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Pan Pacific volunteers needed
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Steven Aung, MD (shown in Canadian Rocky Mountains) will host Aung Medical Qi Gong Spiritual Regreat Program in Whirinaki Forest, New Zealand after Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum.
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An early-bird registration rate with perks is available for Academy members to attend Medical Acupuncture in the New World -- Innovation and Integration, being planned by Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum and Medical Acupuncture Society of New Zealand (MASNZ), March 15-19, 2004 at Wairakei Resort in Taupo, New Zealand.
Through Jan. 31, 2004, AAMA members can register for Pan Pacific for NZ$785 (~US$500), which includes all breakfasts, morning and afternoon teas and lunches on conference days, as well as the Thursday night dinner. For details and registration and hotel forms, send an e-mail to MASNZ Secretary Linda Pringle at masnz@apc.org.nz. MASNZ can also be reached by mail at PO Box 164, Lyttelton, New Zealand or by fax at (011) 64 3 328 8132. Payment can be with MasterCard, Visa or check. After Jan. 31, 2004, registration increases to NZ$850.
AAMA is responsible for providing a day of programming (Thursday, March 18, 2004). Five to six Academy members have indicated that they plan to travel to New Zealand and participate in the fun of Pan Pacific. AAMA hopes that group will grow to 10-12 physicians. Members interested in attending should contact Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA (bfrankmd@aol.com), who is 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 six small group concurrent sessions (lectures or workshops), a break and then six more sessions in the afternoon. Abstracts are due by mid-December.
Members can view Wairakei Resort online at www.wairakei.co.nz. Amenities include a nine-hole golf course, pools, spas, saunas, tennis and squash courts, restaurants and more. MASNZ reports that quite a few physicians have begun booking their accommodations early, which is strongly recommended. To inquire about reservations, write to resort@wairakei.co.nz. To view this scenic area, visit www.laketauponz.com.
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 (which will be a free day from the conference), as well as tours and items of interest for partners accompanying physicians to New Zealand.
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). This is a magnificent old forest of totara and kauri trees. 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, NV).
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New acupuncture codes approved for 2005 CPT code book
As has been reported here, Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA, heads a special task force for the Academy that's working with other interested groups to formulate new CPT codes for acupuncture, as mandated by HIPPA. At presstime, the AMA CPT Editorial Panel approved new codes for acupuncture and for electro-acupuncture services, which will replace the existing codes in the 2005 CPT code book. The Evaluation and Management (E/M) service code sometimes used by physicians in conjunction with acupuncture are separate and distinct services, and not part of the new acupuncture codes. The next step in this complex process is for an RUC Committee to assign values to the new codes, which will involve surveying acupuncturists and concerned groups. The Academy will continue to keep the membership posted on developments.
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MARF initiative to support medical acupuncture research
Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF) is soliciting applications for the pilot program , Support and Technical Assistance for Acupuncture Research (STAAR). Medical acupuncture researchers or AAMA members who wish to become involved in research are urged to apply for this award.
Recipients of the STAAR award will have direct access to expert consultants in a variety of disciplines, including biostatistics, research methods, grant writing and medical writing. MARF will find and pay consultants to assist STAAR award recipient with the research project, up to $5,000. The STAAR recipient will have access to these consultation services but will not receive money directly.
As this is a pilot program, MARF will grant just one STAAR award during the first funding cycle. The purpose of the pilot program is to assess the utility and effectiveness and cost of providing this type of research assistance to AAMA members. The long-term objective of the STAAR program is to facilitate the conducting of research projects and publication of findings that pertain to medical acupuncture. If the pilot phase of this program is deemed successful, more STAAR awards will be made available to AAMA members.
Please direct inquiries about this program or completed applications via e-mail to Remy Coeytaux, MD, at remy_coeytaux@med.unc.edu. To apply for a STAAR award, send Dr. Coeytaux an e-mail with an attachment of a 2-5 page proposal including the following information: 1) your name, professional degree(s) obtained, AAMA membership identification number, professional position and mailing address, 2) a description of the proposed project, 3) a request for the type of assistance needed (i.e., biostatistics, research design, manuscript preparation, etc.), and 4) a statement describing how a STAAR award would enable completion of a project that otherwise could not be done.
