The First Annual Canadian Conference on Acupuncture and Natural Healing held in Halifax July 9,10, was as a resounding success for its guests and participants!

The Conference with its focus on Cancer Care and the Future of Health Care in Canada, was inaugurated by MPP Kelly Regan, with congratulations from the Premier of Nova Scotia, and the mayor of Halifax.

The Conference tackled the question of integrative medicine with a panel discussion anchored by Dr. William LaValley, MD, who skyped in from Austin Texas. Dr. LaValley is a highly acclaimed, pioneer of integrative medicine. Present on the panel were representatives of Cancer Care Nova Scotia and Capital Health and by Dr. Diana Tong Li and Dr. Franklyn Chen.

 Dr. Li and Dr. Chen as CMAAC and local CMAAC chapter president and vice president, figured prominently in staging the conference. Along with Joseph Starr, D. Dr. TCM they have been particularly active in pushing for higher standards of practice and for regulation in Nova Scotia.

The Conference was very well attended by acupuncturists and other health-care professionals as well as by cancer survivors. Part of the attraction was the 15 seminars presented by a wide variety of health-care professionals speaking on a wide variety of topics. Their goal was to familiarize the health-care community and public with what is available in the way of complementary medicine. Seminars featured included TCM, Japanese Medicine, naturopathy, craniosacral therapy, herbal medicine, counselling and homeopathy.

 Dr. Robert Rutledge, a prominent radiation oncologist and assistant Dalhousie University professor, graced the conference with his keynote speech. Doctors from China’s prestigious Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine flew in to present on cancer research and on opportunities for higher learning through its MA and Ph. D programs.

The conference was staged at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine- Atlantic Canada’s first college of acupuncture and TCM. The College has a special arrangement with Guangzhou University. The College helps recruit for these Guangzhou University programs and provides the option of taking these programs at the College.

This was a seminal event, rarely staged in Canada. And the Conference supporters are proud to have  accomplished it here in Nova Scotia.

Amongst those in attendance were Jane Cheung, representing CMAAC and a contingent of acupuncturists from Ottawa who took advantage of the lovely weather to explore Halifax and surroundings.

The outcome of the Conference was invitations from various public cancer-related organizations to host seminars on Acupuncture and TCM. The College also agreed to place more emphasis on cancer care in its student clinics and to bring in conventional medical specialists to help create an integrative approach to cancer care at the College.

One of the featured guests of the Conference was Dr. Aiko Hormann, an 82 year old minister and natural healer, who dropped in on her way to a conference in Zurich. Dr. Horman was a neuroscientist before turning to Christ for inspiration.

Dr. Aiko’s work combining science and spirituality, was highly appreciated by the audience.

It is hoped that with follow-up, this will be a breakthrough conference for acupuncture in Nova Scotia.

It has already helped bring the two other acupuncture associations with members practicing in Nova Scotia together with ATCMANS through their attendance at the Conference. These other two associations and ATCMANS are currently working on a memorandum of understanding which will set minimum standards of practice and education, to be presented to the government of Nova Scotia. It is hoped that going forward, all acupuncturists in Nova Scotia will have to graduate from minimum 2200 hour full-time programs offered by provincially recognized colleges.

Sincerely

Joseph Starr, D. Dr. Ac., Dr. TCM
Conference Co Chair

First Annual Canadian Conference on Acupuncture and Natural Healing




Front Row, Left to Right:
Dr. Qing Zhang, Calvin Crichton, Dr. Aiko Hormann, Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen, Dr. Diana Tong Li, Joe Starr,
Dr. He Jun, representative from Guangzhou University, Dr. Zhang-HongLai, representative from Guangzhou University, China, Lisa Fontanella, Dr. Helga Pizzera.



Round table discussion; Cancer Treatment and Prevention.
Left to Right: Representatives from Capital Health Nova Scotia, Representative from Sunshine Room QEII Hospital, Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen, Professor from Dalhousie University, Dr. William Lavallee M.D.(on screen from Texas), Dr. Diana Tong Li, Vicki Wilson cancer patient, Dr. Aiko Hormann, Joe



Integrating Western and Eastern Medicine
Dr. Diana Tong Li - Chair, Dr. Robert Rutledge – Keynote speaker and cancer specialist from QEII hospital, Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen – co-chair and keynote speaker, Joe Starr – co-chair. The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine; Hosts of the Canadian Conference on Acupuncture and Natural Healing. 2011 Topic: Cancer Treatment and Prevention.



Government officials showing their support
Dr. Aiko Hormann, Councillor Mary Wile on behalf of Mayor Peter Kelly, Hon. Kelly Regan district MLA, Dr. Diana Tong Li, Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen, at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine; Hosts of the Canadian Conference on Acupuncture and Natural Healing. 2011 Topic: Cancer Treatment and Prevention.



Support from the National Association
Calvin Crichton, Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen, Representative from the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada, Dr. Diana Tong Li and Joe Starr at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine; Hosts of the Canadian Conference on Acupuncture and Natural Healing. 2011 topic: Cancer Treatment and Prevention.