- Email: [email protected]
AIMA Presidents Report
Advances in Integrative Medicine 1 (2014) 62
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Advances in Integrative Medicine journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aimed
Editorial
AIMA Presidents Report
2013 has certainly turned out to be an interesting year in the realm of Integrative Medicine. In particular, the newly proposed government reforms on CAM have subsequently led to the formation of many new alliances between various associations, universities, industry and consumer health groups alike. In times gone by, it was deemed important for each group to act individually as a powerful entity, striving ahead to make grounds and reach their respective missions. However, in these current times, it has become very clear that the best path forward is one of co-creation rather than competition. How excellent it is to part of this new conscious community who is aware that taking deliberate steps forward for the betterment of all far outweighs a solo mission that only partially fulfils its ultimate goal. Having been editor of AIMA’s Journal of Integrative Medicine, (formerly Journal of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association) for the last 10 years, it is truly a pleasure to see its evolution into an international evidence-based peer-reviewed medical journal. I feel very proud that Advances in Integrative Medicine is an Australian-based proprietary Elsevier journal, an indication that Integrative Medicine is increasingly becoming ‘‘mainstream’’. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Lesley Braun, my co-editor-in-chief, whose amazing level of commitment and passion will help give this journal the impact it deserves. Furthermore, I encourage you all to support the efforts of our dedicated editorial team by helping us to spread the word, submitting research papers, case studies, reports, letters to the editors and the like. On another level, I wish to thank all of you for continuing to support AIMA by renewing your membership and attending our annual Integrative Medicine Conference. Our new Platinum Membership package has been created with the best of intentions. To further your journey in Integrative Medicine, as a Platinum member, you will now receive both print and e-copies of Advances in Integrative Medicine as well as an annual subscription to
2212-9626/$ – see front matter ß 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2013.08.007
IMGateway, a unique evidence-based, peer-reviewed information resource for health professionals including a comprehensive interactions database at your fingertips, patient information sheets and a growing e-learning platform. Our AIMA board has been very busy in their efforts to forward the progress of Integrative Medicine in Australia over this year, having attended a multitude of meetings with the current Health Minister, the honourable Tanya Plibersek, Parliamentary dinners with the current shadow Health Minister, the honourable Peter Dutton as well as submissions and discussions with the TGA regarding the new CAM health reforms – including Private Healthcare rebates and the ongoing issues of Naturopath/other CAM healthcare practitioner registration. AIMA has also had several highly relevant discussions with various organisations including ASMI (Australian Self-Medication Industry), CHC (Complementary Healthcare Council), OHO (One Health Organisation), CHF (Consumer Health Forum), NORPHCAM (Network of Researchers in the Public Health of CAM), ANPA (Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association), Unity Health, RACGP-AIMA Joint Working Party and many others. Finally, I wish to thank Bioceuticals, our major corporate sponsor, as well as all of our other sponsors, whom without we simply could not achieve our goals of forwarding Integrative Medicine in Australasia. I look forward to seeing you all at our annual AIMA Conference. Please feel free to come and speak with me about any ideas you may have such that we can all co-create a better health environment and, indeed, a better world for our future generations. Thanking you, Yours sincerely,
Lily Tomas MBBS, BSc(Med), FACNEM E-mail address: [email protected]
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Advances in Integrative Medicine journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aimed
Editorial
AIMA Presidents Report
2013 has certainly turned out to be an interesting year in the realm of Integrative Medicine. In particular, the newly proposed government reforms on CAM have subsequently led to the formation of many new alliances between various associations, universities, industry and consumer health groups alike. In times gone by, it was deemed important for each group to act individually as a powerful entity, striving ahead to make grounds and reach their respective missions. However, in these current times, it has become very clear that the best path forward is one of co-creation rather than competition. How excellent it is to part of this new conscious community who is aware that taking deliberate steps forward for the betterment of all far outweighs a solo mission that only partially fulfils its ultimate goal. Having been editor of AIMA’s Journal of Integrative Medicine, (formerly Journal of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association) for the last 10 years, it is truly a pleasure to see its evolution into an international evidence-based peer-reviewed medical journal. I feel very proud that Advances in Integrative Medicine is an Australian-based proprietary Elsevier journal, an indication that Integrative Medicine is increasingly becoming ‘‘mainstream’’. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Lesley Braun, my co-editor-in-chief, whose amazing level of commitment and passion will help give this journal the impact it deserves. Furthermore, I encourage you all to support the efforts of our dedicated editorial team by helping us to spread the word, submitting research papers, case studies, reports, letters to the editors and the like. On another level, I wish to thank all of you for continuing to support AIMA by renewing your membership and attending our annual Integrative Medicine Conference. Our new Platinum Membership package has been created with the best of intentions. To further your journey in Integrative Medicine, as a Platinum member, you will now receive both print and e-copies of Advances in Integrative Medicine as well as an annual subscription to
2212-9626/$ – see front matter ß 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2013.08.007
IMGateway, a unique evidence-based, peer-reviewed information resource for health professionals including a comprehensive interactions database at your fingertips, patient information sheets and a growing e-learning platform. Our AIMA board has been very busy in their efforts to forward the progress of Integrative Medicine in Australia over this year, having attended a multitude of meetings with the current Health Minister, the honourable Tanya Plibersek, Parliamentary dinners with the current shadow Health Minister, the honourable Peter Dutton as well as submissions and discussions with the TGA regarding the new CAM health reforms – including Private Healthcare rebates and the ongoing issues of Naturopath/other CAM healthcare practitioner registration. AIMA has also had several highly relevant discussions with various organisations including ASMI (Australian Self-Medication Industry), CHC (Complementary Healthcare Council), OHO (One Health Organisation), CHF (Consumer Health Forum), NORPHCAM (Network of Researchers in the Public Health of CAM), ANPA (Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association), Unity Health, RACGP-AIMA Joint Working Party and many others. Finally, I wish to thank Bioceuticals, our major corporate sponsor, as well as all of our other sponsors, whom without we simply could not achieve our goals of forwarding Integrative Medicine in Australasia. I look forward to seeing you all at our annual AIMA Conference. Please feel free to come and speak with me about any ideas you may have such that we can all co-create a better health environment and, indeed, a better world for our future generations. Thanking you, Yours sincerely,
Lily Tomas MBBS, BSc(Med), FACNEM E-mail address: [email protected]