Society annual meeting in Las Vegas Nov. 13-15, 2003 with AAMA member Fred P. Swing, MD, DABMA, who will be lecturing and demonstrating acupuncture.
Acupuncture Society of Michigan will host Michael Arnold, MD, Oct. 25-26, 2003 for "Fine Tuning Acupuncture Point Selection." Held at the Doubletree Hotel in Novi, MI, the conference will enhance understanding of principles of TCM, with an emphasis on using principles learned to broaden participants' basis for acupuncture point selection. For more details or to RSVP, call 248/669-0068.
Order forms for audio and video tapes from AAMA Symposium 2003, as well as a limited supply of the 380-page syllabus of faculty materials, are now online. To make a purchase, visit www.medicalacupuncture.org and click on AAMA Store.
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that 197 calls came into national headquarters (and 4,699 website hits to the referral page) in May and 106 calls (and 4,366 website hits) in June from patients seeking medical acupuncturists.
Practice members (associate and full) who are not participating in the patient referral program but would like to, need to notify AAMA by mail (4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 428, Los Angeles, CA 90010) or by e-mail (spc6@pacbell.net). To see if you're signed up for this program, check the referral search (Find an Acupuncturist) at: www.medicalacupuncture.org/findadoc/index.html.
Members can now receive the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail. Not only will they get the issues quicker, but this also will save AAMA money by reduced printing and postage costs. To receive newsletters electronically, contact Membership Coordinator Natalie Ortiz (nortiz9@pacbell.net, 323/937-5514, x20). Incidentally, past issues are posted online at www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/newsletter/newslist.htm.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs is offering up to $35,000 per year to repay student loans of health professionals willing to commit to a career in clinical, pediatric, health disparities or contraception and infertility research. Applicants must have doctoral-level degrees and commit to spend at least 50% of their time for two years conducting qualified research. The online application opens Sept. 1 and closes Dec. 31, 2003. For details, visit www.lrp.nih.gov.
Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, recently was named the ex officio representative of the Department of Defense to the National Complementary and Alternative Medicine Advisory Group of the NIH. Dr. Niemtzow is editor of AAMA's tri-annual journal, Medical Acupuncture.
The XV National Acupuncture Congress with International Participation, "Traditional Acupuncture Within the Informational Age," will be held Sept. 25-27, 2003 at Steaua Hotel in Sighisoara, Romania, sponsored by Romanian Medical Association, Romanian Acupuncture Society and Transsylvanian Association of Integrated Quantum Medicine. For details, call +(40)-026 5772304, visit www.atmic.netfirms.com or e-mail qmed@gbnet.ro or danmezei@yahoo.com.
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. Go to: 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 10th Anniversary Symposium on Complementary Health Care will be held Nov. 21-22, 2003 at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Led by Prof. Edzard Ernst and based at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, this international gathering will comprise two days of platform and poster presentations, as well as pre-conference workshops and satellite meetings. For details, visit www.exeter.ac.uk/fact/sympo or contact Barbara Wider (b.wider@exeter.ac.uk).
John M. Ackerman, MD, urges members to check out the American Journal of Chinese Medicine abstract, "Establishing the Existence of the Active Stomach Point in the Auricle Utilizing Radial Artery Tonometry (Vol. 31, No. 2, 2003, pp. 285-294, E. Ikezono, T. Ikezono, J. Ackerman)." Visit www.worldscinet.com/ajcm/ajcm.shtml and click on Journal Archive.
AAMA's 16th Annual Symposium (accompanied by the Review Course, Pre-Symposium and Board Certification Exam) will be held April 16-18, 2004 at Hilton Hotel and Towers in Chicago, IL. For dates and hotel registration details, log on to: 2004 Symposium Page
If you have acupuncture privileges at a hospital and have not notified AAMA, fax your name, hospital, city and state to 323/937-0959 to be added to our list. You can see if you're already listed at: www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/hospriv.html. If you need a hospital privileges credentialing package, call 323/937-5514 (or download it from our website). On the AAMA website home page, click on General Information & Research. Under Hospital Privileges, you will see a Guide for Physicians, Criteria for Privileges, List of Members with Privileges and Links of Interest.
Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, secretary of AAMA Board of Directors and chair of ABMA, recently gave the lecture, "Headache -- Where East and West Meet," to the Maryland Society of Medical Acupuncture. The "West" part is incorporated with Primary Care Network. He has been invited to a seminar at Teikyo University in Japan Oct. 10-13, 2003. That will be his fourth seminar and the first in Japan at the University level. He will follow that up with seminars at Hammamatsu Medical School and the Japan Oriental Medicine Society. Also, Dr. Nakazawa has been invited by Johns Hopkins University for the Odyssey Lecture Series, "On the Frontiers of Medicine," on Nov. 13. The topic is "Complementary and Alternative Medicine--the Art and Science of Acupuncture." In 2004, Dr. Nakazawa is planning an AAMA-Japan Acupuncture Tour, presenting excellent research to two outstanding acupuncture schools.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's National Advisory Council for CAM (NACCAM) will meet on Sept. 8 in Rockville, MD. For details, visit http://nccam.nih.gov/about/advisory/naccam.
Please send your news to bdortberg@aol.com. You can also fax (323/937-0959) or mail information to AAMA headquarters, 4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 428, Los Angeles, CA 90010.
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Board certification
Members meet stringent
requirements for DABMA
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):
Robert J. Abramson, MD, DABMA, New York, NY; Elizabeth Allemann, MD, DABMA, Columbia, MO; Tammy D. Baudoin, MD, DABMA, Shreveport, LA; James Byatt, MD, DABMA, Perrysburg, OH; David Cooper, MD, DABMA, Visalia, CA; Donald R. Counts, MD, PA, DABMA, Austin, TX; Stephen J. Frey, MD, DABMA, Apple Valley, MN; David Groopman, MD, DABMA, Richmond, VA; Jan T. Hendryx, DO, DABMA, Bradford, PA; N. Clare Heriza, MD, DABMA, Baker City, OR; Hani A Ismail, MD, DABMA, Warsaw, NY; Kristie Kim, MD, DABMA, Salisbury, MD; Lilly Lei, MD, DABMA, West New York, NJ; Frank M. Lobacz, MD, DABMA, Bashore, NY; Todd McCluskey, DO, DABMA, Hot Springs, SD; Patrick D. McFeely, MD, DABMA, Massillon, OH; Aaron Michelfelder, MD, DABMA, Maywood, IL; Thomas G. Noll, DO, DABMA, Crossville, TN; Michael A. Santoro, MD, MPH, DABMA, Muncie, IN; David A. Schwindt, MD, DABMA, Albuquerque, NM; Kamlesh B. Shah, MD, DABMA, Burr Ridge, IL; Charles Stimler, MD, DABMA, Douglaston, NY; David C. Suh, MD, DABMA, Columbus, OH; Fred P. Swing, MD, DABMA, Port Charlotte, FL; Timothy Ying, DO, FACOEP, DABMA, Troy, MI; Scott Zuckerman, MD, DABMA, Park City, UT
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AAMA Newsletter
available via e-mail
Join nearly 200 members
getting electronic issues sooner
Members can now receive the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail. Not only will they get the issues quicker, but this also will save AAMA money by reduced printing and postage costs. To receive newsletters electronically, contact Membership Coordinator Natalie Ortiz (nortiz9@pacbell.net, 323/937-5514, x20). Incidentally, past issues are posted online at www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/newsletter/newslist.htm.
