What’s
in a Name?
Executive Director Wendy Chappell, MBA
As integrative doctors we see
both sides of the coin, the allopathic training we were given in medical school
as well as innovative new ideas that we seek out to help our patients. This
“marriage” between mindsets is a very uneasy partnership. Perhaps these two
parties should get a divorce. Our title is a bit tongue in cheek. It is meant
to stimulate thought, to challenge ourselves as well as society as a whole. The
fate of this uneasy marriage may still be undecided. But we can assure you that
our meeting will be an intense therapy session, full of questioning the roots
and effects of our actions on healing and disease.
What started out as a study/support group of doctors
in the Great Lakes Region 30 years ago (GLACM) was changed to “The
International College of Integrative Medicine” in 2001. Why is it that one of
the smallest medical associations in existence chose to describe themselves
with such grandiose words? The founders of ICIM were ambitious. They had a
vision, not of numbers but of a scope of understanding that stretched beyond National
borders and current conventions of healing. Follow me through some of the
historic notes that illustrate the development of our name.
An unmitigated success is the only way to describe the XII
International Congress of GLACM held at the Amway Grand Plaza….Three and a half
foreign countries were represented:
Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland.
New member John Trowbridge attended from the “1/2” foreign country. Do you remember the Lone Star State used to
be an independent country with embassies before they became part of the United
States? Great Lake Gazette October 1989
Membership Escalates:
Whether it be from Pacific Rim countries, the Northern Border, the
Caribbean, or even across the pond, Northern Hemispheres physicians have
suddenly recognized the leadership of GLACM and are attending and joining this
alternative medical group. North
American members from Florida to Dakota’s the Carolina’s to Lake Meade
recognize the leadership/training qualities, and are expanding/offering their
training to other degreed individuals.
They being M.D.’s, D.O.’s, DVM’s, DDS’s, DC’s, ND’s, and DPM’s. Great
Lakes Gazette Fall 1994
Several members have suggested that we consider changing the
name of GLACM reflecting our membership which is now throughout the United
States and also in Australia and Indonesia.
Your Board of Directors requests that each member give thought to this
and send your suggestions to our executive director. Bear in mind if there is to be a new name, it
should have the word “COLLEGE” within its title for eventual recognition as a
teaching body. Great Lakes Gazette Spring 1996
The prospect of a new name—to recognize our evolving
national and even global theme—will be entertained, with suggestions sought
from members. GLCCM Board Meeting September 2000
"We have been trained as "conventional"
physicians, learning well the accepted diagnostic and treatment protocols. And with these, we integrated the best of
modern medical technologies, moving the new knowledge from research reports
into practical programs that change patients lives. We offer more than an "alternative"
choice. We do more than just
"complement" usual medical care.
In reality, we "integrate" tried-and-true conventional medical
care and the newest information available from research conducted by medical
schools and clinical practitioners from around the world. Hence, our new name." ICIM
Gazette Summer 2001
"Don't misunderstand," Dr. C.(Terry Chappell)
stated - "we're not out to be the biggest
organization of our kind, but the best. We've listened carefully to what members of
our
community need and want.
We've found today's health professionals are struggling with
escalating conference costs, finding it difficult to decide
which conferences are really
worth attending, and which associations will give them the
biggest 'bang for the buck'. No question
- it's going to be us." ICIM
Gazette, 2001
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