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President's Message: Symposium, Certification mark, annual dues, White Paper & Board news
By Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH
President, AAMA
Dear Colleagues:
The enthusiasm of a successful Symposium in Orlando followed many attendees home. Every year, I feel a need to meet and greet both old friends and new acquaintances at the AAMA Symposiums. I believe that all of us were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of lectures and workshops. But it is really the people who made the biggest impression. What a great group of acupuncturists to be part of!
The attendance was nearly 300 member physicians who enjoyed great content and camaraderie. We were privileged to have a diverse faculty and topics. The in-depth workshops and the lectures were superb. Even the old timers were caught up in the excitement of deciding which workshop and lectures to attend. I am sure the most radical lecture was the intravenous laser irradiation. Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, MPH, FAAMA, took first place in the Research Paper Presentation for “Acupuncture Management of Pain and Emergence Agitation in Children after Bilateral Myringotomy and Tympanostomy Tube Insertion.”
Some of the workshops involved Korean Hand Acupuncture, Combining functional medicine and acupuncture in improving outcomes, treatment of macular generative disease, Battlefield Acupuncture, etc. Lectures on acupuncture dealing with cardiovascular function, biomedical acupuncture for sports and trauma rehab, vascular dementia, developing a residency program in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, review of electroacupuncture research, etc. I always like to spend time with the exhibitors. They numbered 25 with all sorts of gadgets and supplies.
Fellows elected include: Kevin J. Coughlin, MD, of Lincoln, NE; Brenda S. Donaldson, MD, of Farmington Hills, MI; Joseph T. Hayes, MD, MPH, of Brick, NJ; D. Dawn Motyka, MD, of Royal Oaks, CA; Emily F. Ratner, MD, of Los Altos, CA; Patricia Rush, MD, of Oak Park, IL; Bradley J. Williams, MD, of Phoenix, AZ, and Felise S. Zollman, MD, of Chicago, IL.
Symposium 2011
The next Symposium is set for San Diego on April 1-3, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. Hotel reservation details can be found at www.medicalacupuncture.org. The Program Committee is already well underway, with many of the key faculty already confirmed. If you think that the Florida Symposium was great, this one promises to be even better. There have been lots of requests for a Symposium on the West coast. If you have never been to San Diego, this is a must to attend with your family. I lived there for almost three years as a guest at the Naval Medical Center. Don’t worry about the weather; every day is paradise.
Certification Mark
The Board is pleased to announce it has successfully created a Certification Mark that has been registered with the US Patent Office, that will permit qualified members to denote their status as practitioners in Medical Acupuncture. The Academy, under the leadership of Dr. Allen McDaniels, has developed and is announcing the availability of a Certification Mark for the use by qualified members on their stationary, business cards and other printed materials to denote their status as practitioners of Medical Acupuncture. A special logo has been created with an octagon, acupuncture needle and a wreath with the words "Medical Acupuncture." More information about this appears in the newsletter.
Annual Dues
Our annual dues renewal cycle is underway. I encourage each of you to renew and bring on board new members. The Academy is as strong as its members. If each of you could bring in 1 or 2 new members, it would be wonderful. The Academy must remain strong and needs your continued support. You may be surprised that many physicians will be very grateful to you. I was invited to join the AAMA, and it has occupied a good portion of my life. Even my new wife is an acupuncturist!
White Paper
The White paper is now in the hands of the lawyers who are working to produce a draft of the document as outlined in Phase one of the project. After the document has been created, it will work its way back to the AAMA Board for close scrutiny. All of this has to be performed very carefully, as you might imagine.
Board of Directors
Dr. Jay Horowitz, elected to the AAMA Board in April 2010, is tackling the challenges with reviewing the Academy’s new website still in beta status. He has formed a committee that will look at the links and the architect of the site to make sure it will do the new job. The new website will also be evaluated for style and whether we wish to add new features like Twitter to allow you to post to Facebook and consideration for access with Smartphone, etc. He also is looking into distant CME and evaluating a third party to bring this feature to our membership. Finally, his committee will determine whether the new website will meet the specs to allow members to renew or join the Academy in a seamless manner.
