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January 2003

Symposium  right around the corner

The 15th Annual AAMA Symposium, Medical Acupuncture in the 21st Century: Balancing the Art and Science of Healing, is being planned for April 25-27, 2003  at Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, MD.

The Program Committee has made a special effort to provide a good balance  of scientific and clinical presentations. Some of the leading researchers  in the US and Europe will be on hand to discuss their acupuncture-related  research and the research of others.

Brian Berman, MD, of the University of Maryland and a leading CAM researcher in the US, will review evidenced-based medicine and the implications for medical acupuncture. Prof. Walter Zieglgansberger from Munich, Germany, will review neuropharmacologic and other research on the physiology of pain control and acupuncture and on acupuncture and the treatment of addiction.  Prof. Zang-Hee Cho, from UC, Irvine, will be on hand to review his brain imaging research demonstrating the impact acupuncture has in stimulating  the brain.
For the first time, the Academy has invited members to submit their own  research abstracts - the best among them will make oral presentations  at the Symposium. Several of the more clinical talks will also review  published research in their areas, as well.

PRE-SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOPS ON APRIL 24
A variety of clinically useful topics will be offered in Baltimore, relying  on several different paradigms. From the TCM perspective, Walburg Maric-Ochler,  MD, president of the German Medical Acupuncture Society and vice president of ICMART, will provide a Pre-Symposium workshop on the Phenomenolgoical Approach to the treatment of Psychosomatic Dysfunctions based on the 5  Phases in Chinese Medicine.

Mike Arnold, MD, will discuss integrating TCM techniques with a Western  approach in the treatment of Asthma and a workshop on integrating Acupuncture  and herbal treatments to good effect.

Alejandro Elorriaga-Clarico, MD, will provide a Pre-symposium workshop specifically focused on using a functional integrated approach (neuro-anatomic  and energetics) to more effectively treat musculoskeletal problems and will do another session on the Neuromodulation Paradigm.

Lowell Kobrin, MD, will do a workshop on Koryo Hand Acupuncture with a  focus on Correspondence Theory and on Micro-meridian Therapy.

ADDITIONAL SYMPOSIUM FACULTY
Other well-known teachers who will be providing sessions on their areas  of expertise at the Symposium include Drs. John Reed and Brian Bouch on Energetics and headaches and on Curious Meridians. Joseph Helms, MD, will  provide an advanced Energetics session on Triangulation Equilibration.

Bryan L. Frank, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, will provide advanced level workshops  on using auricular acupuncture for pain and for medical conditions. Charles  Moss, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, will be on hand providing sessions on using Five Element acupuncture to treat depression and stress, and for the treatment of Sexual Dysfunction.

Stephen Taylor, DO, will do a review and update on the latest research on Chronic Pain and a workshop on Craig PENS technique. Cynthia Gokavi,  MD, will be on hand to describe her transverse technique that has proven effective and efficient in the treatment of chronic myofascial pain.

Based on successful sessions in Los Angeles last year, this program will have two different sessions where cases are reviewed and treatments discussed by practitioners coming from different perspectives. On Sunday morning, there will be a panel of experts looking at and discussing clinical cases from their respective points of view. Sunday afternoon, there will be  an interesting workshop, The X Syndrome - A multi-paradigm approach, with treatment options offered from several perspectives.

Visit: www.medicalacupuncture.org for program information and registration.  For hotel reservation details, see AAMA President Dr. Marshall Sager's column on page 2.

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AAMA offering workshops on pain management

The Academy's  Education Committee is pleased to announce that dates have been set for  a new educational workshop approved for AAMA sponsorship (offering 14  CME hours).
Pain Management Through Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Approach is a seminar  designed to reinforce the use and application of common acupuncture techniques,  as well as to explore various approaches less commonly employed, though  very effective in their use. This workshop will be presented by Bryan L. Frank, MD, DABMA, FAAMA and offered twice:
o May 17-18, 2003 at Marriott Chicago O'Hare, 8535 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL. Call 773/693-4444 or 800/228-9290 and ask for AAMA Workshop room rate of $99 single/double, good until April 25, 2003.

o July 26-27, 2003 at DoubleTree Hotel Philadelphia, 237 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA. Call 215/893-1600 or 800/222-TREE and ask for AAMA Workshop  room rate of $109 single/double, good until June 27, 2003.

The seminar will consider the approach to pain through neuro-anatomic  acupuncture and related techniques, and through integrating classic energetic  theories into the care of pain. Additionally, acupuncture micro-systems  will be discussed for use in treating pain and its proper integration  into the acupuncture treatment.

