Although it's still early in the year, the NCCAOM is already changing things up ... again, with a "CEO transition." A message from Afua Bromley, a member of the board of commissioners, said "It is with both sadness and gratitude that I announce the upcoming departure of Dr. Kory Ward-Cook as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), effective December 31, 2019. Since November of 2004, Dr. Ward-Cook has played a critical role in the development, growth and success of the NCCAOM. We have been fortunate to have benefited from her leadership and while we will miss her extensive contributions to the organization, the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, both professionally and personally."
Dr. Ward-Cook served as CEO for the NCCAOM for nearly 15 years and was instrumental in several of last year's accomplishments—including California's "Route to Certification," an initiative for Diplomates that have a terminated certification status.
In her time at NCCAOM she implemented computer adaptive testing in 2006; created the first NCCAOM Governance Policy Manual, linked to all management policies and procedures; successfully orchestrated the re-accreditation of the NCCAOM certification programs and the first accreditation of the Oriental Medicine certification program in 2008 and 2012.
There is no indication about the reason behind Dr. Ward-Cook's exit, just a general farewell wish. The message closes with assurance that more information will follow with their search for a new CEO.
Structured water (H3O2) can be considered a fourth state of water between liquid and solid. It has the hexagonal structure of ice; however, missing a critical bond, it behaves more like a gel than a solid, but retains some of its crystalline structure.
In the past five years of my clinical practice, I have seen an astonishing upsurge in the chronic use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications for the gastrointestinal issue diagnosed by allopathic medicine as GERD. It is not uncommon to encounter patients taking these prescriptions for five-plus years.
Working with chronically ill patients entails acknowledging the reality that not all patients will survive their diagnosis. Chinese medicine and acupuncture play a crucial role in palliative and end-of-life care, addressing medication and disease side effects, alleviating pain associated with death, reducing anxiety and stress, and helping patients find peace during the dying process.