Applications must be received by Feb. 15, 2004. The STAAR award winner will be announced at AAMA's Symposium in Chicago in April 2004.
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Academy achieving goals in education
By Nader E. Soliman, MD, FAAMA
PRESIDENT, AAMA
In this issue, I would like to emphasize the Academy's achievement in the field of education. During the last few years, AAMA made medical education one of its priorities. Under the leadership of Michael Coomes, MD, the CME Committee succeeded in making the Academy a CME granting body. Dr. Coomes is now chairing a new committee entrusted with integrating new technologies into our educational system.
Raising the standards and quality of the educational programs in our symposia is paramount. The fruits of our efforts were quite evident in recent years. The Symposium Committee and its chairman, Roberto Jodorkovsky, MD, have worked so hard in the last few months to provide us with another fulfilling experience coming in April 2004 when our next Symposium will be held in Chicago. The Symposium will feature some well-known national and international speakers who will present a wide variety of topics, including the five phases, French energetic acupuncture, electrical acupuncture and neuro-anatomical acupuncture, among others. Acupuncture treatment of many common medical problems, such as fibromyalgia, stroke, myofascial pain and various gynecological problems, will be addressed in depth. I am certainly looking forward to seeing most of you in Chicago next year to enjoy this wonderful Symposium.
The Educational Committee, chaired by William Page-Echols, DO, also embarked on providing high-quality weekend educational programs throughout the year in various cities around the country. The Educational Committee is entrusted with expanding educational programs and working in concert with our local Chapters.
The Academy will continue to elevate the standards and knowledge in the field of medical acupuncture. There is no doubt that it is essential for AAMA to be dedicated to excellence in education so the quality of care provided to our patients is elevated.
Again, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank all of those who have given their time and effort over the years to help provide the Academy's membership with the highest quality of medical education.
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Two bills are currently being presented to the Congress concerning providing tighter control over herbal and nutritional products. Since this might affect the practice of some of our members who use herbal products in conjunction with their acupuncture treatment, those interested should familiarize themselves with these bills and take the appropriate actions. Members can read the bills on AAMA's website (click on Professional Information: Legislative Update in the Member section of www.medicalacupuncture.org).
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Again, I would like to remind you about the next Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum to be held in New Zealand in March 2004. (See the article in this issue.) We continue to look for volunteers to attend on behalf of the Academy. We are allocated one day of lectures and presentations, and need volunteers for those responsibilities. Those interested, please contact Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA, (bfrankmd@aol.com).
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The Academy is re-visiting the idea of allowing non-physicians acupuncturists to attend our symposia. A special task force is currently discussing the issue and will come up with a statement and appropriate questionnaire to poll the membership. I urge all of you to take the time to study this issue.
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Board, committee members sought
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. 10, 2004, Full members 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, which are listed online at
www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/aama.html (click on Academy Committees). For details on responsibilities and joining, please contact a member of the committee that interests you.
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MARF Acupuncture Research Award contest announced
The call for entries has gone out for the annual Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF) Acupuncture Research Award, sponsored by Seirin-America. First-, second- and third-place awards will be presented at AAMA's Symposium 2004 by Thomas Riihimaki, CEO of Seirin America and OMS:
- First Place: $3,000. Paper to be presented at AAMA's Symposium in Chicago, April 2004. Symposium registration, travel to $500 and three night's hotel lodging for the presenting author.
- Second Place: $2,000. Registration for AAMA's Symposium in Chicago, April 2004. Travel to the Symposium paid to $500.
- Third Place: $1,000. Registration for AAMA's Symposium in Chicago, April 2004.
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 done and accepted for publication during the 2002-2003 year period will be considered, if the publishing journal will allow presentation at AAMA's 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 address are desirable but not mandatory.
- Submissions should be received by Feb. 15, 2004. 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 MARF Board will assign a panel of judges. Winners will be selected at the sole discretion of the judges and the MARF Board. Winners will be notified in adequate time to attend the spring Symposium.
