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The
Relationship between the College and the Alumni
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s
relationship with its students continues long after graduation.
Since the founding of the College in 1980, 876 students
have graduated from ACTCM (as of March 2008), and all
graduates are automatically members of the ACTCM Alumni
Association. Graduating from ACTCM isn’t an ending.
It is really the beginning of a lifelong relationship
between the College and its alumni.
Prestigious Alumni
ACTCM alumni are leaders in the TCM healthcare profession
throughout the United States, and especially in California.
Alumni are faculty members at various TCM colleges (e.g.,
Bob Damone, Class of 1989, who has worked at 3 U.S. colleges
of Oriental Medicine). Our alumni are board members of
state professional organizations (e.g., Bill Mosca, Class
of 2005, CSOMA Executive Director); authors of important
books and professional journals (e.g., Benjamin Dierauf,
Class of 1991, former Editor-in-chief of the California
Journal of Oriental Medicine); state appointed medical
officials (e.g., Adam Burke, Class of 1986, current member
of the California State Acupuncture Committee); sports
medicine experts (e.g., Mark Takata, Class of 1994, first
ever acupuncturist/trainer for the San Francisco 49ers
professional football team in the 1990's); and they hold,
or have held, many other notable positions which have
helped enhance the profession.
Drawing
upon the spirit, purpose and long history of TCM, the
alumni support the College in many ways, including assisting
the recruitment effort in the Admissions Office and participating
in ACTCM’s “Bridging the Gap'' and "Broadening
Your Horizons" and "Transition to Success"
series by presenting timely topics to current students
and recent graduates about post-graduation, real life
experiences.
Graduates
made up an important component as they diligently served
on the Alumni 25th Anniversary Committee in 2005, helping
the College in planning for its Silver Anniversary events
and celebrations. They have promised to do the same when
the College celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2010. Alumni
currently serve on the ACTCM Board of Directors, on various
college committees and as advisors to the President, Vice-President
and Deans. Alumni participate in providing their continuing
financial support for the College.
In
2005, the Alumni Association installed the ACTCM Alumni
Yahoo! Group on the Internet. The site is a viable communication
device between graduates in practice, and also acts as
a mentoring service involving the alumni and the 3rd year
current students who are approaching commencement.
The Alumni Services Office
The Alumni Services Office at ACTCM maintains a community
connection by producing the Campus Forum, a quarterly
newsletter which focuses on our alumni and alumni issues,
and by managing the web-based Alumni Practitioners Directory
which helps patients locate ACTCM graduates who practice
internationally and throughout the United States. Further,
and at the request of the Alumni Association, the director
of the Alumni Services Office serves as one of three moderators
on the Alumni Yahoo! Group.
The
Alumni Services Office conducts an annual Phone-A-thon
to keep in verbal contact with alumni, update information,
and to raise funds for the College. The Alumni Services
Office helps the graduates stay up- to-date on their address
and practice location changes, and the director works
closely with the ACTCM Alumni Association. Important surveys
of the alumni are conducted every other year. The director
of the office is the person who maintains the extensive
alumni database in an official capacity.
The
Alumni Services Office edits, publishes and sends an electronic
newsletter to graduates. The *e-Bulletin* is sent to ACTCM
alumni at least twice a month.
Alumni Association Executive Board
Graduates of American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
formed the Alumni Association in 1998 when a constitution
and bylaws were adopted. Association officers serve as
the official representatives for the 876 graduates of
the College, years 1983 to 2008.
The
current executive board members of the ACTCM Alumni Association
are:
| President |
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Johnson Chiu, MSTCM, L.Ac, Class of 2002
J.acupuncture@gmail.com |
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| Vice
President |
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Jill Sweringen, MSTCM, L.Ac. Class of 2000
purpleiris7442@sbcglobal.net |
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| Secretary/Treasurer |
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Amy Taylor, MSTCM, MA, L.Ac, Class of 2005
amy@amytayloracupuncture
www.amytayloracupuncture.com |
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| Chair
of the Annual Fund |
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To
be Announced |
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| Immediate
Past President |
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John
Maynes, RN, MSTCM, L.Ac, Class of 1998
johnmaynes@sbcglobal.net |
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| President
Emeritus |
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Jim Scheller, MD, MSTCM, Class of 1995
Mdscheller@earthlink.net |
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Wally Walker, Director
Alumni Services Office
alumni@actcm.edu
April 2007
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