In a significant move toward bridge-building and interdisciplinary collaboration, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, representing the nation’s licensed and license-eligible naturopathic physicians, and the American Holistic Medical Association, representing holistically minded MDs and DOs, will “co-locate” their annual meetings this year.
Both groups will meet from Aug. 13–16, at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. The organizations will maintain some degree of independence, but will share educational sessions, and attendees will have ample opportunities for cross-disciplinary networking.
The overlapping meetings represent a significant de-silofication in the relationship between the two professional groups, with each taking a step outside its narrow but longstanding professional “tribalism.” The silo is a rich metaphor for the often-distant relationship not only between AHMA and AANP, but between many other medical groups. Some silos hold grain; others hold missiles. In a silo, one is both sustained and girded for battle. Stepping outside one’s professional silo is an act of trust.
Economic Necessity
For the AHMA, the decision to co-locate reflects both philosophical alignment and organizational necessity, according to Hal Blatman, MD, AHMA’s president. In recent years, AHMA’s membership and conference participation have diminished, paradoxically, as public interest in holism and integrative medicine has expanded.
From its birth in 1978, AHMA has served as a forum for MDs and DOs interested in holistic approaches. Its conferences and publications offered nourishment and renewal amidst an often-hostile mainstream medical culture. But greater acceptance of holistic thinking in recent years has obviated this need to retreat for support. AHMA’s current leadership is asking what new roles the organization can play for holistic doctors.
Present financial realities made it impossible for AHMA to hold an independent conference in 2008, a particularly pointed irony given that this is the group’s 30th anniversary year. Accepting an offer from the AANP to co-locate was the only way AHMA members could gather to celebrate that milestone.
By agreement with AANP, AHMA members will be given opportunities to shape the program agenda and to present talks. AHMA members will receive AANP member rates to attend the conference. While business meetings will be separate, shared social events will encourage intermingling between members of the two organizations.
Opening Doors to Collaboration
Though financial necessity prompted the affiliation, Dr. Blatman also views AHMA’s acceptance of AANP’s invitation as a manifestation of the AHMA’s new direction, which involves moving out of its own silo. “The result will be that for the first time the doors of collaboration and collegiality will open between two professions that share the same vision, mission, and goals,” he told Holistic Primary Care.
Feelings about the decision were cautious but generally supportive among naturopathic leaders contacted for this article. Though not motivated by financial worries, the AANP’s decision to engage with the AHMA is certainly a good business move: more attendees at the meeting mean higher revenues and happier exhibitors.
Some in the naturopathic community question whether opening the doors to MDs and DOs is the best use of the AANP’s convention time.
Jacob Shor, ND, a long-time leader of naturopathic licensing efforts in Colorado, captures that tribal sentiment: “We are always working hard to move this profession forward. So, it seems logical that we use the time, money and effort we put toward our annual convention in the same direction. Building connections with other professionals makes good sense, but I confess, I see the convention as a time to be with our own, to not be engaged in external politics, to relax and enjoy friends. There are some holidays when it is traditional to invite guests, and some holidays that we only invite close family members. I would have described the AANP convention as more like the latter.”
To be sure, some within the AHMA community share that sentiment, viewing their annual conference as a time to explore the unique issues and dynamics confronting conventionally trained physicians practicing holistic medicine.
Still, Dr. Shor concurred with AANP leadership that developing collegial relationship with AHMA might produce valuable MD and DO support for naturopathic licensing efforts. Creating alliances with the naturopathic community has great potential to strengthen and reinvigorate the AHMA.
Cautious Optimism
Rita Bettenburg, ND, dean of naturopathic medicine at National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) shares the mixed feelings, but comes down in favor of the decision. She anticipates that the AANP and the AHMA may “be doing a lot with each other in the future.” If so, the social aspects of the conference may be particularly valuable: “There can be a great equalizing effect when people play together.”
Nancy Aagenes, ND, an AANP past-president, reflects on how the AANP conference has changed as the profession has grown over the last decade: “The vibe of the convention is changed anyway. It is a larger group, less known to each other. Those who want to be with their pals will always do that anyway. I say, open the thing wide. I feel strongly that either the tribe vibe becomes expansive, or the tribe suffers.”
Strength in Numbers
Many within holistic healthcare, including the publishers of this newspaper, have long felt that the AHMA and AANP have much to gain by working together, sharing clinical knowledge, and developing mutually supportive healthcare policy. Among those encouraging collaboration is Bill Benda, MD. A board member of both groups, Dr. Benda has worked for the last three years to build bridges between AHMA and AANP. He feels a sense of urgency that these organizations unite in an alliance to strengthen the ability of holistic medical professionals—regardless of degree—to act as agents of change in US healthcare.
For Vanessa Esteves, a 4th year naturopathic medical student at NCNM, the AANP’s decision to move out of its own tribal circle is overdue. Esteves is part of a group of naturopathic students collaborating with the American Medical Students Association, which represents allopathic and osteopathic medical students. “What a refreshing concept: Two groups of healthcare professionals coming together to learn from each other and network with the same goal of optimizing the care of our patients! As far as I am concerned, there is urgency in us learning to co-exist,” said Ms. Esteves.
Can an expanded “tribe,” made cohesive by sharing clinical data and bonded by the joy of boogeying through all hours of a hot Arizona Saturday night create more healthcare clout for holistic and natural healthcare practices?
Bruce Milliman, ND, a past AANP physician of the year, and a principal with the Seattle Healing Arts integrative practice, believes the two constituencies are already deeply interwoven and would do well to muster whatever collective power they can. “In my opinion, Bob Anderson, AHMA’s founding president, and Alan Gaby, a subsequent president, and many others in leadership and constituency in the AHMA are already “tribe.” We are tribe because of commitment, philosophy and practice, not because of school of origin.” Pushing the Old West metaphor further, Dr. Milliman said, “Besides, like Jesse James famously said, ‘We either hang together or we hang alone.'”
John Weeks, publisher-editor of the Integrator Blog News & Reports (www.theintegratorblog.com) has been writing and organizing on natural health care and integrative medicine topics for 25 years.