- Six copies of the paper should be sent to:
MARF Research Award Contest
c/o Todd C. Royal, MARF Executive Administrator
12930 Ventura Blvd., #923
Studio City, CA, 91604
All submissions must be mailed to MARF by Feb. 15, 2004. For further information, contact MARF Executive Administrator Todd C. Royal (818/906-3173, toddroyal@yahoo.com).
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Research projects/case reports sought for Symposium Posters
This is the call for abstracts of research projects or case reports to be presented as Posters at AAMA's Symposium in April 2004.
Due by Feb. 15, 2004, abstracts should be a 200-250 word description of the research project and findings or be a summary of the case, treatment approach and outcomes. They will be reviewed by the Poster Committee. Authors of abstracts selected by the Committee will be invited to present their work in Poster format at the Symposium. Poster presenters will get 50% off their Symposium registration fee.
Posters will be presented at the Symposium's Wine and Cheese Reception and remain up the next day. Poster presenters will be invited to submit their abstracts for publication in the journal, Medical Acupuncture.
Abstracts should be submitted to AAMA offices by Feb. 15, 2004 to be considered for Poster presentation. You are encouraged to submit the abstract via e-mail, in Microsoft Word or text format, to: jdowden@prodigy.net. Selected abstracts will be announced by late February.
Call AAMA Executive Administrator James Dowden (323/937-5514) for further information.
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Member News
Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga, director of the McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program, presented a keynote lecture on the Contemporary Acupuncture, the Neuromodulation Paradigm, as well as taught a workshop on applications of the McMaster Functional Integrated Approach System to the treatment of articular dysfunctions in Buenos Aires, Argentina. These activities took place during the celebration of the IV International Symposium of the Ibero-Latin American Federation of Medical Acupuncture Societies in Buenos Aires, in October. About 300 medical acupuncture practitioners attended the meeting, all physicians from mostly Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries. As a result of the encounter, the McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program has officially established institutional relationships with nine medical acupuncture societies representing practising physicians from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Portugal and Spain. These contacts represent a wealth of potential international members for AAMA, and Dr. Elorriaga will pass on the Academy institutional information about this membership category to all of them.
AAMA is pleased to announce the addition of "Auriculotherapy Manual Third Edition" by Terry Oleson to its lineup of books. This new revision of the enormously popular handbook combines the theories of Chinese and French ear acupuncture into one concise treatment plan for more than 250 medical conditions — including chronic pain and addictions — based on research conducted at UCLA Pain Management Center. Cost is $55.95 (discounted to $47.55 for practice members). Go to www.medicalacupuncture.org, click on AAMA Book Store and look for 95-39 (go into Member Area for discounted price).
The article, "Acupuncture as a Promising Treatment for Below-Level Central Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Study," was published in the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (2003;26:21-26). The abstract was written by Executive President Linda M. Rapson, MD, CAFCI, FACA, of Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (AFCI) and four associates from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, AFCI, Rapson Pain and Acupuncture Clinic and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. The study treated 36 individuals with traumatic and nontraumatic SCI, of which 24 showed improvement after treatment with the electroacupuncture protocol. The study concluded that the Lyndhurst Center Central Neuropathic Acupuncture Protocol may be an effective treatment for patients with SCI experiencing below-level central neuropathic pain.
Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute recently launched the Joseph Y.S. Wong Scholarship to provide an opportunity for students of that program to advance their acupuncture education by attending AFCI Level II 2B/3B courses free. The scholarship also was established to honor Dr. Wong for his rich contributions to both AFCI's program and to acupuncture worldwide with his sophisticated anatomical approach well regarded in China, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, as well as the US. The first Joseph Y.S. Wong Scholarship will be announced at AFCI's annual general dinner meeting in June 2004.
A new Academy education workshop, East Meets West (A Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Interpretation), will be presented by Joseph Wong, MD, FAAMA. Offered 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 CME hours from sponsor AAMA. For details, visit www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/wong_workshop.html or call AAMA (323/937-5514).
