Perspectives on Teaching Acupuncture to Medical Students

Introduction: Given the interest in acupuncture expressed by many medical students (MSs) worldwide, the challenge is how to introduce acupuncture in medical training. In this article, we present our experience of training MSs from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Center, 316th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews, Marland 20762.Curriculum: Rotating MS are given the opportunity of an elective rotation with the diverse styles of five physician medical acupuncturists and two licensed acupuncturists. MSs experience an acupuncture referral clinic and acupuncture in a primary care clinic. MSs are given acupuncture didactics, as it may apply to medical specialties and integrative medicine topics. They participate in group practice acupuncture sessions. Included in the rotation is Battlefield Acupuncture certification.Results: The elective clinical rotation offered to USUHS has produced 13 MS rotators yearly for the past 3 years. There appears to be strong postrotation interest in incorporating acupuncture into their future allopathic medical specialty.Discussion: Many previous acupuncture elective USUHS students apply for the United States Air Force Medical Acupuncture Scholar Program to attend a 300-h certified acupuncture training course after obtaining their medical doctor degree and post-specialty training. There have been 20 applicants per year in the past 3 years from 15 medical specialties. Western medicine may be improved by the incorporation of acupuncture in all facets of medical care. Whether seeing a primary care provider or a specialist, patients should have acupuncture available to expand treatment options. Acupuncture may offer an attraction to allopathic physicians to increase their scope of practice. Incorporating acupuncture also appears to decrease physician burnout by reducing depersonalization.Conclusion: The elective acupuncture rotation of USUHS MS at the United States Air Force Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Center, Joint Base Andrews, is utilized near capacity as a 4th-year elective.