phd/doctorate programs- the way the public views L.Ac.s

[Guest guest]

Five branches has a doctoral program, where if you also do 1 year's worth of

coursework in Zhejiang province (presumably Hangzhou), you also get a Ph.D.

(China) on top of the DAOM.

http://www.fivebranches.edu/default.taf?m=2 & c=2

Of course, if you're looking for a correspondence school, this is not for

you.

 

One concern that I have is that once a few instructors of the Masters

program attain their DAOM degrees, that they will teach at the same school

in the doctoral program.

Now, if you like and respect a hypothetical instructor, then that is great,

but if you don't think that a teacher was all that great in the Masters

program,

then why would you want to pay more for the same person in the Doctoral

program at the same school?

 

My hope is that schools will not try to cut corners by hiring on their

Master's degree instructors turned into DAOMs by saving money in travel

costs etc (flying renowned teachers across the country).

Then again, in a few years, an institute may have rounded out a few corners

and solidified the program in many ways.

 

It is also my belief that in 10 years, half of the practicing and promising

acupuncturists in this country will be going for their doctorate degrees.

In 20 years time, when my son is figuring out what he wants to do with his

life,

my forecast is that their will be entry level doctorates for all schools in

the country.

At that time, Doctors of Oriental Medicine will not be seen as just

technicians, who attended a 2 year vocational school. (Unfortunately, many

lay-people have this impression about our profession-

look at Mehmet Oz's new book:

" You- the Smart Patient "

http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Patient-Insiders-Handbook-Treatment/dp/0743293010/sr=8\

-5/qid=1170522927/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/102-7184106-1248154?ie=UTF8 & s=books

On the section about acupuncture, facing the chiropractic page,

he states that acupuncturists have a 1800 hour + education OR graduated from

an accredited school to be eligible to sit for the National boards. If one

reads the previous page, D.Cs do a minimum of 4200 hours of formal

education. Of course, it is much more complex than this, but if you don't

know anything about acupuncture, you would think that L.Acs etc are not in

the same league as D.Cs, M.Ds. and D.Os.

This book is influential in the minds of our potential patients and the

general public.

Hopefully, with the inception and development of the doctoral programs, we

can change this misconception.

 

Looking forward,

k.

 

On 2/3/07, wrote:

>

> Sami, one thing to consider is why you want the dergree. If you are

> thinking of teaching in

> the schools, a DAOM is definetely a plus. If that is not a consideration

> then there are a

> number of other PHD programs that might not be as recognized but may be

> more tailored

> for you. The Yuen program is one as well as more self-directed ones in the

> Valley etc. I'm

> not sure why you are willing to fly to San Fran but a more local one. Even

> though I haven't

> made the leap, ECTOM's program is getting better and I believe SAMRA's

> will be good.

> I see DAOM students every week in the ECTOM clinic so I don't know if this

> once a month

> commute really is realistic.

> Good to hear from you...

>

>

> --- In

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>,

> " Sami Rank LAc "

> <herbsnacupnxr wrote:

> >

> > Hello all, i am contemplating 2 programs, one at ACTCM in SF, and the

> > other w/Jeffrey Yuen. I'd appreciate any input from those few who may

> > have taken these programs (I know there aren't many yet).

> >

> > I really like ACTCM's curriculum, but I really really want to learn

> > everything Jeffrey Yuen has to teach. It's a tough choice.

> >

> > In addition to input, please answer: could either be done if you

> > didn't live in the respective cities (they say you can fly in for the

> > long weekend once a month but I wonder if that's true all the way

> > through or do you end up doing clinicals etc btw sessions)

> >

> > thank you all.

> > sami

> >

>

>

>

 

 

 

--

'Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of

a problem.'

 

Jiddu Krishnamurti