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FEBRUARY 2023
INTRODUCING THE AIMA BOARD
Dear <<First Name>>,

At our AGM in November AIMA elected a wonderful new board.  The board are the representatives of our membership and work to ensure that we set and meet strategic goals which will further integrative medicine in Australasia and best support our members.  Our new board are:
 
                                               
Dr Cristina Beer, President
MBBS (hons), FRACGP, BBioMedSci, ACNEM Member, AIMA member, Cert IV in Fitness (personal trainer)

Cris is an integrative medical doctor, author, corporate speaker, and media doctor.  Cris specialises not just in treatment of illnesses, but in the attaining of optimum health. She has particular interests in preventative health, lifestyle medicine, hormone health, weight loss, fatigue and sleep problems, digestive issues, as well as women’s health.  

Cris’ passion for health and wellness extends beyond the consulting room also. She is  author of 3 books: Healthy Habits: 52 ways to better health, Healthy Liver and Healthy Hormones being released in late 2017. She regularly contributes to body+soul as part of their expert team as well as The Daily Telegraph and other print and online publications. She has appeared on Studio 10, The Daily Edition, and SBS Insight.

Dr Bentley Logan, Vice-President
MBBS

Bentley is a medical doctor, public speaker and patient health advocate who seeks to expand the standardisation of integrative medicine within Australia and New Zealand for general practice.  Medical professional standards can assist both patients and medical practitioners to support best practice upon the guiding principle of informed decision.

Bentley grew up in Townsville, North Queensland. He graduated from James Cook University and completed his residency at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane. He undertook further studies working within the specialties of ophthalmology, medical administration, emergency medicine and is currently training within general practice.  He is active in promoting the wellbeing of future doctors in training and has interests in supporting preventive health care, the utilisation of available healthcare systems and promoting patient autonomy.

Dr Leila Masson, Secretary
M.D. MPH FRACP FACNEM IBCLC

Leila is an integrative paediatrician who combines allopathic medicine with a nutritional and environmental approach to children’s health issues. She ran a busy clinic in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Sydney. She received her medical doctorate from the Free University of Berlin and did her paediatric specialist training at the University of California in San Francisco. She received her Master in Public Health from Harvard University and her Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Leila has worked in the US, Europe, New Zealand, and volunteered for 2 years setting up a rural clinic in Pakistan.  She lectures internationally on the subject of children’s nutrition and an integrative medicine approach to paediatric issues, including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, allergies, recurrent infections, and autoimmune diseases. She speaks English, German, French and Spanish. She is the author of Children’s Health A-Z a parent’s guide to natural therapies for common childhood ailments.

Linda Funnell-Milner, Treasurer

Linda holds degrees in Law and Education, an Adv. Dip in Nutritional Medicine and certificates in Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP and Health Coaching.  In 2018 Linda became one of the first few Health Coaches in Australia to become a Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with the NB HWC in the USA.

In conjunction with many of health coaching’s leading thinkers and educators in Australia and New Zealand, Linda founded and is the President of Health Coaches Aus NZ Association (HCANZA).  This group is committed to advocacy and embedding professional standards for Health and Wellness Coaches in Australia and New Zealand as an important part of the Collaborative Care model of whole patient care in clinical and private practices.

Prior to working as a health practitioner, Linda had 19 years managerial and Senior Executive experience (nationally and internationally) with 3 of Australia’s top ten corporations as an in-house legal adviser developing strategic policy in the risk management of global issues such as Environmental Impacts, Climate Change, Human Rights.  Her work included extensive experience in building stakeholder relations programs with governments, NGO’s and consumers. Linda was a registered political lobbyist with the Federal governments during this time.

During her time in corporate Australia, Linda had international program experience as the Australian business representative on collaborations with United Nations Environment Program for Financial Institutions and the Global Reporting Initiative located in Amsterdam, including six years as the Chair of the GRI Stakeholder Council.

From 2007 – 2013 Linda was a Non-Executive Director and held committee Chair positions on Finance, Audit, Risk and Governance on not-for-profit Boards for Uniting Care NSW & Act and World Wildlife Fund Australia (WWF).

Dr Ellen Barron, Board Member

Ellen is the Founding Director of Ruby Cha Cha a boutique market research agency that specialises in brand strategy and consumer research across industries. She has worked with pharma companies, biotechs and medical foundations such as the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, helping them to create a vision, purpose and brand strategy.  Ellen is a strong advocate for improving the connection between consumer needs and business aspirations, specifically in healthcare research where she has worked across a broad range of therapy areas creating consumer, patient and practitioner segmentations, pathways and strategies for growth.   

Ellen holds a first class honours in Psychology, studied a PhD on the nexus of alcohol and gambling behaviour, where she developed a scale of gambling control.  She has also completed a postgraduate diploma in Strategic Marketing through MGSM.  She  is currently on the board of The Research Society in Australia, where she is the Treasurer, and has just completed a revitalisation of the TRS Fellows program.  She has completed AICD training and refresher programs, is a member of Women on Boards and the Consumer Health Forum. Ellen is also a highly valued mentor in the  Research Society Mentoring Program and supports a number of charities supporting women and homelessness.  She is a firm advocate for wellbeing and spends her spare time enjoying Japanese yoga, pilates, hiking and cooking.

Susan Arentz, Board Member
PhD

Susan is a naturopath with over 20 years’ experience in women’s health.  She is an Adjunct Research Fellow at NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University and is the Editor of the Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine, the scientific journal of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia.

As Head of Naturopathy at Endeavour College of Natural Health, Susan was responsible for embedding key elements into the degree program to strengthen links between evidence and clinical practice, and for increased self-reflection opportunities enabling graduate outcomes of holistic person-centred care, crucial for benchmarking the equivalence of the degree to international naturopathic qualifications.  She has extensive educational expertise and experience as a lecturer and clinical supervisor and knowledge of adult education theory and practice.

Susan’s PhD and early research focussed on the clinical role of naturopathy in pre-conception healthcare, infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome. More recently she has collaborated with Australian and international experts and helped embed integrative clinical recommendations into clinical practice guidelines. As an editor, she established a mentor framework and facilitated networks of students, researchers, practitioners and educators to help foster the growth of integrative healthcare. As a member of the AIMA board, Dr Arentz will continue to lead and facilitate the development of integrative medicine as being core to the health and wellbeing of individuals and society as a whole.

Dr Kate Armstrong, NZ Board Member

Kate began her medical training at the Auckland Medical School where she won the Douglas Pharmaceutical Prize in Clinical Communication Skills and the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners Prize for General Practice. She then completed her Diploma’s in Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, preparing herself for isolated rural General Practice via locums throughout Northland, Coromandel and Great Barrier Island in search of a model of care that suited her aspirations.

Aotea Health on Great Barrier Island inspired her, and four years later, she began a remote rural General Practice in Colville, Coromandel based on the Great Barrier Island Community Trust model. In November 2003 The Colville Community Health Centre (a remote rural Integrated General Practice) opened at the Northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula. 

In 2007 a local St John First Response Unit was started in Colville and Kate became a St John Doctor.  She is also a rural GP representative for the St John Clinical Governance Committee and is actively involved in training Waikato based medical students as an honorary lecturer for the University of Auckland Medical School.  The Colville Project has evolved through collaboration between The Colville Community Health Trust and The Colville Social Service Collective Charitable Trust. They plan to meet the needs of their community into the future by building an Inspirational Wellbeing and Education Village.

Kate has a special interest in motivation and behavioural change, lifestyle medicine and maximizing your genetic potential through food.


Dr Paulette Maroun

Dr Paulette Maroun is a Gynaecologist in private practice since 2005. She did her fellowship in Laparoscopy and Endometriosis. She is the founder of Paradigm & Co, established in 2017 aimed at including different paradigms: Nutrition, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Psychology and Physiotherapy to improve the outcome for women with certain conditions that may benefit from a multi-disciplinary and integrative approach. This allows for women to be involved in their own care. She is a board member of Worrier Women, a mentoring foundation for young women. She is currently involved in research for the possible impact of improving immunity with carotinoids in persistent positive HPV in early cervical dysplasia.


Interested in being an AIMA board member? 

AIMA is currently seeking a doctor board member and a treasurer.  If you are interested in working with our amazing new board send our CEO an email at cressidahall@aima.net.au.

AIMA encourages members with disability to apply for board positions.  If you are a person living with disability you may be interesting in applying for a capacity-building scholarship offered through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Australian Network on Disability’s Disability Leadership Program 2023. They are offering scholarships to leaders with disability for training in board membership and governance.  Applications close on 19th February you can find out more here.
 