An important aspect of chronic pain that is unresponsive to healing is the presence of blockages. These interferences may prevent patient recovery from any medical input but may be addressed many times, when they are  understood and identified. Blockages to healing and recovery will be explored  as they may be identified through acupuncture, micro-systems and related techniques.

A consideration of selected pain conditions as well as selected paper  cases will also be presented. The physician will be able to study and  consider a wide variety of treatment options for the management of pain  in a single intensive weekend.
Registration information will be mailed to members and posted at: www.medicalacupuncture.org.

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From the President

By Marshall  H. Sager, DO, DABMA, FAAMA
PRESIDENT, AAMA
Location, location, location. That's the real estate mantra. Well, for AAMA - the location is Baltimore and the mantra is: Symposium, Symposium, Symposium!

Our 15th Annual Symposium, Medical Acupuncture in the 21st Century: Balancing  the Art and Science of Healing, will be held from April 25-27, 2003 at  the beautiful Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, conveniently located adjacent to the multi-attraction Inner Harbor and Harbor Shops. Baltimore will bring together an exciting mix of old friends, new acquaintances, stimulating speakers, scintillating discussions, ancient thoughts, new ideas and fun. For more on this revitalized, thriving city, log on to: www.baltimore.org.

Please review the Symposium offerings in this column, in the article on  page 1 and online at: www.medicalacupuncture.org. I am certain you will  agree that the agenda so ably assembled by Chair Roberto A. Jodorkovsky, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, and his hard-working Committee is extraordinary. The  program focuses on research and the science of acupuncture, with an emphasis  on clinical practice.

For example, keynote speaker, Brian Berman, MD, will review and discuss  the published science of acupuncture. International guests Prof. Walter Zieglgansberger will speak on the major scientific research on acupuncture physiology, and Walburg Maric-Ochler, MD, will talk about exciting TCM approaches. Other Faculty members include: Drs. Cynthia Gokavi, Brian  Bouch, Ravinder Mamtani, Michael Arnold, Joseph Helms, Bryan Frank, Charles Moss, Lowell Kobrin, Angelica Fargas-Babjak, Alejandro Elorriaga-Claraco,  Stephen Taylor, Zang-Hee Cho and John Reed.

On April 24, a Pre-Symposium will offer 7.5 CME hours. Concurrents include: Introduction to Acupuncture with Dr. Fargas-Babjak and Ravinder Mamtani,  MD, DABMA, FAAMA, Psychosomatic Diseases Based on the 5 Phases in Chinese Medicine: A Phenomenological Approach with Dr. Maric-Ochler, Koryo Hand Therapy with Dr. Kobrin and Neuroanatomical Acupuncture with Dr. Elorriaga-Claraco.

There will also be exhibitors with products and services related to medical  acupuncture, a Wine & Cheese Reception with poster presentations, the Annual Membership Meeting, group lunches, research updates, expert panels, opportunities to network with fellow medical acupuncturists and more.

The Acupuncture Review Course (offering 22 CME hours) will be held April  22-23, followed by an ABMA Board Certification Exam on April 28, all in Baltimore.

All these events will be held at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel (www.renaissancehotels.com), Baltimore, MD. For a room at $189 single/double, call 800/535-1201 (410/547-1200)  by March 24.

As always, the excitement comes not only from the lectures, but also from the creative exchange among speakers and attendees. So many ideas and  so much knowledge in April is staggering!

BOARD DECISIONS
There was a creative, stimulating AAMA Board of Directors meeting in January. Directors revisited our decision to open the attendance of the Symposium  to non-physicians. The Board will tabulate members' opinions on this issue and look forward to your input via the Academy's website. (See related  article on this page.)
Also, the Board affirmed our initiative to utilize the latest communication  technology for distant learning and conferences.
There was much discussion about the need for active volunteers who can  eventually become Board members and leaders in the future. We are pleased  to announce the appointment of Glenn S. Rothfeld, MD, to the Board, filling a current vacancy. Congratulations, Glenn!
Additionally, the Board spent considerable time revising and updating  the AAMA Strategic plan. This document will serve as the road map that will guide Academy decisions and actions for the next two to three years.
I look forward to seeing each of you in Baltimore. Please join us for  this unparalleled and memorable event.

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Symposia:  Should they be open to all or restricted to medical acupuncturists?

AAMA has a question to ask and wants your opinion about qualifications for symposia attendance.

