In this issue
Page
1
- AAMA president urges involvement
- Help the Academy grow
- After attack on US, Academy members jump right in to help
- More AAMA members earn DABMA certification
Page 2
- Call for Symposium posters
- Member News
- MARF Research Competition announced
- White House Commission on CAM Policy issues report
Page 3
Page 4
- Study: Positive side-effects of acupuncture are many
- Acupuncture educational opportunities available
- Acupuncture gets on track
- 'Father
of Acupuncture in America' dies
AAMA
Newsletter
Serving the American Academy of Medical
Acupuncture
October 2001
MAAC
Update
By William
D. Rutenberg, MD, Chair
MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The tragic inexplicable
events of Sept. 11 reinforce the importance of unity and the dangers
of complacency. To quote Chuang Tzu, "Heaven, Earth, and I are
living together, and all things and I form an inseparable unity."
Although our Academy is but a small microcosm in the universe, if we
are to maintain our position in the medical community, our membership
must become actively involved in AAMA affairs.
CHAPTER NEWS
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Martha M. Grout, MD,
DABMA, president of AAMA's Arizona Chapter, to chair of the Regional
Chapter Subcommittee. As president of a successful chapter, she will
be able to provide new chapters step-by-step guidance in establishing
and administering their groups. She is also in an excellent position
to assist current chapters with problems they encounter. Dr. Grout is
a Diplomate of the American Boards of Medical Acupuncture and Emergency
Medicine. Contact Dr. Grout (602/348-9394, drmartha@worldnet.att.net)
for help with existing chapters and forming a new one.
AAMA is pleased to announce the formation of a Virginia Chapter: President
Marie Steinmetz, MD (703/823-5770), Vice President Elizabeth Conrad
and Secretary/Treasurer Sue Inman. Illinois, Louisiana and New York
are in the formative stages of a chapter.
MEDIA RELATIONS
I attended a media relations training session sponsored by the American
Academy of Pediatrics in August and am planning to attend a Media Matters
Leadership Education conference in November, also put on by AAP.
LEGISLATION
On the legislative scene, the action is at the Federal level. Two bills,
in the House of Representatives, HR 747 and HR 2086, pertain to acupuncture.
HR 747, also known as the "Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of
2001," would provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services
under part B of the Medicare Program and coverage of such services under
the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. HR 2086, also known as
the "Alternative Medical Access for Federal Employees Act of 2001,"
would allow for such services by a licensed or certified acupuncturist
without supervision or referral by another health practitioner.
I would like to learn about our membership's opinions on these issues.
Please send your comments to me (wdrutenber@aol.com,
fax 847/634-2283).
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Academy 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. Full members are eligible to serve on the Board, which is responsible for developing AAMA policies and overseeing operations. Address your letter to the Chairman of the Nominations Committee, c/o AAMA, 4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 428, Los Angeles, CA 90010.
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MARF
president outlines current projects
By James K. Rotchford,
MD, MPH
MARF PRESIDENT
During the past
year, the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation Board has grown to
13 directors. With more medical specialties represented on the Board,
the growth will help provide support for our current projects-of which
here are three.
- The website www.acubriefs.com is clearly the source to go to to findcurrent citations pertinent to acupuncture. Some researchers have already made use of its extensive database in preparation for NIH research applications. The Board voted to make an indepth search of references pertinent to acupuncture free of charge to AAMA members. If you have any suggestions on how we can make the online search function even more effective, please send an e-mail to: peggy@acubriefs.com. In conjunction with the database, a newsletter that critically reviews pertinent studies/articles is offered free of charge. The monthly newsletter helps you stay abreast of current research in acupuncture as well as some of the methodological problems associated with doing research in acupuncture.
- MARF is putting together a reference pamphlet that will refer readers to pertinent recent articles exploring methodologically specific issues related to acupuncture research. If this is a subject that interests you and you would like to contribute to an article on a subject pertaining to acupuncture research methodology, please contact me (kimber@olympus.net).
- A new project we are planning is a symposium that would unite leading spokesmen/researchers in the realm of appropriate research methodologies for acupuncture research. There are many opinions on how to proceed in acupuncture research. Although we might not change any minds, we are hoping that dialogue between different camps will be of interest and perhaps allow for common ground to be found. Again, please contact me (360/385-4843) with recommendations regarding who should be invited to this symposium.
In addition,
I want make all members aware of grants being offered through National
Institutes of Health to study the placebo effect. A significant amount
of money has been made available to explore this interesting subject.
The issue of placebo is clearly pertinent to acupuncture research
because of the non-specific effects associated with the clinical practice
of acupuncture. One could postulate that acupuncture works primarily
through enhancement of the placebo effect-that is, through non-specific
factors poorly understood. I say this fully aware of current proven
effects of acupuncture on cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitters and
local neuro-anatomical reflexes.
There are websites you can visit if you're interested in pursuing
research opportunities regarding the placebo effect. Detailed descriptions
of the concepts underlying available RFAs are listed in the NIH guide
online at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AT-01-003.html.
If MARF can help you in applying for the above RFAs, please contact
me (kimber@olympus.net). The
foundation's resources are limited, but I consider this a vital area
of research relating to acupuncture.
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Chapter of AAMA is planning a weekend conference, "Pain
Management Techniques using Japanese Style of Acupuncture," Saturday,
Nov. 10 at Porter Memorial Hospital in Denver. Speaker will be Butch Levy,
MD. On the same day, a Chapter meeting will be held to elect new officers.
The Chapter also invited physicians interested in acupuncture to a presentation,
"Substance Abuse/Acupuncture in Mental Health," by Michael Smith,
MD, from 10 am to noon Oct. 23 at Auraria Campus in Denver.
Call Chapter President Alice Brunecky, MD (303/438-2050) for more information.
Oregon
This Chapter's Annual Educational Conference was a resounding success.
Drs Joseph Sullivan and Peter Hanfileti planned and carried out tasks
resulting in attendance that exceeded the most optimistic expectations.
Acupuncture researcher Dr. Richard Hammerschlag, PhD, presented "Recent
Advances in Acupuncture Research: Neuroimaging, Placebo needles and Study
Designs that Reflect Traditional Practice." AAMA participants included
Drs. Kim Rotchford of the Washington Chapter, Barbara Gilbertson of the
Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation Board, and Agatha Colbert, past
AAMA Symposium presenter. Oregon Chapter members Drs. Robert Ho and Hanfileti
presented cases for discussion. It was an event filled with "good"
energy, as participants shared notes on research and patient care.
Chapters are urged to send their news (bdortberg@aol.com).
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