INTEGRATION OF A LONGITUDINAL CURRICULUM IN MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE WITH RESIDENCY TRAINING IN FAMILY MEDICINE

Objective: To demonstrate that a residency-based model for training physicians in acupuncture is feasible and results in competence, as measured by the certification process of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.Methods: The Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, which is affiliated with the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, has for the past five years required all residents to participate in a 300-hour integrative medicine curriculum, as part of a pilot project developed at the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship.From the beginning, an introduction to medical acupuncture has been offered as an approved elective in the integrative medicine curriculum.In 2010, a three-year, elective, longitudinal curriculum in medical acupuncture was developed and approved by the Curriculum Committee of the residency program.The curriculum was also presented to the American Board of Medical Acupuncture and was accepted as an alternative route for satisfying board requirements.Elements of the MaineDartmouth longitudinal curriculum include:(a) principles oftraditional Chinese medicine;(b) development of skills in point location, needling, cupping and moxibustion;(c) modern paradigms, including electroacupuncture, French energetics, neuroanatomical approaches, balance methods and microsystems;(d) classical diagnostic methods;(e) reiterative instruction in differentiation of syndromes and treatment planning;(f) Chinese dietary therapy, Tuina, Qigong and other treatment modalities;(g) clinical supervision.Results: In 2013, the first resident to complete the program passed the certification examination of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.Conclusion: Benefits of acupuncture training during residency include:(a) a reiterative process as opposed to linear learning;(b) enhanced opportunities for supervised clinical practice as part of acupuncture training;(c) preparation for seamless integration of acupuncture into a primary care practice.