Editor's Note: Article submitted by Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.
Pacific College's degree offerings have expanded from a few certificates in 1986 to include five doctorates and three masters in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, a bachelor's degree in holistic nursing, associate degrees in massage therapy, a holistic nursing certificate, and an advanced certificate in Chinese herbology for licensed acupuncturists.
In addition, Pacific was recently approved by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) to offer the Master of Science (Health and Human Performance), as well as a medical cannabis certificate. Both were offered for the first time in the fall of 2019. They begin to usher in the next stage in the college's evolution, yet continue the college's mission of improving lives by educating and inspiring compassionate, skilled leaders of traditional medicine and integrative health sciences.
While the college's mission has evolved through the years, some things don't change. All Pacific College employees, alumni and students strive to improve lives exponentially by supporting health and well-being through their daily actions.
The Next, Necessary Stage of Our Evolution
Chinese medicine remains at Pacific's heart and core. Yet there are so many promising developments across the entire spectrum of health and science that can be embraced by institutions of Chinese medicine for the benefit of their students and alumni. By expanding into the world of integrative health care, the college and its graduates create opportunities to impress upon other health care providers the benefits of Chinese medicine. It is amazing what graduates of Pacific's DAc / DACM have already done in this regard. In this next stage of its evolution, Pacific College offers new programs to realize this goal more fully.
For example, graduates of the MS in Health and Human Performance (MSHHP) apply an integrative coaching model that combines Chinese medicine principles and modern coaching methods. Students also dive into the latest developments in the physiology and psychology of performance, whole-food nutrition, as well as dietary supplementation strategies to advance health and achieve peak performance in all areas of life. Both MSHHP students and Pacific's nursing students study Chinese medicine principles to deepen their knowledge of personal, social and environmental influences on human behavior.
Expansion into these new areas widens Pacific College's alumni network and affiliations with health care organizations, allied health care providers and faculty. This provides a wide range of new experiences, as well as career opportunities, for students in the acupuncture, massage and nursing programs, along with those in the newest programs.
Pacific College alumni websites also reveal an exhilarating and inspiring diversity of interests, skills and therapies. The interests of Chinese medicine students, faculty and alumni clearly extend well beyond the borders of Chinese medicine. The time has come for Pacific College to adopt a name that embraces that diversity, and which accommodates the needs of future generations, as well as today's nursing, acupuncture, massage and health science students.
The college sought input from students and faculty at each campus over the past two years. They contributed many creative and thoughtful suggestions. The administration considered them all during innumerable meetings. Finally, the Board of Trustees considered them with great seriousness and eventually decided that Pacific College of Health and Science best meets the needs of the present and foreseeable future.
Why Pacific College of Health and Science?
Pacific's College of Oriental Medicine will not go away. Pacific College of Health and Science will be a structure layered above it, as it will also sit above its school of nursing, school of body therapy, school of human performance, and other departments or schools that may develop over the years.
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine thanks the entire Chinese medicine and holistic community for 33 years of support. Remember, while we have a different name and expanded vision, we have the same values: integrity, mindfulness, compassion, critical thinking, collaboration, and education – values we share with you.
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The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) has announced it is closing after 41 years. Pending accreditor approval, OCOM will cease offering classes after September (fourth-year OCOM students graduate Aug. 26). All current / incoming OCOM students have the option of continuing their education at the National University of Natural Medicine or Five Branches University, or transferring to another school altogether.
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