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IMA News, Events & Announcements
The Integrative
Medicine Alliance Newsletter is a free service to the public. It
aims to share up-to-date news, information and diverse views for the
growing integrative medicine movement in New England. To become a
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If you wish to contribute news stories, opinion pieces, or
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EVENT
REVIEW:
WHEN
THE PAIN WON'T QUIT, HEALTHCARE MUST NOT EITHER!
On December 2, 2004,
a unique panel of six representatives from conventional, complementary
and alternative practices of healthcare shared their views and
approaches to a hypothetical case of a 65 year-old male with a 25 year
history of chronic back pain. The discussion, held at the Tufts
University School of Medicine, was co-sponsored by the Integrative
Medicine Alliance ("IMA")
and the Masters of
Science in Pain research, Education and Policy program at Tufts School
of Medicine (“TUSM”).
The panel served as
an example of how a group of diverse practitioners might take an
integrated approach to solving a difficult clinical problem. Many good
ideas about the care of the patient emerged, along with discussion of
access and cost of care. The integrated panel presentation approach
demonstrated ways that medical care can be more comprehensive in
dealing with complex problems from a variety of points of view and how
patients and caregivers alike can benefit from a real integration of
healthcare practices.
Each panelist
explained how they might apply their practice modality to the care of
the patient. They also spoke about their assessment methods and the
need to picture the patient as a whole person suffering over a long
period of time. The assessment included an in-depth examination of the
patient’s current medications and the possible pros and cons of each.
Panelists also described how they might
improve the experience of the other caregivers while dealing with
complex and often frustrating cases.
The discussion was
facilitated by Daniel B. Carr, MD, Saltonstall Professor of Pain
Research in the Department of Anesthesia at Tufts-New England Medical
Center (T-NEMC).
The participating
panelists included:
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Rina Bloch, MD,
Assistant Professor of Physiatry at TUSM and Attending Physician,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, T-NEMC,
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Melissa Blacker,
MA, Co-Director, Professional Education and Training, Center for
Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society, University of
Massachusetts Medical School,
-
Lainie Andrew PsyD,
Attending Psychologist, T-NEMC and Massachusetts General Hospital,
Assistant Clinical Professor, TUSM,
-
Larraine M. Bossi,
RN, MS, CS, Reiki Master/Teacher, Medicine Patient Services Project
Manager, Children’s Hospital Boston, Integrative Therapies Team
Member,
-
Barbara Parton, RN,
Research Asst, New England School of Acupuncture, Licensed
Acupuncturist, formerly: Dean of Clinical Education for the New
England School of Acupuncture, and
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Richard I. Shader,
MD, Program Director, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Program, Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics,
TUSM.
Panelists also
discussed specific modalities of treatment including biofeedback,
exercise prescription, acupuncture, reiki for energy enhancement, rest
and relaxation and specific changes in medication to help with sleep
and pain control. Mindfulness practices were also considered as a
method to develop a new relationship with the pain.,
Compassion for both
the patient and for each other was evidenced by the panelists,
demonstrating an enormous amount of respect for each other’s mode of
practice and a willingness to learn from each other. They addressed
how to care for each other as caregivers and suggested supporting each
other both intellectually and emotionally and with whatever
therapeutic techniques they felt might be helpful.
Sixty people attended
the panel session including professionals from many fields of
practice, medical students and students from other practice programs
and lay people with an interest in chronic pain and integrated care.
We look forward to
sponsoring another integrative event in the near future! We’ll keep
you posted!
For more
information, please contact Harvey Zarren at
hzarren@cove.com
IMA-Sponsored Event: Integrative Medicine and Student Wellness
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Tufts
University School of Medicine
Boston, MA
The IMA is pleased to sponsor this conference by and for Boston area
medical school and acupuncture students, which will be held on
Saturday, March 5, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sackler
Building at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. The
conference will feature speakers on energy medicine, integrative
medicine, and self-care, including a presentation by IMA President
Harvey Zarren, MD. The event will also feature the IMA's acclaimed
Mobile Clinic for Caregivers, offering free mini-treatments of a
variety of complementary/alternative healing modalities. For more
information on the conference, visit
www.tufts.edu/med/stu-org/bsim
.
