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The Point- Volume I, Issue 6
Reviews are in on the 1st
Annual Chinese Herb Academy Conference by Laurie Burton
I should warn you: If I use the term "herb geek", it is with
affection and admiration. I even consider myself one. The people this
endearment labels are of brilliant professional caliber. I'm talking about
Craig Mitchell, Dan Bensky, Sharon Weizenbaum, Steve Clavey, Z'ev Rosenberg,
Marnae Ergil, and Guohui Liu. Groundbreakers in our profession. Scholars
from whom a unique brand of wisdom flows. I'm talking about the headliners
of the first annual Chinese Herb Academy Conference held June 14-15th.
I'm also talking about our own Todd Luger, who brought these great folks
together, online and in person. Todd founded the Chinese Herb Academy
(CHA), an online forum for professional discussion and continuing education,
in 1999. The CHA brings clinical, philosophical, historical, and sometimes
fanatical herbal medicine dialogues with the spiciest minds in the biz
right into your own cyber living room, for free. Academy members debate
hot topics from computer terminals in locations all over the world. This
year's conference was the first effort to gather some of those 800+ members
in one venue for live friction and diction. It worked!
It worked because the idea was a good one: get people together who share
a passion for their profession, at a time when the profession is virtually
under attack. Bring in teachers, writers and translators who can tickle
their wits and challenge their theory. Put them in a ballroom and let
the mutual admiration begin.
Many PCOM students and recent grads volunteered to help launch this initial
conference, though none dedicated more vital Qi to the process than Rebecca
McElroy, a freshman on the PCOM block. So, if you want to know why next
year's conference should be on your agenda, just ask Rebecca - or some
of the other volunteers like Don Phillips, Monica Bloch, Derek Kirkham,
Anthony Venuti, Ryan Altman, or, hey, don't take our word for it! Read
the reviews yourself:
Eti Domb: "I am so inspired and in love with Chinese medicine I
am already looking forward to next year's ... The lineup was amazing!"
"This was one of the best conferences I have seen so far."
Joseph Garner: "This is one set of conference notes I will not
let collect dust."
Cara Frank: "I also was thrilled with the roster and the presentations!
It has been a long time since I so enjoyed being a student."
Z'ev Rosenberg: "I felt like I was in the presence of Einstein,
Oppenheimer, Feynman and Crick all together discussing physics and science!
There was that much subtlety and depth in the presentations."
Laure Liverman: "Presenters of high caliber and thoughtfulness;
attendees with a great passion for their work, and for herbal medicine
in particular; exploration of the interface between the scholarly and
the clinical - all with good heart. What a treat!"
To become a member, log on to: www.chineseherbacademy.org
Conference tapes are available at: http://www.conferencerecording.com/altmed/cha23.htm
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