Medical Acupuncture For Physicians course Helms Medical Institute, HMI, Stanford University and UCLA Office of Continuing Medical Education

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ABOUT HMI

HMI is dedicated to excellence in the teaching and practice of medical acupuncture. We are dedicated to cultivating and developing knowledgeable, committed, and skillful acupuncture teachers and to continual development of the curriculum.

HMI preceptors have completed a rigorous training process that stresses the highest standards of professionalism, respect for the tradition of acupuncture, attentiveness to the needs of our students, and creativity and enthusiasm in disseminating physician acupuncture education. All preceptors have completed the "Medical Acupuncture for Physicians" course, have passed the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture proficiency exam, and are practice members of the AAMA.

The first "Medical Acupuncture for Physicians" course was held in 1980 under the sponsorship of the American Holistic Medical Association. The next two courses, also under AHMA sponsorship, were held in 1980 and 1981.

Sponsorship shifted in 1983 to the Office of Continuing Medical Education of the UCLA School of Medicine, and in subsequent years course participation grew from 25 to 50 to 100 to 200 participants. In 1998 and 1999 the course expanded to 300 participants, and now requires two introductory units and four clinical sections each year. Alternate courses are now co-sponsored by Stanford University School of Medicine in addition to UCLA.

The HMI program continues to train an increasing number of physician acupuncturists each year, and continues to improve the quality of training in the basic course, the intermediate courses that follow, and in advanced and specialty courses. Our goal is to provide a thriving medical acupuncture training environment in the coming decades.

Acupuncture continues to rapidly grow in popularity, both among patients, and among physicians looking for ways to expand their practices, better serve their patients, and rekindle their passions as practitioners and healers. The demand for training led to the creation of HMI and the Medical Acupuncture For Physicians course, to enable the practice of medical acupuncture to expand in the current medical landscape as an enduring sub-specialty.