Ann Marie Chiasson

Interests

Research

Current research interests include the effect of a fellowship and elective rotation in Integrative Medicine on physician learning and burn out. She is researching both clinical scenarios to examine physician management of common problems, and the effect of a training program on physician career choice, mood and resiliency.

Teaching

Dr. Chiasson's interests include how to best deliver clinical teaching in Integrative Medicine with a primarily on-line curriculum. Her areas of specialized interest are Integrative Pain Management, the role of ceremony and ritual in medicine and the placebo effect of the physician-practitioner relationship. In addition, she is interested in integrative medicine in a primary care setting. Finally, Dr. Chiasson is also engaged in educating the community at large about Integrative Medicine.

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Books

• Chiasson, A. M. (2013). Energy Healing: The Essentials of Self Care. Sounds True.
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  Where does true wellness start? For thousands of years, traditional healers have been able to detect and correct imbalances at the energetic level in order to heal our physical ailments. Today, these traditions are expanding the medical understanding of our subtle anatomy and its role in our overall well-being. With Energy Healing, integrative physician Ann Marie Chiasson offers a complete guidebook of easy-to-use energy practices to enhance your health and vitality. Drawing from the material she teaches at Dr. Andrew Weil's Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Chiasson explores:Our subtle anatomy—understanding the chakras, meridians, and the key principles of energy healingSelf-diagnosis techniques for detecting the movement of energy in our bodies—even if you've never sensed energy beforePractices for daily self-care and specific techniques to address energy blocks often seen in common illnesses and health issuesWhy our energy wanes as we age, and how we can replenish our vitality from sources in the world around usYour body as your teacher—insights for adapting and developing your own energy healing techniquesIn creating this book Dr. Chiasson has selected the methods she has found to be most accessible, effective, and beneficial in the long-term—informed by the latest research, healing traditions from around the world, and her own practice. With Energy Healing, she presents an indispensible guide for understanding the energetic dimension of your well-being and essential tools to help you take charge of your own health.

Chapters

• Chiasson, A. M. (2021). Energy Medicine for Sleep. In Integrative Sleep Management. Oxford University Press.
• Chiasson, A. M. (2016). Energy Medicine. In Integrative Pain Management(pp 560-578). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
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  dited by Robert A. Bonakdar and Andrew W. SukiennikWeil Integrative Medicine LibraryOptimizes a pain practioner's understanding of integrative medicine as it applies to pain managementCovers emerging areas in pain management including: Central Sensitization Syndrome, Central Pain, Neuropathic Pain and Thoracic Outlet SyndromeCase management of common pain scenarios including: Arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, headache and facial pain, pediatric and procedural pain, cancer pain, rheumatological pain, geriatric pain, abdomincal pelvic pain and pain at the end of lifeChapters include the treatment of pain co-morbidities such as Sleep and Depression, Obesity Related Pain, and Pain and addictionProvides access to additional online content that supplements some of the integrative interventions discussedEndorsed by the American Academy of Pain Management
• Chiasson, A. M. (2015). "Practices to Reconnect, Retrieve, Revivify" in Darkeness Before Dawn - Redefining the Journey Through Depression. In Darkness before Dawn. Louisville, CO: Sounds True Publications.
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  Chiasson, Ann Marie, "Practices to Reconnect, Retrieve, Revivify" in Darkness Before Dawn - Redefining the Journey Through Depression, edited by Tami Simon, Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True, 2015.
• Chiasson, A. M. (2015). Energy Medicine. In Integrative Women's Health. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
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  Edited by Victoria Maizes and Tieraona Low DogWeil Integrative Medicine LibraryThe first comprehensive guide on Integrative Women's care written for both health professionalsWritten by an all-female, internationally known team of authors, giving the book a global perspectiveGuides clinicians on how to motivate patients, enhance a health history, and understand the spiritual dimensions of healingNew to this Edition:Includes new chapters on hypothyroidism; enviromental exposures; and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender health
• Chiasson, A. M. (2011). Energy Medcine. In Intagrative Gastroenterology. Oxford, England: Oxford University Prss.
• Chiasson, A. M. (2010). Energy Medicine. In Integrative Rheumatology. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
  More info

