Though I don't know Allegra or her professional style, I am encouraged to see prestigious institutions such as Johns Hopkins responding to the demand they see in their clinics. As Alan Joffe, clinic director, put it: "There is clearly a group of students at Hopkins who prefer approaching health from a perspective other than what traditional Western medicine has to offer; I want to provide those students with some of those services."
Finally, I believe herbalists, as "generalists" well-equipped to handle a variety of complaints commonly seen in the "family practice" setting, can do a lot meet the needs created by a nationwide physician shortage. We represent an effective treatment modality, with a long historical record and excellent safety. Of course, there will always be those at institutions such as Hopkins who have to push back hard against these changes - largely, I might add, out of ignorance of the herbalists' skills and qualifications.
