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Schedule-at-a-Glance

Annual Symposium Schedule

The Symposium will be an in-person meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. The Schedule-at-a-Glance times are reflected in local Pittsburgh, PA (Eastern) time.

New this year will be the option to live-stream the plenary sessions and then view the rest of the meeting on-demand after-the-fact!

Meeting Safety Disclaimer

By registering for this meeting, participants acknowledge that they recognize the risks associated with attending and interacting with meeting attendees, staff, and others while participating in the AAMA Annual Symposium.  By registering for this meeting, participants acknowledge that AAMA is not liable for the spread or transfer of any virus, illness or injury for me or any of my guests as a result of attending the AAMA Annual Symposium.

Participants also acknowledge that participation in demonstrations or practical exercises during the meeting is voluntary and at participant’s own risk. By registering, you agree and understand requirements and potential risks with your participation.

SYMPOSIUM INFORMATION

Schedule-at-a-Glance

DOWNLOAD THE MEETING PROGRAM

Thursday, March 27

Pre-Symposium Workshops

Workshop I – “Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture: Bridging Tradition and Modern Science. A Holistic Approach to Beauty and Wellness” – Shellie Goldstein, DAOM, LAc

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

Workshop II – “Korean Hand Therapy (KHT) Microsystem for Clinical Practice and Self-Care: An Introduction to Correspondence, Basic, and Meridian Therapies” – Barbara de la Torre, MD, FAAMA

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

Workshop III – “Electroacupuncture for Hip-Spine Syndrome: A Neuroanatomical Approach” – Joseph Walker, MD, DABMA and Josh Margolis, LAc, DOMTP

1:30 pm – 5:45 pm 

Friday, March 28

8:00-8:30  Opening/Welcome Lecture by Meeting Chair

8:30-9:30  Plenary Session

9:30-10:00 Break/Networking

10:00-11:00 Plenary Session

11:00-12:00 Plenary Session

12:00-1:30 Group Luncheon

1:30-3:30 Concurrent Workshops

3:30-4:00 Break/Networking

4:00-6:00 Concurrent Workshops Repeat

6:15-7:30 Opening Reception

Saturday, March 29

8:00-9:00 Plenary Session

9:00-10:00 Plenary Session

10:00-10:30  Break/Networking

10:30-11:30  Plenary Session

11:30-12:00  AAMA Annual Membership Meeting – Members of the Academy Only

12:00-1:30 Lunch on Your Own

1:30-3:30 Concurrent Workshops

3:30-4:00 Break/Networking

4:00-6:00 Concurrent Workshops Repeat

6:15-7:30 Poster Presentations & Cocktail Reception

Sunday, March 30

8:00-9:00 Plenary Session

9:00-9:45 Joseph M. Helms Founder’s Lecture

9:45-10:00 Break/Networking

10:00-12:00 Concurrent Workshops

12:00 Symposium Adjourns

1:00-5:00 ABMA Board Certification Exam

Annual Symposium Details

Thursday, March 27, 2025

7:30 am – 5:00 pm Pre-Symposium Registration

7:30 am – 8:00 am Continental Breakfast

PRE-SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOPS

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

  • Workshop I – “Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture: Bridging Tradition and Modern Science. A Holistic Approach to Beauty and Wellness” – Shellie Goldstein, DAOM, LAc

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

  • Workshop II – “Korean Hand Therapy (KHT) Microsystem for Clinical Practice and Self-Care: An Introduction to Correspondence, Basic, and Meridian Therapies” – Barbara de la Torre, MD, FAAMA

1:30 pm – 5:45 pm

  • Workshop III – “Electroacupuncture for Hip-Spine Syndrome: A Neuroanatomical Approach” – Joseph Walker, III, MD, DABMA and Josh Margolis, LAc, DOMTP

Friday, March 28, 2025

7:00 am – 5:30 pm        Annual Symposium Registration

7:00 am – 8:00 am         Continental Breakfast

8:00 am – 8:10 am         Annual Symposium Opening

8:10 am – 8:30 am        Chair Welcome Lecture – Stephanie Cheng, MD FAAMA, Symposium Chair

8:30 am – 9:30 am        “An Overview of the Saam Acupuncture Tradition” – Toby Daly, PhD, Lac

9:30 am – 10:00 am     Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

10:00 am – 11:00 am     “Unified Approach to Upper Extremity Pain” – Norman Zavela, MD, FAAMA

