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As I reported last week, ACAOM intends to survey the practitioner

community about requiring an entry level doctorate degree in ten years.

this has enraged at least one national organization who declare that ACAOM

should not even ask the question.

 

 

Statement from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

 

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine believes that

the recent ACAOM Doctoral Survey proposal has caused major concerns to

many colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine across the country and

is premature, misleading, biased, and undermines the current national

Visioning Search Task Force process. The executive committee of the

Council, having received input from members of the Council, including its

mission and visioning committee, feels that it is important that our

profession consider the role of the doctorate in the future with calm

reflection and a careful planning process. We do not believe the ACAOM

survey will promote this calm reflection or help educational institutions.

Accordingly, the Council's executive committee, which functions as the

board of the Council between meetings, expresses its strong concern

regarding the ACAOM survey for the reasons indicated below.

 

see the rest at

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2003/feb/02acaom.html

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein

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Todd -

 

ACAOM has an obligation to entertain discourse from all stakeholders. They are on the right track. CCAOM executive committee has acted unilaterally. Yet, based on personal conversation, it is clear to me that not all schools feel this way, and many support a higher standard. CCAOM should perform surveys and get an acurate picture of constituent desires.

 

Most importantly, the suggestion that ACAOM should not ask the question would violate there own accreditation criteria.

 

Will

 

 

As I reported last week, ACAOM intends to survey the practitioner community about requiring an entry level doctorate degree in ten years.

this has enraged at least one national organization who declare that ACAOM should not even ask the question.

 

 

William R. Morris, OMD

Secretary, AAOM

Dean of Clinical Education

Emperor's College of TOM

310-453-8383

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Dear All -

 

As I have indicated previously, there are many schools who disagree with the Council statement in Acupuncture Today. It was pushed through by the Council Executive Committee, and they did not poll their constituency. I believe this to be a grievous error, even though it is possible according to their bylaws.

It is imperative for everyone to respond to the Accreditation Commission (ACAOM) poll with your opinion if it is to achieve a level of validity. Everything will be on the table -- language, clinical skills -- everything.

This would be an amazing thing from my perspective. We would not have to attach a postgraduate clinical doctoral program onto: an attempt to fill entry requirements to a first professional degree through a master's program. Rather, the new doctorate can be designed from the ground up as an entry level doctorate.

This would be based on criteria established through a brand new process; one that the profession can be heard instead of being railroaded by the interests of a few schools who control the Council of Colleges -- which by the way -- have controlled the development of this profession from very early on. It is time we grow up as professionals and take control of the destiny of our profession ... this is the opportunity. Fill out the ACAOM survey and be heard.

 

As far as CHA is concerned -- this group could take a leadership position by polling it's members and developing a consensus statement on those features we can agree upon. I would leave Chinese language agenda out at this juncture because of the controversial nature of the topic; once we get to the tables it can be addressed. The ACAOM really wants to know what we have to say. In addition, this might be a way to have a CHA representative at the hearings.

 

Will Morris

 

Statement from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

 

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine believes that the recent ACAOM Doctoral Survey proposal has caused major concerns to many colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine across the country and is premature, misleading, biased, and undermines the current national Visioning Search Task Force process. The executive committee of the Council, having received input from members of the Council, including its mission and visioning committee, feels that it is important that our profession consider the role of the doctorate in the future with calm reflection and a careful planning process. We do not believe the ACAOM survey will promote this calm reflection or help educational institutions.

Accordingly, the Council's executive committee, which functions as the board of the Council between meetings, expresses its strong concern regarding the ACAOM survey for the reasons indicated below.

 

see the rest at http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2003/feb/02acaom.html

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Will:

 

The article said that three schools already have a doctorate level

program. Do you know which schools and of what types of classes

their doctorate curriculum consists?

 

 

Jim Ramholz

 

 

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> Everything will be on the table -- language, clinical skills --

everything. ... Rather, the new doctorate can be designed from the

ground up as an entry level doctorate.

