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CTCMDA co-hosts together with UAABC
CTCMDA co-hosts together with UAABC
June 11, 2026
Focusing on interprofessional collaboration and clinical practice, the forum aimed to support TCM practitioners and acupuncturists in strengthening their ICBC case management capabilities, improving patient rehabilitation outcomes, and promoting coordinated development across the profession.
On April 5, 2026, the “TCM United — ICBC Motor Vehicle Accident Case Management Practice Roundtable,” jointly hosted by the Canadian TCM Development Alliance and the United Acupuncturists Association of British Columbia (UAABC), was successfully held in Richmond. Centered on key issues and practical challenges in the case management of individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents under the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), the event brought together clinical experts from diverse professional backgrounds, including physiotherapy, chiropractic care, registered massage therapy, active rehabilitation, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Speakers shared first-hand clinical experience, pathways for interprofessional collaboration, and practical approaches to professional communication with ICBC. More than 120 TCM colleagues participated both online and in person, making the event a forward-looking and highly practical academic gathering for the local TCM community.
The forum was moderated by TCM Practitioner Jianying Gao. Opening remarks were delivered by Professor Ronggang Li, President of the Canadian TCM Development Alliance, and Senior TCM Practitioner Fansheng Wang, Vice President of UAABC.
With a strong focus on clinical implementation, the forum addressed common practical issues that arise after receiving ICBC patients, including the clinical rationale and wording for treatment extension requests, key principles in professional report writing, essential points in communicating with ICBC adjusters, and how to integrate multidisciplinary resources in complex cases so that patients can receive more appropriate and efficient rehabilitation support. As a specialized forum designed around real-world practice settings, the event closely reflected the day-to-day needs of TCM practitioners and acupuncturists in British Columbia, emphasizing standardized professional communication, interprofessional collaboration, and treatment-outcome-oriented care.
Notably, this event represented a pioneering cross-professional initiative within the TCM field. For the first time, the forum invited four therapists from other health-related professions to deliver thematic presentations, offering practical insights and recommendations to TCM colleagues from their respective professional perspectives. Together, participants explored issues related to the assessment, treatment, referral, and rehabilitation management of ICBC motor vehicle accident patients. This initiative not only broadened TCM practitioners’ understanding of the development and working logic of related healthcare professions, but also offered new ideas for establishing smoother patient referral mechanisms, strengthening professional trust across disciplines, and improving overall patient recovery outcomes.
The forum featured speakers from a wide range of professional fields, reflecting its distinctly interdisciplinary nature. Invited speakers included:
Karen Bhartu, MPT: Founder and physiotherapist at Triumph Physio and Wellness. A graduate of UBC, Karen specializes in vestibular rehabilitation and has taught related courses at UBC. She has received certification from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association as well as advanced training at Emory University in the United States, with a clinical focus on post-concussion rehabilitation and evidence-based treatment.
Dr. David De Camillis, D.C., FCCPOR, Dip. MDT: A seasoned chiropractor, Dr. De Camillis graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1977. He holds specialized credentials in mechanical diagnosis and therapy of the spine. Having maintained a full-time clinical practice for decades, he has treated more than 10,000 patients and also brings extensive experience in continuing education instruction and research publication.
Rodrigo Zimmermann, RMT: A registered massage therapist and educator with a multidisciplinary professional background, Rodrigo emphasizes a holistic approach, strong communication, and empathy throughout the treatment process. He places particular importance on the role of meaningful human connection in supporting patient rehabilitation.
Can (Kelsey) Yang: A registered active rehabilitation therapist and graduate of McGill University, Kelsey holds professional credentials with BCAK, FCE, and ACSM. She specializes in ICBC-related injuries, active rehabilitation, functional capacity evaluation, and return-to-work planning.
Maryam Ghorbani: A registered senior TCM practitioner in British Columbia and founder of Harmonic Health Acupuncture & Holistic Medicine. With a Master’s degree in Pharmacy and five years of doctoral-level training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, she specializes in reproductive health, hair loss treatment, and cosmetic acupuncture. She is skilled at integrating TCM theory with modern biomedical concepts.
Dr. Jing Yuan: A senior TCM practitioner registered in British Columbia and a TCM educator, Dr. Yuan has more than 25 years of clinical experience in acupuncture. She previously practised as a physician in China and worked as a physiotherapist in Hong Kong for five years. She holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Research from King’s College London and a PhD in Clinical Research from the University of Ulster. With a research focus on acupuncture for pain management, she brings dual professional expertise in both acupuncture and physiotherapy.
From the content of the forum, the invited speakers not only shared first-hand experience from their respective professions in ICBC case management, but also offered highly practical recommendations from the perspective of multidisciplinary collaboration. Topics such as how to clearly articulate the clinical necessity for treatment extensions, how to prepare more standardized, accurate, and persuasive professional reports, and how to communicate patients’ functional limitations, rehabilitation progress, and treatment goals in a way that is more readily understood by ICBC all provided TCM practitioners and acupuncturists with clinical and communication frameworks that can be directly applied in practice.
The forum also conveyed a clear consensus: in the management of ICBC motor vehicle accident patients, TCM practitioners and acupuncturists should actively engage in interprofessional collaboration. By building smoother communication and referral relationships with professionals in physiotherapy, chiropractic care, registered massage therapy, and active rehabilitation, practitioners can help patients receive more appropriate treatment support at different stages of recovery. At the same time, such collaboration enables acupuncturists to gain a more comprehensive understanding of industry developments and integrated rehabilitation models, thereby continuously enhancing their clinical judgment and quality of care.
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