Rick Marinelli, ND, LAc, has made history as the first naturopathic physician and first licensed acupuncturist to be elected president of a national pain organization. The American Academy of Pain Management,
a 6000 member organization founded in 1988 as one of the nation's
first, deeply integrated medical associations, notes that its "intent is to
be inclusionary and not restrictive to any specialty." Marinelli is a
well-respected, long-time clinician educator in the naturopathic medical profession. He is president-elect until January 2007 when his term begins ... Christine Choate PhD, DC (formerly Goertz), was awarded the George B. McClelland Researcher of the Year award by the American Chiropractic Association at their recent annual meeting. Choate, formerly health services program officer at the NIH NCCAM is deputy director of the Samueli Institute. Congrats on the wedding, also, Dr. Choate ...
Christine Choate, PhD, DC
In similar news, Konrad Kail, ND, a former member of the NCCAM advisory council, received the annual award from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians for his in-office research ...
A hopeful note in the September 2006 issue of Guidepoints, the monthly newsletter of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), asserts that a trial currently underway at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on acupuncture for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may elevate the respect for NADA's ear acupuncture protocols. The project is led by researcher Roger Lore. The article also notes that "in the aftermath of 9/11, the American Red Cross added acupuncture to their list of 9/11 mental health and substance abuse program reimburseable services, alongside psychotherapy and other traditional mental health services." Now there is a good example of war assisting us in technology advances ... Meantime, according to a release from NADA published in the e-news of the AOM Alliance, a new "Treatment Information Protocol" (#46) from the US Center for Substance Abuse Treatment describes
more expansively than in the past the potential benefits of acupuncture, noting its
adjunctive value with not only alcohol addiction treatment but also treatment of cocaine and
opiod disorders. Copies are available for free through calling 800-729-6686 and asking for DHA Publication No. (SMA) 06-4131.
The Institute for Functional Medicine took an important step in its positioning as an educator of physicians when it received "accreditation with commendation" for six years from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). An historic note: IFM's documentation and application was organized internally by senior editor and special projects lead Sheila Quinn who played a similar role for now Bastyr University when that institution made history in 1989 as the first multipurpose institution of natural health sciences to gain accreditation from a regional accrediting body. CongratsIFM!...
The Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC) held an August 30 meeting which looked at "Glycemic Control." The MCAC "Issue Statement" notes that "high blood glucose levels can sometimes be controlled with diet and exercise alone but may also require the use of insulin or other medications." The dialogue may be an openin for supplement interests with a claim in this area ... The National Academies Press has issued a new volume relative to its Quality Chasm Series, this one entitled Preventing Medication Errors. The volume's action section is entitled Moving Toward a Patient-Centered, Integrated Medication-Use System, another foothold for the concept of patient-centered care ...
Mark Blumenthal, ABC Founder
The American Botanical Council has announced two "webinars" featuring founder Mark Blumenthal,
including one entitled "The High Value of Clinical Studies of Herbs and
Herbal Ingredients: Instilling Confidence, Countering Negative Media."
For information click here
... The cultural-political-economic bias in views of relative safety of
herbs versus conventional pharm came to the fore quietly when the big
stink about black cohosh, based on two cases, dissolved a US District Courtdismissed a lawsuit
against two manufacturers when it was learned that the key individual
had a variety of behaviors which could have been more significant
contributors ... The Traditional Medicines Congress has announced that they will accept comments until October 31, 2006 on their first draft of the Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines
Clem Bezold, PhD, reducing disparities
The Institute for Alternative Futures has announced two exceptional new partners in its Disparity Reducation Advances Project (DRA Project) - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The multi-year, national project, led by Clem Bezold, PhD is distinct in the breadth of partners it has attracted, reflecting the project's no-stone-unturned approach to finding disparity reduction strategies. Among these, from the integrated health care arena, are the Samueli Institute, Planetree, Bastyr University and National College of Natural Medicine ...
Personnel and Opportunities
Redmond, exploring options
Positions are open for Medical Director, and for Director, Women's Health Program (WHP), for the Center for Integrative Medicine at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut. The hospital seeks a Board Certified FP for the former, and IM, endo, or gyn for the latter. Applicants should have experience in integrative medicine and academics. Both positions are principally clinical and will be involved in integrated service delivery (MD, ND, DC, AOM, other) in a new, 7,000 square foot outpatient unit ... Michele Redmond, MS, whose strong management, analysis and program development work in integrated care has included running point for CAM and wellness programs for CIGNA-Arizona, and clinical leadership for Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine is taking a break and exploring options. She's available at
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Rick Marinelli, ND, LAc, has made history as the first 
