A Salute to Abram Ber, M.D.(h)

© Copyright 2003 by Victoria Bowmann, Ph.D., USA
(Explore Issue: Volume 13, Number 1)

63 years ago, in Rumania, a very special boy was born to Jewish parents. Who could have imagined who he would become, and how many lives would be touched by this very special young man. By God’s grace, his immediate family was able to escape the horrors of the war: moving first to Italy, on to Israel, and settling in Montreal, Canada. Grace and perhaps a little luck brought him to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he has practiced homeopathic medicine for almost 30 years.

Abram Ber earned his medical degree from McGill University, with a specialty in anesthesiology. His training included the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Royal Victorian Hospital (resident staff of anesthesiology), and Faculty of Anesthesiology of McGill University. It was during this period in his life that he connected the dots between nutrition, diseases, and healing. His quest for knowledge brought him to Arizona in the late 1970s, where he has been in private practice ever since.

His first six months of practice in Arizona were at the ARE clinic (Association for Research and Enlightenment – Edgar Cayce) where his patients recognized the excellence of his work. He moved into his private practice, first on 7th Street in Phoenix, later on Cave Creek Road, and now he has settled into a beautiful facility in Scottsdale.

In 1980 and 1981, the board of medical examiners attempted to extinguish the brilliance of this man’s light. During a difficult two years, he was hounded for his practices of holistic medical treatment. Three other physicians (and a grass roots movement of patients) joined with him to bring about the legislation necessary to establish the homeopathic medical board in Arizona. Their combined money, effort, and time made it possible for all qualifying physicians to practice homeopathic and integrative medicine, without persecution, from then on.

Abram Ber holds license # 1, issued on February 11 1982. The homeopathic licensing board and AHIMA (Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association) have been blessed with his ongoing volunteer efforts. Instead of listing the positions and offices with his years of service in each (most positions and numerous times), I will state that he has been continuously active to guide the state of Arizona into the next century. This provides all patients, present and future, the freedom and opportunity to have homeopathy as a viable means to achieve and maintain vitality in their health.

He is a deeply spiritual man, which is evident in the “one minute with Abe” at every AHIMA  meeting. During these precious moments, he reminds us of the importance of service, giving, gratitude, and compassion.