Mexico Educational Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:     Maelu Fleck   
                    American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine (AAOM)
                    888 687 1920
                    719 687 5184 (fax)
                    aaom@aaomed.org
                    www.aaomed.org

The AAOM travels to Mexico to Share Medical Care and Education about Prolotherapy.

Cuidad Guzman, Mexico.  November 8 - 15, 2008.
 
The AAOM traveled to Cuidad Guzman, Mexico to provide a clinical experience to teach prolotherapy to 9 US physicians and 5 Mexican physicians.  With three AAOM teachers, the trip was organized to provide lecture instruction in the mornings and to then provide care in the late mornings through early evening.  During this first trip, the AAOM was able to see over 500 patients over the course of 5 days.  Supported by the medical community of Cuidad Guzman, they posted information about the AAOM visit at their facilities and Dr. Neil Kirschen, immediate past president of the AAOM, was interviewed on the radio and local television.

This course was a dream of the AAOM.  It allowed us to provide an intensive educational experience for our students and we were able to provide pain treatments heretofore unavailable to the residents of a small town in Mexico. The AAOM was able to introduce prolotherapy to the patients and Mexican physicians.  One of our goals was to train the Mexican physicians in prolotherapy so that they could carry on with further treatments. According to Mayo Friedlis, M.D., current President of the AAOM and teacher on this trip, “It was a gratifying as well as a satisfying experience for all who participated. This trip provided an incredible experience, living and learning in Mexico and it really allowed us to get to know the people involved in the trip the community of Cuidad Guzman.  Everyone we treated was so grateful, I just felt good that we were able bring this trip to fruition.”

The medical community of Cuidad Guzman was very grateful that we were able to treat so many of the local residents for free.  In addition to providing care, the AAOM provided supplies and materials as part of the trip.  Based on this successful trial, the AAOM intends to schedule one or two visits per year, likely, one in May, and the other in October. Since 1982, the charter of the AAOM has been to provide ongoing educational courses for its member physician and other health care providers. This course offering in Ciudad Guzman continues to fulfill the educational charter of the AAOM.

For information about this trial trip, please see the pdf link below.  We will begin scheduling the next trip in January of 2008.  We have included some photos of the trip to share the experience with you.  If you are interested in the next trip, contact the AAOM at 888 687 1920 or check on the AAOM website at WWW.AAOMED.org