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PCOM, Bastyr and OCOM. OCOM sent out a brochure. check their websites

for updates.

 

todd

 

 

, " James Ramholz <

jramholz> " <jramholz> wrote:

> Will:

>

> The article said that three schools already have a doctorate level

> program. Do you know which schools and of what types of classes

> their doctorate curriculum consists?

>

>

> Jim Ramholz

>

>

>

> , WMorris116@A... wrote:

> > Everything will be on the table -- language, clinical skills --

> everything. ... Rather, the new doctorate can be designed from the

> ground up as an entry level doctorate.

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This is obviously another difficult crossroads for our profession. It

seems we are having a lot of them, true signs of growing pains.

 

I firmly support a doctorate-only degree, and I think ten years should

be more than enough time to do so. Many other issues arise in the

meantime, such as continuing education for practitioners,

grandfathering, etc. that will have to be dealt with.

 

I do think Chinese language is a core issue and should be on the table

now. I see no reason to put this off any longer, and not requiring it

at the national level for doctorate programs was another grievous error.

 

While I agree that trying to stop a poll was also a grievous error, we

must understand that it is the colleges that have to bear the major

financial burden of any changes in educational standards.

Practitioners less so. These schools are nearly all privately owned,

with little or no funding, unlike the University of California or SUNY.

The financial risk factor is very great, and the key word is

enrollment enrollment enrollment. Anything that is a risk to

enrollment is a great financial risk.

 

When the schools started as 'mom and pop' outfits, the risks were less,

the agenda more free-form. Now it takes hundreds of thousands of

dollars just to get through the certification processes. I think this

reality also influences what is happening with the national exam. It

is amusing, and somewhat expensive, to think that after 20 years of

practice, I may have to take the national herb exam to keep up my NCCA

certification.

 

So, while I support an open forum, entry-level doctorate, and

well-integrated Chinese language courses in the schools, I think we do

need to be sensitive to the financial risks for the colleges.

Undoubtedly, the next ten years may force closure of smaller schools

and even some larger ones. The costs of starting new schools will get

more steep. We've already seen a few closures in the past year.

 

 

 

On Sunday, January 26, 2003, at 04:52 AM, WMorris116 wrote:

 

> Dear All -

>

> As I have indicated previously, there are many schools who disagree

> with the Council statement in Acupuncture Today. It was pushed through

> by the Council Executive Committee, and they did not poll their

> constituency. I believe this to be a grievous error, even though it is

> possible according to their bylaws.

>

> It is imperative for everyone to respond to the Accreditation

> Commission (ACAOM) poll with your opinion if it is to achieve a level

> of validity. Everything will be on the table -- language, clinical

> skills -- everything.

>

> This would be an amazing thing from my perspective. We would not have

> to attach a postgraduate clinical doctoral program onto: an attempt to

> fill entry requirements to a first professional degree through a

> master's program. Rather, the new doctorate can be designed from the

> ground up as an entry level doctorate.

>

> This would be based on criteria established through a brand new

> process; one that the profession can be heard instead of being

> railroaded by the interests of a few schools who control the Council

> of Colleges -- which by the way -- have controlled the development of

> this profession from very early on. It is time we grow up as

> professionals and take control of the destiny of our profession ...

> this is the opportunity. Fill out the ACAOM survey and be heard.

>

> As far as CHA is concerned -- this group could take a leadership

> position by polling it's members and developing a consensus statement

> on those features we can agree upon. I would leave Chinese language

> agenda out at this juncture because of the controversial nature of the

> topic; once we get to the tables it can be addressed. The ACAOM really

> wants to know what we have to say. In addition, this might be a way to

> have a CHA representative at the hearings.

>

> Will Morris

>

> Statement from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental

> Medicine

>

> The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine believes

> that

> the recent ACAOM Doctoral Survey proposal has caused major concerns to

> many colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine across the country

> and

> is premature, misleading, biased, and undermines the current national

> Visioning Search Task Force process. The executive committee of the

> Council, having received input from members of the Council, including

> its

> mission and visioning committee, feels that it is important that our

> profession consider the role of the doctorate in the future with calm

> reflection and a careful planning process. We do not believe the ACAOM

> survey will promote this calm reflection or help educational

> institutions.