  Randy Horwitz, M.D. and Daniel Muller, M.D.Weil Integrative Medicine LibraryIntegrative Rheumatology offers a new and much-needed perspective in disease and symptom management, blending conventional medicine with alternative approaches not typically included in a Western medical practice. While conventional treatments can provide considerable symptomatic relief and can even slow the progression of many rheumatologic conditions, integrative treatment incorporating lifestyle interventions, mind-body approaches, and practices such as acupuncture and meditation into conventional medical therapies can improve quality of life, reduce medication dosages, and are generally better tolerated. In this book, researchers and clinicians highlight specific gaps in conventional rheumatologic care and examine how alternative approaches may be ideally suited to address these missed opportunities. Here, the authors introduce topics not typically addressed in conventional rheumatology texts, including nutritional therapies, exercise, herbal medicine, mind/body approaches, Ayurveda, and energy medicine. The contributors, all of whom have a background in academic medicine, share the approaches that they have found most effective in their own practices, basing their work on the best scientific evidence available. Ultimately, an understanding of complementary and alternative approaches to healing can help clinicians care for their patients using the best proven therapies to modify disease progress and relieve pain and disability.Share:

Journals/Publications

• Chiasson, A. M. (2022). Patient centered prognosis (PtCP): A guided visualization to assist patients and families explore prognosis for a terminal diagnosis. Explore-the Journal of Science and Healing. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2022.10.016
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  Patient Centered Prognosis (PtCP): This brief report describes a simple guided visualization that clinicians can utilize to assist patients and families to safely explore prognosis for a terminal diagnosis. It can act as an effective adjunct to the medical prognosis; it allows patients and/or families to develop their own sense of timing, decreases anxiety, and can serve as an effective guide for planning details at end of life.
• Alschuler, L. N., Chiasson, A. M., Brooks, A., Chen, M., & Marshall, K. (2021). Healthcare Practitioner Diagnosing and Prescribing Vitamin D: A Comparative Survey of Integrative Medicine Fellows’ Attitudes and Practices.. Journal of Family Medicine, 8(8), 1273-1285.
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  Survey on Vitamin D Knowledge and recommendation practices among Integrative Medicine trained clinicians. Healthcare Practitioners’ (HCPs) vitamin D testing and recommending beliefs and behaviors are poorly understood. This study evaluated beliefs and practice regarding vitamin D among U.S. HCPs with an interest in nutrition, specifically assessing impact of Integrative Medicine (IM) fellowship training on these practice beliefs and behaviors.
• Alschuler, L., Weil, A., Horwitz, R., Stamets, P., Chiasson, A. M., Crocker, R., & Maizes, V. (2021). Integrative considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 16(6), 354-356.
• Chiasson, A. M., Alschuler, L. N., Brooks, A., MK, C., & Kerry, M. (2021). Healthcare Practitioner Diagnosing and Recommending Vitamin D. J Fam Med 2021; 8(8) 1273.. J Fam Med, 8(8), 1273.
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  AbstractBackground: It is estimated that over 1/3 of the world’s population and 18% of the US population is deficient in vitamin D. Currently, Healthcare Practitioners’ (HCPs) vitamin D testing and recommending beliefs and behaviors are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate beliefs and practice regarding vitamin D among U.S. HCPs with an interest in nutrition, specifically assessing impact of Integrative Medicine (IM) fellowship training on these practice beliefs and behaviors.Methods: An Internet-based 62-item survey was electronically provided to HCPs identified through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine database that includes non-Fellows and Fellows of IM.Results: Of 3,984 recipients of the survey, a total of 361 (9.1%) completed the survey. Of respondents, 221 (61.2%) completed an IM Fellowship. The vast majority of respondents (332, 93.5%) believe that vitamin D deficiency is widespread and affects the majority of the population. Three of four HCPs indicate that vitamin D status can be accurately assessed by measuring serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (262; 74%), and that vitamin D supplementation improves overall health of patients (277; 77.4%). Most respondents, especially those with fellowship training in integrative medicine, both test and recommend vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) for various chronic conditions and in at-risk populations.Conclusions: There is widespread understanding of the role of vitamin D in health maintenance and in specific health conditions. Overall, primary care, physician-level training, length of time in practice, and IM fellowship training are the most significant predictors of beliefs and practices regarding vitamin D.
• Alschuler, L. N., Sternberg, E. M., Weil, A. T., Crocker, R. L., Maizes, V., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Horwitz, R. J., Chiasson, A. M., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., Crocker, R. L., Alschuler, L. N., & Sternberg, E. M. (2020). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to- moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore, 1-9. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.005
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  The majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
• Alschuler, L., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R., Sternberg, E., Crocker, R., Weil, A., & Maizes, V. (2020). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore (New York, N.Y.).
  More info

