The AIMA BOARD

AIMA BOARD (as per AGM 9 Dec 2009)

President:

 

PROFESSOR KERRYN PHELPS     MBBS(Syd) FRACGP FMA

Professor Kerryn Phelps was confirmed as the new President of the Australasian Integrative Medical Association Inc. (AIMA) for a term of 2 years at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne - Wednesday 9 December 2009.

 “I am extremely honoured to be asked to represent my colleagues in this exciting, vibrant, progressive and emerging movement in healthcare. Through Integrative Medicine we will see true health care reform growing out of the “wide angle lens” approach this philosophy offers.  I look forward to advancing the healthcare debate in new directions during my term.” Phelps said.
Known to many as "Dr Kerryn", she has been a familiar face to many Australians since the 1980s. Since that time she has appeared regularly on television, radio and in the print media informing the Australian public on a wide range of health issues. She is particularly focussed on bringing the message of integrative medicine, public health and human rights issues to the public at large.

She travels frequently to speak to health professionals and to the general public on all aspects of health, wellbeing, the health system and human rights, as well as leadership and strategy for professional organisations. 
 
In May 2000, she was elected Federal President of the Australian Medical Association, becoming the first woman to head this organisation and serving a maximum term of three years. During her presidency, Prof. Phelps focussed attention on important issues in the health system, including:
  • establishing an advisory committee on complementary and alternative medicine to develop a position statement on behalf of the medical profession
  •  highlighting the medical indemnity crisis and working closely with Federal and State governments towards a solution 
  •  commissioning a far-reaching report into the Australian medical workforce which ultimately proved that there was a severe shortage of doctors and changing the way the government plans for the medical workforce of the future
  • developing a report card on indigenous health
  • encouraging discussion of the role of the health system in response to bioterrorism. 

     In 2003 Prof. Phelps was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to Health and Medicine. That same year she was appointed Adjunct Professor at Sydney University in the Faculty of Medicine in the Schools of Public Health and the Discipline of General Practice.  She continues to consult with patients at her Sydney clinics.

    Prof Phelps is currently the health writer for the Australian Womens Weekly and writes medico-political commentary for Medical Observer Magazine. In 2009 she was the host of the Seven network’s top-rating series “Last Chance Surgery”.

    Prof Phelps has written the first textbook on integrative medicine which is due for release mid-2010.  The text book, for practitioners only at this stage, introduces the concept of Integrative Medicine in General Practice – combining medical and complementary therapies with lifestyle to achieve the best possible health outcomes for patients.

 
 

Vice President:

Dr Katherine Sevar, MBChB, LFHom


Katherine Sevar has a longstanding interest in integrative medicine and has postgraduate qualifications in homeopathy, hypnotherapy and child health. She is currently a Psychiatrist Registrar and promotes an integrative approach to mental health. She also has a special interest in mental health for both Indigenous and refugee communities. She has conducted complementary medicine research, completing a systematic review into the evidence for complementary therapies for childhood conditions, and is currently involved in research into hypnotherapy for inflammatory bowel disease in adolescents. She has worked with medical undergraduates teaching them the role of lifestyle interventions for chronic health conditions.

 
 

Secretary:

Dr Gillian (Gill) Singleton, MBBS(Hons) FRACGP FARGP CSCT(O&G)

Gill is a general practitioner who has a longstanding interest in holistic care. She currently works in general practice at Monash University Clayton campus in the student health service, at the Youth Substance Abuse Service in Fitzroy and pro bono at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in West Melbourne on a weekly basis. Gill is passionate about health and human rights and is the RACGP representative on the Detention Health Advisory Group to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. She spent 5 years training and working in rural regions of Western Victoria where she was also involved in supervision and training of registrars.

Gill joined the AIMA board and AIMA/RACGP Joint Working Party in 2006 and is excited about continuing to be involved with such a wonderful group of like-minded individuals, particularly with the ground breaking work that the Joint Working Party is involved in currently. Gill is passionate about her work and enjoys the variety and challenges that a career in general practice brings. She enjoys providing thorough, holistic care to patients of all age groups combining orthodox with evidence based natural therapies and with a strong emphasis on nutrition, stress management and counseling, and enjoys supporting her patients to be the best they can be!
 

