Blog
It is time for some FUN . . . !
We are delighted to invite NMDOMs and a guest to a pleasing afternoon of networking, fun, and celebration of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day (October 24) at our upcoming FUN-raiser event! . . .
NMSAAM Annual Meeting 9/15/2024 Report
NMSAAM Annual Meeting 9/15/2024 Report Our patients: that’s who it’s all about! First in-person annual meeting since before the pandemic Attending in-person: Yvonne Walston, Yvette Arellano, Steven Malins, John Scott, Van Warren, Elene Gush, Glenn Wilcox, Eric Zhao On...
2024 NMSAAM Annual Meeting Schedule
Our Patients: THAT's Who It's All About Hybrid Meeting Schedule: Zoom and on Location Date: September 15, 2024 Location: Golden Flower Chinese Herbs Classroom 2724 Vassar Place NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 In-person attendees: Please RSVP your attendance by...
Regular NM BAOM Meeting July 8, 2024
Highlights of the July 8, 2024 BAOM Meeting
by Dr. Yvonne Wylie Walston, DOM
Many DOMs are not familiar with NM BAOM (Board of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine) meetings. NMSAAM generally has at least one member or representative there to stay informed. To follow is a short report, roughly following the BAOM agenda outline.
I. Call to order: BAOM roll call members present: Brandon Taylor (Chair), Nityamo Lian (Vice Chair – online), Jeanne Dixon, Maverick Lobe, and Robbie Tafoya (public member – online). Public presence: Yvonne Wylie Walston, Glenn Wilcox, and Arthur L. Culpepper, PhD, FACHE, Bureau Chief, Health & Professional Licensing Bureaus. Others online: Pamela Barrett and Kelly Murphy. Legal Counsel Present: Sandra Gardner. Now that the BAOM has assigned legal counsel again, the Board is ready to move forward with the rules changes and fine-tuning. There will be a Public Rules Hearing (PHR) in Albuquerque at the next BAOM meeting in Albuquerque. BAOM Chair, Brandon Taylor, performed his normal excellent and gracious, but firm leadership role.
Kudos to the ASA Research Committee
The ASA Research Committee, lead by Dr. Lisa Conboy et al’s paper titled [2021 American Society of Acupuncturists Survey on Acupuncturists’ Backgrounds, Interests, and Attitudes toward Conducting Research] was recently published online ahead of the print version by Medical Acupuncture. Authors: Samantha J. Allen, Lisa Conboy, Tuesday L. Wasserman, Sandro Graca, Amy Mager, Beth Howlett, Martha Graziano, Lynn Teo, and Judith M. Schlaeger https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2024.0035,
Strengthen Our Acupuncture Community!
Subject: Join NMSAAM and Strengthen Our Acupuncture Community! Dear Esteemed DOMs of New Mexico, We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As fellow practitioners of the ancient healing art, we share a profound commitment to improving the well-being of our patients and promoting holistic health.
ASA Annual Conference 2024
Once again, the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) Annual Conference was an excellent gathering of amazing minds and talent on April 6-7, 2024, held in Washing ton , DC. The ASA works to advance the professional practice of acupuncture as a whole system of medicine through advocacy, education, and research. NMSAAM is one of the ASA state members.
Treating Long COVID: What We Know So Far
Treating Long COVID: What We Know So Far. As the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, health care practitioners are facing its weighty aftermath—long COVID, and its plethora of respiratory, neurologic, cardiovascular and other symptoms that can linger for weeks, months or even years following the initial infection. While researchers scramble for causes and cures, efforts are focusing on managing the condition and mitigating its devastating manifestations. Here’s what we know about long COVID, with promising interventions that may improve patients’ lives. (Note that there is a section about TCM.)
Happy 2024 Chinese New Year!
This is the year of the Wooden Dragon. Are you ready for positive growth and change at this Lunar New Year? Medicaid in NM Update for DOMs To follow is the flyer content that has been circulated to NM Senators and more during this fast-paced 2024 NM Legislative...
Attention DOM Providers
By NMSAAM Insurance Chair, Dr. Caterina Di Palma, DOM. If you provide services to veterans through the CCN program of the VA, you have been automatically enrolled as a provider for other health insurance company plans that contract with Tivity to credential providers – without your input
NMSAAM 2023
NMSAAM 2023 Year-end Report By President Dr. Yvonne Wylie Walston, DOM Happy Holidays to all of you! We are grateful that there is a professional society of acupuncturists in NM, and that membership in NMSAAM is how NM DOMs become members in the ASA....
