I had the privilege last week of speaking on both days at the 4^th Annual National Institute of Integrative Medicine Symposium in Melbourne.
Twenty-five International and Australian speakers presented the latest evidence-based research, therapies, treatments and innovative technologies.
The topic list contained many of the issues our patients are confronting each day:

• Cancer: Integrative Oncology, care and progression from diagnosis to prognosis, treatment and survivorship.

• Integrative approaches to healthcare

• Allergies and autoimmune conditions.

• Brain health.

• Chronic diseases.

• Developmental delays in children.

• Diabetes and obesity.

• Environmental medicine.

• Genetics

• Gut health

• Inflammation.

• Mind-body medicine.

• Nutrition.

• Pain Management

• Women’s health

• Research updates

I challenge you to advise of any single one of those topics where you you feel that you can’t get involved.

Not comfortable?

Then attend some Conferences and Symposiums like this and learn to make a difference to the quality of life of every one of your patients – those who are well, and more importantly, those who wish to be well.

How confident are you in “integration?”

As custodians of medications, we have a unique opportunity to monitor, reassure and guide the use of integrative options within the wellness model sought so keenly by our patients.
We dispense medications, and that surely allows discussions about prescribed medication induced nutrient insufficiencies, interactions between medications and herbs, and any other concerns that our patients have, but we actually never ask them about.

Do we recognize this opportunity?

Do we realize the trusted role we pay as our patients express their desire to move from the illness model to the wellness model?

Or, do we view this opportunity as one quick sale?

Do we make ourselves available for an engaged conversation, without distractions?

Do you see any long-term value in that engagement?

And evidence of therapeutic outcomes here?
Let’s take our heads out of the sand and get involved?

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Your patients do, and are probably attending NIIM free seminars anyway.