Treasurer:

AIMA FOUNDING PRESIDENT (1992) AND HONORARY BOARD MEMBER

Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, MBBS, FACNEM works as a medical practitioner who combines the best of orthodox and evidence based complementary medicine such as acupuncture, hypnosis, counseling, herbal and nutritional medicine. Vicki’s general practise that she developed was winner of AGPAL Practice Excellence Award 2007.
 
Vicki was founder (1992) and founding president of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) which represents medical practitioners who integrate various forms of evidence-based complementary medicine and therapies in their clinical practices. AIMA is recognised as one of the most respected representative organisations in the medical fraternity on integrative health care matters in Australia and New Zealand. In 1994 AIMA affiliated with the Australian Medical Association in Victoria and since 1997 AIMA was recognised as a special interest group by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). In 2004 AIMA developed a joint working party with the RACGP, which she chairs, to address the appropriate and ethical use of complementary medicine by the medical profession. Vicki respects and values the work she is doing with the RACGP.
 
In 2005, Vicki established the annual RACGP Vicki Kotsirilos Integrative Medicine Research Grant, to encourage research that assists in the integration of safe and ethical forms of natural and complementary medicines or therapies into mainstream medical practice.
Vicki is proud to have served on a number of Government committees throughout her career. These include the Professional Services Review as an expert panel member; the Australian Drug Reaction Advisory Committee and the Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee of the Therapeutics Goods Administration, Australian Federal Government.
 
Vicki has published numerous articles in a wide range of medical journals and public magazines. She lectures regularly to doctors and has spoken at numerous medical and public conferences. Vicki is passionate about the value of Integrative Medicine and committed to assisting health practitioners to learn more about this valuable area of health care. This textbook is an accumulation of all her knowledge and vast clinical experience on Integrative Medicine that she has successfully utilised over the last 20 years of clinical practise to successfully help a number of patients to improve their overall well-being and general health.
This textbook is an accumulation of all her knowledge and vast clinical experience on Integrative Medicine that she has successfully utilised over the last 20 years of clinical practise to successfully help a number of patients to improve their overall well-being and general health.
 
 

Board Members:

VIC

Prof Marc Cohen, MBBS(Hons), PhD, BMed Sci(Hons), FAMAC

Marc is the professor and founding Head of the Department of Complementary Medicine at RMIT University, immediate past President of AIMA and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow with the Monash Institute of Health Sciences Research. In addition to degrees in medicine, physiology, psychological medicine and Chinese medicine, he has a PhD in bioenergetics in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University. He plays an active role in both clinical and basic science research as well as teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to doctors and other health practitioners.

Prof Cohens office is at the RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora VIC 3083. Tel: (03) 9925 7440.
 

 Dr Michael Ellis, MBBS, MRCP, DCH, MACNEM, NPAA, BA (Hons), Dip Grad (Nutr Med)

Dr Michael Ellis, Chief Editor and Creative vision behind The New Paradigm Journal www.newparadigmjournal.com is an English trained Doctor with over 20 years of General Practice experience both in the UK and in Australia. He has higher qualifications in general medicine and paediatrics. He was the head of the Obesity Study and Weight Loss Trial with a well-known pharmaceutical Company. He has a special interest in mind/body medicine and in optimizing the physical, mental and emotional health of the individual.

As well as his medical qualifications, Dr Ellis also has an Honours Degree in Literature, Arts, Philosophy and Social Psychology. He also has Naturopathic qualifications. Michael has been practicing Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism for 25 years and is the editor of the Australian Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist Newsletter which is distributed worldwide and creator of the Web Site www.buddhistcentre.net. He is Founder of The Centre For Change (www.centreforchange.org), the Medical Renaissance Group (www.medicalrenaissance.org) and President of Global Citizens For Peace (www.globalcitizensforpeace.com).
 

 Dr Barbara Hannon, MBBS (Hons) FAFRM (RACP)

Qualified in Medicine from Monash University in 1985.
Specialist qualifications (Rehabilitation Medicine) in 1995.

Barbara has been a tutor for the Health Enhancement Program Monash University for the last six years. Her interest in Integrative Medicine is related to utilizing techniques such as meditation and other aspects of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) to promote psychological health in recovery in addition to multidisciplinary therapies used in rehabilitation.

