American College for Advancement in Medicine
The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) is a not-for-profit, membership-based association of integrative medicine physicians based in Bozeman, Montana. ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. In addition to providing medical education, ACAM operates a referral network of physicians who provide integrative medicine therapies. ACAM also conducts an annual meeting each year, typically in November.
Founded | 1973 |
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Type | Medical Research & Education |
Focus | Integrative medicine |
Location |
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Area served | Global |
Product | Continuing Medical Education |
Members | 500+ |
Key people | Allen (Buddy) Green, MD (President Veronica Haynes (Executive Director) |
Revenue | 1.25 million annual |
Website | www.acam.org |
Formerly called | American College of Alternative Medicine |
Education format
ACAM's educational format includes instruction in current standard of care, as well as alternative treatment options.[1] ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.[2] In 2010, ACAM developed an iPhone / iPad application for integrative physicians.[3]
Integrative Medical Consortium
ACAM is a member of a collaborative group of integrative medicine organizations that meet to further advance the industry through collaboration, collective dialogue and critical thinking. Other members include The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), The International College of Integrative Medicine (ICIM), and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM).
Controversy
Support for chelation therapy
ACAM has long been a vocal proponent for chelation therapy, the efficacy, safety, and much of the theory behind which is disputed by the medical community.[4] In 1998, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged that the website of the ACAM and a brochure they published had made false or unsubstantiated claims about the therapy. In December 1998, the FTC announced that it had secured a consent agreement barring ACAM from making unsubstantiated advertising claims that chelation therapy is effective against atherosclerosis or any other disease of the circulatory system.[5][6] In 2014, the ACAM became the first organization to offer online seminars to teach the basics of chelation therapy.[7]
References
- Business Wire (13 August 2010). "Ani Phyo to Host Raw Foods "Uncooking" Demonstrations at ACAM Fall Conference" (Press release). Reuters.
- "ACCME- Accredited Providers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- Iskowitz, Marc (15 April 2010). "Apple's tablet tempts mobile CME app makers". mmm-online.com. Medical Marketing and Media.
- Knudtson ML, Wyse DG, Galbraith PD, et al. (2002). "Chelation therapy for ischemic heart disease: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA. 287 (4): 481–6. doi:10.1001/jama.287.4.481. PMID 11798370.
- "American College for Advancement in Medicine, File No. 962 3147, Docket No. C-3882". Federal Trade Commission. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- "Medical Association Settles False Advertising Charges Over Promotion of 'Chelation Therapy'". Quackwatch. 8 December 1998. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- "ACAM Offers World's First Live Webinars on Chelation Therapy". ACAM. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.