Shoshana Silverman

Writing Sample: Book Chapter

shoshanasilverman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:35:35 +0000

Selection from Chapter 10, “A Review of Alternative Treatments Parents Can Consider,” from School Success for Kids with ADHD, published by Prufrock Press

We live in an era in which more individuals are seeking alternatives to the traditional Western medical system, and hence, there is a growing trend toward the use of complementary and alternative (CAM) modalities. By definition, “complementary” modalities are used as an adjunct to conventional treatment, and “alternative” modalities are used in place of conventional treatments. There is a broad range of modalities included in the domain of CAM: acupuncture, chiropractic, diet-based therapies, yoga, herbal medicine, and many more.

Based on results from a national health survey, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported that 36% of adults are using some form of CAM, and the number rises to 62% when megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons are included in the definition of CAM (Barnes, Powell-Griner, McFann, & Nahin, 2004). One oft-cited study found that visits to alternative medicine practitioners in the United States increased from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997 and that the U.S. public spent an estimated $36 billion to $47 billion on CAM therapies in 1997 (Eisenberg et al., 1998). Tremendous resources, mostly out-of-pocket, are directed toward these therapies.

The medical community is now recognizing the popularity of many such treatments and, based on growing evidence, has slowly begun to incorporate training in these areas into Western medical education, leading to a new form of medicine called Integrative Medicine. This evolution in medicine blends conventional Western medicine with evidence-based alternative, complementary, and indigenous healing traditions, benefiting from ancient healing wisdom, as well as the proof of science. Consumers are drawn to this trend because it emphasizes a more holistic and prevention-oriented, as opposed to symptom management, approach. Additionally, when conventional medicines result in undesirable side-effects, or the intricacies of the health care system leads to frustrations, consumers will explore alternatives, some based on anecdotal evidence or media and Internet advice. These consumers, in particular, need guidance as to safe and evidence-based options so that they are not led astray by unfounded claims…

Writing Sample: Journal Article

shoshanasilverman — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:11:05 +0000

In the attached professional journal article, which was published in Explore, I assisted with the content and wrote the Introduction section.

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a serious chronic lung disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction and airway inﬂammation. According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, 30.8 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma sometime during their lifetime. This includes 21.9 million adults and 8.9 million children. Although the American Lung Association recently reported that asthma mortality rates and hospitalizations have declined over the past few years, the burden from asthma has increased over the past two decades, and asthma continues to take a signiﬁcant toll on daily activities and economic productivity for many patients. The National Health Interview Survey found that over the previous year, symptoms of asthma caused children aged 5 to 17 to miss 14.7 million school days due to asthma, and employed adults to miss 11.8 million work days. The American Lung Association reported that asthma entails an annual economic cost to the United States of $16.1 billion, including $11.5 billion in direct healthcare costs and $4.6 billion in lost productivity.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Asthma. Many asthma sufferers are attracted to complementary and alternative medicine. Blanc et al3 found that 42% of the adults with allergies or asthma who were surveyed had tried some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Angsten has proposed that asthma patients may be interested in CAM because of the chronic nature of their illness, the “perceived toxicities of therapies such as inhaled corticosteroids” and because they are attracted to the holistic approach of the treatments, which appreciates the psychological basis of disease. Davis et al believe that the lack of success for conventional asthma therapy has resulted in the increasing number of patients seeking CAM approaches.

Acupuncture Studies to Date. Although numerous studies have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture for adults with asthma, it is still difﬁcult to draw deﬁnitive conclusions regarding its effectiveness. In one uncontrolled, clinical series of 25 steroid-dependent asthma patients treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, over 80% improved symptomatically and became less dependent on steroids…

Writing Sample: Sell Sheet

shoshanasilverman — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:36:17 +0000

Selections from a sell sheet made to entice publishers to utilize Slantly, an online marketing tool

What is Slantly?

Slantly is a revolutionary new product that helps engage your readers and quantify their emotions. Slantly is built upon the known fact that news drives opinions and that expressing and sharing opinions connects consumers with your news. The most advanced commenting integration tool for user-generated content on the market, Slantly collects content in the form of user comments, polls and arguments. Content can be measured and aggregated to better understand your target market and to help consumers connect with their peers and their local communities…

How Slantly Can Help Your Company

Slantly can stimulate debate on topics at the local, regional and national levels. The ability to host discussions on topics “close to home” makes it an ideal tool for local media publishers, as it enhances the sense of community they seek to cultivate. Slantly offers publishers community relevancy with any size audience, increasing user engagement, the level of interaction with content, and time spent on sites. Additionally, Slantly helps publishers grow profits by attracting traffic and increasing value for advertisers.