Until last year, AAMA symposia attendance was restricted to physicians (MD, DO) only. This restrictive policy had been revisited several times  in the past and remained unchanged.
During the past few years, a number of members expressed a desire to allow  non-physician attendees at the symposia. At an AAMA Board of Directors  meeting in January -- after much discussion and deliberation regarding  the history of the policy and the perceived consequences of change --  directors decided to end all restrictions on attendance. The prevailing thought at the time was the fact that (a) an increasing number of members are in favor of including non-physicians at the symposia, (b) non-physician  MARF Board members have been allowed to attend on a case-by-case basis,  (c) AAMA can demonstrate to the non-physician community that it has quality  training and (d) "what are we afraid of?"

Recently, concern about this open attendance policy has been raised by several Academy members who have petitioned the Board to return to the  physician-only policy.

This is an important issue that needs member input. The Board welcomes your opinion. Please access the Members Only section of AAMA's website (www.medicalacupuncture.org) and complete the brief survey to let leaders  know what you think.

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AAMA ready to tackle 2003

By Gene  Hong, MD, DABMA
CHAIR, AAMA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Happy New Year! The Chinese attitude of the New Year is somewhat different  than what I had come to believe. It is a huge celebration. A part of the celebration is to visit family and friends and congratulate them. Congratulate them on what? Apparently, in the past, many people never made it to new years. The winter would effectively kill off the weak and infirm.

In many years, when the harvest was bad, whole communities would starve to death. Winter is grim. Based on the lunar calendar, Chinese New Years  would come at the end of winter. If you made it to New Years, then congratulations! You will likely survive the rest of the winter. Once my wife told me about these facts of the Chinese New Years, I found it rather somber. But it is also practical and brutally truthful.

The Academy has also made it through a winter of sorts, as the last year has been difficult. We believe that the new year will be different and bring with it new prosperity for your practice and AAMA. The effects of  the medical economy, the tragedy of Sept. 11 and the continuing threat of war have greatly impacted practices and the vitality of the Academy.  However, here we are, still standing, still alive. There is hope.

In this new year, there will be new leadership and programs that will  bring renewed vigor into our organization. And the bottom line is we will  continue to provide member services that will enhance your practice of medical acupuncture, such as: educational opportunities to give you the  tools to expand and improve your practice of medical acupuncture; practice support materials and seminars that will give you the resources to be  financially successful in your medical acupuncture practice (especially  new physician acupuncturists); patient referrals from the Academy to your  practice through our toll-free number (800/521-2262) and website (www.medicalacupuncture.org/findadoc/index.html);  and continued legislative and economic lobbying to ensure that you have  the right to practice medical acupuncture and will be appropriately compensated.

We will also continue to recruit physicians who recently graduated from  the many excellent training programs developed over the last five years  into AAMA. While we expand our membership base through local chapters,  training programs and ABMA, we will never forget our roots (i.e., efforts of pioneers Drs. Joseph Helms, Allen McDaniels, John Reed, etc. and of  course, the UCLA program).

Most of our members are graduates of the UCLA program. We continue to rely upon this training program for the bulk of our new members. The success  of the Academy will be based on providing UCLA graduates with the tools to build and maintain a successful medical acupuncture practice. We hope  that we have been successful in providing these services. We will continue to innovate and implement new services that will be vital for all physicians who practice acupuncture.

If you would like to become involved, please contact me (gghong@aol.com, 503/408-0865) or AAMA (323/937-5514).

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Practice opportunities offered

• Integrative medical practice available to join or buy. Great location and staff in beautiful  Pacific Northwest. Close to schools, mountains, lakes and skiing. Call Linda C. Hole, MD (509/747-2902).
• Medical acupuncturist  sought for busy internal medicine/acupuncture outpatient practice (2/3  medical, 1/3 acupuncture in volume). Board Certified IM or FP required. Send CV to Jesse Broome, MD, 1000 First Colonial Road, Ste. 101, Virginia Beach, VA., 23454.

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Member News

J. Russell Corcoran, MD, FACP, presented the talk, Introduction to Medical Acupuncture, at Medical Grand Rounds at Memorial Hospital, a Brown University affiliate,  in Pawtucket, RI, in November 2002.

Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that 236 calls came into national headquarters (and 4,371 website hits to the referral page) in November 2002 and 199 calls (and 3,591 website  hits) in December 2002 from patients seeking medical acupuncturists.

The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine is conducting a nationwide survey to obtain information from CAM physicians on their  CAM practices. The OCCAM is interested in which therapies/modalities CAM practitioners consider most beneficial to patients, which is used, supported the strongest by evidence, warrant greater investigation and their willingness  to collaborate with researchers. Academy members will be compensated for their time. Contact Anne C. Washburn, MPH, at National Cancer Institute  (301/594-9983, washbura@mail.nih.gov).

