Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
The Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program is a post-graduate, clinical doctorate that uses a weekend-intensive format designed to accommodate licensed practitioners who wish to complete their doctoral degree while maintaining their practices. The DAOM is a two-calendar-year-hybrid course of study.
Purpose
The purpose of the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program is to develop the knowledge and skills of highly qualified practitioners in the specialty area of advanced pain management. The program accomplishes this through rigorous training in East Asian medicine and biomedical concepts and by emphasizing an integrative model of care delivery in a hospital setting. The program graduates leaders prepared to make significant contributions in clinical practice, education, advocacy and scholarship.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the DAOM program’s clinical doctorate will have the skills to:
- develop advanced acupuncture and traditional East Asian medical diagnoses and treatments effective for complex and/or severe conditions. These diagnoses and treatments should include all applicable modalities within the scope of practice, commensurate with the status of patients’ health.
- demonstrate an understanding of fundamental and diverse advanced pain treatment strategies in order to inform acupuncture and traditional East Asian medical care.
- discuss and deliver evidence-supported treatment as part of a collaborative integrated medical team, describing East Asian medical practices in biomedical terms when needed if possible.
- demonstrate ability to participate as part of a clinical supervisory team educating master's level students in acupuncture and East Asian medicine.
- develop research fluency in academic and clinical settings, as well as demonstrating and refining research skills through study design and preliminary investigations.
- develop and show the ability to educate health professionals and others in the functional, dynamic characteristics of TCM and related East Asian medical systems, their diagnostics, and treatments.
Prerequisites
The minimum prerequisite for the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) degree is a master's degree (or its equivalent) in acupuncture or acupuncture and Oriental medicine with a minimum 45 hours of fundamental Chinese herbal medicine from an ACAOM-candidate or ACAOM-accredited program.
The minimum cumulative GPA for required courses is 2.75.
Program of Study
The Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DAOM) is a post-graduate (post master’s), clinical doctoral program where students gain substantial clinical expertise, research competency, and greatly strengthened knowledge of acupuncture medicine. The DAOM program is dedicated to developing the knowledge and skills of qualified practitioners in the specialty of advanced pain relief and management.
The DAOM curriculum is delivered by a combination of Bastyr University’s expert faculty and internationally recognized guest faculty whose knowledge and experience deeply enrich student learning. The Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program uses a weekend-intensive format that gives students the option of living and working elsewhere while completing the degree. Classes and a portion of the clinical training take place over one three-day weekend (Friday-Sunday) and one Monday or Thursday per month for two years.
Bastyr’s DAOM students develop advanced clinical skills by combining theory and practice in hands-on internships, clinical theater, case discussions, preceptorships and a capstone research project. They also have the opportunity to participate in a China externship near the end of their studies.
Students experience rigorous training in traditional Chinese medicine and biomedical concepts in an integrative model of care delivery. Areas of study include advanced Chinese medical classics, research literacy and skills, advanced clinical skills, and specialty training modules in the relief and management of acute and chronic pain.
Skills in clinical supervision and teaching are introduced and supported through instruction and practice at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health. Integrated pain management takes place during Table Rounds with the University of Washington Medical School Pain Management Clinic at Harborview Hospital in Seattle, WA. Patients of the Pain Management Clinic are treated in their hospital rooms at Harborview from whichever service they are being seen. A primary focus is relief of pain while reducing the use of pharmaceutical medications, especially opiates.
In addition to training at Harborview and the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, students' knowledge and skills are expanded through varied practical applications such as Clinical Theater, where they observe visiting and local experts practice what they teach, and through preceptorships, private practice, clinical case histories, and a two to four week China externship. Each student is appointed a mentor. The students gain knowledge and apply research skills as they engage with their mentor and other colleagues while working on their doctoral capstone project.
