Virginia University of Oriental Medicine’s New Approach to Health

By Corih Kim

As healthcare cost becomes ever increasingly high, alternative medicine focuses on maintenance of health through long-term care and lower cost to maintain such health. As a result, homeopathy or alternative medicine is increasing in popularity within the US, due to its holistic view of treatment and maintenance of the human body. Virginia University of Oriental Medicine’s Masters of Oriental Medicine (VUOM) Program recently earned accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), offering courses in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and clinical experience for anyone interested in pursuing a career in this field.

In an interview with the Academic Dean, Thomas Kouo, DAOM, L.Ac., he explained the rising demand of oriental medicine, due to the shift in attitude in major metropolitan areas regarding alternative medicine. Alternative and Oriental medicine is well received and popular in the western coast of the U.S., such as in California, but the eastern states are only now beginning to open up the idea of holistic maintenance through herbal medicines and acupuncture. At VUOM, curriculum focus is on four major departments, taught through a rigorous four-year program: oriental medical theory, acupuncture, herbal and western medicine, and body and energy cultivation. Practice Management and Communication programs support the main curriculum by teaching the students information regarding business management and methods of communications with potential patients. To practice oriental medicine in most states, students must pass either the state licensure exams or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) Licensure exams, and the exams focus on the VUOM’s four curriculum criteria.

Due to the recent accreditation of the Masters program, those needing aid may be eligible to receive federal financial aid, work-study benefits, and GI Bill benefits. VUOM is aggressively seeking federal accreditation to start offering financial aid to those interested, and hopes to receive such aid in the near future. Dean Kouo verified that VUOM offers many scholarships mostly for need-based students, but also for merit-based scholarships and work-study (http://vuom.org/wptest/admissions/scholarships/).

The biggest difference between eastern and western medicine is the philosophy behind the cure. Dean Kouo explained western medicine’s focus is on “self-actualization,” while eastern medicine’s focus is on “nothingness,” developed through Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. From a practical standpoint, he explained, “Western medicine continues to delve into the problem until one specific cause of illness is found, but eastern medicine focuses on the big picture and looks at how the body heals and tries to improve it.” Because of such vast differences in philosophy behind western and eastern medicine, however, many people, especially those who grew up in a predominantly western society are skeptical about the effectiveness of oriental medicine. Dean Kouo encourages such skepticism, but asks that it be given to both western and oriental medicine equally. He pointed to evidence showing the effectiveness of oriental medicine, due to the development of technology validating results known to be true in Eastern cultures for thousands of years.

In a brief interview with a student currently enrolled at VUOM, Ms. C. Park explained of the fulfilling yet challenging coursework and the desire to continue studying. To her, some of the attractiveness of oriental medicine is the ability to see the patient’s illness without extensive testing, as well as the ability to provide significant pain relief from the beginning. She enthusiastically lauded VUOM’s efforts to create a diverse student population, “The school comprises of people from Korea, China, Mongolia, India, and Saudi Arabians, with about 50% of the student body having background in medicine.” She desires to continue studying oriental medicine even after graduation, explaining, “The depth of oriental medicine encourages constant exploration and thought.”

Although an ancient practice in Asia, oriental medicine is the “new” trend here in the U.S.; anyone interested in learning should visit www.vuom.org for more information.