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SOCIM Chair,
Kathi Kemper, MD, MPH |
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The Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine
(SOCIM) was established to develop and identify educational and policy
strategies to advocate for research on complementary and alternative therapies
used in pediatrics. The SOCIM is governed
by an executive committee of 6 member pediatricians. Kathi Kemper, MD, MPH chairs the
section. The Section has both
formal and informal liaison relationships with various AAP committees,
sections, and chapters.
The SOCIM has developed programs and workshops
that have been presented at the National Conference & Exhibition, Pediatric Academic Societies and Pangea Integrative Medicine Conference meetings. The emphasis has been on providing evidence-based
information on various CAM therapies commonly used by children and families
to treat common or serious conditions. In addition, CAM-related topics
will be provided in the journal, Pediatrics
In Review, to help prepare pediatricians for board exams and recertification.
Since its inception in 2005, the SOCIM has been engaged with various activities. The American
Board of Pediatrics has requested the submissions of potential
questions based on these PIR articles with the expectation that
more CAM questions will be covered on the boards. A clinical
report for clinicians and a patient education brochure on CAM was published. The report provides an overview of various therapies, insurance coverage, medical liability, and provides guidance on communicating effectively with patients and families who use or are interested in using CAM. Additionally, the SOCIM has been represented at meetings of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and has given testimony to urge target research on infants, children, and adolescents as a population of special interest for future research.
The SOCIM recognizes the
lack of research on CAM, especially in the pediatric population, and is
working with the Pediatric
Research in Office Setting (PROS) Network to develop a research agenda
and strategies for CAM therapies most commonly used by children and families.
The section also will work with AAP Department of Federal Affairs to urge
the NIH, NCCAM to target infants, children, and adolescents as a
population of special interest for future research.
It also is important that advocacy
for appropriate reimbursement for integrative services be addressed, therefore,
SOCIM will work with the Division
on Health Care Finance and Quality Improvement to develop priorities,
goals, and strategies for enhancing reimbursement for effective, appropriate
complementary therapies.
Finally, highlighting successful clinical
models of pediatric integrative care is another priority of the SOCIM
to help support pediatricians who are interested in developing this type
of practice.
Member
Survey Summary
SOCIM
Newsletter 
SOCIM Listserv
All members of the section are eligible to participate on the SOCIM
email list. Content focuses on AAP section information as well as clinical,
educational, and research topics of relevance to membership. To sign up
for the list, contact Teri Salus at tsalus@aap.org
For further information
on the AAP SOCIM or for questions or concerns, please e-mail socim@aap.org
or call 847/434-7920.
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