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that 143 calls came into national headquarters (and 4,627 website hits to the referral page) in July, 213 calls (and 4,667 website hits) in August and 292 calls (and 5,098 website hits) in September 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.
Acupuncture Society of Michigan members held an Acupuncture Retreat on the Lake in November. Speakers included Diane McCormick, MD, on Five Element; Luke Kim, MD, on History of Physician Acupuncture Practice in the State of Michigan; Milt Depuy, MD, on Relationships Between Eastern and Western Medicine (especially regarding myofascial syndromes), and Jay Abel-Horowitz, MD, on Treatment of Psychiatric Patients with Acupuncture and Herbs.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recently reported that more than 1.3 million Americans will find out they have cancer in the next year. CAM treatment, including medical acupuncture, among adult cancer patients has risen to 83%. Therefore, NCCAM is funding rigorous studies on CAM for cancer treatment, spending $14,253,000 (16% of its research portfolio) in fiscal year 2002. Clinical trials are underway investigating acupuncture and whether or not it reduces anxiety and improves quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Also, the NCCAM Division of Intramural Research's Oncology Program is studying the effectiveness of electroacupuncture to treat delayed nausea and vomiting (24 hours to five days) from chemotherapy in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma. For more details on NCCAM-sponsored clinical trials, log on to www.nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials.
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). Past issues are online at: www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/newsletter/newslist.htm.
National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs is offering up to $35,000/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. Online application closes on Dec. 31, 2003. For details, visit www.lrp.nih.gov.
Jeffrey D. Kauffman, MD, M.Ac. (UK) is offering Advanced Five Element Acupuncture Training in Sacramento, CA weekends December through February. Visit www.holistichealthassoc.org.
A study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2003; 51:599-608) outlined how PENS via acupuncture needles reduces pain and disability in older patients with chronic low back pain. Debra K. Weiner, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and colleagues randomly assigned 34 patients at least 65 years of age with chronic back pain to receive PENS twice a week plus physical therapy or sham PENS plus physical therapy for six weeks. Pain intensity and secondary outcome measures (such as physical performance, psychosocial factors and cognitive functions) were assessed at the six-week intervention and again three months later. The PENS plus physical therapy group displayed significant reductions in pain-related disability from pre- to post-treatment (p = 0.002), but the sham PENS plus physical therapy group did not.
Please send your news to bdortberg@aol.com.
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Practice for Sale
Practice for sale in Annapolis, MD. Integrative medicine, with OMT/internal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition and myotherapy. Practice is 20-plus years old, in a professional condo. Physician retiring but other members of team remaining. Contact M.M. Mullins, MD (stmarge@toad.net, 410/757-7665).
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Chapter News
Arizona
Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Wilks, MD, recently manned an Arizona AAMA Chapter booth at two events: the Cox Employee Health Expo at the Zoo and Banner Thunderbird Hospital's Integrative Medicine Conference.
Chapter members meet from 9-11 am on the second Saturday of the month. Call 602/787-8500 for more information.
Georgia
Georgia AAMA Chapter (GAMA) will host a seminar in Atlanta 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." The Academy has approved this workshop-style event for 15 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credit. For more information, call Anna Kelly, MD (404/255-8388).
North Carolina
The North Carolina AAMA Chapter will be having a statewide meeting in conjuction with the North Carolina Integrative Medical Society on March 6-7, 2004 in Winston-Salem. More details to follow, but put it on your calendar now.
Oregon
The Annual Educational Meeting of the Oregon AAMA Chapter, Acupuncture Research: What, Why and Whither?, took place in September at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, OR. Drs. Kim Rotchford and Richard Hammerschlag conducted a surprisingly passionate debate regarding acupuncture research. Audience participation was a major component of the talk. Drs. Robert Gross, Lowell Kobrin, Agatha Colbert and Louisa Silva added personal research perspectives to the discussions. Through the efforts of Dr. Peter Hanfileti, the Oregon Chapter was able to award AAMA-sponsored CME credits.
Pennsylvania
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Anita Cignolini, MD, instructs at chapter's joint workshop.
