A Message from our President

The Consortium continues to enjoy a climate of change in the culture of medicine here in Hawai’i. The Organization is increasing its membership in each healthcare sector in Hawai’i including: hospitals, insurance companies, universities, government, and both conventional and CAM professional organizations and schools. In recent years, the Consortium added several leading entities to its membership. Among these were the Hawai’i Medical Association (HMA), American Specialty Health (ASH), the largest provider of complementary health care services in the nation, and the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).

The addition of these leading organizations speaks to the Consortium’s ever-increasing credibility on both a local and national level. This is due in large part to the Organization’s on-going commitment to a balanced and objective view of integrative healthcare. The Consortium continues to stress the importance of practice, research, and education in integrative healthcare that is safe, ethical, and credible. This approach has solidified the organization’s position as a leading voice and will continue to attract strong support from local and national organizations alike as the culture of healthcare continues to evolve.

In 2003, the Consortium sponsored several successful events to further educate health service professionals and the public about integrative approaches to medicine; in May 2003, at the request of HMSA, the Consortium took a leadership role in co-hosting a national conference along with HMSA and Tripler Army Medical Center to address multimodal integrative approaches to chronic pain management; and in October 2002 the Organization co-sponsored a seminar on Tibetan Medicine and patient consultations with the general secretary and vice president of the only Tibetan medical college outside of Tibet. In February and October 2003, the Consortium also sponsored visits by David Eisenberg, M.D., of the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School to continue discussions with Consortium members concerning opportunities in integrative healthcare here in Hawai‘i. Funding for these and other Consortium initiatives came from the Research and Education Development Fund, Consortium grant monies donated by the HMSA Foundation, ASH, and the Bakken Foundation in 2003.

In 2004, the Hawai’i Consortium conducted a retreat on the Big Island, which included members from the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine (The National Academic Consortium). The National Academic Consortium comprises many leading universities nationwide. Member faculty and academic medical centers collaborate on a range of projects involving integrative medicine research, education, and the development of sustainable clinical models. This retreat enabled Hawai’i Consortium members to interact with National Academic Consortium members and learn about projects they are working on.

In early 2006 Laura Crites was hired as the new executive director (see the 2005-2006 Newsletter). Under her leadership we expect to substantially expand the work of the Consortium. Her plans include three benchmarking symposiums, a series of lectures on integrative healthcare by national authorities, and a special project focusing on obesity in Hawaii. In the first 3 months of 2006, we sponsored Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD to provide a grand rounds lecture for Straub Hospital, a lecture to the medical school faculty and students, and an address to consortium members and friends regarding the health and healing benefits of mindfulness. We also co-sponsored a training workshop on acupuncture for cancer patients, hosted a talk by Qigong Master Dr. Zhi Gang Sha regarding his work in China and in Canada, and co-sponsored a luncheon lecture by Rev. Debra Jarvis from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for nurses and end-of-life administrators and staff.

The Consortium continues to receive a steady stream of interest from local, national, and international entities. We expect to capitalize on this momentum and uphold a growing reputation for progressive thought and leadership in integrative healthcare. Working to facilitate communications between our stakeholder members and industry leaders nationwide will remain a primary focus of the organization. Furthermore, the Consortium will continue to respect and embrace Hawai’ian cultural practices as part of its ongoing efforts. Together, we will continue to build bridges that promote optimal health and quality of life for the people of Hawai’i.

Aloha,
Ira D. Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
President