English | Français

Thank you to the four participating clinics



Executive Summary
The 2011 Dr. Roger’s Prize Colloquium on complementary, alternative and integrative medicine brought together more than 250 people in the field who shared their thoughts and ideas on how integrative medicine is actually practiced in Canada and how to move it forward. The discussion that occurred throughout the day reflected the participants’ deep commitment to influencing positive changes in the Canadian healthcare system.
The Introduction
Moderator Allen Grossman from the Harvard School of Business kicked off the Colloquium by introducing John Weeks and Steven Carter to ‘set the stage’ of how CAM is perceived and moving forward around the world. John Weeks spoke about the state of complementary, alternative and integrative medicine throughout the world, while Steven Carter addressed the situation in Canada. John listed some of the latest trends in CAM throughout the world and concluded by sharing four general trends in healthcare that bode well for those interested in complementary and alternative medicine, notably increased focus on:
  1. patient-centred care
  2. research that focuses on real-world outcomes
  3. interprofessional education
  4. globalization

Steven Carter focused on five key sectors and how they are currently moving CAM forward in Canada. He highlighted achievements by the research sector, the education sector, medical associations, government and the business world.

The Panel Discussion
Following the introductions by John Weeks and Steven Carter, four integrative clinics took the stage to speak about their experiences in setting up and running their clinics. Unique to this Colloquium, participants were invited from two physician-led clinics: InspireHealth (Vancouver) and the Seekers Centre (Ottawa), and two naturopathic physician-led clinics: Integrative Healing Arts (Vancouver) and the Integrative Health Institute (Ottawa).

Each clinic spoke briefly in response to five questions they had been asked to prepare answers on in advance of the day:

  • What are your greatest successes?
  • What significant barriers have you had to face to achieve success?
  • How did you overcome these barriers?
  • Describe one or two of the most important lessons you’ve learned.

Participants were then provided opportunities to ask questions of the panelists to further the discussion.

The Breakout Discussions & Conclusion
Attendees of the Colloquium broke into four breakout groups to share their thoughts and ideas about CAM and integrative medicine. Facilitators led lively and well-informed discussion on four key questions:
  1. How do we know that we are fulfilling the needs of the patients we serve?
  2. What would you consider to be the key elements of success for clinics?
  3. Do you agree with the challenges identified by the panel? What did they not include?
  4. What are your keys to success?

At the conclusion of the day, attendees gathered to hear outcomes from the breakout sessions, engage in additional discussion, and respond to one new question posed by Allen Grossman “Putting aside an enumeration of the challenges, what is it that you/we can do as individuals to address these challenges, and what would you like to see happen in the next year or two? What actions can we undertake and connect to an outcome that would make a difference in advancing this field?” Grossman wrapped up the day by sharing his impressions on the day and the exceptional leadership and advocacy of participants in moving complementary, alternative and integrative medicine forward in Canada.

Later that evening, the 2011 Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Gala concluded the event with a keynote speech by Dr. Wayne Jonas of the Samueli Institue and the awarding of the 2011 Dr. Rogers Prize to the University of Calgary’s Dr. Marja Verhoef who holds Canada’s only Research Chair in Complementary Medicine.