FCIM's 25th anniversary & AOM DAY CELEBRATION
ABOUT AOM DAY
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Day is observed annually on October 24. It is part of an effort designed to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
An estimated 36% of U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health. When megavitamin therapy and prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of U.S. adults using some form of CAM in the past year rises to 62%. Among the common CAM practices identified by the survey were acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and qi gong.
A survey by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine found that approximately one in ten adults had received acupuncture at least one time and 60% said they would readily consider acupuncture as a potential treatment option. Nearly half (48%) of the individuals surveyed who had received acupuncture reported that they were extremely satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment. In addition, one in five (21%) of the total NCCAOM survey respondents reported that they had utilized some other form of Oriental medicine besides acupuncture, such as herbs or bodywork (e.g., shiatsu).
These studies and others like them clearly demonstrate that CAM therapies such as acupuncture and Oriental medicine are common practice in today's health care system. They also support the need for consumers to be provided accurate and reliable information regarding their treatment options.
HISTORY OF FCIM
The Florida College of Integrative Medicine (FCIM) is one of America’s most respected higher-learning institutions for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), offering bachelor’s and master’s coursework in acupuncture, herbal medicine and adjunctive therapies, as well as western biomedical sciences. Established in 1990, FCIM became the very first school in Florida to be accredited by the national Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education. Since then, we have continually expanded and refined our offerings to all students who are interested in pursuing future careers in TCM and alternative/holistic healthcare, and have in the process fostered a sterling reputation as the premier institution for TCM tutelage and training in Florida and the Southeastern United States. Our onsite clinic is one of the largest community focused healthcare providers in Central Florida, providing quality care to over 900 patients each month. In sync with America’s evolving healthcare landscape, our original coursework of 2,100 hours has steadily grown to over 3,000 hours today; and our more than 40 graduating classes since 1990 have included successful alumni from all corners of the globe, including South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Graduates today, in addition to their education in Acupuncture, receive intensive training in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Biomedical Sciences. The economic impact has grown over time to an annual total economic impact on the Orange county economy of $10,000,000.