Acupuncture schools reach out to communities and undergo major management changes. One school has recently sold and another school has merged with a larger college. Also, fundraisers facilitate Chinese medicine healthcare to underserved individuals. The following is a roundup of acupuncture schools in the news.
Bastyr University has a new president. Dr. Powell, PhD. formerly served as president of Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California. He now takes the helm of this university with campuses in Kenmore, Washington, and San Diego, California. Recently, Bastyr students raised $4,500 to benefit homeless youth in their 5th annual cooking competition. Over 200 people attended the event that was a cooking competition fashioned after the show Top Chef. Bastyr University recently featured another event in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. This event raised funds for uncompensated patient care at the Bastyr Center For Natural Health, Seattle, and the Bastyr University Clinic, San Diego.
Five Branches University, with campuses in Santa Cruz and San Jose, continues its study abroad program in China, Taiwan, and Korea. Five Branches also has hospital externships in Vietnam. Five Branches continues its sister college relationship with Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Fujian, China. The university recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and is hosting an upcoming open house in San Jose, California, to feature its teaching programs and financial aid packages. All participants in the event will be eligible for a complementary acupuncture treatment.
The New England School of Acupuncture will remain in Newton, Massachusetts. However, there is new ownership. The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), with campuses in Boston, Worcester, and Manchester (New Hampshire); has purchased the school. The New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) will keep its name and will comprise one of the ten MCPHS schools.
The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), with campuses in San Francisco, is merging with the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). This makes ACTCM the 4th school in CIIS. ACTCM has added a DACM degree, a professional doctoral degree in Chinese medicine. This is in addition to the existing DAOM and MSTCM programs. ACTCM will feature its programs at their upcoming summer information fair hosted at CIIS in San Francisco.
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala event featuring Pierce Brosnan, a celebrity philanthropist known for his humanitarian and environmental commitments. Yo San is hosting its annual community blood drive as part of its June events. Recently Dr. Richard Hammerschlag, PhD., former Yo San University president, gave a presentation at the school. His works have important implications for the future of acupuncture research and its relationship to clinical medicine. Dr. Hammerschlag is one of the world’s top experts on the impact of biomedical research methodologies on acupuncture research.
The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM), located in Portland, recently announced an interim president, Dr. Deborah Howe, PhD. She formerly served at Temple University and Portland State University. Dr. Howe notes that her goal is to promote stewardship and sustainability for the college. The research department, founded by Dr. Hammerschlag, continues with guidance from OCOM research associate Ben Marx, MAcOM, L.Ac. The Meyer Memorial Trust recently awarded $130,000 to fund a new full-time staff position at OCOM. The newly created Director of Annual Giving will oversee fundraising, collaborative partnerships, and expansion of community giving capacity. Anticipated impact from enhanced fundraising will be expansion of affordable healthcare options for patients in Portland.