January 2014 John Weeks Integrator Round-Up: People

Integrative psychiatrist Robert Koffman, MD granted U.S. Special Operations Command Patriot Award

The U.S. Special Operations Command Patriot Award was recently granted to integrative psychiatrist Navy Capt. Robert Koffman, MD "for treating 68 Special Forces operators for traumatic brain injuries and psychological health conditions." The award was made by Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, in a ceremony in the Pentagon. Koffman is the senior consultant for integrative medicine and behavioral health at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Md. Koffman is quoted as saying that "the holistic care offered resonates with the Special Forces population, specifically the mixture of traditional medicine with integrative modalities."

by John Weeks, Publisher/Editor of The Integrator Blog News & Reports

Integrative psychiatrist Robert Koffman, MD granted U.S. Special Operations Command Patriot Award

The U.S. Special Operations Command Patriot Award was recently granted to integrative psychiatrist Navy Capt. Robert Koffman, MD "for treating 68 Special Forces operators for traumatic brain injuries and psychological health conditions." The award was made by Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, in a ceremony in the Pentagon. Koffman is the senior consultant for integrative medicine and behavioral health at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Md. Koffman is quoted as saying that "the holistic care offered resonates with the Special Forces population, specifically the mixture of traditional medicine with integrative modalities."

Leena Guptha, DO the new board chair for national massage certification organization NCBTMB

The former vice-chair of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), Leena Guptha, DO, has taken over as the chair of the organization following the resignation, for personal reasons, of past chair Sue Toscano. Guptha has been a strong advocate of the organization's higher certification level announced in 2012. These include passing the board certification exam, 750 hours of education, 250 hours of hands-on work experience, completion of a criminal background check and a commitment to adhere to the NCB Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.  An interview with Guptha is here.

In Memorium: Society for Integrative Oncology co-founder Helen Moss

The Society for Integrative Oncology noted the death of one of its co-founders, philanthropist and activist Helen Moss, with a message to members which read, in part: "Moss' first cancer diagnosis of advanced breast cancer came in 2000. The same year that she founded the Helen Moss Cancer Research Foundation (formerly the Helen Moss Breast Cancer Research Foundation). Shortly after her diagnosis, Moss reached out to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's chief of Integrative Medicine Service, Barrie Cassileth, PhD. In 2004, Cassileth founded the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) where Moss became an active board member and benefactor of the organization." Moss is credited with "kick-starting" integrative oncology in the Cleveland area, and bringing NIH director Francis Collins, MD to an SIO conference there to keynote.

In Memorium: integrative health consumer activist Charles B. Maclean, PhD

The Philanthropy Now website of Charles B. Maclean, PhD lists him as "founder and committed listener." The Portland, Oregon-based consultant in the areas of philanthropy and social entrepreneurial work, Maclean was a consumer of integrative health and medicine who believed that these needed to be more accessible to average consumers. He was drawn to the movement. He worked closely with the "godmother of holistic medicine" Gladys McGarey, MD in her recent foray into national healthcare politics and as a consumer representative to a panel of the Institute for Health Improvement, founded by Don Berwick, MD. He had a fertile, synthetic mind and maintained an ongoing exchange with me over the years. His bio lists: Trustee, International Mankind Foundation. His business' mission: "Igniting Passion for Community Give-back." He will be missed.