Capture their opinions, take their vote, and engage them in debate – your readers are sure to come back for more!

Writing Sample: Proposal

shoshanasilverman — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 01:34:58 +0000

Selection from Executive Summary used for fundraising purposes

Introduction
The Continuum Center for Health and Healing (CCHH) is a leader in the flourishing field of Integrative Medicine – a field which brings together the best of Western Medicine with evidence-based practices from a broad range of healing traditions. Since opening its doors in 2000, the Center quickly established itself as one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive academic health center devoted to integrative medicine. Under the leadership of Woodson C. Merrell, MD, the M. Anthony Fisher Director of Integrative Medicine, the Center is creating a model—that can be replicated nationally and internationally—in clinical practice, research, and professional and consumer education.

Clinical Practice
The Center’s practice emphasizes patient-centered care, and a holistic, mind-body-spirit approach that is grounded in scientific evidence and emphasizes the healing properties of empathic and equal partnerships between patients and health care providers. The Center’s practice continues to grow, with approximately 2,800 visits each month to the Center’s beautiful feng shui-influenced facility. Specialties include: Holistic Internal Medicine and Family Practice, Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine, Chiropractic Care, Mind-Body Services (including aromatherapy, biofeedback and holistic nursing), Integrative Gynecology & Women’s Health, Pediatric Homeopathy, Mind-Body Psychotherapy, Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation, Integrative Nutrition, Integrative Ear, Nose & Throat, and We Focus on Fitness – the Center’s Physical Therapy & Fitness Training program. Special programs addressing unique needs include the Holistic Preparation for Surgery Program and Leech Therapy for Osteoarthritis…

Research
The Center is committed to contributing to the knowledge base of integrative, evidence-based practice, and actively participates in research studies to determine the safety, efficacy and cost-savings potential of expanded healing approaches. Under the leadership of Research Director, Benjamin Kligler, MD, the Center has been very successful in establishing collaborations both with industry-sponsored researchers and with NIH-funded groups at other institutions, and is now actively sought out by researchers for participation in multi-site trials. Projects currently underway include an Integrative Approach to the Management of Asthma, and a cold sore study using a topical botanical treatment. The Center is preparing to launch a study on an herbal preparation for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and is pioneering a new approach to cancer care in collaboration with internationally-acclaimed designer Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative to explore the efficacy of an “Optimal Healing Environment,” which includes yoga therapy, for oncology inpatients at Beth Israel Medical Center…

Writing Sample: Brochure

shoshanasilverman — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 01:34:35 +0000

Copy included in the general brochure for the Continuum Center for Health and Healing

WELCOME

Welcome to the Continuum Center for Health and Healing. Like many other women and men, you may be seeking a new experience in healthcare and medicine – one which supports your health holistically. As a patient at the Center, you can take advantage of the new evolution in healthcare, which combines modern medicine with traditional and expanded healing approaches. This system empowers you to take an active role in your health and considers the many factors that influence your well-being. At the Center, you are encouraged to pursue optimal wellness in all areas of your life.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CENTER

• Since opening its doors in 2000, the Center has become one of the country’s most prominent and comprehensive academic health centers devoted to Integrative Healthcare – a field which blends modern and traditional healing approaches. The Center’s directors are all respected leaders in this growing field.

• Patients experience a subtle yet meaningful shift simply by entering the Center’s unique healing environment, which features feng shui-inspired green design, a welcoming “living” space and educational resource area.

• The thorough intake assessment that patients complete provides practitioners with valuable information to understand each person’s health from a holistic perspective.

• Providers work collaboratively to offer integrative treatment that best meets each patient’s needs. This is facilitated by a secure and up-to-date electronic medical records system.

• The Center offers a full array of clinical programs, progressive professional training initiatives, innovative online information and forward-thinking research studies.

• The Center is the administrative hub of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center. Launched in 2007, the Department is dedicated to bringing holistic care to hospital inpatients.

CLINICAL SERVICES

Providers at the Center include physicians as well as practitioners of diverse healing traditions and modalities. Practicing from an integrative perspective means weaving together an understanding of the complexities of each person’s physical, emotional, spiritual, psychosocial, genetic and environmental health influences. Practitioners often collaborate in creating individualized healthcare strategies. Working from a patient-centered perspective, they look for the root cause of each person’s problems, and then focus on optimal wellness, not just symptom management…