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background resources in PDF |
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some CAM/IM publication links |
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ACCAHC Sponsors Integrative Health on the IOM Global Forum on Innovation in Professional Education |
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Written by John Weeks
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ACCAHC Represents Whole Person Health and
Complementary and Alternative Professions on the IOM Global Forum on
Innovation in Health Professional Education
Summary: The Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC) is a founding sponsor of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education. According to the release, IOM established the forum to operationalize recommendations
from two significant reports produced in the centennial year of the
Flexner Report that both revolutionized and polarized health
professional education after its publication in 1910. ACCAHC joins over 30 other education and health professional organizations in sponsorship. ACCAHC anticipates "bring(ing) core values of whole person,
wellness-focused, patient-centered, integrative practices to this Global
Forum with our academic colleagues from other disciplines and other
nations."
Consortium of Licensed CAM Academic Organizations will Urge Whole Person, Integrative, Health and Wellness-focused Explorations
The Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC) announced in an April 13, 2012 release that the organization is a proud founding sponsor of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education.
 Integrative health educational consortium
"ACCAHC
is excited to bring our core values of whole person, wellness-focused,
patient-centered, integrative practices to this Global Forum with our
academic colleagues from other disciplines and other nations" states Elizabeth A. (Liza) Goldblatt, PhD, MPA/HA, ACCAHC chair.
 Sponsoring forum
Goldblatt will team with ACCAHC Executive Director John Weeks
to represent ACCAHC on the IOM Global Forum committee. Weeks notes that
another value ACCAHC brings to this table is the affirmative connection
of many ACCAHC disciplines with the world's healing traditions: "A
critical component of optimal healthcare throughout the globe is the
intersection of biomedicine with the indigenous and local practices of
diverse populations. Core ACCAHC values include respect for the
traditional systems and their optimal integration with biomedicine."
Weeks adds that in the United States,
this approach is often framed as the integration of the use of
complementary and alternative therapies, practitioners and disciplines
with conventional medicine.
 Goldblatt: representing ACCAHC on the IOM committee
This
is the third Institute of Medicine project with which ACCAHC has been
involved. Goldblatt was a member of the IOM committee that created the
2009 IOM Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public. ACCAHC nominee Rick Marinelli, ND, LAc subsequently served on the IOM committee that produced the IOM report Relieving Pain in America (2011) that recommended an integrative, team strategy.
Goldblatt
adds: "We are delighted to join our colleagues from other health care
fields. We anticipate significant dialogue via the richness of the
themes the forums will present."ACCAHC's participation in the Forum is
made possible through member dues and a $30,000 philanthropic grant.
*About the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC):
ACCAHC is a 501c3 organization the mission of which is to enhance
patient care through fostering mutual respect and understanding among
diverse healthcare professionals and disciplines. ACCAHC is a leadership
organization. Core membership consists of the councils of colleges,
accrediting agencies and certification and testing organizations from
the 5 licensed complementary healthcare professions with a US Department
of Education-recognized accrediting body (chiropractic, naturopathic
medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, massage therapy,
direct-entry midwifery - together representing over 350,000 licensed
practitioners).
ACCAHC's leading projects include: publication of the Clinicians' and Educators' Desk Reference on the Licensed Complementary and Alternative Health Care Professions; assisting educators and clinicians in developing and enhancing Competencies for Optimal Practice in Integrated Environments;
expanding evidence-informed education in ACCAHC schools; engaging the
North American interprofessional education/care movement; promoting a
real world, patient-centered approach to research; providing
collaboratively-developed perspectives on key policy issues; integrating
representatives of patient interest in whole person care into key
national health dialogues; educating leaders in health-focused care; and
developing a Center for Optimal Integration web portal. See Accomplishments at a Glance on the website. www.accahc.org; www.optimalintegration.org
Comment: This is a very exciting
involvement, personally of course, and for integrative health ideas as
we embark on the century after the Flexner century. The ACCAHC
disciplines will have a lot to learn from their colleagues. We believe
we have some content to add. In a discussion before the ACCAHC board
made this huge commitment to sponsor - we're still looking for another
$30,000 to support costs - one said: "Wouldn't the best innovation be to
graduate professionals who focus on wellness, on getting people
healthy, and helping them stay healthy." What a bodacious thought! Then
again, what Flexner recommended was way outside the box of practice in
his time. Who wants to enter the 22nd Century wondering if we can get
over being so reactive in our healthcare treatment?
The Global Forum will develop two, 2-day forums each year from
2012-2014 on topics on innovation in health professional education. Some
may be particularly of interest for the integrative community. They
will each be exceptional networking opportunities. Mark the dates for
the 2012 forums (August 28-29, November 29-30) and sign-up here with the IOM for updates on content.
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