  The majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
• Chiasson, A. M., Audrey, B., Ricker, M. A., Lebensohn, P., Chen, M., & Maizes, V. (2020). Results of an Online Integrative Pain Management Course Educating Physicians in Family Medicine Residencies about Non-pharmacologic Approaches to Pain.. Family Medicine, 52(3), 189-197.. doi:10.22454/FamMed.2020.865003
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  AbstractBackground and objectives: Opioid misuse is at an all-time crisis level, and nationally enhanced resident and clinician education on chronic pain management is in demand. To date, broad-reaching, scalable, integrative pain management educational interventions have not been evaluated for effectiveness on learner knowledge or attitudes toward chronic pain management.Methods: An 11-hour integrative pain management (IPM) online course was evaluated for effect on resident and faculty attitudes toward and knowledge about chronic pain. Participants were recruited from family medicine residencies participating in the integrative medicine in residency program. Twenty-two residencies participated, with 11 receiving the course and 11 serving as a control group. Evaluation included pre/post medical knowledge and validated measures of attitude toward pain patients, self-efficacy for nondrug therapies, burnout, and compassion.Results: Forty-three participants (34.4%) completed the course. The intervention group (n=50), who received the course, improved significantly (P
• Chiasson, A. M., Brooks, A. J., Ricker, M., Lebensohn, P., Chen, M., & Maizes, V. (2020).

  Educating Physicians in Family Medicine Residencies About Nonpharmacologic Approaches to Pain:

  . Family Medicine, 52(3), 189-197. doi:10.22454/fammed.2020.865003
• Lebensohn, P., Chiasson, A. M., Maizes, V., & Ricker, M. A. (2020). Results of an Online Integrative Pain Management Course Educating Physicians in Family Medicine Residencies about Non-pharmacologic Approaches to Pain. Family Medicine, 3, 189-197.
• Maizes, V., Crocker, R. L., Chiasson, A. M., Stamets, P., Horwitz, R. J., Weil, A. T., & Alschuler, L. (2020). Integrative considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 16(6), 354-356. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.03.007
  More info

  There is a high level of interest in integrative strategies to augment public health measures to prevent COVID-19 infection and associated pneumonia. Unfortunately, no integrative measures have been validated in human trials as effective specifically for COVID-19. Notwithstanding, this is an opportune time to be proactive. Using available in-vitro evidence, an understanding of the virulence of COVID-19, as well as data from similar, but different, viruses, we offer the following strategies to consider. Again, we stress that these are supplemental considerations to the current recommendations that emphasize regular hand washing, physical distancing, stopping non-essential travel, and obtaining testing in the presence of symptoms.
• Sternberg, E. M., Crocker, R. L., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., & Alschuler, L. N. (2022). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to- moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore (NY), 18(2), 140-148.
  More info

  The majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
• Chiasson, A. M., Linda Baldwin, A., McLaughlin, C., Cook, P., & Sethi, G. (2013). The effect of live spontaneous harp music on patients in the intensive care unit. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 428731.
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  This study was performed to investigate the effect of live, spontaneous harp music on individual patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), either pre- or postoperatively. The purpose was to determine whether this intervention would serve as a relaxation or healing modality, as evidenced by the effect on patient's pain, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability. Each consenting patient was randomly assigned to receive either a live 10-minute concert of spontaneous music played by an expert harpist or a 10-minute rest period. Spontaneous harp music significantly decreased patient perception of pain by 27% but did not significantly affect heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, or heart rate variability. Trends emerged, although being not statistically significant, that systolic blood pressure increased while heart rate variability decreased. These findings may invoke patient engagement, as opposed to relaxation, as the underlying mechanism of the decrease in the patients' pain and of the healing benefit that arises from the relationship between healer, healing modality, and patient.
• Mclaughlin, C., Chiasson, A. M., Linda Baldwin, A., Cook, P., & Sethi, G. (2013). The Effect of Live Spontaneous Harp Music on Patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1-6. doi:10.1155/2013/428731
• Chiasson, A. M. (2009). Ritual in Family Medicine. Journal of the San Francisco Medical Society, 23-24.
• Chiasson, A. M., & Rowe, P. (2000).

