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.
Tiffany Tuftee, LAc
Tiffany Tuftee serves as the president of CSOMA as of 2024. A steadfast advocate for East Asian medicine, she is deeply committed to advancing the practice of acupuncture in California. Her initiatives focus on creating job opportunities, enhancing sustainability within the profession, and educating allied health care practitioners on the essential role acupuncture plays in modern health care. Under her leadership, CSOMA is dedicated to ensuring that acupuncture remains a vital component of the state’s health care system, promoting comprehensive and holistic patient care. Contact email: president@csomaonline.org.