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September 2016 Volume 12 Issue 9
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Director's Letter
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This month's quote is by Benjamin Franklin: "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." The BTER Foundation has been investing in knowledge for over 14 years. Here are some examples:
1) Through basic and applied
research, the BTER Foundation has expanded our understanding of biotherapy - what it can do, and how it works.
2) Through its
courses, workshops, webinars, and publications, the BTER Foundation educates clinicians about how and when to use biotherapy.
3) Through its
website, public campaigns, and the service of countless volunteers answering phone calls and e-mails, the BTER Foundation is working hard to educate the general public regarding biotherapy treatment options.
Two of our founding members were passionate about education and about sharing biotherapy with the world: Pamela Mitchell and Randall Sullivan. Pam Mitchell passed away 5 years ago, this month, from complications of diabetes.
She had nearly lost her legs 12 years earlier, but convinced her doctors to try maggot therapy before proceeding to amputation. In the process, she not only healed her wounds and saved her legs, but she also educated her physicians about what maggot therapy could do for a "non-salvageable wound." Through the BTER Foundation, Pam went on to share her story with all who would listen, and accompanied scores of patients through the process of educating themselves and their doctors about maggot therapy. Ms. Mitchell even wrote a book about her experiences ("
Maggots, Miracles and Me
."). Pam was an exemplary patient advocate and educator, and dedicated her remaining years to those efforts. For that reason, the BTER Foundation created the Pam Mitchell Memorial Patient Assistance Fund, whose goal is to ensure adequate financial resources for patients to receive biotherapy (through The BTER Foundation's Patient Assistance Grants), even if they have no insurance, or if their insurance does not cover the appropriate biotherapy treatments.
Randy Sullivan was a nurse and wound care educator long before she helped create the BTER Foundation. As a board member, she developed many of the programs and resources that we still use today in our training sessions. After her passing in 2014, the
Randall Sullivan Biotherapist Education Fund was established to help fund, for years to come, the training programs that she helped to create.
If you have attended any of our free courses or if you received treatment from some of our former trainees, please
consider a small investment in our educational programs. Pam Mitchell and Randy Sullivan - and maybe even Benjamin Franklin - would be most grateful. As always, you can specify which fund and how you want your donations to be used.
With best wishes, respect, and gratitude,
Ron Sherman
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Ichthyotherapy and Psoriasis Study
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The BTER Foundation is looking for dermatologists and podiatrists willing to collaborate on a study examining using ichthyotherapy to treat psoriasis. We are also looking for individuals with psoriasis who may be interested in participating in the study. If you or someone you know is a dermatologist, podiatrist, or suffers from psoriasis, please contac
t
[email protected]
or contact Dr. Ron Sherman at (949) 278-9756.
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Biotherapy Around the World
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The FDA takes on antibacterial soaps "Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term."
Read the whole press release here.
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Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course & Conference - October 21-23, 2016, Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Are you an apitherapist or interested in apitherapy? The American Apitherapy Society offers two conference tracks. Beginners can learn about Apitherapy basics, including honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and bee venom. Experienced practitioners can advance their knowledge in the uses and applications of apitherapy. Student pricing ends 10/9.
Learn more about apitherapy
here.
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2016 Biotherapy Conferences
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* denotes BTER Foundation Presence
** denotes biotherapy lecture(s) by a BTER Foundation member or with teaching materials provided by the BTER Foundation.
Atlanta, GA, USA
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Publication Credits
THE BeTER LeTTER is published by:
BioTherapeutics, Education & Research (BTER) Foundation
36 Urey Court, Irvine, CA 92617
Phone: 949-246-1156 / Fax: 949-679-3001
Editor:
Ronald A. Sherman
Assistant Editor:
Amy Lajiness
Contributing Writers:
Dr. Sagiv Ben-Yakir, Dr. Jose Contreras-Ruiz, Dr. Robert McKie, Dr. Jacques Oskam, Sheri Rosen, Dr. Pascal Steenvoorde, Dr. Tarek Tantawi, Catalina Wang,
Dr. Shou Yu Wang. Your name could be here!
Foundation Consultants:
Eve Iversen, Dr. Alana Jolley, Amy Mendez, Joanne Preston, Dr. Aletha Tippett
Foundation Board:
Ronald A Sherman (Chair);
Sagiv Ben-Yakir; Chris Kleronomos; Samuel G Kohn (Treasurer); Sheri Rosen.
Past Board Members:
Donna Beales
;
Sharon Mendez; Pamela Mitchell; Randall Sullivan
Administrative Assistant:
Amy Lajiness
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