An Update from the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation
Dear AAMA community,
It has been my honor serving as president of the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (MARF) for the past year.
I would like to share my enthusiasm for the future direction of MARF, which includes our work on advancing AAMA’s role in supporting rigorous acupuncture research. MARF Board of Trustees have agreed on following mission and vision statements:
Mission Statement
To champion medical acupuncture by building infrastructure for medical acupuncture research through mentorship, education, and funding.
Vision Statement
To enhance patients’ well-being through evidence-based medical acupuncture research.
We have established the Allen McDaniels Grant – Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation and recently awarded our very first clinical pilot research grant. Presently, we are inviting motivated AAMA members to volunteer to serve on MARF Board of Trustees and/or to serve as research partners to build collaborative efforts between our academic and community colleagues. Such collaborations will enrich acupuncture publications and presentations and ease IRB approval process for our community partners.
I was fortunate to present my acupuncture research at several national urological meetings (American Urogynecological Society and American Urological Association) and received much warmer receptions than my prior acupuncture presentations to surgical communities. I think this demonstrates a shift toward acceptance of this powerful treatment modality by medical practitioners at large.
I seek to empower AAMA members to improve treatment approaches in their respective specialties by pursuing and publishing their acupuncture research.
Larissa Bresler, MD, DABMA
Associate Professor of Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, LUMC, HVA
AAMA Board of Directors and MARF President