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Chapter News
Delaware Valley and New Jersey
Delaware Valley (Pennsylvania) and New Jersey Chapters are excited to be sponsoring a three-day event, Advanced Seminar on Pain, Sports Medicine and Traumatology, with Anita Cignolini, MD, Sept. 5-7, 2003 in Sykes Union Building Theatre at West Chester University in West Chester, PA. This conference has been approved for 20 hours credit CME category 1 by West Chester University School of Health Sciences. This is part of a statewide membership drive to encourage all physician acupuncturists in Pennsylvania to join in building a strong and vibrant statewide group. Both Chapters will also hold their meeting that weekend.
Dr. Cignolini has studied extensively in China since 1978 and has been a pioneer in bringing the science of Chinese acupuncture to physicians outside of China. In 1984 at the International Conference on Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Beijing, she was introduced to the audience by Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Health, Director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Peoples Republic of China Hu Xi Ming. He introduced "Dr. Anita" as one teacher outside of China that he could personally recommend as teaching at the highest level recognized in China.
The goal of this conference is to give an indepth discussion of all aspects of sports, exercise and trauma from the perspective of TCM and how to treat these problems in terms of acupuncture. In addition to the pathophysiology and treatment of sports induced injuries and overuse injuries, Dr. Cignolini will discuss the meaning and treatment of the enlarged heart commonly seen in athletes, diagnosis and treatment of overtraining, how to prevent the degeneration of muscles and tissue seen in retired athletes and acupuncture techniques to prevent long-term damage from fractures. She will also demonstrate some of the long needle techniques that she learned in China for the treatment of spinal abnormalities and spinal trauma.
The Chapters will have great facilities at West Chester University with real time video projection of these needling techniques on a large screen as Dr. Cignolini demonstrates. Most of this information has never been presented in the United States before. They are looking forward to a very rewarding meeting.
For more information, contact Tom Burgoon, MD (610/399-1446) or Mitchell Krause, MD (610/352-4660). Phone registration by credit card is available at 610/436-6931 or by fax at 610/738-0466 at West Chester University.
Georgia
Georgia Chapter (GAMA) will host a seminar on March 27-28, 2004. Michael D. Arnold, MD, has agreed to be the guest speaker to discuss the topic, "TCM in the Treatment of Psycho-emotional Disturbances."
Illinois
Member Lorene Y. Wu, MD, LAc, Dipl Ac, will discuss Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture at the next Chapter meeting on Sept. 17.
Members are trying to arrange an Educational Conference to be held in late 2003. The Craig PENS (Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) workshop that members hoped would be held in Illinois this year will not be offered. However, they are anticipating that it can be scheduled in 2004. Toshikatsu Yamamoto, MD, of Japan also will be returning to Chicago to teach early next year.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Chapter is undergoing a self study to determine members' opinions on a range of topics. The coming year's calendar will be put together based on this poll. President Michael C. Sharp, MD, DABMA, urges members who haven't yet turned in their survey to do so immediately. Fax it to 919/945-0303. If you didn't receive a copy, please e-mail Chapter Secretary Dietlinde Zipkin, MD, DABMA, at zip1904@aol.com, and she will send you one.
Oregon
The Oregon Chapter will conduct its annual Educational Conference, Acupuncture Research: What, Why and Whither? — jointly sponsored by the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture and the Oregon Chapter — on Sept. 20, 2003 at the Lorenzen Center at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. The morning lecture will feature two prominent acupuncture researchers: James (Kimber) Rotchford, MD, MPH, FAAMA, of the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation, and Richard Hammerschlag, PhD. Dr. Hammerschlag is research director of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. He was instrumental in the development of the 1998 NIH consensus statement on acupuncture. The AAMA has approved this activity for 3 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credit. For more information, contact Dr. Hanfileti (hanfileti@pointsoforigin.com).
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Chapter met in May when Lynn M. Rusy, MD, DABMA, gave a presentation on pediatric acupuncture. Dr. Rusy is a professor of anesthesia at Milwaukee Children's Hospital. She uses acupuncture both in the peri-operative phase of care as well as in the pain clinic. Her presentation was followed by a series of case presentations by participants. There were medical acupuncturists as well as non-physician acupuncturists present for the meeting and participation in case presentations.