  Flu vaccine and the ED: Administering influenza vaccine in a Canadian emergency department: Is there a role?

  . Canadian Journal of ER Medicine, 90-94. doi:10.1017/s1481803500004668
• Chiasson, A. M., & Rowe, P. (2000). Administering Influenza Vaccine in a Canadian Emergency Department: Is there a role?. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2(2), 90-94.
• Chiasson, P. M., Roy, P. D., Mitchell, M. J., Chiasson, A. M., & Alexander, D. I. (1997). Hip fracture surgery in Nova Scotia: a comparison of treatment provided by "generalist" general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons. Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie, 40(5), 383-9.
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  To determine quality of hip fracture services provided by "generalist" general surgeons (generalists) in Nova Scotia.
• Chiasson, A. M., Chiasson, P. M., & Roy, P. D. (1995). The Factors Affecting Surgical Career Choices: A Survey of Canadian General Surgery Residents. Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, 28, 270-272.
• Smith, A. M., Vlahov, D., Menon, A. S., & Anthony, J. C. (1992). Terminology for drug injection practices among intravenous drug users in Baltimore. The International journal of the addictions, 27(4), 435-53.
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  Terms for four discrete drug injection practices were obtained by presenting photographs and a brief description of practices to intravenous drug users who enrolled in a longitudinal study of HIV infection in Baltimore. The 2,921 respondents were predominantly male (81%) and Black (90%), the median age was 34 years (range: 18-68 years), and the median duration of intravenous drug use was 13 years (range 0-50 years). Forty-six different terms were used to characterize direct injection into a vein, 51 for the practice of repeatedly withdrawing and reinjecting one's own blood following injection of drug, 39 for subcutaneous injection, and 45 for transferring drug between different syringes. Terms tended to cluster by race and duration of drug use. These data indicate substantial variation in terminology for drug injection practices. Further, they augment prior research showing that photographs may be used as a useful aid in survey research on drug experiences in the population.

Proceedings Publications

• Chiasson, A. M., & Marchand, L. (2019).

  Integrative Pain Management for Hospice and Palliative Care (FR478)

  . In AAHPM.

Presentations

• Alschuler, L. N., & Chiasson, A. M. (2022, May). Integrative Pain Management. Grand Rounds, College of Medicine - University of Arizona. College of Medicine.
  More info

  This presentation will cover Integrative Medicine Management of Chronic Pain.  Nutrition, Dietary Supplments, Mind- Body Medicine and Acupuncture will be covered.
• Sternberg, E. M., Sternberg, E. M., Chiasson, A. M., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Horwitz, R. J., Maizes, V., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., Weil, A. T., Alschuler, L., Alschuler, L., Sternberg, E. M., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., & Alschuler, L. (2020, April). An Integrative Approach to COVID-19. University of Arizona COVID-19 Webinar Series. Tucson, Arizona.

Creative Productions

• Chiasson, A. M. (2011. Energy Healing - The Essentials of Self Care. 5 CD's, 1 DVD and workbookSounds True Publications.
• Chiasson, A. M. (2011. Energy Healing for Beginners. DVD. Loiusville, CO: Sounds True Publications.

Other Teaching Materials

• Chiasson, A. M., & Bonakdar, R. (2018. Integrative Pain Management Course. Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
  More info

  Co-wrote and edited an 11 hour CME course on Integrative Pain Management.  Revised the course and edited in 2020 and in 2022.  Now it is a 10 hour course offered as a CME course for clinicians.
• Chiasson, A. M., & Bulley, A. F. (1993. Communicable Disease Control Manual. Province of Nova Scotia Department of Health.

Others

• Chiasson, A. M. (2016, May). Why many hospice doctors like me won't participate in legal physician assisted suicide. Los Angele Times. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-chiasson-physician-assisted-suicide-20160511-story.html
  More info

  Op-Ed in the LA times discussing Physician Assisted Suicide Laws. Reprinted by in multiple other papers nationally.
• Chiasson, A. M. (2015, December). If you are nearing death and want to live longer, don't go to the Emergency Room. Quartz newsite. http://qz.com/572353/if-you-are-nearing-death-and-want-to-live-longer-dont-go-to-the-emergency-room/
• Chiasson, A. M., & Weil, A. (2009, October). Self Healing with Energy Medicine. 2 CD set.