She has had a personal interest in meditation for 18 years and has been a member of AIMA since 1999.

Barbara practices at Epworth Rehabilitation Centre, 85 Wilson St, Brighton, Vic 3187. Phone (03) 95929144.

 
 

 Professor Avni Sali, MBBS, PhD, FRACS, FACS, FACNEM
Director, National Institute of Integrative Medicine (www.niim.com.au)

Professor Avni Sali is the Foundation Director of National Institute of Integrative Medicine in Melbourne. He was the Founding Head of the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Prior to this appointment he was Head of the University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery at the Heidelberg Hospital, in Melbourne. He is President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) and Past President and current Vice President of the International Council of Integrative Medicine.

He is on the International Advisory Committee of the Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (VYASA), India, International Advisory Board of the National Committee on Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Indonesia, and on the Integrative Medicine Board of the HSC Medical Center, Malaysia. In addition he is on the International Advisory Board of the American Academy of AntiAging Medicine and on the National Scientific Advisory Committee of Complementary Medicine.

Professor Sali has been the Australian and New Zealand representative of the International Society for Digestive Surgery. He has served as a director of the Victorian Public Health Research and Education Council. He was on the Federal Government Complementary Health Care Consultative Forum. Professor Sali was President of the Gawler Foundation from 1999 until 2002 and is currently a Board Member.

He is on the joint Working Party of the AIMA and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Moreover, he is on the Executive of the Centre for Change. Also, he is an Honorary Patron of the Melbourne Therapy Centre (Anthroposophy Principles), Patron of Australians for International Mental Health and is on the Advisory Panel of the Darwin Holistic Health Centre, Patron of Power Thinking Health Council

Professor Salis research interests are mostly in integrative medicine and include various clinical, behavioural, nutritional, herbal and exercise research. His clinical expertise is in the cause of disease, cancer,difficult problems as well as health advice. He is author and co-author of several books and chapters in books. Approximately 300 articles have been published in medical journals.

Professor Sali is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine and was an Associate Editor of the Journal Evidence Based Integrative Medicine and is on the Editorial Board of several other journals. Professor Sali has helped to pioneer health promotion and integrative medicine in this country, especially the importance of nutrition, exercise and the mind. Professor Sali is frequently an invited speaker at local, state, national and international meetings.

He was primarily instrumental in the establishment of the Graduate School of Integrative Medicine at Swinburne, which was the first School of its kind. Professor Sali was predominantly involved in the establishment of the Swinburne University Hospital, which was the first integrative hospital of its type. In April 2004, Professor Sali led the Australian Government Biotech Alliance Complementary Healthcare Mission to Taiwan.

In 2002, he was presented with the St Michaels Award for outstanding community service. In August 2005 he was awarded the Australian Humanitarian Award for contributions to Health.

  
 

Dr Annette Webb (MBBS FRACP MD Dip Clin Hypnosis)

 

Qualified in Medicine from Melbourne University 1993.

Awarded Fellowship to Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2003.

Subspecialist Gastroenterology Qualifications awarded 2006. Member of the Gastroenterology Society of Australia (GESA).

MD awarded from the University of Melbourne 2009.

Annette is as Consultant Paediatrician and Gastroenterologist with appointments at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne (http://www.rch.org.au/gastro); Monash Medical Centre, Clayton(http://www.monashchildrens.org.au/page/Health_Professionals/Monash_Childrens_departments/Gastroenterology) and Cabrini Hospital, Malvern. Annette’s interest in mind body medicine led her to complete a MD higher degree (Melbourne University) in the use of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome in children and she has now established a functional gut disorder clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital which incorporates medical management with gut focused hypnotherapy for children with chronic abdominal pain. Annette is the current Executive Council Secretary of the Australasian Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (AUSPGHAN) (www.auspghan.com).

Annette is actively involved in research into mind body therapies. She is a current board member of the International board of PedCAM (Paediatric Complementary and Alternative Medicine) Network International Advisory Board. She is a full member of the Australian Society of Hypnosis having completed her diploma of Clinical Hypnosis with this society in 2003. She has extensive experience in the use of hypnotherapy with children. Annette has studied meditation for over 25 years and has personally practiced mindfulness meditation techniques for over 10 years. She is actively involved in bringing evidence based medicine into the field of complementary and alternative medicine.

