September Executive Director Letter

October marks another first for AHMA: the pilot of a new self-care retreat series designed for holistic medical practitioners. The Healer Within, is led by President Elect Molly Roberts, M.D., and her husband, Bruce Roberts, M.D. Through guided imagery, shamanic breath-work and meditation, the veteran retreat leaders will help participants through the transpersonal weekend experience to discover how to access the full potential of their inner healing and to increase their effectiveness and joy of practice, work and caring for others.
 
This first retreat is both a reflection of a new awareness among AHMA members on the importance of self care and the beginning of a journey toward fulfilling a need among holistic care practitioners.
 
“These days, the AHMA is enjoying a rejuvenation of both our mission and our membership,” Molly reflects in her September column.  “After some troubled times, we explored the big question of whether we were still needed, given all the holistic medical organizations that have sprung up around us. What could we do – what must we do – that is needed and wanted in this space of holistic care?”
 
In a general sense, our members are consistent in letting board and staff know that AHMA’s highest calling and most valuable work is to support the work and efforts of those who are engaged in the pursuit of recapturing the heart and soul of medicine and providing connections among committed practitioners, members or otherwise.
 
The retreat series continues next year in a setting near you. Stay tuned. As well, AHMA will announce several 2012 conference offerings, in collaboration with our integrative and holistic medicine partner-organizations. Both of these right-brain and left-brain experiences are in high demand. Efforts toward delivering these mission-related programs comprise a significant portion of AHMA’s resources, staffing and funding.
 
Where else can members and friends share ideas, offer encouragement and professional growth, seek referrals or general support? Do you have ideas?
 
The chapter members of Northeast Ohio and Minnesota do. AHMA member-leaders there continue to provide opportunities to gather for social, educational and professional activities. Another chapter is soon to be launched, in North Carolina. Still other chapters are in the formation stages now.
 
Since AHMA remains a small-but-mighty, national organization, it remains a challenge to provide frequent opportunities for hands-on, in-person meetings outside the densely populated chapter areas. As an alternative, keep your eye on the AHMA website. Please visit and poke around!
 
Launched in early summer, the new site provides a new look and feel for AHMA members and friends (as well as a vastly improved “Find a Practitioner” feature that connects members of the public seeking holistic practitioners such as you). Coming soon, members will be able to find like-minded practitioners, share and connect. We’ll make sure you get a reminder to check out each new member feature as it comes out.
 
Finally, I’d like to hear about your holistic roots. How did you come to pursue a life and profession devoted to holistic care? We are collecting stories about AHMA members’ beginnings and hope to share them soon here in our member news, on our website or blog. Get in touch with me or with Diane Stresing, Director of Education and Outreach. We’d love to learn more about you and how you got here. 

Steve Cadwell
Executive Director/CEO