Assemblyman Leland Yee: Future of Medicine Conference

Odds are that if you live in San Francisco, you have had the opportunity to experience some form of holistic or alternative healthcare. This could include practicing yoga or relaxation exercises, or taking herbal supplements for colds or other ailments. Many San Franciscans regularly visit acupuncturists, chiropractors or naturopathic physicians for relief from a variety of conditions. Whether or not you incorporate these forms of treatment into your own life, one thing is certain: alternative healthcare is on the rise in California. 

I am delighted to announce that on Nov. 13, I will be joining with The Institute for Holistic Healing Studies at San Francisco State University to co-host The Future of Medicine - Conference 2004. The conference will bring together leaders in the fields of complementary and alternative medicine, health care experts, community partners and citizens wishing to learn more about the value and benefits of integrating alternative and conventional medicine. It is my hope that a holistic health forum will educate the public and demonstrate that there is no single, inflexible approach to health care.

Thanks to Senate Bill 907, authored by Sen. John Burton in 2003, Naturopathic Physicians are now eligible for licensure in California, allowing our state to join the ranks of others which offer natural medicine as a recognized health care option. Treatments typically referred to as alternative or complementary medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage, are being integrated more and more into conventional medical practices.  In fact, medical institutes such as the California Pacific Medical Center, University of California San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente offer alternative medicine.  Additionally, valuable educational programs are making a career in alternative healthcare an available option for more and more individuals. 

The Future of Medicine Conference will feature keynote speakers who are at the forefront of the complementary and alternative medicine movement. Sylver Quevedo is a Harvard educated M.D. and M.P.H. who directs the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF. A public health expert, he is known for his holistic approach to healthcare - bringing together body, mind and spirit in a culturally sensitive context.

In addition to hearing from our dynamic speakers and panelists, conference-goers will be invited to participate in interactive workshops to learn about and experience first-hand a variety of alternative medicine disciplines. Workshops will range from chiropractic care and massage to the healing power of music, Qigong and nutritional medicine. 

We are lucky to live in a socially and culturally diverse community that is, for the most part, very open to holistic thinking and practices as well as new approaches to health and healing. By expanding our healthcare options we will be better prepared to meet the health care needs of the 21st century.  By taking advantage of untapped resources, we can better provide for those in need in our community.  

The conference will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., at San Francisco State University's student center, Jack Adams Hall, 1600 Holloway Ave.

Speaker pro Tempore Leland Yee represents the 12th Assembly District, which includes San Francisco and San Mateo counties.