Bryan L. Frank, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, will be in Nepal on medical mission  in February. The mission will serve poor persons in Silamgal and other  close villages, east of Kathmandu as well as the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Anandaban, south of the capital city in India. Medical care is basic  family medicine with some exciting pathology not seen in common US practices, and includes an integration of biomedicine and medical acupuncture. Drs.  Frank and Bob Milne also participated in a weekend medical mission in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in November 2002. Teamed with a dentist and several general helpers, the mission served more than 225 persons. Due to poverty along the US-Mexico border, many are unable to receive healthcare. The physicians treated patients with medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy.

Medical acupuncture has been very well received by patients on Dr. Frank's  missions to Nepal, Mexico, Ecuador and Russia. AAMA physicians interested  in joining on a mission may contact him at bfrankmd@aol.com or visit his  mission website at: www.medicalmissionpartners.org. Missions in 2003 include Mexico in the spring, Ecuador June 14-21 or 28, and November, Russia in  August, and Nepal in September/October.

Please contact Dr. Frank well in advance as international missions require  much preparation.
The Academy can now send the AAMA Newsletter to members via e-mail. If you would rather receive this publication electronically, please send an e-mail to Membership Coordinator Natalie Ortiz at: nortiz9@pacbell.net. Incidentally, past issues of the AAMA Newsletter are posted online on the Academy's website. Log on to:
www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/newsletter/newslist.htm.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine announces three  programs for CAM practitioners. Up to $5.3 million in funding is available  in 2003. For details and application deadlines, log on to: www.nccam.nih.gov/research/announcements.

Alison Lee, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, has been speaking around Michigan at hospital  and university sponsored lectures to many audiences, including physicians and other health professionals, students of medicine and allied health professions, and lay groups.

The Acupuncture Society of Michigan will welcome Yue-Pang Mok, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, June 7-8, 2003 at Novi Doubletree in Michigan to discuss Clinical Strategies for Acupuncture and Qigong. For details, call ASM (248/669-0068).

Abstracts are being sought for the 10th Anniversary Symposium on Complementary  Health Care. Scheduled for Nov. 21-22, 2003 at the Royal College of Physicians  in London, this event is headed by Prof. Edzard Ernst and based at the  Peninsula Medical School in Exeter. This international gathering comprises two days of platform and poster presentations as well as pre-conference  workshops and satellite meetings. AAMA members interested in submitting  an abstract or attending can visit: www.exeter.ac.uk/fact/sympo or contact  Barbara Wider (b.wider@exeter.ac.uk).

AAMA has announced the 2004 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:
www.medicalacupuncture.org/events/eventscalendar.html.

Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, DABMA, FAAMA, was written up in Rocky Mountain News when a $10 million, 35,000-SF wing opened at James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University (www.vth.colostate.edu/vth) last November. Her work in acupuncture as a veterinarian and an osteopath eliminated the director's skepticism of CAM. It's the only such program  in North America to be based at a university, treating 2,000 animals a  year with cancer. Funds for the Robert H. and Mary G. Flint Animal Cancer  Center (www.cancercure.colostate.edu) came from a $1 million grant from NIH, $4 million from a couple whose dogs were treated there and $5 million  from 500 other donors.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, DHHS,  is looking for a director, office of international health research to serve as senior advisor to NCCAM's director and deputy director in the further development of international research in CAM. Familiarity with the operation of international health organizations is extremely desirable.  For details and application deadline, visit:
www.nccam.nih.gov/about/jobs/index.htm#1.

Please send your news to: bdortberg@aol.com.

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MAAC update

By William D. Rutenberg, MD, DABMA, Chair
MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The new legislation year is starting off with a flurry of new bills. Fortunately, most issues concern regulation of non-physician acupuncturists. However, when issues affecting us arise, it is important for us to have a rapid response team in place at the state level.
When pertinent state legislation is proposed, this committee sends the regional chapter president an e-mail with the bill attached so chapter members may contact their state legislators. If there is no regional chapter  in the affected area, the committee sends the e-mail to several members  requesting them to alert others. I would like to recruit one or two members  from each state to act as the point person. You can reach me via e-mail  at: wdrutenber@aol.com.
Most state acupuncture boards want a physician acupuncturist as a member.  AAMA members wishing to get involved should check with their state board  of acupuncture to determine if there is a physician seat available. AAMA  offers support to assist members wishing to be appointed to their state acupuncture boards.
Whereas some competitors are critical of AAMA's education requirements for membership, two states (Minnesota and Arizona) have legislation pending  that would allow chiropractors to practice acupuncture with only 100-120  hours of training.