Finally, we have a vacancy for a Director at Large on the AAMA Board. For those of you who have the time and interest and experience, kindly contact me at n5ev@aol.com. We need someone who has worked on Boards before and understands the commitments and responsibilities of the job. Officers include myself as president, Richard F. Hobbs, III, MD, DABMA, as vice president, Sandi Amoils, MD, as secretary and Rey Ximenes, MD, FAAMA, as treasurer. I have enjoyed it very much. Joining us will challenge you but also will be very rewarding, as you help shape the future of AAMA.
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Academy introduces Medical Acupuncture Certification Mark
It has long been a goal of the Academy to promote the unique character and value of acupuncture as practiced by physicians -- Medical Acupuncture. There have been various efforts to promote Medical Acupuncture as offering the “Best of Both Worlds” and to convey that acupuncture is the practice of medicine. These efforts have achieved some success. Clearly, though, we must continue to communicate this message to our colleagues and to the public.
One challenge has been to develop a method for well trained and qualified physicians to convey their special qualifications in Medical Acupuncture. Based on the work and research of Dr. Allen McDaniels, the Academy Board of Directors has adopted a certification mark to be available for the use by those members who meet special qualifications. The certification mark will be available only to Full Members and Fellows of the AAMA who are currently Board Certified by the ABMA. These individuals have attained high levels of training and experience and have passed an examination in Medical Acupuncture.
The special logo is a stylized octagon with an acupuncture needle surrounded by a laurel wreath and contains the words “Medical Acupuncture.” See the image of logo posted online. An application has been submitted to the US Patent Office to register this Certification Mark so that it will be available for the exclusive use of those who meet the specified credentials.
Academy members who meet the criteria, may begin using the Medical Acupuncture logo effective immediately. As long as the qualifications of Full Membership and Board Certification in Medical Acupuncture are met, the Certification Mark may be used on business cards, letterhead, brochures etc. See Certification Mark Guidelines posted online for standards on how the mark should be used in printed materials including acceptable type face, size, color, etc.
For an electronic copy of a reproducible jpeg copy of the logo to provide your printer, Full Members and Fellows who are currently Board Certified through the ABMA may send a request to administrator@medicalacupuncture.org. Upon verification of your status, a jpg file will be sent to you.
We believe member use of this Medical Acupuncture logo will be one more positive step forward in the promotion of Medical Acupuncture.
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ABMA recertification process set for those approaching 10-year deadline
The ABMA Board of Trustees has finalized procedures for recertification for those designees who are approaching the 10-year recertification deadline. The first of those will be up for recertification by June 30, 2011.
Each candidate for recertification will be required to submit the following:
· Application for recertification.
· Copy of current active medical license.
· Documentation of 150 hours of continuing education credits in medical acupuncture. CME credit is preferred. Topics must be primarily acupuncture. Independently awarded CEU credits may be acceptable at the discretion of the Board.
· Submission of two written Case Reports on actual cases treated to demonstrate continued knowledge and proficiency in the discipline. Specific Case Report Guidelines will be provided.
· Payment of a recertification fee of $250.
There will be no written examination required for recertification.
Applications for recertification will be accepted up to six months prior to the expiration of the original certification. Each submission will be submitted to the Board for review to confirm the adequacy of the Case Reports and to confirm that the continuing education requirements are met. If all requirements are met, the Board will grant a new 10-year certification.
The recertification application form and case report guidelines will be posted to the AAMA website shortly.
