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NEWS RELEASE

June 13, 2003

For More Information Contact: Rebecca Wilkowski, Phone: (800) 729-0941

Pacific College Graduate to take Part in Research Study

Sabine Schmid, a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and Pacific College of Oriental Medicine graduate, will be part of a massage research study at the Center of Integrative Medicine, University of Colorado Hospital.

The study, which is still in the final stages of being approved, will evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy for alleviating distress and improving the quality of life of patients with advanced lung cancer.

San Diego Hospice is one of the participating sites of the Population-based Palliative Care Research Network (PoPCRN), which is directed by Dr. Jean Kutner at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Both the San Diego Hospice and University of Colorado clinics will be involved in the study so that "larger numbers of patients can be accrued in a shorter amount of time," according to Charles F. von Gunten, medical director of the Center for Palliative Studies at San Diego Hospice.

Von Gunten was the first to think of Schmid as a perfect choice to participate in the study at Colorado. "Schmid was recruited because of her expertise and training in massage therapy," von Gunten said.

Schmid was the first Pacific College HHP student to intern at San Diego Hospice, and her work there has pioneered the addition of a massage externship for Pacific College massage students. Before Sabine’s participation at SD Hospice, only acupuncture students had been able to intern at San Diego Hospice to log hours towards their Pacific College degree.

"One of the strongest points why I signed up with Pacific College was the internship with SD Hospice, even though at that time it was only offered to the students of the acupuncture program," said Schmid, who interned at SD Hospice for seven months last year.

According to Pacific College Chief Operating Officer Elaine Gates-Miller, "It was [Sabine’s] motivation from the moment she stepped in the door that she was going to work at San Diego Hospice. She would have done it for no credit."

Schmid, who lived in Japan for 16 years until 2001, says she has wanted to work with hospice patients for 17 years. "I was at the bedside of several [dying] friends, and I think it’s something of a calling for me to do it," Schmid said. "SD Hospice has taught me over and over again that it is not death that we are experiencing in these walls, it is learning about life and how to live it to its fullest."

Schmid also hopes that offering massage at SD Hospice and participating in the Colorado research study will broaden the reach of Oriental medicine. "I hope it opens a lot of doors for others because I do think it’s important that acupuncture and massage be available in places like that," Schmid said.

As Schmid waits for the research study to be approved, she is considering enrolling in Pacific College’s acupuncture program in September. When it comes to long-term career goals, Schmid said she plans to continue the hospice work she started while a student at Pacific College.

For more information on massage and its benefits in hospice care, please call (800) 729-0941.

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