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I've had first-hand experience with some of those physicians who went on to form the core curriculum for the above (in my case, Washington, DC).
The physicians were all Western medicine trained and long-established. These were physicians who had expanded their *own* horizons over the years and felt that there was a need to be more inclusive--of the modalities and the patient themselves. They found that *our* medicine did not necessarily answer the needs of their patients!

And they all felt that patient involvement was key. Nutrition and education were also overlooked and underestimated.

At the time I met two or three of these physicians, they shared that the 'traditional' (Western) courses only required a 2 hour course on "Nutrition" out of 6 years' worth of study for a medical degree. SO MUCH of what ails the people in this country, alone, are caused by eating --(usually overeating)-- not eating a balanced diet to start with or eating processed foods that are void of any nutrition--not to mention pollution. Without involving the patient as a partner is *pointless* and only serves to support this myth about the "Magic Pill" that will cure you of all your illness without any effort on your part. So education of the physician AND the patient was a part of their platform from the beginning.

Western medicine is driven by the chemical and pharmaceutical companies. They fund the majority of research and programs in universities. Not surprisingly, they would like to reinforce their own R&D and encourage use of their products by graduating physicians.

In follow-up, the 'detail men' stop in every so often for a 15 minute overview of the 'new products' of the doctors, leave their samples and are out the door with hardly a wrinkle in the 10-15 minute schedule most familiar to us. With any luck, the physician you are seeing will take it upon him/herself to follow-up on their own time (?!) and get more involved in the information about the new product and not just take everything "on faith".

In today's market, Big Pharma's products more often address *symptoms* than cure illnesses. More focus is in over-the-counter 'designer' drugs for such demanding illnesses as ED, restless leg syndrome, instant weight loss, etc. Turn on TV and it tells the story all too well.

Democracy may be at odds with something as sacred as health care.

IMO, there should be regulations in place to control price gouging since industry does not "police" itself but gouges unmercifully in something as basic and essential as health care.

In addition, there should be a mandatory R&D policy to address DISEASE as part of the privilege for these mega-Pharma houses. Make some arrangements (without industry writing the legislation) as to what the obligations are based on profit margins, but we have serious issues in the country--in the world--and these corporations have turned all the burners on for the idiots who want to have a 4 hour erection.

Give me a break!