Credentialing
- Licensed as an acupuncturist in Washington or one’s home state
- Pass a national background check
- TB screening
- Hepatitis B immunization (series of 3) or positive titer test
- MMR immunization (series of 2) or positive titer test
- TDap immunization within the last 10 years
- Influenza immunization - current season
- Completion of HIPAA, BBP and BCNH safety trainings
- Completion of Harborview's ORCA, Infection Control, HIPAA and Annual Competency Training
- Current CPR/AED (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation/ automated external defibrillator), AHA-approved for health care professionals, training certification
- Clean Needle Technique (CNT) certificate
The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.
DAOM Year I
Winter
| AM7100 | Clinic Entry for Clinicians and Supervisors | 0.75 |
| AM7103 | Pharmacology of Pain Management | 1 |
| AM7108 | Introduction to Case Study Writing | 0.25 |
| AM7111 | Neurobiology of Pain | 1 |
| AM7200 | Physical Exam | 2 |
| AM7300 | Trigger and Motor Points | 1 |
| AM7809 | Clinical Supervision | 0.5 |
| AM7821 | Table Rounds 1 | 0.5 |
| AM7825 | Preceptorship 1 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8.00 |
Spring
| AM7112 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| AM7113 | Research Methods | 1 |
| AM7114 | Applied Research Skills | 2 |
| AM7115 | Reading Research 1 | 0.5 |
| AM7205 | Orthopedic and Neurological Assessment | 1.5 |
| AM7312 | Laser and Electro-Acupuncture | 1.5 |
| AM7814 | Clinical Case Discussions 1 | 0.25 |
| AM7817 | Internship 1 | 0.5 |
| AM7822 | Table Rounds 2 | 0.5 |
| AM7826 | Preceptorship 2 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11.75 |
Summer
| AM7116 | Reading Research 2 | 0.5 |
| AM7118 | Chinese Classics and Pain | 1.5 |
| AM7119 | Chinese Classics Discussion | 0.5 |
| AM7206 | Laboratory | 1 |
| AM7207 | Imaging I | 0.5 |
| AM7309 | Orthopedics andSports Acupuncture I Upper Body | 1.5 |
| AM7313 | Clinical Theater 1 | 0.125 |
| AM7402 | Bleeding Techniques | 0.5 |
| AM7405 | Scalp Acupuncture | 0.5 |
| AM7815 | Clinical Case Discussions 2 | 0.25 |
| AM7818 | Internship 2 | 0.5 |
| AM7823 | Table Rounds 3 | 0.5 |
| AM7827 | Preceptorship 3 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8.875 |
Fall
| AM7117 | Reading Research 3 | 0.5 |
| AM7120 | Capstone Development 1 | 0.5 |
| AM7208 | Imaging II | 0.5 |
| AM7310 | Orthopedics and Sports Acupuncture II Lower Body | 1.5 |
| AM7311 | Master Tung's Points | 1.5 |
| AM7314 | Clinical Theater 2 | 0.125 |
| AM7315 | Clinical Theater 3 | 0.125 |
| AM7316 | Auricular Acupuncture and Other Microsystems | 1.5 |
| AM7816 | Clinical Case Discussions 3 | 0.25 |
| AM7819 | Internship 3 | 0.5 |
| AM7820 | Clinical Applications 1 | 0.25 |
| AM7824 | Table Rounds 4 | 0.5 |
| AM7828 | Preceptorship 4 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8.750 |
DAOM Year II
Winter
| AM8107 | Capstone Development 2 | 0.5 |
| AM8303 | Advanced Tuina for Pain | 1 |
| AM8321 | Clinical Theater 4 | 0.125 |
| AM8401 | Structural Integration and Pain Relief | 2 |
| AM8403 | Urogenital System | 0.5 |
| AM8404 | Digestive System | 0.5 |
| AM8405 | Gynecological System | 0.5 |
| AM8406 | Vascular System | 0.5 |
| AM8812 | Internship 4 | 0.5 |
| AM8816 | Table Rounds 5 | 0.5 |
| AM8820 | Clinical Case Discussions 4 | 0.25 |
| AM8823 | Clinical Applications 2 | 0.25 |
| AM8827 | Preceptorship 5 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8.125 |
Spring
| AM8104 | Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Pain | 0.5 |
| AM8105 | Exercise Physiology | 0.75 |
| AM8108 | Capstone Development 3 | 0.5 |
