EAST-WEST MEDICINEWinter 2010
These words have inspired me through-
out my career in medicine. Yet, health-
care as provided today seems to have lost
sight of its focus: the patient.
Despite ground-breaking medical research
findings and the development of life-saving
surgical procedures and pharmaceuticals,
our healthcare system has been shown to
have many shortcomings. Not only have
the accelerating costs been under scrutiny,
questions are also being raised about the
paradigm that leans heavily upon high-tech
and invasive crisis intervention. Decades
of debates have finally reached the his-
torical juncture when major reforms to
our healthcare system are now urgently
needed.
“The study of medicine begins with the patient, continues with the patient, and ends with the patient.” – Sir William Osler
Letter from the Director
Over the last forty years at UCLA, I have come into
contact with many patients who suffer from health
problems that have eluded solutions. In my effort
to solve problems for my patients, I have become
convinced that we need to rebalance our healthcare
system to focus on patient-oriented care, preven-
tion, early disease recognition, and health promotion.
Medical traditions other than the western bio-
medical model should also be recognized for their
potential to heal both the current system and the
human population.
This conviction is what inspired me to establish
the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine sixteen
years ago. Since then we have helped thousands
of patients by blending the best of both modern
western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
Our programs in education, research, and resource
development continue to nurture innovative ideas
and effect change.
The successful outcomes of our approach tell us
that we are in a unique position to transform health-
care toward a positive direction. I invite you to join
us in our effort to make healthcare safe, effective,
affordable, and accessible to everyone.
Ka-Kit Hui, M.D., F.A.C.PWallis Annenberg Professor in Integrative East-West MedicineFounder and Director, UCLA Center for East-West Medicine
Our Approach to
Patient Care
Our team of UCLA-trained,
board-certified physicians
has a strong background in
traditional Chinese medicine.
They work in unison with
a team of Chinese medi-
cine experts at all stages of
patient care and manage-
ment. During the initial office
visit the physician will per-
form an exam that combines
western and Chinese medi-
cine diagnostic techniques.
The physician will then design
an individualized treatment
plan which integrates western
strategies with Chinese med-
icine techniques. We place
strong emphasis on self-help
to empower patients to
achieve wellness and
prevent illnesses.
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.2
Benefits of the
Integrative East-West
Approach:
• Improved qualify of life
• Fewer medications
• Lower risk of side-effects
and other complications
• Lower cost
“ UCLA’s Center for East-West Medicine saved my life.”
Several years ago my body began to betray
me. Bizarre irregularities appeared one by
one over the course of a year: constant
heart palpitations; lightheadedness; burn-
ing and irritated lips/palate/gums/tongue;
worsening of my hypoglycemia; constant,
severe gastrointestinal pain; abdominal
bloating; sinus problems; pain in my salivary
glands; severe pain in hands and feet; con-
stant neck pain; nausea; flashes of anxiety;
reappearance of menopausal hot flashes;
and sensitivities to chemicals and drugs I
previously tolerated.
Not surprisingly, I deteriorated mentally.
I spent my day crying and despairing. An
analyst by trade, I believed that, if I could
organize the symptoms, surely one alert
physician could diagnose me.
But that never happened. Over the course
of more than a year, I saw two dozen
specialists, including eleven days of testing
at The Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Months went
by, but my symptoms failed to improve and
new ones appeared.
Six months later, I walked into the East-West Center.
My “Western” doctor at the Center explained that
they saw patients like me all the time and could
help me. Improvements came quickly with weekly
acupuncture and acupressure treatments by my
“Eastern” doctor of Chinese Medicine and with
moderate dietary adjustments. Occasionally, tiny
lidocaine shots were used to train my screaming
muscles to calm. Aside from that, I was given no
drugs, not even any herbs.
Soon my body was no longer my enemy. Three years
later I’m on a maintenance schedule of one treat-
ment every three weeks, my body has regained its
equilibrium and I know how to keep it on track.
Western medicine has some excellent methods of
diagnostics and treatments. But it compartmental-
izes the body into specialties and is incapable of
treating it as a whole. But much of what we consult
Western medicine for can be accomplished far bet-
ter by Chinese medicine, more gently, less invasively,
less expensively, and it can even succeed where
Western medicine fails.
So, yes, the Center for East-West Medicine saved
my life!
– Karen
Dr. Jun Liang Yu recently retired after
working with Dr. Hui for twenty-four
years. Their partnership commenced
in 1985 when he trained under
Dr. Hui in clinical pharmacology at
UCLA. In 1993, Dr. Yu joined Dr. Hui
to establish the UCLA Center for
East-West Medicine. Dr. Yu played a
vital role in developing an integra-
tive medicine model and has trained
many medical students, rotating resi-
dents, fellows and clinicians, including
clinicians currently practicing at the
Center’s clinic.
Dr. Jun Liang Yu (right) with Dr. Ka-Kit Hui.
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.3
Dr. Malcolm Taw was introduced to the
Center for East-West Medicine when he
enrolled in the course offered to fourth-
year medical students in 2000.
