World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies Annual Symposium, London Heathrow, 11-13 October 2024
Acupuncture NZ President Robin Kerr, is back in the country after attending the WFAS 2024 International Symposium on Acupuncture and Moxibustion in London.
The World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) is the leading international organisation that connects over 200 Traditional Chinese Medicine organisations from member countries together for the promotion of acupuncture.
The annual symposium was this year held in the UK and the turnout was one of the best since before Covid, with over 500 participants. After a wonderful opening ceremony and presentations from the keynote spears, there were 5 separate rooms presenting simultaneously throughout the weekend.
On Friday afternoon prior to the beginning of the Conference, Robin attended the WFAS executive meeting. There were joyous and warm greetings from the WFAS colleagues whom Acupuncture NZ hosted in New Zealand earlier this year.
Robin was honored to be asked by the WFAS Secretariat to co-host the opening ceremony and introduce some of the keynote speakers.
The work in Integrative oncology is powering ahead internationally. Robin was was delighted to spend time with Beverley de Valois, Yair Mamon, and Jacqueline Filshie. The international support for our work in New Zealand is strong, with a great respect for the work we have championed achieving statutory regulation.
The WFAS International Symposium this year was co-hosted by British Acupuncture Council and the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS). Mike Cummings, Medical Director of BMAS provided an interesting presentation on the ‘Future of Acupuncture in Modern Healthcare- a global perspective’. Mike held a round-table discussion regarding reducing the divisions between TCM practitioners and medical acupuncturists promoting the message to work together. He showed the evidence regarding reducing the burden of disease through the utlisation of acupuncture treatment.
Linda Hao, co-founder and president of the International Academy of Scalp Acupuncture presented inspiring work using scalp acupuncture on children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.
As usual at the WFAS Symposiums the meetings started at the early breakfasts and went onto 11pm in the evenings. There were two dinner functions. The Friday night dinner was sponsored by BMAS and was for the WFAS executive only. The Saturday night was the Gala dinner with a large turnout.
