Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) Program

Program Overview

Degree Awarded: Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM)

The curriculum of the DAcCHM Completion Track (Professional Doctorate, PD) builds upon master’s-level preparation through six connected areas of study:

Advanced Diagnostic Studies
Patient Care Systems
Collaborative Care
Professional Development Strategies
Research and Evidence-Based Medicine
Integrative Case Studies

Together, these courses comprise 16.5 units and 315 hours of doctoral-level education.

Their value lies not in treating each subject as an isolated area, but in helping practitioners connect knowledge, clinical experience, professional responsibility, and the needs of the whole person.

Connecting Clinical Information with a Broader Understanding of the Patient
Connecting the Patient with the Healthcare System
Connecting Across Professional Boundaries
Connecting Education with Lifelong Professional Development
Connecting Research with Responsible Clinical Judgment
Connecting Knowledge Through Integrative Case Studies

The Deeper Purpose of the DAcCHM

The value of the DAcCHM is not found only in adding another credential after a practitioner’s name.

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine degree also represents an opportunity for practitioners to continue their education, broaden their professional perspective, strengthen their ability to engage with complex care, and prepare for continued development in a changing healthcare environment.

The six curricular areas provide a structure for that growth:

understanding clinical information more broadly;
navigating patient-care systems;
communicating across professional boundaries;
planning continued professional development;
engaging responsibly with research;
and connecting knowledge through case analysis.

The curriculum provides the structure. Educators bring experience, interpretation, and clinical perspective. Students are challenged to transform information into understanding, understanding into judgment, and judgment into responsible care.

AI can connect data.

Healthcare systems can connect services.

Research can connect observation with evidence.

But connecting the complete clinical picture still requires a practitioner who can understand context, recognize limits, communicate responsibly, and remain accountable for the choices made.

That is why the DAcCHM matters for the future of practice.

Curriculum

Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) Program