AAAOM First Professional Doctorate Survey

[Guest guest]

*First Professional Doctoral Survey*

 

November 21, 2008

 

*Greetings Members and AOM Colleagues:*

 

*All AOM Practitioners in the United States*

 

*American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (AAAOM)*

 

*Re: AAAOM Professional Survey on the First Professional Doctorate*

 

*Dear Practitioners:* (Chinese Version -

PDF)<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_survey_cn.pdf>

 

The American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (AAAOM)i is

conducting a survey of professional practitioners to gauge the level of

support for a First Professional Doctorate (FPD). Please read this letter

carefully, review the included links below, discuss this issue with your

colleagues, participate on the AAAOM discussion board, and complete the

survey <http://www.aaaomonline.org/interactive.asp?ID=38>.

 

A First Professional Doctorate (FPD) is a degree that graduates receive upon

completion of a professional doctoral program. It leads to licensure and

practice in a given professional occupation. Many health care professions

are moving to a first professional doctorate (FPD), most recently physical

therapy (DPT) and occupational therapy (OTD). Should the AOM profession do

the same?

 

Process-wise, ACAOM convened a task force composed of stakeholders from the

AOM community to develop draft standards for the First Professional

Doctorate. The group considered the requirements for a changing set of

cultural needs for AOM practitioners entering the market over the next 20

years. These include the Institute of Medicine core competencies for all

21st century health professions. The results were then distributed to the

communities of interest through Town Halls and electronic media. It became

apparent, however, that the Asian practitioner communities were

insufficiently represented. This survey seeks to rectify the skew in the

received data.

 

Doctoral degrees and titles in the AOM field can be complicated. It is

important to clarify the difference between an *academic degree* and *title

by license*. Currently, some states grant doctoral title by licensure,

without an earned doctorate in the field.ii For our purposes in this survey

we are discussing an earned academic doctorate that one achieves as a

criteria to begin practice.

 

Another area that is important to clarify is the difference with the

currently offered Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM),

which is a post graduate clinical specialty doctorate. It is based on

Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

(ACAOM)iiistandards and is being offered or developed by approximately

12 AOM schools.

These post-graduate clinical specialty programs require a master's degree in

AOM or its equivalent as a prerequisite; they are not first professional

doctorates, rather they are designed to develop specialty skills beyond the

entry level.

 

Attached below are links for background information that does not

necessarily reflect the views of the AAAOM. Please complete the linked

survey by December 31. As noted above, the enclosed survey pertains only to

the possibility of a First Professional Doctorate.

 

Thanks for your participation in this important matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

AAAOM Education Committee

*Education/Credentialing:* Will Morris, Chair; Christine Chang, Benjamin

Dierauf, Mark Evans, Mark Hanson, Fred Jennes, Anyork Lee, Honora Wolf

 

The Education/Credentialing Committee purpose is to provide expertise from

within the professional association to accrediting, licensing and educating

bodies, and to facilitate the development of board certification processes.

 

__________________

*i* The AAAOM has represented the field of AOM on the national level since

1981, please see About the

AAAOM<http://www.aaaomonline.org/default.asp?pagenumber=12>for more

details. The AAAOM mission is to promote excellence and integrity

in the professional practice of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, in order

to enhance public health and well-being.

 

*ii* Examples of 'title by license' include, Rhode Island: Doctor of

Acupuncture, Florida: Acupuncture Physician, and New Mexico: Doctor of

Oriental Medicine.

 

*iii* The Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, has

maximum recognition from the U.S. Department of Education to accredit first

professional masters degree level programs in AOM. They are in the process

of seeking recognition for accrediting the DAOM programs now that

appropriate site visit reviews have been conducted, and ACAOM has accredited

a cadre of DAOM programs.

 

*Links:*

 

1. AAAOM Online Professional

Survey<http://www.aaaomonline.org/interactive.asp?ID=38>

*(PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS INTERACTIVE FORM.)*

2. AOM First Professional Doctorate Q &

A<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_faq.pdf> (Chinese

Version - PDF) <http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_faq_cn.pdf>: Commonly

asked questions regarding the potential transition to a FPD Degree. (PDF)

3. AOM Comes of Age: ACAOM Draft Doctoral Standards Compared to Current

Entry Level Masters

Standards<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_comes_of_age.pdf>- This

article outlines a brief history of the development of the FPD and

clearly expresses the key differences between the current AOM Masters and

proposed FPD Degrees. (PDF)

4. Physical Therapist Transition to a Professional Entry-Level

Doctorate<http://www.aaaomonline.info/pt_transition_to_fpd.pdf>–

Contains detailed FAQ's on issues similar in scope to what AOM

practitioners might face that Physical Therapists addressed as they

transitioned from a First Degree Masters to Professional Doctorate Degrees.

(PDF)

5. Draft Standards for First-Professional Doctoral Programs in

AOM<http://www.aaaomonline.info/acaom_draft_fpd.pdf>– ACAOM's draft

proposal on the FPD Degree. (PDF)

6. AAAOM Discussion Board on FPD

issues<http://forums.aaaomonline.org/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=25>

.

 

*The purpose of this survey is to ascertain interest in the first

professional doctorate.* Please mark the space beside the statement that

most accurately reflects your opinion.

 

*AAAOM Online Professional

Survey*<http://www.aaaomonline.org/interactive.asp?ID=38>