Proclaimed: Oct. 24, 2023 is AHM Day in NM
Our Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has embraced national norms for the third year in a row. She proclaimed October 24, 2023 as Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day in New Mexico. Around the state, many DOMs have successfully used this proclamation as a marketing tool. This year, come and CELEBRATE AHM with your colleagues at an NMSAAM sponsored luncheon 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Sunday, Oct 22nd at the FUN-Raiser and Community Outreach. RSVP’s can be sent to info@nmsaam.org. Support NMSAAM by donating items to our SILENT AUCTION.
Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Day 2023
Come and CELEBRATE Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Day with your colleagues at an NMSAAM sponsored luncheon on Sunday, October 22 at the FUN-Raiser! Free food from Chello Grill for NMSAAM members and 1 guest, $10 cost for non-members. Afterwards, DOMs are encouraged to stay and help educate the public about our medicine by donating some community outreach from 2:00 to 4:00 pm with ear seeds, communications, and Qi Gong if you can make the time. Silent auction will continue from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm.
Results of the 2023 BOD Elections
Results of the Board of Directors Elections: August 19, 2023 NMSAAM Annual Meeting. We are especially pleased that we have board members from around the state: Silver city, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. Thank you everyone who attended the annual meeting to do your part to support our profession. We had some good speakers, including 2 of our lobbyists, and lively discussion. Remember that when you join NMSAAM, you are automatically part of the American Society of acupuncturists, the ASA.
2023 Annual Meeting on Zoom: Schedule
Moving Forward With Gusto! 10:00 to 10:15 Welcome and Greetings . . . 10:15 to 12:00 noon: Movie, Acupuncture Fever, 2023 documentary by Doug Dearth . . . 12:00 to 1:00 Elections of NMSAAM board members . . . 1:00 to 1:30 Lunch Break & Networking . . .1:30 to 2:00 NMSAAM lobbyists . . . 2:00 to 3:00 Mina Larson, CEO of NCCAOM, Update on NCCAOM Policies . . . 3:00 to 3:30 Wongu University: Herbal Medicine stand alone modules . . . 3:30 to 4:30 Report and discussion of SB421 that was tabled at the 2023 Legislative Session . . .
Commentary post July 16 Town Hall
'Remember that during Covid, NMSAAM held a completely virtual Town Hall on November 22, 2021. Every DOM that attended was adamantly opposed to having an acupuncture licensure without herbal medicine in NM. Thus, it was surprising later to learn that there are some...
Herbal Medicine in USA
As busy as we all are, it is easy to become myopic and unaware of the big picture, not even seeing it. We are professionals, and as professionals we need to look at what is best for our whole profession and not just for a few practitioners. If we don’t do so, others will do it for us. In May, I attended the American Society of Acupuncturists, the ASA, annual meeting. At the Friday Council Meeting, I heard about different states and have been following up with some delegates about the tiered acupuncture licensure issue. Note that when you are a member of NMSAAM, you are automatically a member of our national ASA. Let me tell you about the current USA states use of herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Comments Ahead of the July 16 Town Hall
We are collecting comments about the possibility of a second tier of licensure that would not include training in herbs or the ability to practice with them. Here is what we have received so far; we will add more as they come in, even after the Town Hall. Please...
Town Hall In-Person July 16, 2023
During the 2023 Legislative Session, SB421, which would have created an acupuncture-only licensure level, was submitted by one acupuncturist. It was tabled (killed) due to a tied vote in its first committee, Health and Human Services on February 17. That is, it came very close to passing that committee and being able to advance. (An identical bill with a different number, SB 461, was also submitted by the same person.) The committee chair, Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, seeing that the issue had not been worked out among DOMs and that there was conflict, stated that he wants the profession to come to a consensus before any more legislation is introduced in a future session. This is totally reasonable and necessary.
Review of the 2023 ASA Annual Conference
Review of the 2023 ASA Annual Conference: Envisioning Our Future: May 11-15, 2023. Joyfully coming out of the COVID pandemic, acupuncturists finally met in person again at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC, like we did in 2019, again with 3 parts to the meeting; 1) the ASA Council Meeting, 2) Annual Conference, and 3) Advocate Fly-in to Capitol Hill.