11:00 am – 12:00 pm    “Hara Diagnosis: Reflection on the Sea, Science and Practice of Japanese Structural Based Acupuncture” – Joseph Audette, MD, MA

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm      Group Luncheon

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm        Concurrent Workshops

  • “The Twelve Channels of the Saam Acupuncture Tradition” – Toby Daly, PhD, LAc
  • “Unified Approach to Upper Extremity Pain Supplemented with Ultra Acupuncture” – Norman Zavela, MD, FAAMA
  • “Back to Basics: Japanese Palpation-Based Acupuncture” – Joseph Audette, MD, MA

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm        Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm       Concurrent Workshops (REPEATING)

  • “The Twelve Channels of the Saam Acupuncture Tradition” – Toby Daly, PhD, LAc
  • “Unified Approach to Upper Extremity Pain Supplemented with Ultra Acupuncture” – Norman Zavela, MD, FAAMA
  • “Back to Basics: Japanese Palpation-Based Acupuncture” – Joseph Audette, MD, MA

6:15 pm – 7:30 pm      Opening Reception

Saturday, March 29, 2025

6:30 am – 7:30 am        Early Morning Exercise

7:00 am – 8:00 am        Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors

8:00 am – 9:00 am      “Introduction to Hormone Optimization: Nagano + French Energetic Style – Acupuncture Edition” – William Clearfield, DO, FAAMA

9:00 am – 10:00 am         “Resident Education in Sleep Techniques (REST) Program: Content, Implementation, and Evaluation” – Melanie Gold, DO, DABMA

10:00 am – 10:30 am       Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

10:30 am – 11:30 am   “Important Acupuncture Articles” -Moderator: Christopher Li, MD, DABMA
Panel – Peter Dorsher, MD; Teresa Esterle, MD, DABMA; Louis J. Kazal, Jr, MD; and Michelle Loy, DABMA, FAAP

11:30 am – Noon          AAMA Annual Membership Meeting – (Voting Members of the Academy Only)

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm      Lunch on Your Own

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm        Concurrent Workshops

  • “Refresh and Energize with integrative Sleep Techniques (REST): An experiential Workshop to Enhance Physicians’ Sleep” – Melanie Gold, DO, DABMA, Michelle J. Bombacie, MS, LAc, & Rachel Groth, MPH, MSW
  • “Hormone Optimization in Acupuncture Practice” – William Clearfield, DO, FAAMA
  • “Integrating Acupuncture and Manual Medicine” After 25 Years of Further Development” – Dan Bensky, DO & Jay Sandweiss, DO, FAAMA

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm       Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm        Concurrent Workshops (Repeating)

  • “Refresh and Energize with integrative Sleep Techniques (REST): An experiential Workshop to Enhance Physicians’ Sleep” – Melanie Gold, DO, DABMA, Michelle J. Bombacie, MS, LAc, & Rachel Groth, MPH, MSW
  • “Hormone Optimization in Acupuncture Practice” – William Clearfield, DO, FAAMA
  • “Integrating Acupuncture and Manual Medicine” After 25 Years of Further Development” – Dan Bensky, DO & Jay Sandweiss, DO, FAAMA

6:15 pm – 7:30 pm        Poster Presentations & Cocktail Reception

Sunday, March 30, 2025       

6:30 am – 7:30 am        Early Morning Exercise

7:00 am – 8:00 am        Continental Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:00 am      “Mechanism and Treatment Prediction of Acupuncture Efficacy in Chronic Pain” – Richard Harris, PhD

9:00 am – 9:45 am       Joseph M. Helms Founder’s Lecture: “Insights from a decade as Editor-in-Chief of Acupuncture in Medicine” – David Coggin-Carr, MD, PhD, MSc, FAAMA

9:45 am – 10:00 am       Refreshment Break

10:00 am – 12:00 pm    Concurrent Workshops

  • “Five Element Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Dietary Therapy: Culinary Medicine Pearls Applied to Clinical Care” – Michelle Loy, MD, DABMA, FAAP
  • “Clinical Application of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Manual Therapies for Chronic Low Back Pain” – Louis A. Kazal, Jr, MD, FAAFP; Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury, MD, DACM, MPH; Jim Whedon, DC, MS

12:00 pm                      Symposium Adjourns

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm        ABMA BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION (Check-in by 12:30 pm)

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