News Room
CFMS Pulse
Issue 2
01-Mar-2001
UBC Students to Host Second-Annual Conference on Integrative, Complementary &
Alternative Medicine
by Ashley E. Riskin, President, Alternative & Integrative Medical Society
(AIMS)
Due to current changes in healthcare, interest in integrative, complementary
and alternative medicine (ICAM) is at an all time high. Some of what was once
considered alternative is now gaining significant popularity. This shift in
medical paradigms has captured not only the public's interest, but also that of
students and future physicians. A 1997 Harvard Study revealed that more than 40
percent of the general adult population sought out herbalists, chiropractors
and other unconventional practitioners (JAMA). This trend is even more evident
in British Columbia, where, according to a 1997 Angus Reid study, over 50%
percent of BC residents use and have an interest in complementary healthcare.
As public attention keeps growing, students are becoming increasingly more
aware and concerned about the future of our evolving healthcare system.
In response to this growing interest, the Alternative and Integrative Medical
Society (AIMS), a student group at the University of British Columbia, is
hosting a one-day conference on integrative, complementary and alternative
medicine. This one-day event will feature various expert speakers in the
industry in an attempt to offer students an objective, scientific look at ICAM.
Topics to be covered include: herbal/botanical medicine, nutrition & healthy
lifestyle, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture & traditional Chinese medicine,
chiropractic, reiki/energy healing, genetically modified foods, massage therapy
and issues facing MD's wishing to incorporate ICAM into their practice. A
mixture of plenary and breakout sessions will cover these topics. The intention
is to provide students with a credible look at alternative therapies and to
broaden their overall knowledge of medicine. Each attendee will be provided
with an extensive syllabus which will include information and resources needed
to allow further research into this new branch of medicine. As a special treat,
this year's keynote speaker is Andrew Weil, MD, a very well-known and
internationally respected leader in the integrative medicine arena. He is the
author of numerous books and has made several television appearances including
Larry King Live and Oprah (see www.drweil.com).
As a result of the presently inadequate level of CAM instruction at the
university setting, AIMS will host its second-annual conference, Practical
Applications of Alternative, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, on March
25, 2001 at UBC. Our first conference, held last year, was a great success. We
hope to build on what was covered and continue to offer other students the
opportunity to learn more about this field. Unfortunately, registration is
extremely limited this year (due to our keynote speaker's popularity). If you
would like to register, please visit our website for full information or
contact us using any of the means found below.
Web: http://www.aims.ubc.ca
E-mail: [email hidden]
Phone: (604) 822-7604
Fax: (604) 822-2495
AIMS is a non-profit student group constituted in March 1998 with the Alma
Mater Society of the University of British Columbia. AIMS consists of students
and faculty who recognize the increasing popularity of integrative,
complementary and alternative treatments and have taken the initiative to bring
this branch of medicine to UBC. Our mandate is to provide quality, unbiased
information to the UBC community and beyond. We publish a quarterly newsletter,
offer our members discounts in the industry, host regular guest lectures,
publish an annual wellness directory for British Columbia (circulation over
40,000), and hold an annual student conference.