The Institute of Medicine (IOM) convened a Summit, Feb 24-27, that explored the science and practice of integrative medicine — SIO Executive and Board members attended to represent integrative oncology.

Stephen Sagar MD, Gary Deng MD, PhD, Donald Abrams MD, David Rosenthal MD, Susan Bauer-Wu PhD, RN, Elizabeth Dean-Clower MD, Jackie Tsiernia (communications), and Helen Moss (patient advocacy) attended this landmark meeting that discussed the role of integrative medicine in Health Reform. Gary Deng MD submitted an important position paper on research, and Susan Bauer Wu submitted one on communicating with the public. SIO is proud that two of our members diligently represented our society's interests through these commissioned papers. Health Reform in Washington was a central topic with concurrent Senate Hearings on Integrative Medicine that included our 2009 conference keynote speaker, Dean Ornish MD. In addition, Jim Moss (a lawyer practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, and specializing in patient advocacy) wrote a report that can be read from this link.

Stephen Sagar, President of SIO and Gary Deng, Secretary of SIO, with IOM Summit Chief Administrator

This meeting reviewed the state of the science, assessed the potential and the priorities for integrative medicine, and begin to identify elements of an agenda to improve understanding, training, practice, and other actions that might help improve the prospects for integrative medicine’s contributions to better health and health care. Prevention, research, education, and clinical care were addressed. Experts discussed integrative medicine to facilitate behavioral change to maintain wellness and avoid illness and disease. The meeting  examined the ways integrative medicine seeks to address the personal and community environments that shape and empower patients’ knowledge, skills, and support to be active participants in their own care. The summit identified priorities for moving forward, including exploration of both barriers and models of care and clinical programs that work. It covered integrative medicine research methodology and ways to measure the interaction of multiple therapies. It emphasized whole systems and care programs, and suggested the future is in a more comprehensive care based on multiple tools that can influence a cost-effective and evidence-based outcome. Measuring outcomes and cost-effectiveness will be fundamental to future integrative health programs in which evidence-based complementary therapies will play a major role. More emphasis will be placed on patient choice, transparency, and maintenance of wellness. All accredited health care professionals are invited to be part of this process, and SIO will take the lead for oncology, with the launch of its updated evidence-based guidelines later this year.

The Summit  will be available on video from March 4th, and a full publication available in November, 2009. 
Position papers, PowerPoints, and the videos can be found on the IOM website:
Institute of Medicine Summit on Integrative Medicine