SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2021 – CSOMA is pleased to welcome over fifty new student members from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS).
The new partnership bolsters CSOMA’s student membership numbers, which comprises the association’s second largest membership group, after licensed professional members. The alliance also strengthens ties between CSOMA and TCM schools like SCUHS through a shared vision of expanding employment opportunities for newly licensed practitioners.
“Southern California University of Health Sciences is a shining example of student advocacy in action,” remarked Dr. Nell Smircina, DAOM, LAc., CSOMA president. “By collectively joining the association at this time, SCUHS students are showing their support of CSOMA’s advocacy work and their commitment to being involved in a larger vision for this growing profession.”
Earlier this year, CSOMA introduced AB 918, the first bill in California to ensure a nationally recognized standard for the delivery of acupuncture medicine throughout the state. A major tenet of the bill included the option for a prospective acupuncturist to take the national examination to qualify for national certification and California state licensure. AB 918 aims to secure enhanced portability of acupuncture credentials across the nation for greater employment opportunities.
Jenny Yu, Dean of SCUHS Eastern Medicine Department commented, “We are delighted to provide this student membership opportunity with CSOMA for our Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) program students.”
SCUHS offers a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) program in which students are awarded both the DACM and the Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM) degree that is required to sit for State and National licensing and certification exams. DACM students learn from, with, and about other professions such as chiropractors and physician assistants to prepare for future careers in collaborative and team-based settings.
“Excellence in healthcare begins with excellence in education,” Yu continued. “The collaboration between SCUHS and CSOMA allows our DACM students an early glance into the professional field. Today’s student members will become tomorrow’s professional members, and we look forward to our continued collaboration to better prepare our students in serving their future profession and professional organization.”
About Southern California University of Health Sciences
Founded in 1911, Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS) has been a leader in educating students to be competent, caring, and successful integrative healthcare practitioners and professionals in today’s healthcare delivery system. For more information about SCUHS, visit https://www.scuhs.edu.
About CSOMA
CSOMA is a professional association of licensed acupuncturists and supporters of acupuncture, dedicated to the preservation, advancement and integration of the art, science, and practice of all branches of acupuncture medicine into the modern healthcare model, in a caring and ethical manner, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the general public.
For more information about CSOMA, please contact Ra Adcock, Executive Director, at ra@csomaonline.org.
###