Awards & Fellowships: Dr. Rogers' Prize, Bravewell, FCER Fellowships, NDs in Underserved Posts
Written by John Weeks
Sunday, 25 November 2007
Awards & Fellowships: Dr. Rogers' Prize, Bravewell, FCER Fellowships, ND Underserved Posts with Loan Repayment
Summary: The first $250,000 Dr. Rogers' Prize to a leading integrative medicine figure in Canada is split between two ... 3rd Bravewell event draws 600, grants $25,000 each to 6 pioneers ... Foundation for Chiropractic Education & Research awards $23,000 in fellowships ... Washington State names a record 5 naturopathic physicians to participate in loan repayment programs by serving in underserved primary care areas ... Natural Products Association honors Block and Low Dog.
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Honorinbg Canada's complementary medicine leaders
1. Dr. Rogers' Prize of $250,000 for Excellence in CAM Split by Cunningham and Hoffer
On November 1, 2007, a panel of judges decided that two Canadian
leaders in complementary and alternative medicine should split the
$250,000 Dr. Roger's Prize. The two were Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD,
the founder of the field of orthomolecular medicine, and Alastair
Cunningham, MD, whose pioneering work was described on the Dr. Rogers'
website as bringing attention to the "important role of the mind and its effect on the
immune system, particularly in cancer patients." The two were selected from 57 nominees. The judges were reportedly split on Hoffer and Cunningham and chose to have the two share the award. Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine
is named for Roger Rogers, MD, a University of British Columbia clinical associate professor emeritus who is also a recognized Canadian
leader in CAM. The prize is sponsored by the Lotte and John Hecht
Memorial Foundation.
Honoring integrative medicine pioneers
2. Bravewell's Pioneering Award Event Draws 600
The New York Grand Hyatt was the location of the 3rd Bravewell awards eventon November 8th, 2007. According to the Bravewell website, the event drew 600 people. Larry Dossey, MD, James Gordon, MD, Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, Dean Ornish, MD, Rachel Remen, MD and Andrew Weil, MD each received $25,000 cash awards. A comment on the event I received from a Bravewell leader simply acknowledged how honored Bravewell was to be able to credit this remarkable group of leaders. Ditto that. Tremendous contributions from each.
Supporting advanced studies of 6 chiropractors
3. Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research Awards 6 Fellowships
The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
recently awarded $23,000 in fellowships to support six chiropractors
who are pursuing post-doctoral fellowships. The group
includes: Kathleen Linaker, DC; Jacqueline D. Bougie,
DC;Anthony D’Antoni,
DC, MS;Steven Passmore, DC; and Sydney Rubinstein,
DC. Three are seeking advanced degrees in public health. Two are from outside the United States. Reed B. Phillips, DC, PhD, FCER vice president
and chairperson of the FCER research committee, said: “The intent of the
program is to increase the numbers of trained chiropractic researchers. The
FCER Fellowship program is one component of FCER’s aggressive evidence-based
research emphasis.”
More NDs accepted into loan repayment
4. Washington State Approves 5 New Sites in which Naturopathic Physicians May Apply for Participation in Underserved/Loan Payback Program
Nationally, a significant restriction to complementary and alternative healthcare practitioners serving the underserved is the prejudicial limit on the types of practitioners who can participate in loan repayment programs. National organizations representing naturopathic physicians, chiropractors and acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners have each placed inclusion in such national programs on their policy agendas.
If recent confidence of the state of Washington in naturopathic physician participation in that state's loan forgiveness programs is any sign, the US Bureau of Primary Health Care could meet more of the existing needs by inclusion of this provider category. After 7 acceptances of sites in which NDs practiced between 1997-2007, 5 new sites where NDs are expected to practice were approved to start in 2008. The doctors who are expected to be applying, and the sites, include Jonathan Bell, ND (Ballard Neighborhood Doctors), Tracy McDaniel, ND, LM [licensed midwife] (Seattle Natural Family Medicine), Brandy Lipscomb, ND (Sky River Natural Health Center) and two with the Community Health Centers of King County, whose director, Tom Trompeter, MPA, is a pioneering advocate for naturopathic services in community medicine.
Pamela Snider, ND, a naturopathic physician who has nurtured this inclusion with the Washington State Department of Health notes of the first 7 participants: "These are the ND's who have led the way, applied for and
received loan forgiveness since 1995.They have
weathered site visits, interviews and scrutiny, and they make us proud.
Congratulations to each of them for their commitment and service to underserved urban and rural community health!"
Honors a clinician and a researcher
5. Natural Products Industry Honors Block and Low Dog
A recent Integrator series focused on the relationship
between the natural products industry and complementary and
integrative medicine practitioners. Notably, the Natural Products Association (NPA) extended itself toward practitioners with two of its awards this year. The NPA Clinician Award went to Keith
I. Block, MD. Block is medical and scientific director of the Block Center for
Integrative Cancer Treatmentin Evanston, Illinois. A note on the award states that in Block's cancer treatment "patient care is grounded in
the philosophy Block distinguishes as 'disciplined gradualism.'" Whenever possible, Block seeks to "begin with the gentlest, least invasive
means to counter growth, restore health, and prevent cancer recurrence."
In addition,Tieraona Low Dog, MD, was honored with theBurton Kallman Scientific Award. Low Dog, a former member of the White House Commission on CAM Policy is a frequent presenter on the scientific basis for botanicals. A note on her background states: "Prior
to receiving her doctor of medicine degree from the University of New
Mexico School of Medicine, Tieraona Low Dog had a successful herbal
practice in New Mexico, running a not-for-profit teaching clinic for
herbalists and serving as president of the American Herbalist Guild."
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