From the Editor’s Desk

Marilyn Allen, Editor at Large

Marilyn Allen is a well-known expert in the fields of acupuncture and medical malpractice. She holds an MS degree from Pepperdine University and teaches courses in acupuncture practice management and ethics at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She is also the current director of marketing for the American Acupuncture Council.

Previous Articles

Our 2025 Goal: Advocacy Through Education

February 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 2)

Your #1 Goal for 2024: Documentation

February 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 2)

12 Important Reasons to Request Every Patient's Medical Records

April 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 04)

A 2023 Action Plan for Your Practice: 4 Things to Do Now

February 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 02)

2022: Looking Back, Looking Forward

December 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 12)

The Year to Be a Tiger

February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)

5 Digits That Can Change Our Future

October 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 10)

Now Is the Time

September 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 09)

Think Acupuncture Is a Culture of Caring? We Still Have Work to Do

February 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 02)

2021: The Year to Start Learning the ICD-11 Codes for Traditional Medicine

January 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 01)

You're Ready to Share Your Medicine With the World – But How Should You Say It?

November 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 11)

Let's Rebuild the Human Connection

September 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 09)

Forging Unity Amid the Chaos

August 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 08)

Practicing in the Age of COVID-19

July 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 07)

Setting Goals and Building Teams

April 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 04)

Your #1 Job: Plant Seeds of Hope

March 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 03)

The Power of a Professional Photo

February 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 02)

20 and Counting: Celebrating 20 Years of Acupuncture Today and the Evolution of AOM

January 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)

It All Starts With a Conversation

December 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 12)

A Review of "WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019": Section 1: National Framework for Traditional and Complementary Medicine

October 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 10)

Unifying State Associations

April 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 04)

Flying Into the Year of the Pig: Making Way for the Impossible

February 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 02)

Goodbye, Year of the Dog: Two-Thousand-Eighteen Comes to a Close

December 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 12)

Procuring a Place for the Future

November 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 11)

Standardizing Acupuncture?

September 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 09)

TCM Codes for the World

July 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 07)

Money: A Receipt for Your Services

April 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 04)

Year of the Dog: Uniting the Profession

February 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 02)

Happy New Year: Looking at 2018

January 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 01)

2017: A Great Year for Acupuncture

December 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 12)

Moving TCM Into the Future

October 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 10)

An Acupuncture Parallel in the Everyday

August 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 08)

A Question of Ethics

June 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 06)

March 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 03)

Crow Like the Rooster

February 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 02)

2016: A Year in the Life of Acupuncture

December 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 12)

The Need for Standards

August 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 08)

Acupuncture's Impact on the World

July 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 07)

Time for World-Wide Growth

June 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 06)

Are You Really Invested?

April 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 04)

In Sympathy: Dr. Richard Tan

March 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 03)

East Meets West

February 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 02)

The Year to Shine

January 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 01)

Are You a Stakeholder?

December 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 12)

It's Time to Review

November 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 11)

It's Time to Wake Up

September 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 09)

Creating Relationships at Southwest Symposium

July 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 07)

The Year to Make Things Happen

June 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 06)

The Tide is Rising in the Acupuncture Profession

May 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 05)

Will You Be an Amplifer or a Mute?

April 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 04)

It's Time to Create a Strong Acupuncture Footprint

March 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 03)

Happy New Year 2015 Gong Hoy Fat Choi

February 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 02)

Animal Acupuncture Gaining in Popularity

February 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 02)

Cultivating Our National Strength

January 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 01)

The Truth About Herbs

October 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 10)

The Acupuncture Success Express

August 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 08)

Gallop Confidently Into The New Year

March 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 03)

ISO-TC 249: International Standards For TCM

October 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 10)

Happenings in Our Evolving Profession

June 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 06)

Reflections on Leadership

April 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 04)

A New Year Brings New Opportunities

February 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 02)

Now Is The Time

September 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 09)

International Developments and Updates in the World of TCM

July 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 07)

Reflections on Leadership

April 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 04)

February 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 02)

December 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 12)

October 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 10)

August 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 08)

June 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 06)

April 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 04)

Global Health Information Makes Big Strides

February 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 02)

Defining the Future of Traditional Medicine

October 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 10)

Classifying AOM As a Global Endeavor

August 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 08)

What Makes a Leader?

June 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 06)

AOM Riding a Cultural Wave

May 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 05)

Planting Our Feet

April 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 04)

A Tale of Two Offices

March 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 03)

Acupuncture is Something to Roar About

February 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 02)

Take a Duvet Day to Achieve Your Goals

January 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 01)

The First Stop on the Road to Compliance

December 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 12)

November 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 11)

Helping Spread the Word

October 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 10)

One Makes a Difference

September 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 09)

Ask Your Acupuncturist

August 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 08)

July 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 07)

Lead by Example

June 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 06)

The Time Has Come

May 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 05)

Becoming an Ancestor

April 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 04)

Positioning Acupuncture Correctly

March 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 03)

Strong and Steady for the New Year

February 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 02)

The Feds Are Coming!

January 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 01)

Reach Out and Touch in Person

December 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 12)

AOM and the Changing Seasons

November 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 11)

Firm Up Your Resolve

October 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 10)

September 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 09)

It's Time to Be Recognized

August 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 08)

Building a Better Practice

July 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 07)

What the Drug Companies Don't Want You to Know

June 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 06)

Whether or Not to Survive and Flourish: That is the Question

May 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 05)

Spring Has Sprung, and So Should You

April 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 04)

The Importance of Service and Value

March 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 03)

Happy Chinese New Year!

February 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 02)

Getting Healthy in the Year of the Rat

January 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 01)

A Time for Thanks

December 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 12)

Turning Over New Leaves for Fall

November 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 11)

Grow and Contribute to This Medicine

October 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 10)

Have You Considered Getting Involved?

September 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 09)

The More You Meet and Greet, the More You Will Get to Treat

August 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 08)

The Wellness Revolution

July 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 07)

For the Betterment of Mankind

June 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 06)

Hard Work Through Commitment and Action Creates Friendships

May 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 05)

The Power of a Team

April 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 04)

Are You a Steamroller or the Pavement?

March 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 03)

Make the Year of Prosperity the Year of Cooperation

February 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 02)