Does your state have a local AAMA chapter? If not, perhaps you should consider forming one. Chapters provide fellowship and professional camaraderie — not to mention education and curbside consults. If you are interested in establishing a chapter in your state, contact Regional Chapter Subcommittee Chair Martha M. Grout, MD, MD(H), FAAMA (602/787-8500, drmartha@worldnet.att.net).
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Academy plans educational workshops
TCM Point Selection
• A Simple Approach to TCM Point Selection will be presented by the Academy Nov. 1-2 in Santa Monica, CA, with instructor Michael Arnold, MD. This workshop will combine lecture with case presentations to examine the basic principles of point selection from the TCM point of view. Attendance is limited to 40 participants, who will receive 14 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credit from sponsor AAMA. Visit www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/tcm_workshop.html or call the Academy (323/937-5514) for further information.
East Meets West (TCM Review)
• A new Academy education workshop, East Meets West (A Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Interpretation), will be presented twice by Joseph Wong, MD, FAAMA. Offered Nov. 15-16 in Arlington, VA and again Dec. 6-7 in Fort Worth, TX, this workshop will combine lecture with case presentations to explore concepts of TCM with Western medical science focusing on neuro-anatomic components. Attendance is limited to 40 participants, who will receive 14 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credit from sponsor AAMA. Visit www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/wong_workshop.html or call the Academy (323/937-5514) for further information.
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Medical Acupuncture Advisory Committee (MAAC) Update
By William D. Rutenberg, MD, DABMA, Chair
MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Academy has been selected by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in Washington, DC, to serve on the liaison panel to the Committee on Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by the American Public. The IOM convened a study committee to explore scientific, policy and practice questions that arise from the significant and increasing use of CAM therapies by the American public. Specifically, the study will:
1. Describe the use of CAM therapies by the American public, providing a comprehensive overview, to the extent data is available, of the therapies in wide-spread use, the populations that use them, and what is known about how they are provided.
2. Identify major scientific, policy and practice issues related to CAM research, and the translation of validated therapies into conventional practice.
3. Develop conceptual models or frameworks to guide public and private sector decision-making as research and practice communities confront the challenges of conducting research on CAM, translating research findings into practice and addressing the distinct policy and practice barriers inherent in that translation.
Guidance is specifically sought on the following matters:
1. Study the methodological difficulties in the conduct of rigorous research on CAM therapies and how these relate to issues in regulation and practice, with exploration of options to address the identified difficulties.
2. The shortage of highly skilled practitioners who are able to participate in scientific inquiry that meets NIH guidelines, and who have access to institutions where such research is conducted.
3. The shortage of receptive, integrated research environments and the barriers to developing multi-disciplinary teams that include CAM and conventional practitioners.
4. The availability of standardized and well-characterized materials and practices to be studied and incorporated, when appropriate, into practice.
5. Existing decision-making models used to determine whether or not to incorporate new therapies and practices into conventional medicine, including evidence thresholds.
6. Applicability of these decision-making models to CAM therapies and practices. Do they form good precedents for decisions relating to regulation, accreditation, or integration of CAM therapies?
7. Identification and analysis of successful approaches to incorporation of CAM into health professions' education.
8. Impact of current regulation/legislation on CAM research and integration.
As chair of the Medical Acupuncture Advisory Committee, I represented the Academy at the June 30 meeting. The liaison panel had been asked to provide input on the following areas for the June meeting: how each field generates and shares knowledge about treatment effectiveness and in the same vein, provide examples of outcome concepts and measures. That is, if a practitioner or researcher was going to try to determine whether or not a treatment was effective, what outcomes would he or she look for? What would you or others in the field want or expect to see?
The committee has scheduled three meetings: Sept. 22, Dec. 11 and Feb. 12, 2004. As the agenda for each meeting becomes available, we will post it on www.medicalacupuncture.org. To comment on any agenda item, please contact me (wdrutenber@aol.com).
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