If you are a qualified holistic practitioner and are interested in
volunteering for the IMA's Mobile Clinic, please contact the IMA at
admin@integrativemedalliance.org.
IMA-Sponsored Event: Promising Practices in Alternative &
Complementary Healthcare: Focus On
Cancer
Saturday, March 05, 2005 - Sunday, March 06, 2005
The
Institute for Body, Mind & Spirituality at Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
The way in which patients & practitioners view health & the healing
process can have a profound impact on both the healthcare delivery and
health status. This conference will introduce methods of healthcare
that integrate Mind-Body-Spirit covering: Alternative Cancer
Treatments--Fact and Fiction; Herbs & Nutrients in the Prevention &
Treatment of Cancer; Cancer & Massage Therapy; How Acupuncture Can
Help Fight Against Cancer, Mind/Body Approaches to Increasing Immune
Competence; and more! The conference will be valuable for individuals
with cancer, families, caregivers, medical & allied health
practitioners, nurses and mental health workers. To pre-register
contact Trish Glover at 617-349-8129 or 800-999-1959 ext.8129 or email
ibmsinfo@lesley.edu
IMA VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH: TOM BIRMINGHAM, MARILYNN CARTER AND DARYL
BENNETT
The IMA wishes to collectively acknowledge massage therapist Tom
Birmingham and Reiki Masters Marilynn Carter, and Daryl Bennett, RN as
our volunteers of the month, for their work with the IMA Board in
helping organize last December’s panel discussion at Tufts University
School of Medicine. That the event ran so smoothly was due in no small
part to their presence setting up and striking down the space,
registering attendees, and being on hand to help in any way.
This was the IMA’s
largest event of the year, so we were particularly grateful to have
such able and willing help. Thank you!
SOME
SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP THE IMA
Become a member of
the IMA.
One of the most important things you can do to help. For as little as
$25 a year ($20 for students) you can help the IMA bring together
caregivers of all healing traditions and provide a voice for the New
England’s integrative healthcare community. Visit
http://www.integrativemedalliance.org/helping_becomeamember.asp
and become a member today!
Would you like to
volunteer your professional caregiving skills?
If you’re a complementary/alternative caregiver, sign up to volunteer
for our Mobile Clinics by e-mailing
admin@integrativemedalliance.org.
Would you like to be
our “eyes and ears”?
If you know of a worthwhile upcoming integrative medical event in New
England, (large or small!) send date, time and place info to our
Calendar of Events Coordinator Theresa Ochenkoski at
IMA_Calendar@yahoo.com
Do you like to write?
Send in your news story ideas, commentary, and other writings to our
IMA Newsletter Editor Catherine Saar, at
catsaar@aol.com
Do you like parties?
If you’d like to host a social or networking gathering of caregivers
from many healing traditions at your home or at a public location,
we’d be happy to sponsor it and advertise it on our calendar, but
please give us 2 month’s advance notice. E-mail the details to IMA
Coordinator Karl Berger at
IMA_Karl@yahoo.com.
Would you like to
spread the word about us?
We want to invite all concerned citizens and caregivers to get our
free IMA newsletter. Send their e-mail addresses (or postal addresses
if they have no e-mail) to us at
admin@integrativemedalliance.org and we’ll invite them to subscribe. If
you’d like to distribute our brochures, we’ll send you some!
If you’d like to make
a bigger volunteer commitment:
We’re looking for assistance in administration, event planning,
fundraising, grant writing, outreach, project management, and public
relations. We are also looking for a volunteer knowledgeable in the
"tech" side of web sites. For more information, visit our Website at
www.IntegrativeMedAlliance.org, and under “Helping” click on
“Volunteer”.
If you offer free or discounted services and wish to list them on our
website, or if you would like us to update your current listing,
please email the IMA's Administrator, Joan Strauss, at
Admin@integrativemedalliance.org
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