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ICMART celebrates 25th Annual Congress, elects officers
By Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA
ICMART celebrated its 25th annual congress and General Assembly in Riga, Latvia on May 28-30, 2010. Chaired by Nickolay Nickolayev, invited guests included François Beyens, (General Secretary ICMART- Belgium), Jurgis Bredikis (Lithuania), Kim Yong Suk (S. Korea), Eugenia Macharet (Ukraine), Steven K. H. Aung (Canada) and Rainer Wander (Germany). Additionally, nearly one hundred physicians gave oral or poster presentations or workshops.
During the General Assembly, election results from the spring elections were announced, including, President Chin Chan (Australia), Immediate Past President Isabel Giralt (Spain), Vice-Presidents Helena Pinto Ferreira (Portugal), Bryan L. Frank (USA) and Helmut Liertzer (Austria), Treasurer Konstantina Theodoratou (Greece), and Directors-at-Large Mehmet Abut (Turkey), Flavio Dantas (Brazil), Jacqueline Filshie (UK), Michael Hammes (Germany), Nikolay A. Nickolayev (Latvia), Petja Piehler (Austria) and Patric Sautreuil (France). Additionally, Dr. François Beyens has been named as Honorary President and Walburg Maric-Oehler (Germany) will now serve as General Secretary.
Chapter Reports were delivered by Marshall Sager (Education Chapter- USA), with special presentation of the 1st Edition of the Acupuncture Lexicon, and also by Walburg Maric-Oehler (European Chapter- Germany).
Marshall H. Sager, DO, FAAMA, presents
the first edition of the ICMART Lexicon
of Medical Acupuncture at ICMART Congress.
3-B Scientific Acupuncture Awards were given for Outstanding Free Oral Presentations for 1st Place to Bryan L. Frank (USA) - Pathophysiology expressed in advanced auricular therapy, 2nd Place to Jean Pierre Fossion (Belgium) - Convergent complexity of brain cortex demonstrated by needling the central lobular point of Nogier: a qualitative topographic study, 3rd Place to Cui Shu Li (Singapore) - The effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to weight management.
The 2011 ICMART 15th World Congress on Medical Acupuncture, titled The State of the Art of Acupuncture in Integrative Medicine, will be held at The Hague, Netherlands, on May 13-15, 2011.
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Members earn DABMA certification
The following AAMA members recently met the stringent requirements of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (ABMA) and have achieved Board Certification in medical acupuncture. They have earned the designation DABMA (Diplomate, American Board of Medical Acupuncture):
Jeffrey H. Baker, MD, of State College, PA; Bruce Bigelow, MD, of Jackson, MI; David Boguslavsky, MD, of Middlesex, NJ; Christopher J. Bretz, MD, of Angola, IN; Dorothy A. Carin, MD, of Portland, OR; Julie L. Dahl-Smith, DO, of Augusta, GA; James D. Duffy, MD, of The Woodlands, TX; Deborah Lynne Edberg, MD, of Glenview, IL; Lynn A. Gershan, MD, of Mequon, WI; Herbert A. Holman, MD, of Springfield, MN; Gregory M. Jamison, MD, of Roanoke, VA; Sarah Sallee Jones, MD, of Sacramento, CA; Laurie Ann Kleiman, MD, of Monterey, CA; Gail Lamb, DO, of Guilford, ME; Edward S. Lee, MD, of Pittsburgh, PA; Robert C. Livingston, MD, of Espanola, NM; Anne M. Lynn, MD, of Seattle, WA: Shaikh B. Matin, MD, of Fresno, CA; Michael G. Mesick, MD, of Edina, MN; Patrick T. Prevo, MD, of Fort Worth, TX; Abdul Qadir, MD, of Linwood, NJ; Samir A. Rajani, MD, of Holland, MI; Ian M. Ratner, MD, of Dallas, TX; Terri L. Riutcel, MD, of Caseyville, IL; Gregory D. Rudolf, MD, of Seattle, WA; Jeanne Marie Snyder, MD, of Ketchikan, AK; Carlos A. Suarez, MD, of Bandon, OR, and Laura Weathers, MD, of Tampa, FL.
