Some Notes on Stuart Bondurant, M.D.

Stephen Barrett, MD

In February 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced that it was assembling a committee to identify major scientific and policy issues in "complementary and alternative medicine" ("CAM") research, regulation, training, credentialing and "integration with conventional medicine." As part of this process, it posted the names of 15 appointees and asked for public comment about their suitability. Here are IOM's biographical sketch of Dr. Bondurant and the comments I submitted. Despite his major conflict-of-interest, he was retained as chairman of the proposed committee.

IOM Description (February 2003): Stuart Bondurant is Professor of Medicine and Dean Emeritus at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Previously, Dr. Bondurant served as the Director of the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies in New York City and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Albany Medical Center Hospital and Dean of Albany Medical College. He has been an active member of professional organizations including President of the Association of American Physicians and American College of Physicians, and the Chairman of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr. Bondurant is a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and has served as the Acting-President as well as the Vice-Chair of the IOM Council. Dr. Bondurant's research interests have been in the area of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Medicine as well as issues concerning medical education and public health. He has chaired the following IOM committees: Committee for a Forum on Smallpox: The Scientific Basis for Vaccination Policy Options; Committee on Assessing the Science-base for Tobacco Harm Reduction; Committee on the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants; Co-chair of the Committee on Public Health.

My Comments (Posted on February 23, 2003)

Dr. Bondurant is now Special Assistant to the President of Georgetown University, which, in 2001, was awarded a five-year, $1.7 million NIH grant to "develop and implement a comprehensive, innovative program that incorporates complementary and alternative medicine into the School of Medicine curriculum." The program's co-director is James E. Gordon, M.D., former chairman of the notorious White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy.
This means that Bondurant has a major conflicit-of-interest when it comes to making policy recommendations regarding "CAM" education.

Overview of IOM "CAM" Committee

This article was revised on January 15, 2005.