AAAOM First Professional Doctorate Survey

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues,

 

Please complete the linked survey

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

on the First Professional Doctorate (FPD). If we can demonstrate strong

professional

support for the FPD through this survey, its development would be accelerated.

Personally,

I believe its adoption would result in the following benefits for the AOM

profession:

 

1. On top of the current AOM master's curriculum, graduates will gain

additional medical

systems based competencies that will help them get jobs in hospitals and

clinics, where

many potential patients could benefit from AOM care.

2. Broader opportunities for AOM reps to sit at the table in policy making

processes

where doctoral level education is required;

3. Increased opportunities AOM practitioners to teach in environments where

doctoral

level education is required to spread knowledge and awareness about the

medicine;

4. Increased ability to function as point of entry providers into the health

care system,

especially in those states where primary care responsibilities are required;

5. Achievement of degree parity with graduates of other first professional

doctoral

education programs in both primary and allied modes of care; and

6. Enhanced recognition and acceptance of the AOM profession by the general

public.

 

So read through the material and links below, do the survey (2 questions), and

if you need

more info let me know.

 

Thanks, Benjamin

 

------ Forwarded Message

> AAAOM <execdir

> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:30:34 -0800

> " bdierauf " <bdierauf

> AAAOM: Professional Survey on the First Professional Doctorate

 

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:

 

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)iii standards 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

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 for more details. <http://www.aaaomonline.org/default.asp?

pagenumber=12> 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:

 

AAAOM Online Professional Survey

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

(PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS INTERACTIVE FORM.)

 

AOM First Professional Doctorate Q & A: Commonly asked questions regarding the

potential transition to a FPD Degree. (PDF)

<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_faq.pdf>

 

AOM Comes of Age: ACAOM Draft Doctoral Standards Compared to Current Entry Level

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

 

Physical Therapist Transition to a Professional Entry-Level Doctorate – 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)<http://www.aaaomonline.info/pt_transition_to_fpd.pdf>

 

Draft Standards for First-Professional Doctoral Programs in AOM – ACAOM's draft

proposal on the FPD Degree.

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

 

AAAOM Discussion Board on FPD issues. <http://forums.aaaomonline.org/forum.asp?

FORUM_ID=25>

 

AAAOM Online Professional Survey - 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.

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

[Guest guest]

How will this affect the DAOM programs, which are just starting to

gain momentum?

 

- Bill Schoenbart

 

 

, " "

wrote:

>

> I'm going to take this opportunity to insert this note. CHA of course

> takes no stand on Doctorate issues. Others of course do and apparently

> strongly, for and against. I'm passing on this series of letters from

> those who do and for the benefit of those who might or might want to.

> Doug

>

> ______________________________

Dear Colleagues,

>

> Please complete the linked survey

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

> on the First Professional Doctorate (FPD). If we can demonstrate strong

> professional

> support for the FPD through this survey, its development would be

> accelerated.

> Personally,

> I believe its adoption would result in the following benefits for

the AOM

> profession:

>

> 1. On top of the current AOM master's curriculum, graduates will gain

> additional medical

> systems based competencies that will help them get jobs in hospitals and

> clinics, where

> many potential patients could benefit from AOM care.

> 2. Broader opportunities for AOM reps to sit at the table in policy

making

> processes

> where doctoral level education is required;

> 3. Increased opportunities AOM practitioners to teach in environments

> where

> doctoral

> level education is required to spread knowledge and awareness about the

> medicine;

> 4. Increased ability to function as point of entry providers into the

> health

> care system,

> especially in those states where primary care responsibilities are

> required;

> 5. Achievement of degree parity with graduates of other first

professional

> doctoral

> education programs in both primary and allied modes of care; and

> 6. Enhanced recognition and acceptance of the AOM profession by the

> general

> public.

>

> So read through the material and links below, do the survey (2

> questions), and

> if you need

> more info let me know.

>

> Thanks, Benjamin

>

> ------ Forwarded Message

> > AAAOM <execdir

> > Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:30:34 -0800

> > " bdierauf " <bdierauf

> > AAAOM: Professional Survey on the First Professional

Doctorate

>

> 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:

>

> 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)iii standards 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

> 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 for more details.

> <http://www.aaaomonline.org/default.asp?

> pagenumber=12> 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:

>

> AAAOM Online Professional Survey

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

> (PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS INTERACTIVE FORM.)

>

> AOM First Professional Doctorate Q & A: Commonly asked questions

> regarding the

> potential transition to a FPD Degree. (PDF)

> <http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_faq.pdf>

>

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

> Entry Level

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

>

> Physical Therapist Transition to a Professional Entry-Level Doctorate

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

>

> Draft Standards for First-Professional Doctoral Programs in AOM –

> ACAOM's draft

> proposal on the FPD Degree.

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

>

> AAAOM Discussion Board on FPD issues.

> <http://forums.aaaomonline.org/forum.asp?

> FORUM_ID=25>

>

> AAAOM Online Professional Survey - 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.

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

>

[Guest guest]

The first professional doctorate (FPD) is an entry level program, whereas

the current DAOM is a 2-year add-on program that focuses more on

post-entry-level areas of specialization. The current DAOM's would continue

as post-graduate degree programs; their viability would be a function of the

perceived value of their programs in terms of providing access to

specialized knowledge that the profession recognizes as valuable.

 

Benjamin Dierauf

 

<<How will this affect the DAOM programs, which are just starting to

gain momentum?>>

[Guest guest]

<<I'm going to take this opportunity to insert this note. CHA of course takes no

stand on Doctorate issues. Others of course do and apparently strongly, for and

against. I'm passing series of letters from those who might or might want to.

Doug>>

 

Hi Doug,

 

I think things have changed in the past 10 years, with a growing consensus

around the need for a first professional doctorate. While professional

associations like the AAOM and all in California have consistently supported the

idea, we now have the Council of Colleges consensually supporting it and ACAOM

undertaking a task force to develop it. The trend seems to be that the more

people investigate, the more they like it.

 

Given the trend of other allied health professions to move towards doctoral

training - physical therapists, occupational therapists - and the scope of what

AOM can provide in comparison, it seems to be a natural progression.

 

The main difference with the masters degree is additional systems based

competencies so that graduates can function in an integrative environment and

get jobs where lots of sick people are - hospitals, and network/collaborate

better with other health care providers.

 

What is needed to move the process forward now is a show of support from the

profession; this is why the AAAOM is conducting the survey. Open to all

practitioners, to complete it go to:

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

 

Here are some other informative links:

AOM First Professional Doctorate Q & A: Commonly asked questions regarding the

potential transition to a FPD Degree. (PDF)

<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_fpd_faq.pdf>

 

AOM Comes of Age: ACAOM Draft Doctoral Standards Compared to Current Entry Level

Masters Standards - 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)

<http://www.aaaomonline.info/aom_comes_of_age.pdf>

 

Physical Therapist Transition to a Professional Entry-Level Doctorate - 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)<http://www.aaaomonline.info/pt_transition_to_fpd.pdf>

 

Draft Standards for First-Professional Doctoral Programs in AOM - ACAOM's draft

proposal on the FPD Degree.

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

 

AAAOM Discussion Board on FPD issues.

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

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

 

Benjamin