The Academy has posted a list online of members who are Board Certified. Diplomates (DABMA) are listed alphabetically by last name, along with their location, and dates of expiration.
Click here for more on the Board Certification process.
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Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, inducted into ‘Healing Hands Society’
Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, immediate past president of AAMA, has been honored as one of the first inductees to the hall of "Healing Hands Society" by St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore MD.
 
Hiroshi Nakazawa, MD, FAAMA, is honored on “Healing Hands Society” display.
A sculpture model of his hands is now displayed at the entrance of the hospital. Dr. Nakazawa has practiced general surgery there since 1962 and medical acupuncture since 1995.
Dr. Nakazawa also has successfully completed the 10th year of the AAMA-Japan Teaching Program for the Japanese Medical Acupuncture Association. More than 100 physicians have participated during that time, during which the organization continues strong growth.
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Medical Acupuncture Research News
The following is a review of reported research results and related news recently announced or released through Internet outlets:
· The abstract, “Randomized, Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for the Management of Aromatase Inhibitor–Associated Joint Symptoms in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer,” was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Vol 28, No 7, March 1, 2010: pp. 1154-1160). They conducted a randomized, controlled, blinded study of 51 women comparing true acupuncture (TA), versus sham acupuncture (SA) twice weekly for six weeks in postmenopuasal women with breast cancer. Researchers concluded that women with aromatase inhibitors-induced arthralgias treated with TA had significant improvement of joint pain and stiffness, which was not seen with SA. Therefore, acupuncture is an effective and well-tolerated strategy for managing this common treatment-related side effect. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Acupuncture Needling Sensation: The Neural Correlates of deqi using fMRI,” was published in Brain Research (Feb. 22, 2010, Pages 111-118). Researchers investigated the effect of deqi and acute pain needling sensations upon brain fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals. Seventeen right-handed participants who received acupuncture at the right LI-4 (Hegu) acupoint were imaged in a 3T MRI scanner. Results showed that acupuncture has a significant effect on specific neural structures. Treatment can result in a sensation called deqi; scientific analysis showed that this deactivates areas in the brain associated with the processing of pain. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Efficacy of Acupuncture in Fibromyalgia Syndrome—a Systematic Review with a Meta-analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials,” was published in Rheumatology (Jan. 10, 2010, 49(4):778-788; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep439). To systematically review the efficacy of acupuncture in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), seven RCTs with a median treatment time of 9 (range 6-25) sessions and 385 patients were included. A small analgesic effect of acupuncture was present, which, however, was not clearly distinguishable from bias. Thus, researchers concluded that acupuncture cannot be recommended for the management of FMS. Click here for details.
· Doctors at Rush University Medical Center are offering pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses acupuncture therapy to help ease the pain and negative side effects caused by chronic health conditions and intensive treatments. The confluence of Chinese and Western medicine at Rush Children’s Hospital is part of a study to analyze and document how acupuncture might help in reducing pain in children and increase quality of life. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology (March 2010, Vol. 115, Issue 3: pp 511-520). To estimate the efficacy of acupuncture for depression during pregnancy, 150 pregnant women with major depressive disorders received either acupuncture specific for depression or control acupuncture or massage. Treatments were 12 sessions in eight weeks. Results showed that short acupuncture protocol demonstrated symptom reduction and a response rate comparable to those observed in standard depression treatments of similar length and could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Acupuncture Mobilizes the Brain's Default Mode and its Anti-correlated Network in Healthy Subjects,” was published in Brain Research (Vol. 1308, Jan. 13, 2010, Page 185). The method involved acupuncture during 201 scans and tactile stimulation during 74 scans for comparison at acupoints LI4, ST36 and LV3 was monitored with fMRI and psychophysical response in 48 healthy subjects. Results showed the effects of acupuncture on the activity and functional connectivity on the global networks of the brain suggest that acupuncture mobilizes the intrinsic anti-correlated functional networks of the brain to mediate its actions, and that the effect is dependent on the psychophysical response. Click here for details.