“What drew me to the field of integrative
East-West medicine was seeing the benefit
to the patient. During the fourth-year
course, there was a patient with Meniere’s
Disease, who had severe vertigo. He had
sought Western medical care, but nothing
worked. At the Center, he was treated with
acupuncture, Chinese therapeutic massage,
and trigger point injections. Not only did he
get better, he was able to swing dance!”
Dr. Taw is now Assistant Clinic Professor at
the Center. He is an Internist certified by
the American Board of Internal Medicine
and has undergone training in a Masters
Degree program in Oriental Medicine. He
is developing a special clinic focusing on
Head and Neck Disorders to treat patients
with migraines, tension headaches, dizzi-
ness, vertigo, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and
temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).
Dr. H. Eric Schockman, one of Dr. Taw’s patients,
travels a great deal in the course of his work. But his
ability to do his work was impaired when he began
to experience hearing loss, vertigo, hallucinations at
night, insomnia, and a constant noise in his ears, all
of which worsened when he flew. Dr. Schockman
was seen by an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon and
had numerous tests. Months passed but there was
no diagnosis. “I reached the end of the Western
medicine route when my doctor said, ‘We can’t do
anything more. You’ll just have to live with it’.”
“Someone referred me to Dr. Malcolm Taw. He
treated me with acupuncture and trigger point injec-
tions and also taught me self-acupressure. After six
months, the condition cleared. I have none of the
symptoms, even when I fly. Dr. Taw is an excellent
healer, sensitive to the patient, and he understands
how East-West medicine can make a person whole.”
One of Dr. Taw’s current research projects on
refractory sinusitis is carried out in collaboration
with Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr. Marilene Wang.
The study is to objectively measure the improve-
ment in sinus and global health symptoms after
treatment at the Center.
In addition, Dr. Taw traveled to Sacramento and
Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators’ health-
care advisors to discuss how integrative medicine
can help with healthcare reform.
“I have sent many patients
with refractory sinusitis to
the Center, where they bene-
fit from the holistic approach
to treatment. We presented
our treatment philosophy
and preliminary data from
our study [on refrac-
tory chronic sinusitis] at a
recent national otolaryngol-
ogy meeting, where there
was great interest in our
approach.”
– Marilene Wang, M.D.,
F.A.C.S.; Professor, UCLA,
Division of Head and Neck
Surgery; Chief, Head and Neck
Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles
Healthcare System
“I am a big believer in East-
West medicine. [It] could
save patients and the health-
care system a lot of money.”
– Dr. Schockman,
Vice-chairman of Postsecondary
Education Commission for the
State of California
Extending the Reach of East-West Medicine
Malcolm Taw, M.D.
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.4
Lawrence Taw, M.D.
“My patients suffering from
osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia,
and connective tissue
diseases like rheumatoid
arthritis and lupus have had
excellent results from the
Center for East-West
Medicine at UCLA. Through
my collaboration with the
physicians and healthcare
providers at the Center,
my patients receive an indi-
vidualized treatment plan
tailored for their condition.
Learning more about health
and disease from the
Traditional Chinese medicine
perspective has allowed me
to appreciate the benefits of
this approach for health
maintenance, wellness and
disease prevention.”
– Mihaela Taylor, M.D.,
Rheumatologist,
UCLA Medical Center
Dr. Lawrence Taw offers the following dietary tips to
decrease inflammation:
• Increase intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, including
fish, such as salmon and mackerel, and flaxseed.
• Increase intake of fiber. Examples include organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• For cooking, use extra virgin olive oil.
• Avoid high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.
Ellistine Davis-Alfred suffered from episodic
left-sided numbness and weakness, tran-
sient right-sided visual loss, dry and burning
eyes, headaches, and fatigue caused by
Multiple Sclerosis. Her physicians pre-
scribed a number of potent medications,
which Ms. Davis-Alfred could not tolerate.
Symptoms were so severe that she was
hospitalized for three days.
“The case manager in the hospital referred
me to the UCLA Center for East-West
Medicine. I did go to the Center and have
been treated by Dr. Lawrence Taw. I am
so much better. My symptoms are gone. I
am no longer on any M.S. drugs. I am not
limping. My pain has decreased. I no longer
have migraines. Dr. Taw taught me how to
manage my symptoms by myself.”
Dr. Lawrence Taw also was introduced
to the Center in our fourth-year medical
student class and was deeply impressed
with the therapeutic potential of integrative
medicine.
He returned on rotation as a resident, then, as a
Fellow. Now he is a Board certified Internist and
assistant clinic professor at the Center. He is trained
in a Masters Degree program in Oriental Medicine.
Dr. Taw has developed a clinical and educational
program that focuses on patients with inflammatory
diseases. The Inflammation Program targets patients
with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other
autoimmune conditions such as lupus, multiple
sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The goal
is to improve the patients’ health by partnering with
and empowering them to make healthier lifestyle
choices. Dr. Taw’s individualized treatments and
patient education have helped decrease or control
inflammation and reduce medications.
“Without East-West medicine, I would not be where I am today.”