| AM8304 | Thai Massage Techniques for Pain | 1.25 |
| AM8305 | Qigong and Pain Relief | 0.75 |
| AM8316 | Arthritis and Rheumatology | 0.75 |
| AM8317 | Balance Method | 0.75 |
| AM8813 | Internship 5 | 0.5 |
| AM8817 | Table Rounds 6 | 0.5 |
| AM8821 | Clinical Case Discussions 5 | 0.25 |
| AM8322 | Clinical Theater 5 | 0.125 |
| AM8824 | Clinical Applications 3 | 0.25 |
| AM8828 | Preceptorship 6 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 7.875 |
Summer
| AM8109 | Capstone Development 4 | 0.5 |
| AM8306 | Japanese Acupuncture Techniques for Pain | 1.5 |
| AM8318 | Oncology and Autoimmune Conditions | 2 |
| AM8323 | Clinical Theater 6 | 0.125 |
| AM8814 | Internship 6 | 0.5 |
| AM8818 | Table Rounds 7 | 0.5 |
| AM8826 | China Externship | 4 |
| AM8830 | Integrative Care Rotation | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.125 |
Fall
| AM8106 | Recent Research | 1 |
| AM8110 | Capstone Presentation | 1 |
| AM8319 | Pediatrics and Gerontology | 2 |
| AM8320 | Chinese Herbs for External Application | 0.5 |
| AM8402 | Nutrition, Botanicals & Supplements | 2 |
| AM8815 | Internship 7 | 0.5 |
| AM8819 | Table Rounds 8 | 0.5 |
| AM8822 | Clinical Case Discussions 6 | 0.25 |
| AM8825 | Clinical Applications 4 | 0.25 |
| AM8829 | Preceptorship 7 | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.00 |
Total Requirements
| Total Didactic and Laboratory credit/hours |
41.75 / 484.0 |
| Total Clinic credit/hours |
22.25 / 659.5 |
| Total Online hybrid credit/hours |
7.5 / 82.5 |
| Total Course Credits/ hours |
71.5 / 1226.0 |
Curriculum and course changes in the 2018-2019 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2018-2019 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.
Graduation Requirements
Evaluation of didactic and clinical competency achievement for each course in the program is conducted on-line via Bastyr’s Moodle system. The evaluative tool is at the discretion of each instructor and could include an exam, a homework assignment, a relevant case history, etc. This is estimated to be accomplished in one hour/credit and will be assessed each quarter on a scale of H/AC/PC/F/IP/I. All Incompletes (I) must be completed by the end of the following quarter.
The student is responsible for writing a total of four (4) case histories, scholarly papers or professional documents of similar rigor relating to pain management from his/her own private practice or internships using Rubric I. In addition, the student is required to write two (2) formal integrative case studies relating to pain management from his/her own private practice or internships, using Rubric II.
Successful completion of the degree program requires a capstone thesis project pertinent to the area of specialty. The capstone project is an experiential project in which students apply what they’ve learned throughout the doctoral program and examine a specific idea. A variety of forms are possible including: clinical research, either a clinical trial or outcome study; laboratory in vitro research, case study or case series; retrospective clinical case review; meta-analysis; literature review; translation study; or a scholarly academic study. The Bastyr Capstone Manual defines the citation and format style.
Attendance
Attendance is required for all courses and clinic rotations. Courses missed, for any reason, without prior notice may be made up through the University’s Directed Study Policy, which can be seen at Academic-Catalog/Academic-Policy-and-Procedure-Manual/Direct Study. Clinic rotations missed, for any reason, without prior notice will need to be made up via an arrangement with the clinic supervisor.