About Us
Our Mission
Advancing the professional practice of acupuncture as a whole system of medicine through advocacy, education, and research.
Our Vision
Acupuncturists are valued leaders and partners in the American healthcare system, and patients have equitable access to our care.
Our Strategic Plan
The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) was formed in 2015 to advocate for and advance the professional and clinical practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine across the United States. As of 2021, 34 state associations are members of the ASA, representing more than 5,000 members across these state organizations.
More than 30,000 credentialed practitioners hold advanced degrees in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Members benefit from our advocacy efforts to make our whole system of medicine accessible to diverse populations.
To inform the ASA’s five-year strategic plan, ASA conducted market research of the acupuncture community to understand what acupuncturists expect from state and national associations. Council Members, our Board of Directors, and state association members collaborated over the course of a year to share ideas and insights to prioritize the work of the ASA and prepare this plan.
In our first decade, working independently and collaboratively, our growing profession of Licensed Acupuncturists will bring whole-person medical care to more people in the American healthcare system to make us a healthier nation.
View our full 2021 – 2026 Strategic Plan to learn more.
Our ByLaws
These Bylaws are the blueprint by which we run this organization. The ASA strives for good governance and transparency of process.
Code of Conduct
Our code of conduct provides a framework for a safe and collegial working environment for all individuals who participate in the ASA.
Policies & Procedures (in development)
Below you will find the policies & procedures developed thus far. More will follow as resources become available. If you have relevant technical writing experience are interested in helping develop policies & procedures, please consider applying to the ASA’s Governance Committee. You will find details and the application on our Committees page.
Leadership Team
If you have any additional inquires please contact us!
Olivia Hsu Friedman DACM, LAc., Dipl. OM (NCCAOM)
Chair
Dr. Olivia Hsu Friedman earned a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, a diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology from Avicenna UK, and an MSOM from National University of Health Sciences. She is also a board certified NCCAOM Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl OM).
Before serving on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, Dr. Friedman was one of two Illinois delegates to the ASA and served on the Illinois Society of Acupuncturists as Vice President. She serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, the faculty of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Support Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association and the NUHS Presidential Alumni Advisory Board. Dr. Friedman is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and practices TCM Dermatology utilizing only herbal medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Ross McCallum BA, MAcOM, LAc
Secretary
Ross earned a Chinese Medicine masters degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and a bachelors in psychology from the University of Tennessee. He is also an NCCAOM Diplomate of Oriental Medicine and is licensed in the state of Oregon.
He served on the Oregon Association of Acupuncturists board for six years and was president for four years. He served as alternate and primary delegate to the American Society of Acupuncturists from Oregon for a total of six years as well.
Hongjian He AP, DOM, Ph.D., MD (China)
Treasurer
Dr. Hongjian He graduated from Guangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1983. She was trained as an Internist and did a residency in the China Japan Friendship Hospital with western medicine and TCM in Beijing. As a licensed acupuncturist in FL since 1988 and a board certified NCCAOM Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl OM), Dr. He has taught and practiced TCM, acupuncture, nutrition, and functional medicine in Florida for over 33 years while promoting, protecting, and advocating for the acupuncture profession relentlessly/persistently especially in legislation. Prior to the ASA, Dr. He served as President, Vice President or board member on many acupuncture-related professional associations such as the American Acupuncture Association and Oriental Medicine, National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations, American Alliance Professional Association for Acupuncture and Safety, Florida Acupuncture Association, Florida State Oriental Medical Association. She also received several awards for her leadership, contributions, and service on both the national and state level.
Dr. He is very aware of the need for the unification of our profession and hopes to specifically assist in bridging relationships with the Chinese communities and fostering stronger collaboration on important issues such as Medicare.
Jeff Bloom
Board Member at Large
Jeff Bloom is a marketing professional who spent 16 years working in the acupuncture industry. With a passion for advocacy, building community and a sincere love of acupuncture, the ASA was the perfect fit. Jeff looks forward to bringing his unique perspective and expertise to the BOD.
Nichelle Cieri MS
Board Member At Large
Nichelle currently holds a masters of science in psychology and is pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in diverse populations at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. Nichelle has studied acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine through the Ni Family at Yo San University. Nichelle has a decade of experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence. She has assisted in creating psychoeducational training to manage the somatic symptoms of dealing with high-conflict personalities. She has served as a trauma-informed consultant for multiple publications including NPR and the Henry Press. She recently received a grant from the Safe Passage Foundation to explore adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic pain through the lens of east Asian medicine. Nichelle has a heart for social justice and liberation psychology. Her past experiences on a board includes a term as executive chair for a non-profit that serves disproportionately affected youth and young adults through trauma-informed yoga and meditation and as a member at large for the Alliance of Victim’s Rights. In the past she has served the ASA as the chair for the student committee and as a regional director. During her terms serving the student committee, Nichelle spearheaded a Title IX outreach project, which aimed to empower students through education, advocacy, and support in seeking an equal and discrimination free learning environment.
Board Member At Large
Dr. Charis Wolf received her MSTCM from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2006 and went on to get her DTCM from Five Branches University. She also has an undergraduate degree in Intellectual History with a minor in Physical Sciences from University of California, Davis. Currently she is enrolled in an MSc in Philosophy, Science, and Religion through the University of Edinburgh where she plans to go on and get a PhD in the philosophy of Eastern Medicine.
Along with serving on the ASA board, she has also served at the state level as a board member and president of the Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association. She has practiced in California for eight years, currently has a private practice and teaches locally in Washington state while doing academic and scientific research nationally.
Charis works to support inter professional medical communication and integrated medicine focusing on research based best patient care that includes our full system of medicine. With the ICD-11 coding system from the WHO it is critical that we educate and define our medicine well.
Kelly Hora MAc Dipl.Ac.
Board Member At Large
Kelly Hora graduated from the Tai Sophia Institute in 2004, is board certified by NCCAOM and licensed in Wisconsin. She owns Bluestem Acupuncture, LLC and has collaborated with Promega Corporation, UW Integrative Health and the UW Carbone Cancer Center to provide acupuncture in corporate, hospital and clinical settings. Kelly was a founding member of the Madison Veterans Project, a free, community-style acupuncture clinic for veterans, and is a member of Acupuncturists Without Borders.
Before serving on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, Kelly was Chair of the ASA Nominating Committee and served on Medicare and Dry Needling Task Forces. She was president of the Wisconsin Society of Acupuncturists for four years, delegate to the ASA for six years and continues as WISCA’s Advocacy Committee Chair.
Formerly a research ecologist and conservation botanist she engaged with policy related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Applying the holistic principles of her scientific training to help people improve their health, she cares deeply about optimizing patient clinical services, improving access to acupuncture, and building a strong professional community.
David W. Miller MD, LAc
Chair Emeritus
Dr. David W. Miller, MD, LAc is the founding Medical Director for Pediatric Integrative Medicine with the University Hospitals Connor Integrative Health Network and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He is one of the only physicians dually board certified in Pediatrics (American Board of Pediatrics) and Chinese medicine (NCCAOM – National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Prior to joining the UH Connor network, Dr. Miller was in private practice with East-West Integrated Medicine, LLC in Chicago, Illinois for 14 years, and saw patients of all ages for holistic and integrative care.
Dr. Miller has designed curricula in masters and doctoral programs in integrative physiology, pediatrics, medical communications, and public health and is an active participant and leader in numerous state and nation medical associations. He is the founding Chair, and now Immediate Past Chair, of the American Society of Acupuncturists, and immediate past-Chair of the NCCAOM board development committee on Biomedicine. He participates actively with the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, the American Medical Association, the Integrative Health Policy Consortium, and other state and national groups. He has served on the Illinois state regulatory board for acupuncture, and has passed legislation related to the practice of acupuncture in Illinois, and has also lobbied nationally for issues related to acupuncture and integrative medicine.
Dr. Miller received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Vassar College, his M.D. from the Brown University School of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. He then completed his Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine with the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago. He is also a board certified NCCAOM Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl OM).
He is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine.
Committees
Federal Advocacy Committee
Conference Committee
State Advocacy Committee
Chair, Jennifer Broadwell
Email
Herbal Committee
Governance Committee
Medicaid Committee
Insurance Committee
Mentorship Committee
Membership/Benefits Committee
Research Committee
Nominating Committee
Strategic Planning Committee
Leading the Profession
Acupuncture medicine defines the scope of primary Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Acs), which includes related modalities (tui na massage, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, light therapy, and often herbal medicine) as taught in accredited Acupuncture Masters and Doctorate degree programs that incorporate a foundation of established frameworks designed to inform assessment, diagnosis, and application of acupuncture as a dynamic medical paradigm. Primary acupuncturists weave theoretical, diagnostic, and acupuncture frameworks into a complete practice that requires passing 3-4 national board exams after 3,000 hours of education and clinical internship. Secondary acupuncture providers utilize basic frameworks such as dry needling (trigger therapy), medical acupuncture, or ear acupuncture protocols that requires 0-300 hours of non-accredited training or oversight.