· The abstract, “Acupuncture Versus Venlafaxine for the Management of Vasomotor Symptoms in Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Vol. 28, No. 4, Feb. 1, 2010: pp. 634-640. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of acupuncture treatment. Health outcomes were measured for up to one year post-treatment. Results showed that acupuncture appears to be equivalent to drug therapy in these patients. It is a safe, effective and durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms secondary to long-term antiestrogen hormone use in patients with breast cancer. Click here for details.
Please send information you find on research involving the effectiveness of medical acupuncture to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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AAMA Member News
Details have been released on AAMA’s 23rd Annual Symposium, April 1-3, 2011, with the Review Course on March 29-30, 2011, the Pre-Symposium Workshops on March 31, 2011 and the ABMA Certification Exam on April 3, 2011. The location will be at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, 1441 Quivira Road in San Diego, CA. For the AAMA discounted room rate of $189/night (single/double) pending availability, call the hotel by Feb. 28, 2011 at 619/224-1234.
The Syllabus for the Academy’s 2010 Symposium and Pre-Symposium Workshops in Orlando, FL are available for purchase. Click here for an order form.
Jay Sandweiss, DO, FAAMA, recently led, Integrative Manual Approach to Low Back/Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction, in Springfield, MO. Related principles and applications were presented, along with muscle testing, a review of the functional anatomy of low back and pelvis, motion analysis, clinical pearls for treatment and hands-on practice.
The Medical Acupuncture Review Course is available on DVD. Visit the AAMA Store to purchase this valuable learning tool.
The practice of Mitchell Prywes, MD, FAAMA, was recently featured on the front page of the Health section in The Danbury NewsTimes. Click here for the online version of, “Treating Pain, Holistically” (minus photos of his patients receiving medical acupuncture treatment).
As part of AAMA membership, practice members are being offered access to more than 400 journal articles categorized by disease/health application which promote the efficacy of Acupuncture. Contact Phil McGee at phil@hmieducation.com to obtain your unique password to access this information anytime. Then go to www.hmiacupuncture.com and click on "LINKS."
Members participating in AAMA's referral program will be happy to hear that there were 3,104 unique visits to the website referral page in May, 2,555 unique visits to the website referral page in June, and 2,501 in July from patients seeking medical acupuncturists in their area. Members interested in participating in the Patient Referral Program should visit the physician listings online to verify that they are listed. Only Practice level members are eligible to participate and the Academy staff needs explicit notice to include a member in the program.
The Clinical Rotation in Acupuncture for Medical Acupuncturists will be held at the Department of Family Medicine, at Boston Medical Center --Tuesdays, 4-9 pm, beginning on Sept. 28 to Dec. 14. This program is a 12 week, 5-hour per week course focused on supplementing the clinical training of medical acupuncturists. It will feature individualized instruction, supervised patient sessions, and mentoring from experts. The goal of this program is to extend the clinical training of the participants so that they develop confidence, competence and proficiency. The Boston University School of Medicine has accredited this educational activity for a maximum of 55 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
Drs. Stephen Burns and Richard Niemtzow, military doctors from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, were the subjects of a Forbes’ healthcare blog, the Science Business. Battlefield Acupuncture: Pseudoscience for Wounded Troops explained the military procedure in a way where the author expresses doubt about its efficacy. Niemtzow has trained hundreds of military doctors in battlefield acupuncture, a method that he invented in 2001. He also said in an interview last year that “if the military is using it, then it must be good for the civilian world." Dr. Niemtzow also presented, Powerful Acupuncture Protocol for the Treatment for Pain: Battlefield Acupuncture, to the New England School of Acupuncture in June.
