IMA News, Announcements, Events

IMA NEWS

Celebrating catherine saar

In this edition of the IMA Newsletter, we celebrate Catherine Saar, who has had to give up the editorship of our online newsletter because of demands of work. In 2004, her first full year as editor, Catherine improved the form and content of the newsletter. She created and sustained a series of features, including Industry News and Legislative Updates, Research Developments, Members’ Forum, Resources for the Community and the Practitioner’s Corner.  The look and content of the newsletter are only a part of what Catherine has meant to the IMA.

Catherine’s infectious smile, her willingness to contribute and her carefully thought-out insights and advice have been very important in the evolution of the IMA. She has put in countless hours on the newsletter, phone meetings and in-person meetings. All of this while dealing with the usual demands of life! She brought optimism, organizational sense and great ideas to all of her interactions with the IMA.

We at the IMA celebrate Catherine Saar. We are grateful for her contributions as an editor and as a person. The IMA and its newsletter are immeasurably better for her presence and work. We shall miss her greatly and we wish her well in all aspects of her life.

Thank You, Catherine!

The IMA Board of Directors

thank you, julia

The IMA offers its heartfelt thanks to Julia Smith for her hard work as the IMA's Administrator, which began in January of 2004 and was completed last August.  Julia did a fine job at processing the IMA's memberships, answering queries from the general public, and updating the IMA website.  Many thanks!

Today, Julia devotes her time to three active and interesting careers.  She is a Thai massage teacher and therapist, practicing in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  She is licensed real estate agent for southern New England and applies, in her words, a buddhist approach to this work.  And lastly, she a ceramic artist, and for 28 years has created historic pottery reproductions for private collections, museums, and Hollywood.  For more information on Julia's work, visit www.JuliaSmith.com.

____________________________________________________

IMA ANNOUNCEMENTS

 ima INTRODUCES THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The IMA is pleased to announce the addition of three members to the IMA Board of Directors.

Judy Christine Copp, M.Ed, RPP of Marblehead joined the IMA board in March 2005 to focus on marketing, communications, publicity and public relations. Formerly a corporate communications manager and senior consultant, Judy now works in the healing arts as a Licensed Polarity Therapist, RYSE® practitioner and massage therapist.  Judy also conducts training sessions in energy awareness and  workshops for women in emotional healing. She is in private practice and also at the North Shore Medical Center at the Salem Hospital in Salem and Union Hospital in Lynn, MA.  Judy also teaches Kripalu Yoga and Kriya meditation at Prana Yoga Center in Salem.  Judy is a graduate of Emerson College majoring in Media Communications and earned a Master’s degree in Psychological Studies from Cambridge College.  With a lifelong interest in practicing and teaching holistic lifestyle methodologies, Judy looks forward to furthering the IMA’s mission. We welcome Judy as an important addition in our effort to deepen the quality of the human experience in healthcare. 

The IMA is also pleased and proud to announce the addition of 2 new Members to our Board of Directors as of January 2006: Barbara Parton, RN, Lic.Ac. and Emily Klein, M.P.A.

Barbara Parton is a licensed acupuncturist in private practice with a special focus on Hospice and Palliative Care. Barbara is a Research Assistant at the New England School of Acupuncture and was formerly Dean of Clinical Education at the New England School of Acupuncture. Barbara received her R.N. at the University of Vermont and received her acupuncture training at the New England School of Acupuncture. Barbara’s nursing career has included work on migrant healthcare at the University of Colorado Medical Center, work at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, work at the Burn Unit at Albany Medical Center and Community Health in Belmont, MA and Walpole, MA. She has worked as a Hospice Home Care Nurse and a Patient Care Coordinator, and as a Clinical Manager for VNA Care Hospice Inc. of Waltham, MA. Barbara’s acupuncture career has included work with the AIDS Care Project in Boston, and work as an Instructor in the Pan-African Acupuncture Project in Uganda.

We welcome Barbara’s extensive integrated care background to the IMA Board. 

