The History of ACMA

This is adapted from an article written by Dr Wilson Young and published in the Conference Journal "ACMA Pulse" in 1998 looking at the events from 1988 to 1998.

On 22 June 1988 twenty-two registered medical practitioners of Chinese descent gathered in the home of Dr Gam Lee to discuss the formation of an association. The first clinical meeting was held on 13 November 1988 at the Mandarin Szechuan restaurant in Birkenhead. The topic was Parkinson's Disease. The first executive committee was elected and the first newsletter was published in January 1989.

Education and Research
This has been the primary focus of ACMA. Clinical meetings gradually incorporated cultural talks on Asian society. In 1994 ACMA gained approved CME provider status and started providing CME points. Our Inaugural Scientific Conference was held at the Carlton Hotel in 1998. ACMA also ran CPR sessions and informal workshops. ACMA set up an Elective Scholarship to be presented to a worthy final year student to assist in funding their trainee intern elective. Student career evenings were also held to expose students to doctors practising in different fields. Research projects were supported over the years. Mental health projects, atherosclerosis in Chinese, and Hepatitis B were among some of the topics researched.

Community Events
Public education has also been another important activity. ACMA held two health fairs in 1995 and 1996. We also held stalls at several Chinese New Year fairs checking blood pressures, blood sugars and BMIs. ACMA ran Chinese radio health talks and provided lists of doctors with Chinese language skills. Translations of patient education pamphlets were also undertaken. ACMA also donated to the Hamilton Chinese Gardens project.

Overseas Links
ACMA joined ACCMA as a foundation member. We also have contacts with the Federation Chinese American and Chinese Canadian Medical Societies. ACMA also hosted the Chinese Minister of Health, various visiting health officials and medical scholars.

ACMA also presented a submission to the Medical Practitioners Bill and has hosted joint activities with the Indian Medical Association.

In 1999, after the stress of organising our first Conference, ACMA took a breather. We funded a summer studentship looking at terminations among Asian women at Epsom Day Unit. This was a problem set to worsen as the international student population grew.

The following year 2000, we faced the challenge of a new millennium and armed with experience we held our second Conference, again at the Carlton Hotelotel Hotel.

A Health Fair was held in the Howick Recreation Centre. We provided medical backup for the New Zealand Chinese Association Easter Sport Tournament. For the ACCC Chinese New Year celebrations we provided a health stall. Radio talks were resurrected. ACMA translated patient leaflets on tuberculosis, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Funding was provided for students to assist Dr Sai Wong with his research into Asian mental health. Executive members wrote submissions to the Abortion Supervisory Committee and the Health Professional Competency Assurance Bill. ACMA also provided input into the Hepatitis Screening Programme.

After a busy 2000 ACMA stepped back for another breather and a quiet year for 2001. As well as continuing with the Radio talks, we published an updated doctors list. Dr Daniel Wu spoke to Chinese migrants at the Balmoral RSA explaining the health system. We also provided speakers, written materials and a stall at the Health and Social Expo at the ASB stadium in Kohimarama.

Another busy calendar followed in 2002. We held another Conference building on the success of the previous two. Chinese New Year saw two health stalls, one in ACCC Turners and Growers and another at Botany Town Centre. This year was notable for the formation of Young ACMA (YACMA) partly in response to the pharmaceutical climate and a desire to provide more student orientated activities.

The changing social climate also led to the Constitution being revised.

In 2003 as YAMCA grew we watched on as proud parents. ACMA also launched a website and started sending newsletters and invitations through cyberspace to our members.

And onto 2004. We are looking forward to another busy year starting with our Conference, which comes early this year.

Much of this would not be possible without the tireless hours donated by members of the Executive, some of whom have been members since the Foundation years. They dedicate precious evenings and weekends to organising the CME meetings, community events and other activities under the ACMA banner.

If these articles stimulate your interest in contributing to the Association you can volunteer your time and ideas when we run major events, or perhaps even consider standing for election to the Executive at our next Annual General Meeting.

- Dr Linda Lum

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