National University of Health Sciences is expanding its degree offerings to provide students with a more advanced education in the rapidly growing field of acupuncture. The new Doctor of Acupuncture Completion program (Dac-C) started in May. It is designed for those who have already completed a Master of Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine. 

In recent years, acupuncture has become increasingly well-accepted within the medical community. New research continues to support the effectiveness of acupuncture with more patients than ever before using it to treat pain, infertility, stress and anxiety, etc. As acupuncturists make their way into more mainstream medical environments like hospitals and fertility clinics, a more advanced, doctorate level of training in acupuncture is quickly becoming necessary. A degree with more advanced standing will help NUHS students stay competitive in the field.

Hyundo Franz Kim, PhD, MSOM, LAc, will serve as Assistant Dean of the Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Program (AHM) after serving as Chief Clinician of the AHM Program at the NUHS Whole Health Center in Lombard. He has been teaching at NUHS since 2007.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to not only use my skills in clinical teaching but also to bring new ideas into the program that will set NUHS apart from other institutions,” he said.

NUHS is also offering an entry-level Doctor in Acupuncture (DAc) program that can be bundled with the restructured master’s program in acupuncture. The programs require 90 semester hours in undergraduate credit to apply.

Students can complete the new Master of Acupuncture program (MAc) in as little as 6 trimesters, or in 8 trimesters with the specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine.  The master’s program will hold daytime classes instead of the previous evening classes. Students will still have the added advantage of cadaver dissection, an opportunity offered by few schools.

Moreover, students must apply to both the doctoral and the master’s programs concurrently if they are interested in the entry level Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) program. Once students have completed the master’s portion of the program, they will be able to earn the remaining credit hours for the Doctor of Acupuncture entirely online in just one year or three additional trimesters. This allows students to return to their hometowns and begin practicing and earning an income all while studying for their doctoral degree.

As part of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) requirements, students in the doctoral program will be required to complete a 60-hour preceptorship with a licensed physician of their choosing, located in any state. They will also have the option of completing this requirement at NUHS’s Whole Health Center in Lombard alongside a chiropractic physician. 

Like other programs at NUHS, coursework in the doctoral program in acupuncture will focus on integration with other branches of medicine that students can expect to encounter in practice. The curriculum will include topics on demographics, biostatistics, radiology, MRI, CT scans, and lab work. Course work also covers the topics of practical business and marketing strategies. 

Overall, NUHS has streamlined the coursework so students can truly master the material and become the best practitioners possible.

“We have some of the best acupuncture and herbal medicine students here,” Dr. Kim said. “Their curiosity is the driving force for teaching standards at NUHS. One of the most rewarding aspects of working with students is how they grow and develop into competent practitioners.” 

Click here to request more information about the new Doctor of Acupuncture Program.