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Formerly known as Delaware Valley, this is now the Pennsylvania AAMA Chapter. Leaders are planning for the coming year. Chapter elections held resulted in the following: President Mitchell Krause, DO, and Vice President Lois Stefanowitz, DO. The position of secretary/treasurer is not filled yet.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey chapters recently held a three-day seminar on Pain, Sports Medicine and Traumatology with Anita Cignolini, MD. It was a success, with some 50 physicians in attendance. They had physicians attending from as far south as Puerto Rico and as far west as Los Angeles.
The Pennsylvania Chapter is planning on having at least two major educational programs a year and continue monthly educational programs on Chinese medicine on a more informal basis.
The Chapter's website contines to develop and grow at www.pamedicalacupuncture.com.
Does your state have a local AAMA chapter? If not, please consider forming one. Chapters provide fellowship and professional camaraderie — not to mention education and curbside consults. To establish a chapter in your state, contact Regional Chapter Subcommittee Chair Martha M. Grout, MD, MD(H), FAAMA (602/787-8500, drmartha@worldnet.att.net).
Two Chapters enjoy sports medicine seminar with Dr. Cignolini
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Advanced seminar in Chinese acupuncture: Pain, Sports Medicine and Traumatology in West Chester, PA. From right, are Anita Cignolini, MD, guest speaker; Thomas Burgoon, MD, conference chairperson, and Roger Mustalish PhD, department chairman, School fo Health Sciences, West Chester University.
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Pennsylvania and New Jersey AAMA Chapters hosted a three-day seminar, Pain, Sports Medicine and Traumatology, in Pennsylvania with Anita Cignolini, MD, in September.
Dr. Cignolini is known to many as the course director of the three-year program, Chinese Acupuncture for Physicians, offered through University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and through talks she has given at the national AAMA symposia. In 2000, she was invited by the Chinese to speak at the international conference in Nanjing, People's Republic of China, as one of the elite teachers of classical Chinese medicine and acupuncture outside of China.
The goal of the conference was to give an indepth discussion of sports and exercise and trauma from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and how to treat the related problems in terms of acupuncture. In addition to the pathophysiology and treatment of sports-induced injuries and overuse injuries, Dr. Cignolini discussed the meaning and treatment of the enlarged heart commonly seen in athletes, diagnosis and treatment of closed head injuries, diagnosis and treatment of overtraining, and treatment to speed fracture healing and reduce permanent damage from fracture. She also demonstrated some of the long needle techniques that she learned in China for the treatment of spinal abnormalities and spinal trauma.
Dr. Cignolini introduced participants to some basic Qigong exercise for health. Fifty physicians from around the US, including Puerto Rico and Peru, attended this very interesting conference. There was a lot of desire expressed to have Dr. Cignolini return in the future and to have more conferences on Chinese acupuncture on the East coast.
Twenty Category 1 CME credits were given through the School of Health Sciences at West Chester University.
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Members earn DABMA designation
These 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):
Warren P. Bagley, MD, DABMA, of Maryville, TN; Julie Good, MD, DABMA, of Stanford, CA; Eric P. Gormally, MD, DABMA, of Tucson, AZ; Theresa M. Hom, DO, DABMA, of Worthington, OH; Miron A. Iosilevich, MD, DABMA, of Syracuse, NY; Daniel M. Kwa, MD, DABMA, of Somers Point, NJ; Paul Millea, MD, DABMA, of Milwaukee, WI; Lily Moon, MD, DABMA, of Hinsdale, IL; Maria T. Nualart, MD, DABMA, of Hialeah, FL; Naomi Pelzig, MD, DABMA, of Nyack, NY; William Petersen, MD, DABMA, of Walker, MN; Sara E. Spagnuolo, MD, DABMA, of Shaker Heights, OH, and Julie Anne Stapleton, MD, DABMA, of Boulder, CO
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Research papers sought for Symposium
Members are invited to submit clinical and basic research papers to be presented at AAMA's Symposium in April 2004. The papers should be original, clinically or basic science based, relevant to medical acupuncture, and have no commercial intent. Presentations should be 20 minutes long, presented orally. Authors will have the option of publishing their paper in AAMA's journal, Medical Acupuncture. Please submit paper abstracts to Symposium Chair Roberto Jodorkovsky, MD, 7658 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236. Paper presenters will get 50% off their Symposium registration fee. Deadline for paper submission is Feb. 15, 2004. Authors accepted for presentation will be notified by late February.