Emily Klein is a Senior Principal/Manager at Mitretek Healthcare, Mitretek Systems, Inc. Emily received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Ithaca College and her Master of Public Administration degree at The George Washington University. Emily’s extensive background has included work as a Performance Review Manager at the US Department of Justice. She has done consulting work on subjects as varied as the tax settlement process for the IRS, materials, methodology and training for a global Business Performances Improvement Center, and information technology design, assessment, performance measurements, development and training. In addition, Emily has extensive experience in consulting on organizational development in healthcare for the US Government.   Emily brings a wealth of organizational development skills to the IMA along with facilitation skills and a keen, experienced analytical mind. She is passionate about the development of Integrated Healthcare.

Welcome Judy, Barbara and Emily!

IMA VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:  DARYL BENNETT

The IMA wishes to acknowledge Daryl Bennett as the IMA Volunteer of the Month.  Daryl personally supported the IMA’s Mobil Clinic held at the Tufts University School of Medicine in March. Daryl’s support was in honor of the memory of her mother, Pauline Ray Bartl.

Daryl has contributed and continues to contribute to the IMA in many ways. She is ceaseless in her efforts to work at events, to get the IMA name out and about and to apply her quietly strong energy in support of the IMA and its goals.

In addition, Daryl continuously adds her energy and support to many people in need. She is always asking, publicly for prayers and energetic support for a variety of people with difficulties. Daryl doesn’t only think of helping; she constantly gets actively involved in helping to create a more caring world.

Daryl  has contributed her volunteer efforts while continuing her work under “Whole Body Health - Providing Information & Services to Promote Optimal Health for Everyone” and while opening a new cooperative office site, Body & Soul, in Salem, MA.

Thank you Daryl!  

_____________________________________________________

EVENT REVIEW:

IMA Leadership Session held August 7, 2005

 On August 7, 2005, a group of people interested in the IMA met at the home of Board President Harvey Zarren to share stories, information and ideas to further the mission of IMA.  Some 57 people were invited and 8 people were able to attend, including:

Cynthia Linton – Reiki Practitioner and Teacher (has taught Reiki to Social Workers, Chaplains and RNs), Cynthia also works in Health administration,

Janice Ward – Multiple Sclerosis Counselor and Reiki Practitioner,

Paula Gardiner, MD -  Family Medicine Practitioner, training in: Herbalism, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Mindfulness Meditation, very involved in community outreach,

Daryl Bennett, RN, Reiki Practitioner

Joan Strauss, MBA - IMA Board, IMA Administrator, Treasurer & Clerk, Hospital Senior Project Manager in Service Improvement

Judy Copp – IMA Board, Communications Manager, Polarity Therapist, workshop leader, yoga instructor.

David Snieckus, Macrobiotic Chef

Harvey Zarren, MD – IMA Board President

Attendees shared their interests in integrative medicine, and offered some ideas for IMA’s future focus and direction.  These included:

     -Hold Mobile Clinics monthly, varying sites to include exposure for seniors, people with disabilities and people with chronic disease.

    -Enhance IMA as a source of clients for members.

     -Find ways for the IMA to foster public service and service for underserved populations.

     -The IMA can support improved communications between conventional and CAM providers.

     -CAM providers and conventional providers can both use education on communications around integrated practice: language, HIPPA concerns, referral requests and reports, reporting differing experiences of reality. What are the tools and the skills needed?

     -How do conventional and CAM providers deal with conflicts (conflict resolution).

     -The IMA can reach MDs about the value of complementary medicine and can also teach consumers about the value of complementary medicine and its integration with conventional medicine.

     -The IMA website can be a place for people to tell their stories and to hear stories about deepening the quality of the human experience in healthcare and about benefiting from integrated medical care.

     -The IMA can be a referral source for people wanting change and knowledge about issues such as nutrition.

     -The IMA can help educate CAM providers as to how to get referrals from conventional practitioners.

     -THE IMA can be a trustworthy information source for busy, time-limited MDs.

Everyone agreed that the meeting was valuable, enriching and stimulating!  The IMA is now acting on some of these ideas.  More ideas are always welcomed.

If you have ideas about potential gatherings where IMA members can meet and share their stories, experiences and ideas, please contact us at: admin@integrativemedalliance.org.

If you have not yet joined the IMA  and wish to join and to participate in these gatherings and discussions, go online at:  www.integrativemedalliance.org.  Become a member/donor or a business partner. You can be part of the effort to deepen the quality of the human experience in healthcare!