Presidential Petition for Incorporation of Integrative CAM into U.S. Health Care Policy

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    President-Elect Barack H. Obama
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Presidential Petition for Incorporation of Integrative CAM into U.S. Health Care Policy

Dear President-Elect Barack Obama,

We are physicians who share your vision for an effective, affordable health care system that strives to serve the needs of all Americans. From clinical experience with our patients, we are convinced that 'Integrative Medicine' - integrating the best, evidence-based therapies from all health care disciplines, not just from the realms of conventional, pharmaceutical drugs and surgery - will be a key factor in making that vision become a reality.

We observe that our current, U.S. health care system is dominated by an expensive, cost-ineffective, allopathic medical paradigm, often using toxic, synthetic drugs and unnecessary surgical interventions. This conventional medical approach is largely fostered by financial and political relationships between the FDA and the multinational pharmaceutical industry, and such relationships are often in conflict with what is in the best interests of the public health and welfare.

For example, published research reveals that over 150,000 Americans die annually from FDA-approved pharmaceuticals that have been prescribed and utilized according to their indications. These iatrogenic (doctor-induced) deaths account for the fifth major cause of mortality in the U.S.

Preventive medicine should serve as the cornerstone of any new U.S. health care system, because its prime directive is to prevent diseases before they occur. In the long term, teaching Americans how to take optimal care of themselves will improve the overall health and well-being of the U.S. population, decrease the need and demand for more advanced, tertiary medical care and save billions of taxpayer dollars that can be invested in other initiatives.

We have seen from our own practices that utilizing the conventional, allopathic medical paradigm alone does not provide the preventive health care that the majority of Americans need.

Just as you see the value and necessity of integrating alternative energy technology into the U.S. energy policy, we deem it equally vital that effective, evidence-based, complementary, alternative medicine (CAM) health care modalities be integrated into the U.S. health care system. Such alternative therapeutic approaches include Nutritional Medicine, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Herbal Medicine, Environmental Medicine, etc.

These effective, evidence-based, complementary, alternative medicine (CAM) health care modalities provide an ideal foundation for successful preventive health care.

The Harvard studies conducted by David Eisenberg, M.D., et al., in 1990 and again in 1997, revealed that a large percentage of Americans are already using these integrative, alternative, complementary therapeutic approaches, and that they are even willing to spend more money out-of-pocket for such care than for all allopathic primary care and hospital care combined.

We, the undersigned medical doctors, have extensive experience practicing what we believe is the more balanced and gentle art and science of Integrative Medicine. We observe that the care we provide improves the long term health and well-being of our patients in a safer, more cost-effective and more disease-preventive manner, than if we were to limit our therapeutic offerings to only drugs and surgery.

Therefore, we respectfully request that you incorporate Integrative Medicine modalities into any new U.S. health care policy once you take office in January 2009. We stand ready to be of assistance to you and Secretary of Health Tom Daschle in any way that we can.

Thank you for your kind attention and we will look forward to your expedient response.