 
Global Missions opportunities
Bryan L. Frank, MD, FAAMA, led a team to Nepal for the 23rd project he and Global Mission Partners, Inc. have supported. Following Ecuador in June and Kenya in July, upcoming projects include Mexico in September and India in November. AAMA Members have joined Dr. Frank on projects for many years.He urges members to come, join the teams. Information and applications are available at www.GlobalMissionPartners.org.
The Academy has a limited number of the book, “Getting to Know You,” by Joseph M. Helms, MD, in stock. While they last, Practice members can purchase them at the discounted price of $20, plus $5.50 postage and handling. Click here to download an order form.
An International Conference on Integrative Medicine will be held Oct. 19-22, 2010 in Jerusalem. It will be a meeting of professionals in the field of medicine from around the world that will deal with ways to unite the scientific principles of modern medicine with the holistic principles of alternative medicine. Registration has started, which includes the opportunity to present a paper. More details and registration forms are available at the Conference site: medconvention.com/.
A link to Mesothelioma.com, a leading web resource for those affected by mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs and abdomen, has been added to AAMA’s Resource page. Recently, more studies have been highlighting the therapeutic benefits that acupuncture offers for those battling various forms of cancer, such as mesothelioma.
Helms Medical Institute announces the Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 three five-day training units with home video study over five months in a 300-hour format. Live training dates will be held in Tempe, Arizona as follows: Introductory Weekend: Dec. 9-13, 2010, with Clinical One: Feb. 18-22, 2011 and Clinical Two: May 25-29, 2011. The new brochure, full information and course application form are now available at
http://hmieducation.com.
Editor-in-Chief Dr. Richard Niemtzow of the journal, Medical Acupuncture, is seeking volunteer reviewers to review manuscripts. Reviewers will access manuscripts online. Reviews must be completed and returned within one business week. Reviewers successfully completing a series of timely, high-quality reviews may be invited to join the Editorial Board (at the discretion of the editor in chief). Please send brief qualifications and contact information to n5ev@aol.com and copy rosalynr@aol.com.
Please send news items and photos to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
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AAMA Chapter News
Arizona
Arizona Chapter meetings are held at 9 am the second Saturday of the month at Dr. Martha Grout’s office, Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine, 9328 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. For details, call 480/240-2600 or e-mail drmartha@arizonaadvancedmedicine.com. There are monthly speakers on topics related to medical acupuncture, as well as Chinese and Functional/Integrative medicine. E-mail Dr. Grout to get on the e-mail list for meeting announcements.
California
Chapter officers are working hard to come up with innovative ideas for CME credits. They are continuing their membership drive to make the Chapter stronger. Academy members interested in joining the California Chapter are encouraged to contact President Haleh Sheikholeslami, MD, at calchapaama@hotmail.com.
Georgia
Georgia Association of Medical Acupuncturists members heard the famous Paul Pitchford in Atlanta. He spoke on "Healing with Whole Foods" as it relates to sound principles of Chinese Medicine. This event was accredited for 14 Category 1 CME hours by AAMA.
The GAMA invites everyone to visit their website to learn more about their organization’s philosophy, mission, events and much more. Their site includes a “Member” page, which includes contact information for each GAMA members.For information regarding membership and seminars, e-mail GAMA President Anna C. Kelly at georgiaacupuncturists@yahoo.com.
Illinois
The goal of current President, Lorene Wu, MD, DiplAc and Secretary/Treasurer, Anthony DeLorenzo, DO, is to provide education and support to members. They plan to interface more with the wider acupuncture community by serving on the Illinois Acupuncture Board and by attending meetings of the local acupuncture society.
Meetings are held every other month at Memorial Hospital in LaGrange, IL.
Maryland
Lynn Juliano, CEO of IMCS, Inc., addressed the Maryland Society of Medical Acupuncturists on MVT Relief, a new technology that relieves pain. It works on acupuncture principles and has recently been approved by the Air Force and Pentagon for use in their pain clinics and patient protocols.