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Physicians provide treatment at track event in Paris
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From left, at World Track and Field Championships, are Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga (CN), Dr. William Tullock (PA), Dr. Gil Chimes (NY), Dr. Geoffrey Gustavsen (PA), Dr. Michael Pregeg (CN) and Dr. Mark Scappaticci (CN).
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A group of McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture for Sports Injuries graduates attended an exclusive hands-on side-line course in Paris at the World Track and Field Championships. This, by invitation only, event was organized and conducted by Drs. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, Mark Scappaticci and Mike Prebeg.
For a week, course participants worked on the field every day on world class track and field athletes, under the supervision of the organizers. Participating doctors performed functional evaluations, injury diagnosis, qualitative biomechanical analysis, and designed and implemented integrated treatments using contemporary electro-acupuncture inputs, and soft tissue and joint manipulation manual techniques. Among athletes under the care of the group, there were some outstanding performances leading to two gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
After this successful experience, future world class events will continue to be opened to graduates of this program. The first one is going to take place in March 2004 during the celebration of the World Indoor T & F Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Some graduates of the McMaster Sports Injuries Intermediate Program will be invited to participate in the event.
The next Sports Injuries course will take place at McMaster University from Dec. 5-7 (Contemporary Medical Acupuncture for Upper Extremity Sports Injuries). Focus will be on the problems of the upper extremity. The course is hands on and practical, and all techniques learned can be taken to the office on Monday.
An assessment and treatment system known as Functional Integrated Therapy (FIT) will be presented. FIT integrates novel functional assessment concepts with contemporary electroacupuncture, and soft tissue and joint manipulation treatment techniques. This model has been successfully used since the mid 90s by Drs. Scappaticci and Elorriaga to treat hundreds of athletes world wide both for injury management as well as for performance optimization, with unprecedented results.
To register or to obtain further information, contact Valerie Cannon at 905/521-2100, ext..75175, visit www.acupuncturecourses.com or e-mail acupuncturecourses@mcmaster.ca.
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New AAMA workshops deal with upper, lower sports injuries
AAMA is pleased to announce a new education opportunity – a two workshop series dealing with sports injuries.
The first workshop in the series will address upper extremity injuries and is entitled, Functional Assessment and Contemporary Acupuncture Integrated Treatment of Common Upper Extremity Sports Injuries. The second workshop will address injuries to the lower extremities and is entitled, Functional Assessment and Contemporary Acupuncture Integrated Treatment of Common Lower Extremity Sports Injuries.
This workshop series will be presented early in 2004 by Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, MD. Each of the two-day workshops will combine lectures, case presentations and exercises to explore concepts of a meaningful physical functional assessment of common sports injuries. Attendance is limited to 40 participants per workshop.
Sports injuries are common for a practitioner, yet the training for most physicians does not concentrate on how to assess common sports injuries. This series of workshops will provide participants with the practical functional neuro-anatomical knowledge, and manual examination techniques, necessary to perform a meaningful physical functional assessment of common sports injuries.
SCHEDULE
Functional Assessment and Contemporary Acupuncture Treatment of Upper Extremity Sports Injuries
- Jan. 24-25, 2004, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Feb. 21-22, 2004, San Mateo, California
Functional Assessment and Contemporary Acupuncture Treatment of Lower Extremity Sports Injuries
- May 22-23, 2004, Baltimore, Maryland
- June 12-13, 2004, Marina del Rey, California
AAMA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Academy designates the workshop for a maximum of 14 hours of category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award.
Workshop and hotel details were mailed to the membership, as well as posted online at www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/sports_workshop.html. Registration can be done online. If you have questions, please call AAMA (323/937-5514).
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