July 2023 – AAMA Member Newsletter

Welcome Our New AAMA Members

Please join us in welcoming the following new members who became part of the Academy in June 2023.

• Anthony D. Agra, MD, of Columbus, OH
• Biljana D Beretich, MD, MPH, of North Yarmouth, ME
• Diane D. Daly, MD, of New Haven, IN
• Pam deWilde, DO, of Lewisburg, WV
• Thomas M. Gannon, DO, of Lewisburg, WV
• Liam J. Lunstrum, DO, of Spokane, WA
• Jose Luis Olarte-Motta, MD, of San Antonio, TX
• Allison R. Salib, DO, of Punta Gorda, FL

If you have peers or colleagues who aren’t currently members of the AAMA, please encourage them to learn more about the benefits of membership by visiting the website or contacting Kendra Unger, the membership committee chair. And if you would like to sponsor a medical student member for $75/year, please email AAMA today and let us know.

Physicians Complete 10-Year ABMA Recertification Process

Congratulations to the following physicians who have completed the process set by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) to be re-certified as a Diplomate for another 10 years:

• Julie Dahl-Smith, DO, DABMA, of  Augusta, GA
• James D. Duffy, MD, DABMA, of Oriana, CA
• Hong Lei, MD, DABMA, of Tucson, AZ
• Gregory D. Rufolf, MD, DABMA, of Seattle, WA
• Gary Stanton, MD, DABMA, of Concord, MA

AAMA Legislative Committee Report

The Legislative Committee watches for bills that affect AAMA members and respond to the authors and co-sponsors appropriately. The committee members will contact you when legislation in your state may affect your ability to practice acupuncture. In that event, you are encouraged to write your representatives and senators since they prefer to hear directly from their constituents. If you learn of relevant legislative activity, please connect with the committee by email: info@medicalacupuncture.org.

Learn On The Go This Summer With
On-Demand Recordings 2023 Symposium

Missed the Annual Symposium in Texas? Don’t worry! Nearly all of the Symposium sessions were recorded and are available for on-demand viewing. AAMA members can now purchase access to the on-demand recording package. Access is available until October 1, 2023. Topics include:

• Stroke Recovery
• PTSD
• Chronic Pain
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• Battlefield Acupuncture
• Electroacupuncture
• Laser acupuncture
• And many, many more!

• Symposium Session recording access
• Up to maximum of 28.75 CME credits (must complete quiz for each session for credit where applicable)
• Review of all symposium documentation and materials
• Exhibit company access

AAMA Webinar – Adverse Events from Acupuncture: Eye & CNS

Live: Wednesday, August 30, 2023
8:00 pm EDT, 7:00 pm CDT, 5:00 pm PDT
Presented by Donna Pittman, MD, FAAMA
** Recording available to all registrants following live webinar

An adverse event is a harmful or negative outcome that may happen when a patient has been provided medical care. One in ten acupuncture patients will experience an adverse event. This presentation will focus on injuries that can happen due to improper needling of points around the eye and near the central nervous system. Local anatomy and correct needling instructions will be given for acupuncture points which have a greater possibility of incurring an adverse event.

Learn more and register. Can’t make the live webinar date? Register anyway and access the recording later at a time that works for your schedule!

URGENT: Seeking Evidence and Data on Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Maternal Mental Health Conditions

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is  seeking scientific information submissions from the public. Scientific information is being solicited to inform our review on Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Maternal Mental Health Conditions, which is currently being conducted by the AHRQ’s Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program. Access to published and unpublished pertinent scientific information will improve the quality of this review. Submission Deadline: On or before July 27, 2023. Email submissions: epc@ahrq.hhs.gov. See full details here.

Member Highlighted in Video: “Increased Acupuncture Demand from Patients and Physicians”

Featured by Anesthesiology News in a video and accompanying written article, AAMA member Stephanie Cheng, MD, explores the topic of medical acupuncture and its growing use alongside anesthesiology. “The integration of nonpharmacologic methods to help with acute pain is understated and underutilized,” said Dr. Cheng, an anesthesiologist and a medical acupuncturist at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), in New York City. “As we all know, opioid abuse has entered the national dialogue as an epidemic, and the crisis has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic.” Watch video and read article now. (Free registration required.)

ICMART – Early Registration Discount Extended to 7/29

The preliminary agenda for ICMART 2023 – Amsterdam has been released. The event, scheduled for September 29-Oct. 1, 2023, is well known for its high scientific standards and great social events. Remember: All AAMA members are eligible to register as ICMART Members for member rates. Learn more and register.

NCCIH Clinical Digest: Headaches

Results of research on mind and body practices such as relaxation training, biofeedback, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for headaches suggest that these approaches may help relieve headaches and may be helpful for migraines. Several dietary supplements, including riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, and the herbs butterbur and feverfew, have been studied for migraine, with some promising results in preliminary studies. Read what the science says.

Tour the NIH – No Travel Necessary

The NIH has released a powerful online tool to introduce their facilities and their work to potential research partners, employees and the public. The NIH Virtual Tour website, an interactive experience, allows visitors to get to know the NIH. Brief videos highlight NIH priorities and include a short overview of the organization’s mission, research, labs and facilities. Insights about NIH are shared by administrators, scientists, patients and others. You’ll also find detailed  explanations about current research. The information is searchable and sharable, with options to connect with employees and researchers.

Be sure to visit the tour stop for the NCCIH Section on Affective Neuroscience and Pain, where you can see how Dr. Lauren Atlas and her colleagues are using state-of-the-art techniques to investigate the effects of expectations and learning on pain and emotion.

See Virtual Tour.

Are You Following Us?

Join the conversations online with fellow physician acupuncturists from around the country! You can find AAMA on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-medical-acupuncture/about/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AAMAcupuncture
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAMAmedicalacupuncture/
• Instagram: @aamacupuncture

There’s even a closed group on Facebook for discussion between members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aamagroup