Dr. John Pittman of the Carolina Center Contributes to “The Voice of Integrative Medicine”

John Pittman, MD, founder of the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM), will now be a regular contributor to the American College for Advancement in Medicine’s website. ACAM is a not-for-profit association dedicated to educating physicians and other health care professionals on the latest findings and emerging procedures in complementary, alternative and integrative (CAIM) medicine. The organization is committed to developing an educational program that is based upon the most current, comprehensive, and scientifically sound evidence available.

Dr. Pittman founded the Carolina Center in 1994. He received his MD degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and attended the Pediatric Residency Program at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem with an interest in Preventive Medicine. He is the only local physician fully certified in chelation therapy for the treatment of heavy metal toxicity and only one of six medical practitioners in the state of North Carolina who is certified through the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology.

Dr. Pittman is the current President of the North Carolina Integrative Medical Society (NCIMS), an organization he helped co-found in 2002 that provides educational opportunities to practitioners, as well protects the rights of practitioners to treat patients with the best health care modalities available. He also was recently recognized by Business Leader magazine as one of their 2008 Triangle Impact Health Care Leaders. He says that his role in NCIMS has helped him reach out to non-conventional physicians and that experience will help him choose topics that affect both conventional and non-conventional physicians.

"Being able to connect with physicians through ACAM is an incredible opportunity," explains Dr. Pittman. "Being a spokesperson for Integrative Medicine in North Carolina is a great challenge and responsibility. However, the ability to bridge the divide that has split conventional and non-conventional doctors and help educate more mainstream physicians about the scientific research that exists and supports the use of many non-pharmaceutical modalities is gratifying. I’m honored to be a part of ACAM and look forward to using my professional knowledge and experience on NCIMS to shape my contributions."

ACAM is committed to ensuring that physicians, researchers, and other CAIM healthcare professionals play an active role in shaping the future of the CAIM movement. To that end, the organization utilizes a nationwide network of ACAM leaders as spokespeople to clearly and effectively communicate the benefits that CAIM therapies have in improving treatment outcomes of patient care and the whole healthcare system. Drew McGray, ACAM VP of Marketing and Operations, says that his organization’s Blog is just one of resources that ACAM is using to connect physicians and that Dr. Pittman’s posts have been well received.

"ACAM is excited to add Dr. Pittman as a recurring guest blogger," says McGray. "His contributions have generated a great deal of buzz in the community, and we look forward to his future posts."

About the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine
The Carolina Center utilizes a combination of the most progressive alternative therapies, along with dietary and lifestyle modifications, to treat a wide variety of chronic illnesses and immune system dysfunctions. Conditions treated include Atherosclerosis & Disorders of Circulation, Chronic Digestive Disturbances, Chronic Infections & Immune Dysfunction, Degenerative Neurological Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity/Environmental Allergies, and Pediatric Program for Autism. The Carolina Center also provides Chemical Detoxification and support for patients injured through exposure to mold, pesticides, mercury, and sick building syndrome. For more information, call (919) 571-4391 or visit www.carolinacenter.com.

About the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)
ACAM is the voice of integrative medicine; our goals are to improve physician skills, knowledge and diagnostic procedures as they relate to complementary and alternative medicine; to support integrative medicine research; and to develop awareness of alternative methods of medical treatment. ACAM enables members of the public to connect with physicians who take an integrative approach to patient care and empowers people with information about integrative medicine treatment options. Celebrating more than a quarter century of service, ACAM represents more than 1,000 physicians in 30 countries. ACAM is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of the integrative medicine industry. For more information, visit www.acam.org.

Media Contact:
Louise Cottrell
FireBrand Marketing, Inc.
(919) 848-1025
louisec@firebrandmarketing.com

Drew McGray
ACAM VP Marketing and Operations
(949) 309-3525
drew.mcgray@acam.org

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