I spent the first weekend in March at the Spa & Resort/Medical Spa Expo and Conference in Los Angeles talking to several spa owners and managers, massage therapists, and medical doctors. It was an interesting conference in many respects and brought up some issues I think deserve a little more contemplation.

First, let's try and define each aspect of the conference. I think most of Massage Today's readers will be able to determine what was involved in the spa and resort half. But, what does "medical spa" actually mean? There were several MDs in attendance (from heart surgeons to plastic surgeons to dermatologists) who either already were operating medical spas or were interested in this type of practice. There were several panel discussions and many continuing education classes for both MDs and massage therapists. As best as I could tell from these sessions and from the booths in the exhibit hall, medical spa treatments include chemical peels, Botox and microdermabrasion. Many of these medical spas also perform minor plastic surgery. These treatments are used in a spa-type setting with massage therapy treatments such as reflexology, hot stone therapy, and deep tissue and Swedish massage offered as well. Many of the spa directors and medical doctors running medical spas estimated that approximately 80 percent of the services they offered were massage treatments.

It was an interesting combination of professionals who seem to be melding elements of two different professions and finding success. However, I think this really brings up a larger point of interest in the growth of the massage therapy profession as a whole. As I spoke with the physicians in attendance, I noticed how much respect there was for the therapists, estheticians and office staff who handled most of the patient communication and interaction. I sat in on a panel discussion that included doctors, spa owners and massage therapists, where each one talked of their area of expertise and how their success depended greatly on the success of the therapists and other staff involved. These doctors looked to the therapists and other staff to advise them on which new products and treatments to try, why to implement them and how it could improve the bottom line. And so, I began to wonder if the larger population of massage therapists around the country understands just how much the profession is growing, how the levels of respect are deepening and, more importantly, how much of an impact massage therapy is beginning to have on the larger medical and health care community.

I also recently interviewed Dr. David Rosenthal, the medical director for the Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The institute employs four part-time massage therapists on its staff. Dr. Rosenthal had nothing but positive things to say about the effects of massage therapy on his patients. I also interviewed one of the therapists on his staff who sees patients every week who can't thank her enough for treating the "whole person" and not just the disease. (Look for more on this interview in a future issue of Massage Today.)

You've seen the articles in the pages of Massage Today about how massage is making inroads into hospitals and professional athletic teams and gaining respect in the research arena as well. Massage is no longer just a luxury for the rich and famous. Massage is something utilized by thousands of average Americans seeking relief from a variety of conditions, including stress, cancer, migraines, back pain and much more.

My question to you is: Do you see the potential of your chosen profession? Do you see how much respect you are gaining in the larger health care world? If you don't see it yet, you might want to start taking a look around. If you do see it, what are you doing about it? What are you doing to continue this upward trend? What inroads are you making in your community and around the country to educate not only the consumer, but the larger health care community?

I would like to hear from you on this topic. Tell me what you think about massage therapy gaining acceptance in the broader health care world. I realize there still is a long road to travel, but if my recent interviews and this conference are any indication, the massage community seems to be on the right track. Tell me what you're doing to further the profession's entry into the health care community, thus bringing the benefits of massage to a wider audience. I hope to share these thoughts with the readers of Massage Today in future issues.