The excerpt below was taken from page 9 of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine's Spring 2011 Newsletter
Your Healing Retreat
Elizabeth Mumper, MD, FAAP
My gratitude to the SOCIM Newsletter for the opportunity to share exciting news about a new venture: Your
Healing Retreat, a path for parents and physicians living and working with autism and ADD will take place
June 3-5, 2011 at the beautiful Kanuga Conference Center in the mountains of North Carolina in Hendersonville.
Four of my professional colleagues, Drs. Nancy O’Hara, MD, Stephanie Cave, MD, Julie Buckley, MD and
Maureen McDonnell, RN and I have worked together as clinicians, teachers, authors and lecturers in the field
of neurodevelopmetal disorders. As busy professionals, we have a hard time practicing what we preach about
self nurturing. Suddenly, we got a wake-up call when the youngest of us developed cancer.
We decided to create a weekend retreat, geared at caregivers- both family members and physicians dealing
with disease processes- that could prove to be helpful to everyone involved, integrating education about the
medical problems with experiences that help those caring for someone with chronic health challenges
successfully care for themselves. Our first retreat will focus on those who care for children with Autism and
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Physicians who take care of children with autism and ADHD may find themselves in “burnout” mode, due to
the magnitude of their patients’ problems and the frustrations of the parents. The retreat is designed for
medical doctors (especially pediatricians and family practitioners) who wish to understand and learn practical
science-based approaches for identifying and treating the array of medical conditions that impact behavior,
attention and speech of children affected by autism. Your Healing Retreat participants will gain access to
cutting-edge, safe and effective integrative approaches for healing children while recharging their own
batteries. They will learn relaxation techniques, tips to improve their relationships, and strategies to get back
into balance. Kathi Kemper, the former section head of the American Academy of Pediatrics Complementary
and Alternative Medicine division will speak on Stress Management: Mental, Physical and Spiritual.
CME approved lectures scheduled in conjunction with workshops and a myriad of rest, relaxation and healing
opportunities (including morning yoga, massage, hikes, organic food and cooking classes) allow conference
attendees to enjoy a spectacular retreat environment at a beautiful lake in the mountains. During the threeday
intimate meeting, a community will be built––and through the use of interactive web-based tools––
continue to be fostered long after the conference is over. At the conclusion of the “Healing Retreat”, parents
and physicians return home rested, renewed, and rejuvenated, with a resource community and real-time
implementable tools in their proverbial toolbox.
We specifically have designed the curriculum for this retreat to be very friendly and welcoming for those new
to the integrative medicine experience. We have made a conscious decision to avoid focusing on the
polarizing issue of causation with regard to autism and focus on strategies to help children with autism and
ADHD thrive and heal. We are working hard to develop an integrative medicine tool box, so that clinicians
who attend the retreat will be equipped to begin specific treatment strategies when they return to their offices
refreshed and restored.
Your Healing Retreat is a path of education, hope and rejuvenation for parents and physicians living and
working with autism and ADD. Due to the unique structure of the event, we can only accommodate 50
clinicians (MDs and DOs). Visit www.yourhealingretreat.com now to register!
To read the full SOCIM Spring 2011 Newlsetter, click on the link below.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_h3LQ-jb0t9NzI2OThmZWUtNGE2Ny00NmJlLTkyZWYtZTM1MjZhYWU1NGI0&hl=en
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