American College for Advancement in Medicine


The American College for Advancement in Medicine is a not-for-profit, membership-based association of integrative medicine physicians based in Bozeman, Montana. ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. In addition to providing medical education, ACAM operates a referral network of physicians who provide integrative medicine therapies. ACAM also conducts an annual meeting each year, typically in November.

Education format

ACAM's educational format includes instruction in current standard of care, as well as alternative treatment options. ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. In 2010, ACAM developed an iPhone / iPad application for integrative physicians.

Integrative Medical Consortium

ACAM is a member of a collaborative group of integrative medicine organizations that meet to further advance the industry through collaboration, collective dialogue and critical thinking. Other members include :Functional medicine#The Institute for Functional Medicine|The Institute for Functional Medicine, The International College of Integrative Medicine, and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

Controversy

Support for chelation therapy

ACAM has long been a vocal proponent for chelation therapy, the efficacy, safety, and much of the theory behind which is disputed by the medical community. In 1998, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission charged that the website of the ACAM and a brochure they published had made false or unsubstantiated claims about the therapy. In December 1998, the FTC announced that it had secured a consent agreement barring ACAM from making unsubstantiated advertising claims that chelation therapy is effective against atherosclerosis or any other disease of the circulatory system. In 2014, the ACAM became the first organization to offer online seminars to teach the basics of chelation therapy.