- Email: [email protected]
Statements from the university
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES -ml-
Statements from the University
We invited the colleagues with whom we have worked to make comment on the workofthe Fellowship and the issues we have addressed.
Professor James H. McKillop Professor of Medicine
The Fellowship was established whilst my predecessor in the Muirhead Chair of Medicine, Professor A C Kennedy, was still in post. I, however, fully support the aims of the Fellowship and have been delighted to continue to offer support since I took up post.
alternative therapies is to be properly established. Conducting such studies within the sceptical environment of au orthodox department has advantages in ensuring that academic and scientific standards are maintained. In this context, it is extremely valuable to have the involvement of an individual, such as Dr Reilly, who is a skilled orthodox physician in addition to his specialist expertise in complementary medicine.
The Report submitted by Dr David Reillyand Ms Morag Taylor is an accurate account of the work undertaken during the Fellowship period and I think demonstratesthe continuing commitment of this Department to the proper validation of complementary therapies. I believe the decision to site the Fellowship within an academic ‘orthodox*department was very important and has contributed to its success. The relationship between Dr Reilly and the other members of staff has been mutually beneficial in helping to develop research ideas and in allowing differing philosophies to be discussed and understood.
The Report has also highlighted various educational needs and demands from undergraduates and postgraduates. I believe it is vital that students should be aware of what complementarytechniquesconsist of, independently of whether or not they are of value, because of the fact that they will regularly encounter patients who have used such therapies. In addition, as outlined in the Report, examination of how one can validate alternative therapies can be a very useful means of discussing scientific method and the nature of scientific proof with students.
The Fellowship has been successful in beginning to apply the criteria of rigorous academic assessment to alternative therapies and has demonstrated that such an approach is entirely feasible in spite of the difficulties outlined in this Report FUther developments along these lines are essential if the real value (or lack of value) of
I congratnlate the RCCM in showing the initiative and vision to place the Fellowship within an orthodox department such as this. I hope it will be possible to further the scientific and educational aims outlined in the Report and would be happy to lend my support to future projects of this nature. 41
42 ComplementaryTherapiesin Medicine : Developing integratedmedicine
Professor James McEwan Professor of Public Health
This Fellowship has provided an opportunity to examine witbin the academic setting of a medical school complementary and alternativemedicine. The ambitiousproject has resulted in the development of both research and educationalprogrammes which have begun to breakdown some of the common prejudices and barriers.
the Report on ‘constructiveenquiry’ must be the basis of research, clinical care and evaluation. In particular, the commitment to evaluation of outcome from well designed clinical trials is welcome and applicable to all systems of care and all forms of treatment. whatever their label.
While most students are fascinatedby anything labelled alternative,many orthodox practitioners seek solutions to their own problems from colleagues in complementary medicine, and patients frequently say that they receive a more sympathetic response from a less bureaucratic system These am not sufficient reasons for new educational initiatives at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, or the development of a choice of services. The emphasis in
This project is an excellent beginning and the Department of Public Health has been pleased to collaborate, albeit in a very small way, through postgraduate education. It is to be hoped that the open, constructive and critical approach which has been brought to this area by this project will be continued The commitment to integration will be achieved only through the proven strengths of the component parts.
Statements from the University
We invited the colleagues with whom we have worked to make comment on the workofthe Fellowship and the issues we have addressed.
Professor James H. McKillop Professor of Medicine
The Fellowship was established whilst my predecessor in the Muirhead Chair of Medicine, Professor A C Kennedy, was still in post. I, however, fully support the aims of the Fellowship and have been delighted to continue to offer support since I took up post.
alternative therapies is to be properly established. Conducting such studies within the sceptical environment of au orthodox department has advantages in ensuring that academic and scientific standards are maintained. In this context, it is extremely valuable to have the involvement of an individual, such as Dr Reilly, who is a skilled orthodox physician in addition to his specialist expertise in complementary medicine.
The Report submitted by Dr David Reillyand Ms Morag Taylor is an accurate account of the work undertaken during the Fellowship period and I think demonstratesthe continuing commitment of this Department to the proper validation of complementary therapies. I believe the decision to site the Fellowship within an academic ‘orthodox*department was very important and has contributed to its success. The relationship between Dr Reilly and the other members of staff has been mutually beneficial in helping to develop research ideas and in allowing differing philosophies to be discussed and understood.
The Report has also highlighted various educational needs and demands from undergraduates and postgraduates. I believe it is vital that students should be aware of what complementarytechniquesconsist of, independently of whether or not they are of value, because of the fact that they will regularly encounter patients who have used such therapies. In addition, as outlined in the Report, examination of how one can validate alternative therapies can be a very useful means of discussing scientific method and the nature of scientific proof with students.
The Fellowship has been successful in beginning to apply the criteria of rigorous academic assessment to alternative therapies and has demonstrated that such an approach is entirely feasible in spite of the difficulties outlined in this Report FUther developments along these lines are essential if the real value (or lack of value) of
I congratnlate the RCCM in showing the initiative and vision to place the Fellowship within an orthodox department such as this. I hope it will be possible to further the scientific and educational aims outlined in the Report and would be happy to lend my support to future projects of this nature. 41
42 ComplementaryTherapiesin Medicine : Developing integratedmedicine
Professor James McEwan Professor of Public Health
This Fellowship has provided an opportunity to examine witbin the academic setting of a medical school complementary and alternativemedicine. The ambitiousproject has resulted in the development of both research and educationalprogrammes which have begun to breakdown some of the common prejudices and barriers.
the Report on ‘constructiveenquiry’ must be the basis of research, clinical care and evaluation. In particular, the commitment to evaluation of outcome from well designed clinical trials is welcome and applicable to all systems of care and all forms of treatment. whatever their label.
While most students are fascinatedby anything labelled alternative,many orthodox practitioners seek solutions to their own problems from colleagues in complementary medicine, and patients frequently say that they receive a more sympathetic response from a less bureaucratic system These am not sufficient reasons for new educational initiatives at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, or the development of a choice of services. The emphasis in
This project is an excellent beginning and the Department of Public Health has been pleased to collaborate, albeit in a very small way, through postgraduate education. It is to be hoped that the open, constructive and critical approach which has been brought to this area by this project will be continued The commitment to integration will be achieved only through the proven strengths of the component parts.