Digest Number 2022

[Guest guest]

Bob -

 

I was speaking at that meeting in Chicago and it was truly unfortunate. The

leadership of AAAOM made mistakes as new members of the field - as we all do.

However, I believe there were far more complicated issues than mere diversity

which was in my opinion a red herring. At the time the then AAAOM was maturing

into a professional organization representing the interests of the profession

instead of that of the colleges as they gained more autonomy from the Council

of Colleges (CCAOM). The start up for the Council of Concerned Acupuncturists

(COCA now AOMAlliance) was then funded by the Council of Colleges and such

support continued until fairly recent times.

 

Nevertheless, at a recent Accreditation Commission (ACAOM) hearing, the AAOM

went on record supporting diversity of practice as in support for a free

standing post graduate clinical specialty doctorate of acupuncture. In addition,

the upcoming AAOM conference theme is " One Tree Many Branches. " The AAOM

supports the heterogeneous and rich heritage of OM practices.

 

I don't think anyone will ever know the degree to which AAOM directors such

as Dave Molony and Gene Bruno have sacrificed time, family and money to protect

our professional interests. It goes far beyond political savvy, which they

both have; it goes to a depth of service to our profession very few have

matched. I say give the support they need to move us into this next set of

possibilities. Our voices can only be heard if we join in and make our thoughts

and

needs known.

 

Will

 

> This whole debate goes straight back to the infamous AAAOM Chicago

> convention of 10-12 years ago that led to the breakup of the AAAOM and

> the founding of the National Alliance. At the time, the elected

> leaders of the AAAOM wanted a TCM-style profession, while those who

> split off to found the National Alliance wanted to maintain diversity

> and freedom of choice. One of the problems here is the confusion

> between a professional organization as a political tool and a

> professional organization as a group of like-minded practitioners.

>

> Basically, I see the AAOM (which evolved out of the old AAAOM) and the

> National Alliance as a political organizations, with the AAOM having

> more political clout and savvy. As such, I tend to favor the stance of

> the National Alliance. That is, to work for the political and overall

> social benefit of the profession as a whole no matter what school or

> style. Politically, I approve of that philosophy even though,

> politically, the National Alliance is not the more powerful of the two

> orgs.

>

> Personally, what I would like to see is something like what I

> think, is suggesting. A big tent when it comes to our common political

> survival and agenda, but then a number of smaller associations each

> representing a particular style or school within the profession as a

> whole. This would allow like-minded practitioners to associate with

> their own, develop their own standards of diagnosis and therapy,

> promote their own style to the public, etc. without detracting from

> the large, more universal efforts to protect and improve our legal

> right to practice.

>

> Unfortunately, the National Alliance seems like an organization which

> has lost its way. I don't see it making a strong statement of its

> reason for existence. On the other hand, I see (or at least have seen)

> the AAOM confusing politics with stylistic issues of personal choice.

> While we need to stand together and pool our resources when it comes

> to politics, I'd prefer the AAOM to stop trying to set national

> standards of care. Standards of ethics are fine by me. I think we

> could have a single code of professional ethics, but, when you get

> into deciding what is or is not an acceptable part of Oriental

> medicine, I think you get into trouble pretty quick, as this whole

> discussion evidences.

>

> There has to be a way of having our cake and eating it too as long as

> we are willing to look at things with fresh eyes and an open mind. I

> see no real reason why we can't have a big political tent and then a

> number of smaller organizations for specific styles and modalities.

> Take a look at the AOBTA, the American Oriental Bodywork Therapists

> Association. They represent tui na, ammo/amma, and shiatsu. These are

> some pretty distinct styles of Asian bodywork. Hell, doesn't

> Masunaga's Zen shiatsu use 24 channels? Yet the AOBTA seems to

> represent everyone just fine.

>

> If someone can see a problem with this approach, I'd very much like to

> hear it.

>

>

 

 

William R. Morris, L.Ac., O.M.D.

Secretary, AAOM

Dean of Educational Advancement

Emperor's College of Oriental Medicine

310-453-8300 phone

310-829-3838 fax

will