>  Accordingly, the Council's executive committee, which functions as the

> board of the Council between meetings, expresses its strong concern

> regarding the ACAOM survey for the reasons indicated below.

>

> see the rest at

> http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2003/feb/02acaom.html

>

>

>

>

<image.tiff>

>

>

> Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed

> healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate

> academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety

> of professional services, including board approved online continuing

> education.

>

>

>

>

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Jim -

 

OCOM, Bastyr and PCOM have all been approved to deliver a postgraduate clinical specialty doctorate. This is not what I am speaking about. Rather, I would see the doctorate structured from the ground up as an entry level first professional degree as the ring we are attempting to grasp in our growth as a profession.

Bastyr is a cancer specialty, OCOM doesn't seem to be a specialty, I haven't seen anything from PCOM - Todd and Z'ev?

 

Will

 

 

The article said that three schools already have a doctorate level program. Do you know which schools and of what types of classes their doctorate curriculum consists?

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We currently have more schools per capita than any other profession anywhere in the world. Yes, three schools have closed in the last year. More will close. We cannot in any way -- any longer -- stunt the forward movement of this profession based on the survival of a few who are likely not survive anyway.

Other issues such as CME and grandfathering will arise, however, they are state licensing issues, not academic ones. The licensing bodies are very interested in a licensure title that would be grandfatherable; this is not the purview of the schools or the Accrediting process.

 

Along the lines of continuing education, I believe we should push for a moratorium on the use of the term CEU which is a trade designation. Rather, I believe we should seek designation commensurate with the objective of life-long learning, that of continuing medical education (CME).

Language needs to be on the table. However, those schools that choose another focus need the academic freedom to pursue what they deem is most consequential to the needs of this country from doctoral level training in OM.

The colleges as a special interest group have run the national agenda for policy development. It is time for balanced discourse. The ACAOM process will insure this.

Do not let fear for the schools drive us away from balanced discourse the way it has in the past.

 

Will Morris

 

This is obviously another difficult crossroads for our profession. It seems we are having a lot of them, true signs of growing pains.

 

I firmly support a doctorate-only degree, and I think ten years should be more than enough time to do so. Many other issues arise in the meantime, such as continuing education for practitioners, grandfathering, etc. that will have to be dealt with.

 

I do think Chinese language is a core issue and should be on the table now. I see no reason to put this off any longer, and not requiring it at the national level for doctorate programs was another grievous error.

 

While I agree that trying to stop a poll was also a grievous error, we must understand that it is the colleges that have to bear the major financial burden of any changes in educational standards.

Practitioners less so. These schools are nearly all privately owned, with little or no funding, unlike the University of California or SUNY. The financial risk factor is very great, and the key word is enrollment enrollment enrollment. Anything that is a risk to enrollment is a great financial risk.

 

When the schools started as 'mom and pop' outfits, the risks were less, the agenda more free-form. Now it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get through the certification processes. I think this reality also influences what is happening with the national exam. It is amusing, and somewhat expensive, to think that after 20 years of practice, I may have to take the national herb exam to keep up my NCCA certification.

 

So, while I support an open forum, entry-level doctorate, and well-integrated Chinese language courses in the schools, I think we do need to be sensitive to the financial risks for the colleges.

Undoubtedly, the next ten years may force closure of smaller schools and even some larger ones. The costs of starting new schools will get more steep. We've already seen a few closures in the past year.

 

 

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Ken -

 

Medical professions - I don't have the figures but can get them. Ratios of professionals to training institutions for each profession.

 

Will

 

 

What heads are you counting?

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Ken,

 

There are about 50 TCM schools and 15,000 pracitioners. The number of practitioners will probably double in the next 2-3 years due to the number of students in the pipeline.

 

Will

 

Thanks. I'd be very interested in seeing

those numbers. How many schools of Chinese

medicine are there?

