The AIMA BOARD
AIMA Board
(appointed at AGM 15th October 2011)
(appointed at AGM 15th October 2011)
President
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Professor Kerryn Phelps Prof Kerryn Phelps was confirmed as the ongoing President of the Australasian Integrative Medical Association Inc (AIMA) for a term of 2 years at the Annual General Meeting in Queensland on “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:
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 & Editor of AIMA Journal of Integrative Medicine
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Dr Lily Tomas 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. |
Secretary
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Dr Ray Mullen
Ray trained in medical acupuncture as a general practice trainee in Western Australia. Inspired by many attendances at the Mild Immunity Health Conferences in Lorne, Ray has consistently developed his skills as an Integrative practitioner through undertaking ACNEM primary courses and STP trainings, further medical acupuncture training, training in holistic counselling practices such as Voice dialogue and Mindfulness. Most recently he completed the Certificate of IM at University of Queensland. Ray is a Fellow of the RACGP and as a college examiner was involved in training registrars for 10 years. Ray was a clinical lecturer for University of Queensland prior to the establishment of the medical school at James Cook University. Ray is a current member of RACGP, ACNEM, AIMA and AMAC. Ray and Jennifer were both AGPAL surveyors and their practice, Nautilus Health was nominated in the top 100 AGPAL “Practices of Excellence” in 2006 and 2009 – one of the recognised criteria begin promotion of preventative health activities.
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Treasurer
Board Members |
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Dr Vicki Kotsirilos
MBBS, FACNEM AIMA Founder, Founding President (1992-1998), and Honorary Board Member Dr Vicki Kotsirilos works as a medical practitioner who combines the best of orthodox and evidence based complementary medicine such as acupuncture, hypnosis, counselling, herbal and nutritional medicine. Vicki’s general practise, that she developed over the last 20 years, was winner of AGPAL Practice Excellence Award in 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 medical bodies such as 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, now known as the Advisory Committee for Complementary Medicine, of the Therapeutics Goods Administration, Australian Federal Government. She works as a Performance Assessor for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (formerly Victorian Medical Board).
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. She is the lead co-author of the textbook titled A Guide to Evidence Based Integrative and Complementary Medicine (published by Elsevier). 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.
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Prof Marc Cohen 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. |
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Dr Penny Caldicott
Dr Penny Caldicott is a founding member and director of ITH. She has helped to create an environment that respects and integrates the best of evidence based conventional and complementary medicine, thus facilitating physical, emotional and spiritual healing. She is particularly focussed on the cause of disease and on aiding the body to find a healthy biochemical balance. This can free individuals to particulate in their emotional and spiritual healing.
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Dr Tim Ewer
MB ChB, MSc, MRCP, FRACP, FRNZCGP, FACNEM, DCH, DRCOG, Dip Occ Med
Tim Ewer has been working in integrative medicine for over 20 years and has a health centre (with 14 staff) near Nelson, NZ. Prior to that he was a hospital physician for 10 years after gaining his medical degree and specialist qualifications in the UK. In terms of additional CAM training, he initially attended the London College of Acupuncture and subsequently has been to numerous postgraduate courses on acupuncture ranging from TCM, Nogier auricular therapy, Japanese techniques and laser therapy to Korean hand acupuncture. He has also trained in nutritional medicine and medical hypnosis, as well as studying aspects of herbal medicine, homeopathy and bio-energetic medicine.
Tim has been an advisor to WHO on natural medicine and to the NZ government on CAM. He has a master of medical science degree in environmental medicine which involved a research thesis on heavy metal toxicity. He has also taught tai chi and qi gong and has a research interest in the effects of EMF, sound and light on health, as well as hyperbaric medicine (his practice has a 4 person hyperbaric oxygen chamber).
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Dr Kylie Dodsworth
BMBS, BSc, FRACGP
I am an integrative GP of some 10 years experience and I have been running my own integrative practice for 5 years (see my website www.centreforhealthandwellbeing.com.au). I have also explored many other healing modalities and am a trained rebirthing/breathwork practitioner and teacher, I am a staff member for an international youth leadership program (see www.wyse-ngo.org) which uses psychosynthesis as its basis, I have my own daily meditation practice and I am a member of the Satyananda yoga association. I have attended the Harvard Medical School post-graduate clinical training in Mind-Body medicine through the Benson-Henry Institute. I am an active supporter of the Gawler Foundation and have been to a number of their practitioner training programs. I was the Chairperson of the General Practice Registrars Association for 12 months and Deputy Chair for another 12 months. I have previously been a Medical Educator for the SA Division of the RACGP, and I have presented a nutritional medicine seminar for the GP registrars several years ago.
I believe that I can bring to the Board of AIMA my experience of both practicing in integrative medicine and running an integrative health centre. I can also liaise with the other South Australian integrative doctors and practitioners through my networks and bring general opinion and feedback to the board meetings. I have a passion for my work and am motivated to become more involved in teaching and raising the profile of the important and beneficial work that we do.
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Dr Melinda Prince MBBS, FRACGP, M Med Hum Melinda is an Integrative GP based in Sydney. She is a Board member of the AIMA/RACGP Joint Working Party. She is currently researching General Practice Registrar Welbeing issues, and is on the RACGP National Standing Committees for Quality Care and Pre-vocational Education.
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Doctor-in-Training
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Anna Fisher MBBS (hons), BSc (Philosophy)
Anna Fisher is currently a paediatrician-in-training with Sydney Children’s Hospital.
She holds degrees in medicine and philosophy, and has studied remedial therapies, energetic medicine and meditation over the last 12 years. Having recently joined the board of the AIMA as a trainee, she is excited to watch the compassionate and integrative evolution in the art and science of medicine.
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