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SAVE THE DATE
2023 AIMA CONFERENCE

Put it in your diaries people! The 2023 AIMA Conference will be held on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December 2023 at the Auckland University of Technology in central Auckland. 

We're already compiling a fantastic program jam-packed full of inspiring and wonderful speakers. The conference is a fantastic opportunity for doctors and healthcare professionals to come together in person, gain new knowledge and skills to take back to our practices, and reignite our passion for integrative and wellness medicine and all that it can offer. We'd love to see you there!

Any interested exhibitors or sponsors are welcome to email newzealand@aima.net.au to find out more about how they can get involved.

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EVENTS

AIMA invites all health practitioners interested in integrative mental health care approaches to join our next online Integrative Mental Health Group Meeting.
 
These regular meetings have been set up to help build community and collegiality for integrative medicine mental health doctors and practitioners and provide the opportunity to learn from peers and investigate integrative approaches to care.

Our first meeting for 2023 is a great opportunity for us all to re-connect and to plan the group's activities for the year.  We're happy to hear all ideas - from the very small to the grand big-picture.  So if there's something you've always wanted to exist or you've an idea for an event, speaker or topic come along an share your vision with us.
 
When: THURSDAY 9TH MARCH, 7PM NSW TIME
(4pm WA, 5.30pm NT, 6pm QLD, 6,30pm SA, 9pm NZ)
  
Register: This is a free event. Registration is essential. Click here to register for the zoom meeting.
 

2-part webinar series on Foundational Fertility
15 & 22 February 2023, 8.30pm NZDT (6.30pm AEDT) 
Practitioner-only event – $30
Presented by Leah Hechtman in collaboration with RN Labs & FxMed
 
Learn the latest on supporting fertility beyond conception and discover how to enhance radiance, vitality and wellness.
 
This foundational fertility lecture series aims to provide clinicians with the tools to work with people who present to clinic seeking fertility support, looking from the perspective of ensuring both parties are in the best health to create new life.
 
Australian Practitioners Register via RN Labs
PART 1 – Male Fertility: Wednesday 15th Feb 2023, 8.30pm NZDT (6.30pm AEDT)
PART 2 – Female Fertility: Wednesday 22nd Feb 2023, 8.30pm NZDT (6.30pm AEDT)
 
>> Register HERE
 
BONUS
All registrants will be given a $30 credit to spend on RN Labs Products!*

 *Practitioners must register and pay by 15 February 2023 to be eligible for the $30 +GST credit. The credit will be applied at the time of purchase of RN Labs products and must be redeemed by 31 March 2023. Credit is not available to be used on orders through FxDirect/Patient Ordering. When ordering through the Practitioner Hub please quote “RNLabsFeb23 webinar” to be eligible to use the credit for the RN Labs products within your order.

Friday, Mar 3, 12PM (NZST) / 10AM (AEDT)
Nutrisearch Presents: Aging, Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer’s, and Frailty – Understand. Intervene. Recover. Prevent.

  • Understand the physical, neuropathological and biochemical mechanisms and what lab tests to perform to assess the functional status of the key systems affected.
  • Intervene with clinically validated targeted biochemical supplementation and lifestyle adjustments to restore biochemical function
  • How to track recovery in your patients – what to look for – what questions to ask
  • How to prevent/reduce risk of cognitive decline and increase vitality, neuromuscular and cognitive performance in your patients.

Register HERE.

Integrative Diagnosis and Support for Chronic Lyme Disease
2 March 2023, 12pm-1pm NZDT
Practitioner-only event – free
Presented by Dr Debby Hamilton in collaboration with FxMed
 
Learn the different presentations of chronic Lyme and tick-borne infections, options for testing all tick-borne infections and how to interpret the results plus treatment protocols for the infections and supporting ongoing complaints from chronic lyme infection.  
 
>> Register HERE
 
 * For practitioners to attend these events, they must be an FxMed account holder. Student account access is available. Online registration can be found here https://fxmed.co.nz/register-with-us/.