Dr Webb is a member of the gut and liver disorders group of researchers at the Murdoch Children’s research Institute Melbourne. For a full list of publications of this group see

http://www.mcri.edu.au/pages/research/research-group.asp?G=93
 

 

 State Represtentatives & NZ Board Members:

 

 
New South Wales

Dr Lily Tomas, MBBS, BSc(Med) FACNEM

Dr Lily Tomas has been a practicing Integrative GP for the last 10 years and is currently working in Pambula, New South Wales. She has been the NSW Board Representative of AIMA and Editor of JAIMA, the Association’s Journal, since 2003. She is a member of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM) and the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA).

Lily is an Honours Graduate of Swinburne University’s Mind-Body Medicine Programme and holds a Diploma in Creative Psychotherapy. She is a passionate speaker on a comprehensive range of integrative medical subjects to both health professionals and the public and frequently contributes peer-reviewed articles for the Journal of Complementary Medicine.

Dr Lily Tomas is also the co-author of the Self Help book; Live Your Best Life! Whole Mind, Whole Body, Complete Health -The Integrated guide to Diet, Happiness and Life, and co-creator of the patient-orientated website, www.integrative-medicine.com.au. Lily has also recently contributed to two separate peer-reviewed integrative medical textbooks designed for medical students and GPs to be published by Elsevier in April 2010.
Currently Lily is the Editor of the JAIMA (AIMA Journal)

 

Dr Melinda Prince, MBBS, FRACGP, M MED, HUM

Dr Melinda Prince is a General Practitioner, Associate Lecturer and RDP Fellow at the Discipline of General Practice, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney. She is currently researching General Practice Registrar Wellbeing issues, and is on the RACGP National Standing Committees for Quality Care and Prevocational Education. Her recent Masters in Medical Humanities studies focused on the philosophical paradigmatic differences between mainstream medicine and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) , and implications for CAM research and trial designs. She was awarded the 2008 PWH Grieve Fellowship award from the RACGP for General Practice research education. She has been a member of AIMA since 2001, has recently been appointed to the AIMA board as a NSW Representative and is a member of the RACGP-AIMA Joint Working Party. She is currently working clinical practice NSW

 
Tasmania

Dr Emma Warnecke, MBBS(Hons), FRACGP, Dip.LSH

Emma is an experienced General Practitioner who has always strongly believed in the importance of a holistic approach. Her focus has always been on treating the whole person with an emphasis on preventative medicine, health enhancement and counselling. This approach has been enhanced by completing a Diploma of Learning Solutions in Hypnotherapy which uses a solution orientated approach and Mindfulness integrated CBT training. After 10 years of General Practice in Melbourne she moved to Hobart in 2007 and took up the role of Senior Lecturer in General Practice at the School of Medicine, University of Tasmania. Here she teaches students an integrative approach to medicine and the importance of self care. She also has an integrative medicine private practice focussing on stress management, mindfulness and lifestyle change.

"Nothing in life is more exciting and rewarding than the sudden flash of insight that leaves you a changed person" - Arthur Gordon

 
Western Australia 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Cathryn DCruz, MBBS FRACGP


I became interested in Integrative Medicine through Ayurveda (traditional medical system of India). I learnt the Transcendental Meditation technique in 1984 and as this technique comes from the ancient Vedic tradition, it drew me towards another aspect of the Vedas, Ayurveda. I studied this system and also learnt the art of Pulse Diagnosis. I travelled to India and experienced first hand the power and wisdom of this ancient system of health care witnessing some amazing cures. This experience was very enlightening and encouraged me to practice integrative medicine. I later obtained a Certificate of Ayurvedic Medicine from a College in Victoria. Since then, I have also studied Nutritional Medicine and am currently enrolled in the fellowship program with the Australian College of Nutrition and Environmental Medicine.

My primary role is to be a doctor who practices safe medicine. Around this objective, I offer my patients many proven modalities of investigation and treatment. These may include orthodox medical approaches, nutritional medicine, diet and lifestyle approaches, bio identical HRT and Ayurvedic Medicine. The patients are given a lot more choices regarding treatment options.