In professional acupuncture practice, there are many acupuncture approaches, styles, and applications. Which acupuncture styles, approaches, and applications a licensed acupuncturist uses, depends on the practitioner’s general practice population or specialty. Some examples of specialties include internal medicine, neurology, orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, fertility, women’s health, men’s health, sports medicine, pain management, functional medicine, integrated medicine, and wellness.
The dynamic contribution of Chinese medical theories continues to inform and fill gaps in mechanisms of pain, function, and disease from cellular level to systemic influences. The Chinese medical framework of diagnosis facilitates the mechanistic understanding of modern and emerging diseases that inform the criteria for therapy aimed at resolution or maximum improvement. The Western medicine frameworks of moribund diagnoses are often limited to a collection of signs and symptoms, images, and blood work that support the criteria for surgery, diagnostic procedures, and management of symptoms through medication. However, technological advancements are helping to explain and expand emerging integrated frameworks that are paramount for the changing paradigm of mainstream medicine away from sick management towards wellness.
Related Organizations
The ASA is proud to collaborate with these organizations in our efforts to promote this phenomenal medicine!
Our Vision: A world where the benefits of acupuncture are known and available to all.
Our Mission: To elevate acupuncture’s impact on easing suffering and enhancing health through accurate information about its best practices.
Mission: To assure the safety and well-being of the public and to advance the professional practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine by establishing and promoting national evidence-based standards of competence and credentialing.
Vision Statement: Acupuncture and Oriental medicine provided by NCCAOM credentialed practitioners will be integral to healthcare and accessible to all members of the public.
The Council is a 501(c)(6) voluntary membership association for acupuncture schools and programs in the U.S. Established in 1982, the Council’s primary mission is to support member institutions to deliver educational excellence and quality patient care. The vision of the organization is to maximize opportunities available to graduates of its member schools to achieve their full potential in healthcare in the United States.
The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is the national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the accreditation and pre-accreditation (“Candidacy”) throughout the United States of first-professional master’s degree and professional master’s-level certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and professional post-graduate doctoral programs in acupuncture and in Oriental medicine (DAOM), as well as freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine that offer such programs.
The Commission fosters excellence in acupuncture and Oriental medicine education by establishing policies and standards that govern the accreditation process for acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs. Currently, ACAOM has over 60 schools and colleges with accreditation or Candidacy status.
The European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA) is an umbrella organisation for professional associations that represent different fields within Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our main purpose is to promote the wider recognition and acceptance of TCM therapies by European governments and the public.
The Society for Acupuncture Research
The Society for Acupuncture Research is dedicated to improving the quality and increasing the awareness of research in acupuncture, herbal therapy and other modalities of Oriental Medicine.
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA)
The AAMA is the professional society of physicians (MDs and DOs) in North America who have incorporated acupuncture into their traditional medical practice. The AAMA was founded in 1987 by a group of physicians who were graduates of the “Medical Acupuncture for Physicians” training programs sponsored by University Extension, UCLA School of Medicine.
ACADEMY PURPOSE: The purpose of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture® is to promote the integration of concepts from traditional and modern forms of acupuncture with Western medical training and thereby synthesize a more comprehensive approach to health care.
American Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine Alumni Associations
The TCMAAA is a consortium of alumni associations representing graduates from all formal Chinese medicine institutions in China and practicing medicine in the United States . The TCMAAA currently includes 24 institutions of Chinese medicine (TCM), such as the Chinese American Alumni Association And representatives of the Academia Sinica alumni, as well as more than ten graduates of American institutions of Chinese medicine.
The American TCM Association (ATCMA)
The American TCM Association (ATCMA) is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. We aim to improve public health and to support the unity of all Chinese medicine practitioners in the United States. We also aim to build the most extensive academic collaboration of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the world. We support efforts to formulate, standardize and implement the American Acupuncture and Moxibustion Industry Standard. We have established professional committees to support academically oriented advancement of Chinese medicine in the United States, and to promote public understanding of the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine. We also strive to enhance awareness of health care industry and member interests, provide legal advice, and support efforts towards positive legislation for Chinese medicine.