OSHER "IN THE NEWS"

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
January 2006

Osher Research Center Director, David Eisenberg, was interviewed as part of ongoing feature in the journal of major contributors to the field.

New York Times
November 22, 2005
Vital Signs: Effects When Mindfulness Goes to Your Head by Eric Nagourney

This report, also picked up by LA Times, USA Today, CNN, and Washington Post, featured Osher Faculty member Cathy Kerr, PhD and her work with Division member Sara Lazar, PhD looking at the results of meditation on the structure of the brain. This was presented at the National Neurological Association Meeting in New York City

Complementary & Natural Healthcare Expo West
October 7, 2005

Osher Research Center Director, David Eisenberg, MD, presented a Keynote Address to this large biannual national convention of business CEOs, scientific officers, and marketing managers.

Boston Globe
Thursday, January 13,2005

Osher Research Center Fellow, Hilary Tindle, MD, was interviewed regarding the publication of a survey of national CAM use based on the 2002 NHIS data. Harvard Medical School press release was issued.

Major Newspapers and Wire Services
Wednesday, January 12, 2005

David Eisenberg and Michael Cohen were involved in a day-long Capitol Hill briefing and press conference on the occasion of the publication of the Institute of Medicine's final report on complementary medicine research. Harvard Medical School press release was issued.

Major Newspapers, Wire Services, NPR, BBC, Indian newspapers
December 2004

Outgoing Fellow, Robert Saper, MD, was featured in stories published in most major media outlets in the United States, Europe, South America and India in reference to his clinical review of the adverse effects of Ayurvedic medical products sold in the United States. Harvard Medical School press release was issued.

Washington Post
Friday, May 28, 2004
Page A01

David Eisenberg is interviewed in a story detailing the results of a governmental survey of 31,000 adults showing about 36 percent are using some kind of "complementary" therapy.


Newseek
April 26, 2004

The cover story of this issue focuses on low-back pain, its cost to the U.S. economy, and features a full section on models of integrative care in which the Osher Research Center is featured and David Eisenberg is quoted.

PBS Frontline
Alternative Fix
First aired on November 6, 2003

This hour-long probe into the complex issues surrounding the use of nonconventional medical practices by millions of Americans features Division faculty members David Eisenberg and Ted Kaptchuk, as well as other faculty members of Harvard Medical School.

Wall Street Journal
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Two, Four, Six, Eight…This Pill Works Great by Amy Dockser Marcus

A discussion of the placebo effect and the ethical problems created as physician attempt to harness its effects in clinical practice. Ted Kaptchuk, Division faculty member was interviewed in this feature.

Boston Sunday Globe
August 3, 2003
Sweet Relief by Harvey Blume

An account of the recent scientific controversies surrounding the placebo effect featuring Ted Kaptchuk and the Division’s placebo special interest committee.

Institute of Medicine Expert Panel
On October 21, 2002, NCCAM announced funding of an Institute of Medicine study panel to explore scientific, policy and practice questions that arise from the significant and increasing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies by the American public. http://www.nccam.nih.gov/news/2002/102102.htm

Division Director, David Eisenberg, was named to the panel which is due to complete its work in late-2004.
Specifically, the study will:

1. Describe the use of CAM therapies by the American public, providing a comprehensive overview, to the extent data are available, of the therapies in wide-spread use, the populations that use them, and what is known about how they are provided.
2. Identify major scientific, policy and practice issues related to CAM research, and the translation of validated therapies into conventional practice.
3. Develop conceptual models or frameworks to guide public and private sector decision-making as research and practice communities confront the challenges of conducting research on CAM, translating research findings into practice and addressing the distinct policy and practice barriers inherent in that translation.
   For more information, http://www.iom.edu/project.asp?id=4829

Federation of State Medical Boards

Model Guidelines for the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Medical Practice

These guidelines which were substantially authored by Division Director David Eisenberg and Michael Cohen, Division faculty member, were approved by the House of Delegates of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc., as policy in April 2002

Newsweek
Cover Story: The Science of Alternative Medicine
December 2, 2002

Division faculty members contributed substantial portions of this feature story and served as final editors for all data it contains.