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JOBS & LISTINGS

SEEKING Full-time/Part-time Integrative GP - Newcastle, NSW

A well-established wellness clinic in Newcastle, NSW is looking to add a Full-time/Part-time Integrative GP with an interest in evidence-based complementary therapies and mainstream healthcare.
You will be joining an established network of mental health GP, naturopaths and psychologists. We have a list of patients waiting for your much-needed care.
If not already trained in integrative medicine, training can be provided to the successful candidate. Relocation package available.
We can offer:

  • Flexible working hours – clinic open Monday to Friday 9 – 5:30 part-time considered no weekend work required
  • 60%- 70% of billings depending on qualification and experience
  • On-site GP, psychologist, and naturopaths/nutritionists
  • Practice management, reception, and admin support
  • A fun, friendly, work environment
Skills and Experience:
  • Full Registration with AHPRA
  • Working with Children Check
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Able to work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team
  • Able to quickly build rapport with individuals from different backgrounds
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • You must hold or be eligible to hold a Medicare Provider Number
  • ABN and Professional Indemnity Insurance
Start Preference – February 2023

CK Health (https://ckhealth.com.au/)
Location – 136 Glebe RD, Merewether NSW 2291
Enquiries – Paul Kennedy, Tel: (02) 4077 3803

SEEKING GP WITH AN INTEREST IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE - VIC, AUSTRALIA

The Melbourne Therapy Centre (MTC) – Accredited General Practice and Integrative Medical Centre with Medical and Allied Health Professionals.

The MTC is looking for a GP with an interest in Integrative Medicine. We offer an attractive Service Agreement, clinical nursing support, and full reception, with experienced staff and beautiful surroundings. We are located at 221 Wonga Road, Warranwood 3134.

Please visit our website for information on the Melbourne Therapy Centre at melbournetherapy.org.au.

Expressions of interest – please contact the Practice Manager, Jenny Blac by emailing office@melbournetherapy.org.au or call 03 9876 3011.

 

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RESEARCH SNIPPETS

"More Physicians Are Experiencing Burnout and Depression

More than half of physicians reported feeling burned out this year and nearly 1 in 4 doctors reported feeling depressed — the highest percentages in 5 years, according to the 'I Cry but No One Cares': Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023.

When feelings of burnout continue without effective interventions, they can lead to depression, anxiety, and more, she said.

Burnout can persist for months to even years — nearly two-thirds of doctors surveyed said their burnout lasted for at least 13 months, and another 30% said it lasted for more than 2 years.

The majority of doctors attributed their burnout to too many bureaucratic tasks, although more than one-third said it was because their co-workers treated them with a lack of respect."

To read the full article in Medscape by Christine Lehmann click here, and to read the Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023 click here.

"Best Diets in 2023: Mediterranean Diet Wins Again

It’s officially 2023, and if history repeats, millions of Americans are likely vowing that this year will be one when they drop those unwanted pounds for good. After all, weight loss usually lands one of the top spots on New Year’s resolution surveys. 

And just in time, there’s guidance to pick the best plan. Released today are U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the best diet plans.

Once again, the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish, got the top spot, as best diet overall. It’s the sixth consecutive year for that win. But many other diets got top marks as well.

To read the full article by Kathleen Doheny in WebMD, click here

JOIN AIMA TODAY!

Not an AIMA member? Join now and help us to push integrative medicine forward!

Memberships enable us to build a strong integrative medicine community that is united, recognised, supported, and informed. We rely on memberships to survive and to support our goals, which are to:

  • bring integrative medicine into the mainstream
  • foster true collaborations between doctors and practitioners
  • build a lively and engaged integrative medicine community
  • support and advocate for integrative practitioners and integrative medicine through the power of a collective voice.

AIMA Membership provides a raft of benefits including:

  • Free subscription to our Monthly AIMA e-Newsletter
  • Discounted tickets to informative, fun, and inspiring AIMA Events
  • Certificate of Membership (on request)
  • One year subscription to Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED)  - our international peer-reviewed, evidence-based research and review journal 
  • Having your say to help shape the future of integrative medicine
  • Access to education and professional development     
  • Benefitting from the power of a collective voice advocating the goals of integrative medicine            
  • Networking and support                    

 

JOIN AIMA
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is intended to provide accurate and helpful health information for the general public. The information should not be considered complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions and/or their treatment. It should not be used in place of a call or visit to a medical, health or other competent professional, who should be consulted before adopting any of the suggestions in this newsletter or drawing inferences from it. Please note that the views expressed within are the presenters own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.

 
Copyright © 2023 AIMA, All rights reserved.


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