The MSMA offers educational programs and wants to increase participation. Treat yourself to a nice evening. It is free, and members whose dues are paid receive a nice free meal. The lecture is on the Chapter. Contact Chapter President Stephen Burns, MD, at stephen.burns@andrews.af.mil to join MSMA.
Ohio
The Ohio Chapter Journal Club reviewed several articles on pain management using acupuncture, with a discussion led by Lisa Cantor-Jacobson. Members also participated in a case review and a potluck lunch. Contact Liz.Woolford@myhealingpartner for further information.
Drs. Steve Amoils and Claudia Harsh, Chapter vice president and treasurer, respectively, presented a Pre-Symposium Workshop at the AAMA Annual Symposium in Orlando, FL. It was entitled, “Paradigm Shifts in Integrative Medicine: Learn How to Improve Clinical Outcomes by Combining Medical Acupuncture and Functional Medicine.”
AAMA Ohio Chapter members would love to see more active participation of the current membership. Please join them and invite medical acupuncture colleagues. For more information or questions, contact Liz Woolford, MD, at Liz.Woolford@myhealingpartner.com.
New Jersey & Pennsylvania
Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, current AAMA president, spent a day with the combined Pennsylvania and New Jersey chapters of AAMA. He gave a detailed and insightful lecture and workshop, primarily on Battlefield Acupuncture. The focus was on making this very useful strategy available to every one of the 25 members who attended. Everyone was competent at inserting the needles by the time they walked out the door. One of the chapter members was an inadvertent tough case, who required multiple special strategies.
Dr. Niemtzow also enlightened members about weight loss, migraine headache treatment, use of the Piezoelectric Stimulator and frequency sweeping. All of the attendees thought that this was a valuable way to spend their Saturday.
John Kohler, MD, FAAMA, is the president of the Pennsylvania Chapter. Visit www.pamedicalacupuncture.com/ for details on this chapter.
Click here for an up-to-date listing of AAMA Regional Chapter officers, their contact information, Websites and members. Think about joining a Chapter to learn more about medical acupuncture specific to your area. And if there’s not a Chapter in your region, please consider forming one by contacting Jim Dowden, AAMA executive administrator, at administrator@medicalacupuncture.org. Chapters provide fellowship, professional camaraderie, education and curbside consults.
Chapter representatives, please send your news and photos for the AAMA Newsletter via e-mail to bart.ortberg@dowdenmanagement.com.
Needling in Iraq
Joseph Sciammarella, MD, founded and was president of the New York State Chapter of AAMA while practicing medical acupuncture in New York. He was an AAMA member and Fellow. He drifted away from acupuncture after his treatment for cancer in 2004-2005 and subsequent deployment to Afghanistan. Currently with the Army Reserve in Iraq, he had the opportunity and means to perform medical acupuncture treatments on a soldier there. He is looking forward to re-establishing his connection with AAMA upon his return.
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Employment Opportunities
· An individual is sought with interest in expanding and enhancing Acubriefs. While it is financially stable and a helpful tool, Acubriefs deserves further energy to enhance and promote its utility as a source for online acupuncture references and promoting bibliography formation. Acubriefs also has an extensive library of journals and articles that would wonderfully enhance any library. Many of the journals and articles would be difficult to find anywhere else. Acubriefs is committed to providing access to one of the most comprehensive databases of English acupuncture references. Anyone interested in acquiring Acubriefs and helping it meet its full potential can contact Acubrief’s Webmaster J. Kimber Rotchford, MD, MPH, at JKRotchford@gmail.com.
· New York area acupuncture clinic established in 1994. Collects about $17,500/month. Seller owns the two-story building and is selling the 1,971-square-foot clinic. Clinic has a waiting room, two offices, four examination and treatment rooms, and a small foot detox room. One block off major route. Averaging about 12 new patients/month and about 23 patient visits/week. Doctor is retiring and focusing on his health. (503/645-7590, pps@practicesales.com)
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