Lawrence Taw, MD with students from UCLA School of Medicine.
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.5
Educational Programs
Education and training permeates every
aspect of the Center’s activities.
Our education programs include:
• Courses for medical students
• Resident rotations
• Fellowships for physicians and nurse practitioners
Special focus on primary care, preventive care,
geriatrics and palliative care
• Summer Course: Introduction to integrative
medicine
Open to non-medical students
REFLECTIONS BY
STUDENTS AND
RESIDENTS
“I like the idea of thinking
about medicine as a more
holistic, whole-body, systems-
based treatment rather than
a reductionist, machine-like
approach of Western medi-
cine. I look forward to learn-
ing, exploring, and practicing
some of these Eastern medi-
cine teachings.”
– Fourth-year medical student
“Throughout my few weeks
of learning here, I have been
transformed from an initial
skeptic, to a firm supporter
of the Center’s approach to
healthcare…I believe that
this combined framework
is the model of the future,
and will revolutionize the
care of chronic disease, as
well as quality of life, disease
prevention, and rehabilita-
tion. My hope is that one-day,
this healthcare model will
be nationally integrated into
our current Western medical
education. Its ramifications
extend beyond pushing the
limits of disease treatment,
but also encompass cost-
effectiveness and patient
empowerment.”
– Rotating resident from
Harvard Medical School
The interconnected programs at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine
A Comprehensive Center for Integrative Medicine
Grant Chu, MD is our first East-West Primary Care Fellow.
Suzie Lee, NP, LAc Nurse Practitioner Fellow
International Collaboration
InformationResources
ClinicalCare
InternationalCollaboration
EducationalPrograms
Research
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.6
with the Institute of Information of the
China Academy of Chinese Medical
Sciences and the UCLA Library System.
This project aims to provide comprehen-
sive and interdisciplinary information access
and services to medical professionals and
researchers in integrative medicine.
Explore IM Web Portal was launched in the
summer of 2009. It serves as a gateway
for the public, practitioners and educators
to explore multiple perspectives on the
Information Resources
integrative medicine movement. The video clips
were collected through the Visual History Project
and are linked to related writings, profiles of
prominent figures, podcasts, as well as upcoming
events and new research findings.
www.exploreim.ucla.edu
The Center plays an active role in international conferences, organizes seminars, and hosts
International Collaboration
The UCLA Information Center for Integrative Medicine is being developed by the Center for East-West Medicine in partnership
presentations by distinguished scientists and clinicians
from across the world.
Our research and resource development efforts
often involve international collaboration.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block greeted Professor Han Jisheng (right), a neuroscien-tist from China known for his acupuncture research.
Dr. Lin Yi (front center) of Guangdong TCM Hospital gave a talk about breast health to CEWM supporters from the Chinese community.
• Medical Student Attitudes Toward Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine
• East-West Approaches to Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors
• Refractory Chronic Sinusitis Pilot Study
• Whole Systems Research of the Clinical Care Model at the Center for East-West Medicine
• Case Studies on Chronic Cough, Chronic Fatigue, Neck Pain, and Inflammation
www.cewm.med.ucla.edu UCLA Center for East-West Medicine p.7
Our team of clinicians (left to right) Edward Hui, Suzie Lee, Jie-jia Li, Ka-Kit Hui, Mingdong Li, Malcolm Taw, Grant Chu and Lawrence Taw.
Research
Most of the articles published by our clinicians and researchers can be accessed from the Center’s website: www.cewm.med.ucla.edu
Some of our ongoing and recently completed projects include:
OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH AGENDA
We have expanded our
research focus in integrative
medicine to reach beyond
medicine to involve scholars
in health systems research,
cost assessment studies,
policy analysis, as well as
sociological and cultural
implications of medical care.
It is of special value for our Center to receive unrestricted funds, which can be used for the most pressing expenses or program opportunities. Or you may wish to earmark your donation for a particular project that is dear to your heart. We will work with you to direct your gift to the area of your greatest concern and interest.
The Center could not have achieved our success without the generous gifts of our supporters. Your gift will ensure that we maintain quality care and sustain progress in our ongoing effort to improve healthcare.
All gifts to the Center are tax deductible as pro-vided by law. There are many ways to give. These include gifts of appreciated securities; matching gifts; pledges; real estate; bequests; charitable gift annuities; and qualified retirement plans.
Please make your check payable to the UCLA Foundation Fund #6695 and mail to:
You may wish to give to the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine to support its greatest needs.
UCLA Center for East-West Medicine 1033 Gayley Avenue, Suite 111 Los Angeles, California 90024
UCLA Center for East-West Medicine
email: [email protected]
Clinic - Santa Monica 2428 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 208
Santa Monica, CA 90404 Tel: (310) 998-9118 Fax: (310) 829-9318
Education and Research - Westwood 1033 Gayley Avenue, Suite 111 Los Angeles, California 90024
Tel: (310) 794-0712 Fax: (310) 794-3310
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Oppenheimer with Dr. and Mrs. Hui.
Visit our website:www.cewm.med.ucla.edu