for acupuncture students, alumni, faculty & friends — sponsored by AIMC Berkeley

Now is the time to have your voice heard about the First Professional Doctorate

Hello colleagues and students,

I would like to draw everyone's attention to a matter that affects our profession, and more importantly, our patients. The ACAOM is taking steps to determine whether there is a consensus among the profession for a first-professional doctorate (FPD) as an entry-level professional degree for TCM practitioners. If the ACAOM determines that there is a consensus, they then plan to petition the USDE to develop a pilot-program FPD.

If our profession adopts a FPD, this will have a profoundly negative affect. This will only serve to further increase student debt loads -- the burden of which will ultimately be passed on to our patients. As pre-FPD practitioners we are not guaranteed a grand-fathering, as a matter of fact Mark Seem, one of the most vocal proponents of a FPD (President and Executive Director of Tri-State College) is already making plans for "... the mechanisms by which graduates from 2009 and earlier might complete the upgraded coursework so that they might be eligible to apply for advanced standing in such an eventual FPD program." What that translates to is more school and tuition for you.

For more information about the FPD, please read the following links:
http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/blog/first-professional-...
http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/blog/10-myths-about-firs...

No matter what your viewpoint is, ask everyone to take time to consider the possible reality of a FPD and the impact it would have on our profession. After reading the above links, take time to make your own decision regarding the FPD and communicate your opinion to the ACAOM.

Thank you very much,
Tatyana Ryevzina, LAc
AIMC faculty
member of Community Acupuncture Network Board of Directors

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Comment by Tatyana Ryevzina on November 19, 2009 at 1:17pm: David,
Thanks for your comment.

I agree on this point ONLY: "A 3,000+ master's degree (the requirement in California) is ludicrous. Many Master's degrees come at less than 1,000 hours." So why don't we have a more manageable Master's degree for acupuncturists? The most common complaint I hear from students is that they are sick of being forced to take classes they do not have any use for in the real world of practice and that that acupuncture school is too expensive and takes too long. There are problems with the current acupuncture education that I could not get into in this comment, because they are so profound and immense. Building on a shoddy foundation is pretty much never a good idea.

"I actually believe that among many other things the placebo effect is influenced by the clinician's title. It is entirely possible that for the population who is effected by a clinician's title their treatment outcomes would be improved." - WOW, I think you win the prize here. That is one of the most ridiculous reasons for FPD I have ever heard. The patients will get better from acupuncture if they have access to enough acupuncture at a reasonable price, in an environment that resonates with they class and cultural values. No one ever asks me about my degree when they come through the doors of my clinic to seek help. They just want to feel better and be able to get enough acupuncture for that to happen and worry about being able to afford the care they need. Last week we gave 135 treatments in my clinic.

-tatyana

Comment by David Caruso-Radin on November 19, 2009 at 11:23am: Much of what Tatyana says is very true. Now is an important time to make your voices heard about the first professional doctorate. As we learned last time ACAOM put this question out for comment, there are some in our profession that would prefer to scale down programs in Chinese medicine and refer to graduates as acupuncture technicians. This group is very loud and very organized. In the last go round they were very successful in derailing the effort to allow you to use the title of doctor after completing the program

I have to strongly disagree with Tatyana's assertion that the first professional doctorate will have a "profoundly negative affect" on our profession. Quite the contrary...In our society the vast majority of the population is unfortunately affected by a clinician's title. Those who are awarded the title of doctor receive more respect from their clients and from colleagues in other professions. I actually believe that among many other things the placebo effect is influenced by the clinician's title. It is entirely possible that for the population who is effected by a clinician's title their treatment outcomes would be improved.

Additionally, I am of the belief that after doing 3,400 hours of training in Chinese medicine our students deserve the title of doctor (as is common in other professions). A 3,000+ master's degree (the requirement in California) is ludicrous. Many Master's degrees come at less than 1,000 hours. In a perfect world it would be great if there were different levels (as there are in Nursing). A Master's degree for those who prefer to practice as technicians, and a Doctoral degree for those who would like an even standing with their counterparts in Chiropracty, Biomedicine, Physical Therapy, etc.

We should work toward a dual system where those who want to be technicians can receive a Master's degree and those that want to be Doctor's of Chinese medicine can receive a doctorate. Do not underestimate the power of the title, "Dr" in front of your name. When all is said and done after you complete the program you will become a small business owner. Marketing your business will not necessarily come easy. Having the title of Doctor will give you a leg up, and fortunately or unfortunately will give you additional credibility when you make presentations and interact with colleagues.

It is very important for you to know that the current standard ACAOM is looking at is 3,000 hours. The standard set in California. For acupuncture schools in California this will mean some tweaking to curriculum, not an increase in hours or tuition.

History has shown that when other professions (i.e., Physical Therapists) have converted their entry level degree from Master to Doctor there was grandfathering to remain at a licensure level, and a relatively easy program to convert a Master's level to a Doctor level (which is what Tatyana is referring to when she talks about what Mark Seem is working on).

In closing I see no reason why you should work as hard as you and all of your colleagues in California do, and not receive the title of doctor. Hopefully for students of Chinese medicine who are in programs around the country that require fewer hours of study they will be able to retain their current status with a Master's degree.

Peace,
Dave