K. Auerbach recent LACTNET POST and my replies:
>From:
>Subject: ABM (Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine)
>
>Several questions have been forwarded to the JHL office for reply.
>Unfortunately, I am "out of the loop" and thus unable to reply with
>accuracy. Therefore, I am throwing these questions out to all the MDs on
>LACTNET in the hope that one or more will be able to inform me--and all
>others who might have received, or asked, these same questions.  Here goes:
******************* As an MD that just received the VOL I Number 1 issue
perhaps I can answer some of the questions.*******************************

>a) One person wrote that she (a non-MD) has been refused membership in ABM.
>Is it true that only MDs may join?
*******As far as I know only MD and DO can join.  The box in the bottom left
hand corner of the first page says:  Membership .......is open to physicians
licensed to practice medicine throughout the world.************
>b) One person asked if she gives money (as other non-MDs have), is she
>still barred from joining? In other words, if a non-MD's $$ are ok to
>accept, but the non-MD is not, why should/would the ABM solicit $$ from
>non-MDs?
*******I don't know what the offical policy is.  IMHO others should be
allowed to purchase subsriptions to the newsletter but attendance at future
meetings may well be limited to physcians.  Many of the meetings at the AAFP
national meetings specifcally state that attendance is limited to
physicans.***************
>c) Is it possible to subscribe to the ABM Newsletter without being an MD?
>Or is this, too, restricted to MDs only?
*********Offically I do not know but as a recently joined member I will pass
the suggestion on to the "powers" that non physicians be allowed to purchase
subscriptions
ALSO say DRS. if you say MD you leave out all the DO physicians, Or you could
say MD/DO (I think some Canadian/British physcians have ChB as their "MD"
degree.)

>d) Where, exactly is the current ABM office? More than one person thought
>it was in California, but the number appears (now) to be in upper New York
>state. What explains this change? Is it temporary, permanent? And to whom
>(person's name and snail mail address) should inquiries/letters to editor,
>and similar mail be sent?
********The Contact information on issue one of the newsletter states:
Editor: Lawrence Gartner, MD
ABM Chair Elizabeth Williams, MD
ABM Vice Chair  Anne Eglash MD
Board of Directors:
Lawrence Gartner MD
Mirriam Labbok MD, MPH
Ruth Lawrence MD
Audrey Naylor MD, DrPH
Marianne Neifert MD
Jack Newman MD
Edward Newton MD
Victoria Nichols-Johnson MD
Richard Schanler MD
Christopher Wade MD MPH
Address:
1160 Stanley Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone/FAX  415-324-4111
Email:    [log in to unmask]

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*  Jon Ahrendsen, M.D. FAAFP, LLLI Medical Associate   *
*  215 13th Ave SW                                                        *
*  Clarion, Iowa 50525  USA                                            *
*  515-532-2836, FAX 532-2523, Email [log in to unmask]   *
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