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Chapter  News

Georgia
Georgia Association of Medical Acupuncturists will offer an Acupuncture  Seminar and Workshop in Scar Unblocking from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday,  March 8 at Wyndham Garden Hotel in Atlanta. Instructor Lynsay Tunnell,  DOM, LAc, is a full professor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, NM. He teaches point location, cosmetic acupuncture, classics review, supervises clinic, and has over  25 years experience in homeopathy in conjunction with Oriental medicine.
This course will offer a clinical exploration of the potential of Oriental medical techniques to correct or diminish both functional and cosmetic effects of scarring. All general types of scars will be discussed, from  accidents and burns to cutting and surgical scars. They will survey the  use of acupuncture, herbal medicine and a variety of other modalities, such as magnets and electricity. The Chapter is expecting a great turnout. By the end of the seminar, participants will know how to help patients immediately in clinic.
Sponsored by AAMA, this seminar offers 7.5 CME hours. For a brochure,  call Chapter President Anna Kelly, MD (404/255-8388).

New  Jersey
The New Jersey Chapter held a highly successful meeting in November 2002.  It had a unique format, in which Chapter officers each presented a short  "Clinical Acupuncture Pearls" seminar/lecture: Vice President Maria Choy, MD, Neurologist, DABPN, Treatment of Dysarthria; Treasurer  Dein Shapiro, MD, FAAFP, DAAMA, Treatment of Back and Neck Pain with Piezoelectric Stimulation; Secretary Noel Nowicki, MD, Japanese Technique for Releasing Scars in the Neck; member William Pawluk, MD, Use of Magnets in Ttherapy;  and President M. Kyu Chung, MD, FAAMA, FAAFP, How to Diagnose and Treat Piriformis Syndrome.

There was also an open mike session, "Stump the Speakers," which was 20-30 minutes of Q&A with the panel of officers. Topics focused  on practical management techniques in what was considered by all to be  "one of their best Chapter meetings ever."

North  Carolina
North Carolina Chapter members continue to meet alternating between Charlotte  and Chapel Hill on a monthly basis. Members will receive a notice regarding elections for new officers: president-elect and secretary/treasurer. Anyone  interested in either of these positions should contact Christine Hughes, MD (704/366-0030).

Oregon
The Oregon Chapter continues its monthly meetings and annual educational  offerings. Robert J. Gross, MD, DABMA, is president of the Chapter; Gene  Hong, MD, DABMA, is president-elect, and Peter Hanfileti, MD, DABMA, is treasurer/secretary.
At the February meeting, Ann Nedrow, MD, spoke to members about the NIH  grant that has been awarded to Oregon Health and Science University for the inclusion of CAM into the medical school curriculum. Meg Hayes, MD, a member of the Academy and the Oregon Chapter, is a member of the research team led by Dr. Nedrow.

Chapters are urged to send updates to: bdortberg@aol.com.

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ABMA updates on progress

By Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, DABMA, FAAMA
CHAIR, AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
There are currently 253 physicians who are Board Certified and 77 physician  applications in the process awaiting decision. We encourage all AAMA members to become Board Certified.
Currently, the programs at these nine schools have been approved and certified  by ABMA: Medical Acupuncture for Physicians, UCLA; Chinese Acupuncture  for Physicians: Scientific Basis and Practice, USC; Acupuncture Training  Program, New York Medical College; Medical Acupuncture Program for Physicians and Dentists, Tristate Institute of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture; Acupuncture  Foundation of Canada Institute; Contemporary Medical Acupuncture for Health  Professionals, McMaster University School of Medicine; The Art and Science  of Acupuncture, Part 1: The Basic Course and Part 2: Advanced Program,  University of Miami; Medical Acupuncture for Physicians, Harvard Medical  School Department of Continuing Education; and Medical Acupuncture for Physicians Office of Continuing Medical Education, SUNY Downstate Medical  Center.
Contact information on those schools can be found on AAMA's website (www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/abma_info.html#trainingprogram s).
ABMA plans to work on these projects in 2003:

• A committee will  refine the ABMA Board Certification Examination. Board Certified physicians  are being asked for their input. Please call Robert J. Gross, MD, DABMA  (503/228-5909).
• Pending the formation of a budget, a practice survey will be conducted.
• An Educational  Council will be established by program director chairs of ABMA-approved  training schools to advise on enhancement for further education of Board members. In seven years, we plan to undertake an ABMA Re-Certification for the first time for the initial group.
• The Board of Trustees sends their best regards to ABMA members, and we'll see you at the reception  for new Board members in my hometown of Baltimore in April.

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