On Friday, November 2, Dr. Johnstone visited the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, met with Dean Pam Davis, physicians, scientists and students interested in Integrative Medicine, toured Radiation Therapy Facilities at University Hospitals and presented a major lecture at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center entitled “Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care.”

In his lecture, Dr. Johnstone addressed his overall approach to integrative therapy including massage therapy for lymphedema, acupuncture for control of dry mouth which occurs as a debilitating consequence of radiation therapy in the head and neck region as well as other uses of integrative therapy for palliation and symptom control.

He also discussed the use of botanicals, the need for controlled trials to validate the usefulness of integrative therapy, warned against the potential inappropriate use of complementary and alternative approaches and described efforts of the Society of Integrative Oncology to validate and mainstream integrative approaches to improve quality of life and survivorship in patients treated for cancer. After his stimulating presentation,

Dr. Johnstone met with a group of medical students interested in pursuing research and incorporating integrative medicine into their training and careers. The student group was led and organized by Jane Hart, M.D., Chair, Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Committee and Elizabeth D. McKinley, M.D., MPH, Dean, Emily Blackwell Society and Assistant Professor of Medicine, both at the School of Medicine.