The ACTCM Associate Academic Dean, Dr. Steve Given, was recently interviewed on Everyday Acupuncture, a podcast that features experienced practitioners speaking about how you can apply the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine in your everyday life. The podcast is hosted by Michael Max, an acupuncturist of 20 years based in the Midwest. Max’s intent for the show is to provide listeners with access to the cultivated clinical wisdom of practitioners that have practiced long enough to make Chinese medicine understandable in an everyday language.
On Steve’s episode, What It Takes To Be an Acupuncturist, Steve delves into his own introduction to the field, the challenges students face while in TCM school, and what you can expect if you decide to go through the training to become a practitioner.
Show Highlights:
6:34 Changes in acupuncture education over the years.
12:41 The credentialing and licensing situation for acupuncturists.
19:07 Do you need a medical background to study acupuncture?
21:52 Some of the challenges westerners have with learning East Asian medicine.
32:38 What about other practitioners that do “acupuncture” but are not trained in Chinese medicine?
39:30 What are the challenges to getting started with the profession after graduating from acupuncture school?
You can listen to Dr. Given’s interview below or at the Everyday Acupuncture sites linked above.
What It Takes to Be An Acupuncturist
Steve Given, DAOM, L.Ac. holds both masters and doctoral degrees in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Steve’s areas of clinical interest include pain management, HIV/AIDS, supportive care for oncology patients, addiction treatment, and orthopedics. Prior to his career in Chinese medicine, he worked in the microbiology field as a laboratory supervisor and research technologist.
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About American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine since 1980. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization