William Prange, BA, BS, MA, OMD

Dr. William Prange pioneered the use of acupuncture in mainstream medicine while providing over 100,000 unique patient visits. His TCM studies began before California first approved schools in 1976. As a psychotherapist specializing in mindfulness-based somatic therapy, he earned a degree in advanced acupuncture studies in China (1982) and an OMD  addressing complex biao-li conditions from SAMRA (1984).   

He served on the first of California Acupuncture Association’s advisory boards while founding the Sonoma Oriental Medical Association and building a successful integrative practice with MD partners. He was also the first acupuncturist to obtain hospital privileges in California (1997), and subsequently helped launch integrative programs for Sonoma County’s Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Hospital, Blue Shield of California, and American Whole Health. 

Always dedicated to the health of his patients, he blended acupuncture with bodywork, herbal therapies, effective listening, and proper referral. He is now retired on the central coast of California, where he teaches meditation and looks forward to supporting the further development of our profession.
 

Previous Articles

Tiny Pearl, Powerful Wisdom
September 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 9)
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