1849 Signatures

  • Mitchell A. Fleisher
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D., D.Ht., D.A.B.F.M., Dc.A.B.C.T., F.A.A.F.P.
    • Medical Office Address
    • Rockfish Center, Suite 1, S.R. 664, P.O. Box 303, Nellysford, VA 22958
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • (434) 361-1896
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.alternativedrmcare.com
  • Martin Albert
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 901 Preston Ave. Charlottesville VA 22911
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 434 984-2846
    • Professional Website URL
    • healthyvim.org
  • Greg Gelburd,
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • DO, MPH
    • Medical Office Address
    • 313 Second St. S.E. Charlottesville, Va 22902
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 434 817 1818
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • toni bark md
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D. LEEDap
    • Medical Office Address
    • 708 main street, evnaston illinois 60202
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 847-8697740
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.disease-reversal.com
  • Hyla Cass M.D.
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1608 Michael Ln Pacific Palisades CA
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 310 459 9866
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.drcass.com
  • BRUCE EISENBERG, M.D., DNBHE
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D., D.N.B.H.E.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 524-41 ST. ,#201 MIAMI BEACH, FL. 33140
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 305-672-7337
    • Professional Website URL
    • MIAMIBEACHPEDIATRICS.COM
  • Karl Robinson MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 4200 Westheimer,Suite 100
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 713-621-3184
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.homeopathyyes.com
  • Sandra Kamiak
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 14567 Big Basin Way- Suite B6, Saratoga, Ca. 95070-6039
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 408-741-1332
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.sandrakamiakmd.com
  • Franne Berez,MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.,N.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 5801 beacon street
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 412 422 5433
    • Professional Website URL
    • drberez.com
  • Bernardo A Merizalde, M.D
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D; DHt
    • Medical Office Address
    • 600 E Germantown Pike, Suite A, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 610-238-9963
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.pahomeopathy.com
  • Dr. Jennifer Rozenhart
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • D.C.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 4620-B Meridian Avenue, San Jose Ca 95124
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 408-979-9999
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.RozenhartChiro.com
  • Larry Malerba
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • DO, DHt
    • Medical Office Address
    • PO Box 530
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • (518 357-4210
    • Professional Website URL
    • docmalerba.com
  • Robert Rowen
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, FAAFP, DABEM, DABCMT
    • Medical Office Address
    • P.O. Box 817 Santa Rosa California
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 707-578-7787
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.secondopinionnewsletter.com
  • Teresa Su
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • P.O. Box 817 Santa Rosa California
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 707-578-7787
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.doctorrowen.com
  • Nicholas J. Nossaman
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    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2239 Krameria Street
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 303-861-4181
    • Professional Website URL
    • N/A
  • W. Campbell Douglass III MD, MS
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, ABFP
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2111 Ocean Drive; New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 386-426-8803
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.ThatsGoodMedicine.com
  • Betty Wood MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D., CCH
    • Medical Office Address
    • 24 Minot Avenue, Acton, MA 01720
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 978 635.0605
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • Todd Hoover
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    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 822 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 306 Narberth PA 19072
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 610 667 2138
    • Professional Website URL
    • na
  • Corey Weinstein, MD
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    • MD, CCH, CCHP
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1063 Plymouth, San Francisco, CA 94112
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 415-333-8228
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.homeopathyusa
  • Dean Crothers, MD
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    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2442 NW Market St. #643
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 2066692522
    • Professional Website URL
    • None
  • Ronald Dushkin
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 260 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 212-582-1313
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.drdushkin.com
  • Jennifer Jacobs
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, MPH
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2442 NW Market #643, Seattle, WA 98107
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 206-669-2522
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • J. Yusuf Q. Erskine
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • D.O.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1141 Gravenstein Hwy. South, Sebastopol, CA 95472
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 707-829-5455
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • Robert A. Weissberg
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 16 Dugan Hill Rd., Round Lake, NY 12118
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 518-899-3438
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.robertweissberg.com
  • Andrew Reno
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D., D.C.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 3940 Plank Rd., Suite 1, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 540-538-1145
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • Noelle Nielsen
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 6 Carpenter Lane, Sarasota Springs, NY 12866
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 518-583-0020
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.womenscareny.com
  • Ellen Feingold, M.D.
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 410 Foulk Rd Suite 202 Wilmington DE 19803
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 3027641882
    • Professional Website URL
    • drellenfeingold.com
  • Ian Luepker
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • ND
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1607 Siskiyou Blvd
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 541-482-2824
    • Professional Website URL
    • madronahomeopathy.com
  • Karin Cseak, DO
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • DO
    • Medical Office Address
    • 556 W. Portage Trail Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 330-923-3060
    • Professional Website URL
    • n/a
  • Eric Dolgin
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • D.O., F.C.A.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2128 Pico Boulevard
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 310-664-8818
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.osteohome.com
  • Joan Brower
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • homeopathic assistant
    • Medical Office Address
    • 556 West Portage Trail Ext Cuyahoga Falls Ohio 44223
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 330-923-3060
    • Professional Website URL
    • National Center for Homeopathy.org
  • Sally Goodwin, M.D.
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 3677 Woodland Hall Lane
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 360-579-1586
    • Professional Website URL
    • none
  • Jonathan Shore
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, DH-T, MBChB
    • Medical Office Address
    • 31 Washington Ave San Rafael CA 94903
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 4154721224
    • Professional Website URL
    • http://web.mac.com/joshore/Practice
  • John D. Walsh
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • DDS
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1400 W. Benson, Ste 150, Anchorage, AK 99503
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 907-2764537
    • Professional Website URL
    • healthcentereddentistry.com
  • A.B.Flick
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 36 Lake Rabun Road
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 706 782 5064
    • Professional Website URL
    • I do not have a web site
  • Robert D Milne MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2110 Pinto Lane
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 7022-385-1393
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.milnemedcenter.com
  • Richard Gracer
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 5401 Norris Canyon Road, #102, San Ramon, CA 94583
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 925 277 1100
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.gracermedicalgroup.com
  • Linda Hegstrand
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, PhD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2426 Burton St SE
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 616-464-0470
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.CompleteWellnessCenter.net
  • Robban A. Sica, MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 370 Boston Post Rd, Orange, CT 06477
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 203-799-7733
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.centerhealingarts.org
  • Alan M Dattner, MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • AB, MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 250 W 49th St. suite 503, NY, NY 10019
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 212 722-2441
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.holisticdermatology.com
  • James R. Biddle
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 832 Hendersonville Road, Asheville NC 28803
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 828-252-5545
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.docbiddle.com
  • John C. Pittman, M.D.
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • M.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • 4505 Fair meadow Lane, Suite 111, Raleigh, NC 27607
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 919-571-4391
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.carolinacenter.com
  • Charles C. Adams, MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 4085 Cloud Springs Road, Ringgold, GA 30736
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 706-861-7377
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.DrPrevent.com
  • Jerrold N. Finnie MD
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD
    • Medical Office Address
    • 171 Chestnut Hill Road
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 860-489-6569
    • Professional Website URL
    • nonr
  • Morton T. Saunders, JR
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • D.O., MS, ABFM, ABCL, ABAARM
    • Medical Office Address
    • 3033 State Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 330-928-6780
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.premieremedical.org
  • Kelli S Buckner
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • Student DO
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1858 W Grandview Blvd, Erie Pa 16502
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • n/a
    • Professional Website URL
    • n/a
  • Edward Kondrot
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • MD, MD(H), DHt, CCH, FCOS
    • Medical Office Address
    • Phoenix, Az 85085
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 623-516-0010
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.healingtheeye.com
  • Dee Koloski
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • ND, LAc
    • Medical Office Address
    • 1136 N. Lincoln Ave
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 970-667-7071
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.sageholistichealth.com
  • Michael D Sutton
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • ND
    • Medical Office Address
    • 2900 S College Ave #3A
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 970-419-0700
    • Professional Website URL
    • none available
  • Connie Sanchez
    • List All Professional Credentials, e.g., M.D., D.O., D.A.B.F.M., etc.
    • BS., N.D.
    • Medical Office Address
    • Center For Health, 3190 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 301 Lakewood, CO 80227
    • Medical Office Telephone Number
    • 303-934-3753
    • Professional Website URL
    • www.thenutritiondoc.com