Developing the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Education Infrastructure: Baccalaureate Programs in the United States

Abstract

Preparing tomorrow's scholars and clinicians to contribute meaningfully to this emerging healthcare paradigm will require a plan that integrates all elements of higher education. The creation of a truly effective workforce of CAM-competent M.D.s, nurses, health educators, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals will increasingly necessitate baccalaureate preparation. Curriculum discussions at the campus, state, and national levels are needed.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine among people living with diabetes: literature review

“…The increased presence of CAM‐related courses in medical and nursing curricula is apparent in the USA and Canada, as well as other countries (Haramati & Lumpkin 2004); however, most CAM courses in a curriculum are electives (Dutta et al. 2003) and few are offered in the baccalaureate level programmes (Burke et al. 2004).…”

Acupuncture Use in the United States: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey

“…31,32 Many health professional training programs now include related information or training in their curricula. [33][34][35][36] Acupuncture has also become an important area of contemporary biomedical research. Acupuncture was recognized in a 1997 National Institutes of Health consensus report as a useful treatment or adjunct for a variety of conditions.…”

Financial Support for Research Training and Career Development in Complementary and Alternative Medicine from the National Institutes of Health

“…23 There are still no federally funded CAM dual-degree programs (eg, DC/PhD) comparable to the Medical Scientist Training Program. 6 Furthermore, the CAM professional training 24 has not necessarily been an obvious fit with the research training programs at conventional research intensive universities. 25,26 Hence, there have been considerable barriers both programmatically and financially for interested CAM practitioners to pursue a research career.…”

“…For CAM practitioners without bachelor's degrees, there are a few US institutions that offer bachelor's degrees with a major or minor in a CAM-related discipline. 6 It would be essential to have at least a bachelor's degree to begin pursuing a research career (in CAM or conventional science).…”

“…4,5 Since that time, and in the last seven years in particular, new funding opportunities as well as formal academic programs in CAM research have become available. 6 The March 2002 White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy report, 7 the 2005 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States, 8 …”