I work in an Integrative Medicine practice in Perth alongside like-minded doctors, naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, massage therapists and counsellors. We work as a team and refer to each other when appropriate.

Dr DCruz practices at: DESANA, 343 Cambridge Street, WEMBLEY, WA 6014. Tel: 08 9383 9997

 

South Australia

   

 

Dr Kylie Dodsworth, BMBS, BSc, FRACGP

 
Kylie Dodsworth is a general practitioner who specialises in nutritional medicine, bio-identical hormone replacement and mind-body medicine. She runs her own busy integrative health centre in Adelaide and works with a team of practitioners including musculoskeletal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, massage, quantum touch, psychology and kinesiology. Kylie works predominantly with complex health conditions including thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, menstrual, pre-menstrual and menopausal imbalances, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, mood disorders and chronic digestive disorders. She has undertaken extensive training with ACNEM, and has attended practitioner trainings for the Pfieffer Institute and the MINDD organisation and has completed the Harvard post-graduate clinical training in mind-body medicine with the Benson-Henry Institute at Harvard Medical School. She was the GP Registrar of the Year during her training and was the Chairperson for the General Practice Registrars Association. She has worked as a medical educator for the RACGP and has been a medical examiner for the RACGP Fellowship exam. She is the AIMA Board Member for South Australia.
 
Kylie has also explored many other healing modalities and is a trained rebirthing/breathwork practitioner and teacher, as well as a staff member for an international youth leadership program (see www.wyse-ngo.org) which uses psychosynthesis as its basis. She has a daily meditation practice and is a member of the Satyananda yoga association. Kylie is an active supporter of the Gawler Foundation and has attended many of their practitioner training programs.
 
Kylie can bring to the Board of AIMA her experience of both practicing in integrative medicine and running an integrative health centre. She regularly meets with the other South Australian integrative doctors and practitioners and will convey general opinion and feedback to the board meetings. She is passionate about her work and aims to become more involved in teaching and raising the profile of the important and beneficial work that is integrative medicine.
  

Dr Max Mansoor, MBBS, MHP (UNSW)

Dr Mansoor, has more than 25 years as a practicing medical practitioner. He has extensive experience in clinical medicine having worked in Canberra, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Queensland.  He has worked in senior management positions in NSW Health, as well as in the past he was actively involved with the AMA in Canberra.   

In Queensland he held an Advisory role to mining companies and currently works as a Visiting Medical Officer to Queensland Health in Mackay. 
 
Max has been practicing Integrative Medicine on and off for the last 15 years and he has special interest in mind-body medicine and meditation. Two years ago he established a wellness clinic in Mackay and practice Integrative Medicine from that clinic on a part time basis.  
 
He says there is great community interest for ‘holistic approach’ to health combining ancient wisdom and advances in modern science. He believes understanding the relationship of body, mind and spirit will become increasingly relevant to science and research in years to come.
 
NEW ZEALAND:

Dr Tim Ewer, MB ChB, MSc, MRCP(UK), FRACP, FRNZCGP, DCH, DRCOG, FACNEM


I trained in medicine in the UK and went on to obtain specialist qualifications (MRCP and FRACP) before moving to New Zealand where I worked as a consultant physician (general medicine and geriatrics) for 10 years. I then opted out of the hospital system and set up a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

In terms of additional CAM training, I initially attended the London College of Acupuncture and subsequently I have been to numerous postgraduate courses on acupuncture ranging from TCM, Nogier auricular therapy, Japanese techniques and laser therapy to Korean hand acupuncture. I have also trained in nutritional medicine and medical hypnosis and am a Fellow of ACNEM and have qualified as a Member of the Australian Society of Hypnosis, as well as studying herbal medicine, homeopathy and bio-energetic medicine.

I am immediate Past President of the Medical Acupuncture Society of NZ. My other postgraduate qualifications include Diploma of Child Health [DCH] London 1977 and the Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology [DRCOG], London 1978. Presently my areas of interest include mind-body (spirit) medicine and the use of bioenergetics regarding sound, voice analysis and light. In addition to my health centre work I am part of a WHO group who meets several times a year to look into traditional and CAM in the Pacific region (including China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam). I am also looking to create an inpatient CAM complex near Nelson, NZ that will offer a range of holistic and integrated modalities.

 

 

About AIMA