A student stands over a patient, needle poised. They have a “perfect” prescription: a textbook combination of points harvested from a lecture slide on chronic lower back pain. But as the needle meets the skin, the student hesitates - the symptom of a quiet habit that has taken hold of our profession. We routinely say we “prescribe” points. It sounds efficient. It echoes the authority of biomedical culture and fits neatly into the insurance field. But vocabulary is never neutral; repeated long enough, it dictates behavior.
Dustin Vaughan, DAOM, Dipl. OM, PMD, AP
Dr. Dustin Vaughan is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, NCCAOM board-certified diplomate of Oriental medicine, and licensed acupuncture physician. He is also a licensed paramedic with experience in emergency departments, level 1 trauma centers, and as a first responder with the fire service. After 15+ years practicing emergency medicine, he retired from the fire service to pursue a dream of blending his experience in Western medicine with Eastern medicine to provide an integrative, holistic approach to health and wellness. Dr. Vaughan owns an integrative sports-medicine practice in Clermont, Fla. where he enjoys working with athletes to help them achieve their goals, maintain wellness, prevent injury, and recover from injury and trauma to perform at their best. However, his practice is not exclusive to athletes because injuries and the need for mobility are not exclusive to athletes. His kinesiology background and certifications emphasize movement and mobility, which can be a concern for anyone at any age.