Pacific College Alumni - Meeting Minutes

Date:
Friday, November 3rd, 2000
11am - 12:00 pm

Present:
Stacy Gomes (Academic-Dean, SD), Arlene Kiefer (Director), Laurie Morse ('96), Sheryl Martin ('87), Louise Bates ('99), Steve Broussard ('97), Michele Ross ('98), Tamara Clauson ('98), Jason Bazilian ('97), Njemile Jones ('99), Nancy Anderson ('98), Dawn Mamkunian ('97), Pamela Tuma ('97), Mark Taylor ('99), East Haradin ('99), Justin Bean ('98), Daniel Wolf ('00), Marnie Benson ('99), Ann Green (NY '99), Gayle Kildebeck ('97), Andrew Crimmel ('99), Reginald Cann ('99), Mary Coppola ('99)

Handouts:
1) Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Doctoral Standards (http://www.acuall.org/doctoral.htm)

2) "Acupuncture Practice Management: Growing and Maintaining a Successful Practice" Lynda Harvey, L.Ac.

3) "What To Do When An Insurer Won't Cover Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine" Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance

4) "Thinking of Relocating Your Practice?" Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance

5) "Building Your Practice Through Building Relationships" Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance

Agenda Items:
1) Introduction of Arlene Keifer as acting Director of SD Alumni.

2) Review what we have done in the past for Alumni: Is it useful?

Stacy showed samples of items the college has given out, or provided on request, to alumni in the past.

Examples included:

• eight 35mm slides for practice building (showing acupuncture, Tui Na, moxa, cupping, pediatrics, Thai massage, herbs, and electro stim)
• copy of "Acupuncture Efficacy: A compendium of Controlled Clinical Studies"
• eight overhead transparencies on "Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pain" for practice building
• Practice Building CEU's
  
• continued use of "PacificCollege.edu" e-mail for local alumni
  
• ongoing job announcements through alumni e-mail list
  
• annual get together at Symposium

3) What are some of our goals?

CEU events, difficult case forum, alumni info on Web-site. There was extended discussion on what alumni would like. Arlene described the idea of a "Difficult Case Forum" both locally and on the Web. Arlene conducted a preliminary survey of local alumni and found that alumni would like to meet once a month for two hours with a predetermined topic. They do not want Interns included and would like a faculty member to help facilitate. They are also willing to pay $10.00 a piece to cover administrative fees.

Stacy added that she would also really like to see these forums on the PCOM web-site so that other alumni not in SD can be involved.

Decision: The first Difficult Case Forum will be on Sunday, January 14th. Alumni expressed that since they are all spread out geographically they would like a (virtual) place for referrals that they can update as needed.

Some of the possibilities for the Web-site are the following:

- Bulletin Board (this would be a threaded board where people can post questions)
- Alumni News
- Clinic Forum Report
- Contact Us
- Papers
- Jobs
- Alumni Locator

* Searchable by graduation year, last name, location, and specialty
* Have the ability to add, modify, and delete entries
* The entry should have space for a bio, specialty, email address, link to web-site, and a yes/no showing interest in participating in the mentoring program. We could also offer them to ability to post a photograph. There was also a discussion about the inclusion of an alumni interview or "Focus on Alumni" like the one in the newspaper. There was a general consensus that CEU 's is not a big need at this time since we have the annual Symposium.

4) Changes at the college:

Stacy described the addition of Dr. Tom Haines, Director of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Gordon Saxe, Medical Director, to assist with the growth of multiple campuses, regional accreditation and to help with the upcoming doctoral program. The recently revised curriculum was briefly introduced regarding the integrated OM curriculum and increase of bio-sciences.

5) Find out about interest in mentoring younger students:

Stacy described the interest of new students in having a mentor that is already in practice. If alumni see themselves in this role or think of ways that new students can be part of their practice she encourages alumni to get in contact with her.

6) Doctoral Program:

Stacy handed out the national Doctoral Standards and defined the D.A.O.M., it's purpose, program of study and the minimum hours in relationship to the older O.M.D and D.O.M. from other states. The proposed PCOM curriculum was shared and alumni had questions about admission requirements, length of program, cost, location of classes and clinical practice. Alumni were also concerned about how this degree would effect their current ability to practice and if they would be forced to have the D.A.O.M. to practice.