"Healthy People, Healthy Planet" Project

ACTCM is actively involved in promoting healthy people and a healthy planet with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since 1998 ACTCM and WWF have formed a unique partnership to build public support for tiger, rhino and endangered species conservation By combining the expertise of both institutions, the message of supporting healthy people and a health planet has reached thousands of people in the conservation and TCM communities. In the last five years ACTCM has made great contributions in bridging the communication gap between the worlds of conservation and TCM. ACTCM's partnership with WWF has developed a public outreach initiative on endangered species used in traditional medicine, and represents important conservation milestone.

The College and WWF has achieved great success in reaching key communities in a way that is culturally credible and scientifically sound. This is the first systematic effort to educate conservationists about traditional Chinese medicine in health care and to educate TCM users in North America about endangered species.

In addition ACTCM and WWF organized the "Saving the Tiger" symposium held in San Francisco in 1998. Another ground breaking forum in 1999 was the "Healthy People, Healthy Planet Conference on TCM and Wildlife Conservation" in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The conference was supported by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the "Save the Tiger Fund" from the U.S. department of Fish and Wildlife, Johnson and Johnson, and other foundations. These even brought together TCM specialists, conservationists, law enforcement officials and CITES experts, and TCM retailers/trade to address wildlife conservation.

Stroke Recovery: Research & Clinical Care

The Stroke Project began in September of 1999 and now exists as a hospital-based, in-patient program to conduct research, provide clinical care and train practitioners in the use of acupuncture for treating patients who have had a stroke. Acupuncture is intended to stimulate sensory-motor pathways to restore normal, voluntary movements and functions.

Research

Clinicians and researchers from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) and California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) first met in September of 1999 for the purpose of evaluating the opportunities to conduct research into the use of acupuncture for recovery after a stroke. Today, collaboration exists to conduct randomized, controlled trials to further determine the efficacy of acupuncture for improving post-stroke rehabilitation. This research will respect both the integrity of acupuncture and the methodology of scientific research; all research activities in this program have met the rigorous review of the CPMC Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Professional development and clinical training

ACTCM is pioneering the development of hospital-based, in-patient clinical training programs. Training is currently offered to faculty in the application of acupuncture in stroke recovery, with clinical rotations for student interns in the Masters program and, prospectively, for the doctoral program. Students at the intern level are also eligible to participate. There will also be work-study opportunities for students to work as Research Assistants.

Program support

This program provides acupuncture at no cost to study patients. Leading support comes from the College's challenge grants received from the Au Education Foundation for Chinese and the Donald. Collins Foundation and California Endowment.