Shai White-Gilbertson, PhD, MSCR, Dipl Ac, CTR

Dr. White-Gilbertson began her professional life as an acupuncturist in 2000 after studying at The Midwest College for Oriental Medicine (then The Midwest College for the Study of Oriental Medicine). In 2002, a long standing interest in possible connections between acupuncture and Western biomedicine led her to formally train in molecular biology. She earned a PhD for her work in chemotherapy resistance and programmed cell death as part of a dual degree program which also granted her a Masters in Clinical Research from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2009. In total, Dr. White-Gilbertson spent 10 years researching cancer biology and now works with cancer databases addressing issues of incidence and outcome for this difficult disease. She lives and works in Charleston, SC.

Previous Articles

Molecular Motors: Tiny Machines Behind the Rhythm of Life
December 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 12)
Discovery: Finding Insights and Each Other in Different Disciplines
August 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 08)
Immunotherapy: Where Molecular Medicine Crosses Into Holistic Thinking
June 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 06)
Energy: For Life and For Death
May 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 05)
Models: The Value of Using Conceptual Maps
April 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 04)
Mechanism: Experimental Approaches to Understanding Acupuncture, Part 2
January 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 01)
Mechanism: Experimental Approaches to Understanding Acupuncture, Part 1
November 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 11)
Help: A Need at Every Level
October 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 10)
Desert: A Metaphor from the Study of Genetics
July 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 07)
Breath: The Movement of Oxygen and Energy
June 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 06)
Trending
News / Profession
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution: China’s New National Standard
Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution

On April 1, 2026, China implemented a landmark national standard: Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution. Although designated as a recommended rather than mandatory standard, it represents a major step in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by converting traditional constitution theory into a clear, measurable and clinically practical framework. By clarifying the relationship between constitution, disease, and pattern differentiation, the standard strengthens professional credibility, supports research, and enhances patient-centered treatment.

Ann Y Wang, CMD (China), LAc
News / Profession
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change
Profession at a Crossroads: What Must Change

The field of acupuncture in the U.S. continues to grow in visibility, patient demand and clinical effectiveness. Yet behind the curtain, many acupuncturists are quietly struggling to keep their doors open. While the profession is rooted in centuries of healing tradition, modern economic pressures – particularly those driven by insurance limitations, low reimbursement rates and job-market saturation – are making it increasingly difficult for licensed acupuncturists to thrive.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM
Acupuncture & Acupressure
It’s Time to Stop Prescribing Points
It's Time to Stop Prescribing Points

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.

Bruce W. Park, DACM