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Will,

 

Can you clarify what you mean by this:

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> We currently have more schools per capita than any other

profession anywhere

> in the world.

 

What heads are you counting?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Ken

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Will,

 

Thanks. I'd be very interested in seeing

those numbers. How many schools of Chinese

medicine are there?

 

Ken

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> Ken -

>

> Medical professions - I don't have the figures but can get them.

Ratios of

> professionals to training institutions for each profession.

>

> Will

>

>

> > What heads are you counting?

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In a message dated 1/27/2003 12:54:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, WMorris116 writes:

 

OCOM doesn't seem to be a specialty,

 

OCOM has specialties in gynecology, pain management or geriatrics in their Doctoral Program.

-Anne

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Jim,

From what I can tell, the program at OCOM does not contain language studies. It does look at the classics, but it is hard to tell to what extent. I'm trying to find out more information on this.

-Anne

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, WMorris116@A... wrote:

 

I haven't

> seen anything from PCOM - Todd and Z'ev?

 

 

geriatrics, neuromuscular and psychiatry as PCOM has long time close

working relationships with integrative medical facilities and providers serving

seniors, college athletes and homeless (most of whom are mentally ill at the

facility we use). BTW, the first class is intended for fall 2003. I think apps

are

being accepted. And it does require 5 semesters of chinese medical chinese.

 

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Ann - from my examination of the program, there is insufficient time spent on specialty topics to merit the moniker 'specialty'. The progarm is heavily weighted in general studies.

 

Will Morris

 

In a message dated 1/27/2003 12:54:03 AM Pacific Standard Time, WMorris116 writes:

 

OCOM doesn't seem to be a specialty,

 

 

OCOM has specialties in gynecology, pain management or geriatrics in their Doctoral Program.

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Two years will double so two - three years should account for attrition.

Thanks.

 

Does your estimate of the number of practitioners

doubling take into account drop-out rate, both

from schools and from the ranks of professionals?

 

Do we have numbers available for the drop-out

rates?

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Anne:

 

Do they include language studies or have classes that focus on

particular classical texts?

 

 

Jim Ramholz

 

 

 

, ajeffres@a... wrote:

> OCOM has specialties in gynecology, pain management or geriatrics

in their Doctoral Program.

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Ken

 

No to both of these - I think it shifts radically from school to school and from 5 year period to five year period but I have no hard data........

 

Will

 

Do you know the attrition rate

for practitioners

?

The drop out rate from schools?

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Will,

 

Thanks.

 

Does your estimate of the number of practitioners

doubling take into account drop-out rate, both

from schools and from the ranks of professionals?

 

Do we have numbers available for the drop-out

rates?

 

Ken

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> Ken,

>

> There are about 50 TCM schools and 15,000 pracitioners. The number

of

> practitioners will probably double in the next 2-3 years due to

the number of

> students in the pipeline.

>

> Will

>

> > Thanks. I'd be very interested in seeing

> > those numbers. How many schools of Chinese

> > medicine are there?

> >

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Will,

 

 

Thanks.

 

Do you know the attrition rate

for practitioners

?

The drop out rate from schools?

 

Ken

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> Two years will double so two - three years should account for

attrition.

>

> > Thanks.

> >

> > Does your estimate of the number of practitioners

> > doubling take into account drop-out rate, both

> > from schools and from the ranks of professionals?

> >

> > Do we have numbers available for the drop-out

> > rates?

> >

> >

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Will,

 

Thanks.

 

Does anyone on the list have any information

about the attrition rate both in the

schools and after graduation?

 

We've talked about this topic before, and

it seems to me that any discussion that

focuses on the success of various approaches

to education would be well served by some

way of evaluating what the current education

is actually producing in terms of successful

students and graduates.

 

Ken

 

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

> Ken

>

> No to both of these - I think it shifts radically from school to

school and

> from 5 year period to five year period but I have no hard

data........

>

> Will

>

> > Do you know the attrition rate

> > for practitioners

> > ?

> > The drop out rate from schools?

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