News
FREE ACUPUNCTURE TRAUMA RELIEF CARE FOR THE BOSTON AREA
April 19, 2013
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FREE ACUPUNCTURE TRAUMA RELIEF CARE FOR THE BOSTON AREA
Three Non-profits Collaborate to Treat Survivors, First Responders and Community Affected by Boston Marathon Tragedy at No Cost
NEWTON, MA. April 19, 2013 – New England School of Acupuncture (NESA), Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts (AOMSM), and Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) are collaborating to launch Boston Acupuncture Trauma Relief, providing treatment to anyone affected by the recent events connected to the Boston Marathon tragedy. All members of the Boston community are welcome to receive free, short duration (15-30 min) ear acupuncture treatments to help relieve emotional distress or physical pain in the wake of the bombing.
Our volunteer practitioners are available at the NESA Teaching Clinic, 150 California Street in Newton, MA, as well as over 70 other locations and private offices. To schedule an appointment, please call the NESA Teaching Clinic at 617-558-6372 or visit http://traumarelief.nesa.edu for more information or to find a location near you.
Acupuncture treatments are effective in helping people deal with stress, anger, frustration, depression, fatigue and other emotional and physical pain. Therapeutic effects occur quickly and can last for a week or more. Acupuncture treatments have a positive transformative effect without requiring the recipient to discuss their symptoms or emotions.
A specific acupuncture treatment protocol to relieve post-traumatic stress includes five thin, sterilized, disposable needles applied gently to points in each ear. We create a safe, quiet space that allows the calming effects to take place. These treatments are FAST, SAFE, EFFECTIVE and used by the United States military to treat PTSD.
To share this information with your friends and receive updates, please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BostonAcupunctureTraumaRelief.
About Boston Acupuncture Trauma Relief
In affiliation with the New England School of Acupuncture, the mission of Boston Acupuncture Trauma Relief is to provide acupuncture services and alleviate the effects of trauma during this difficult time. The New England School of Acupuncture (www.nesa.edu) is the oldest college of acupuncture in the United States, treating patients for 38 years with a strong commitment to public health. The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts (www.aomsm.org) is a professional organization that promotes and protects the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine in Massachusetts. Acupuncturists Without Borders (www.acuwithoutborders.org) has helped more than 60,000 people worldwide recover after devastating events including Super Storm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, Newton Elementary and the Haiti Earthquake. Please visit us online at traumarelief.nesa.edu.
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Society of Acupuncture Research’s Annual Conference
April 15, 2013
NESA is honored to have students and faculty presenting at the Society of Acupuncture Research’s Annual Conference
April 17-22nd.
Presentations Include:
Recent NESA grad Carole Wyche LicAc will present, "Can TCM diagnosis and prognosis predict biomedical outcomes in the case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?” This considers if different Chinese Medicine diagnostic patterns for the Western Medicine condition ‘IBS’ are related in predictable ways to symptoms and emotions gathered on Western Medicine Scales.
NESA student Kathia Kirschner will present her work with Richard Mandell LicAc’s PAAP program, “Using acupuncture to encourage community wellness in Uganda”.
NESA grad and research department staff member Kai Yin Hsu RN LicAc will present her latest findings from the MYMOP data in our clinic, “Who Uses a Teaching Acupuncture Clinic: Demographic and MYMOP Symptom Results”.
Lisa Conboy ScD will present “Acupuncture for the Treatment of Patients in Palliative Care” a project done at AllCare Hospice with NESA faculty Barb Parton RN LicAc NESA student and research department staff Melissa Romeo PhD.
Learn more about Society of Acupuncture Research’s Annual Conference here.
White Coat Ceremony
March 30, 2013
NESA proudly presents the first annual White Coat Ceremony. On March 30 second year students received their white coat for clinic internships, marking an important transition from student to Intern. Please join NESA in congratulating these students!
Shakuju 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
March 22, 2013
On Friday March 22, 2013 the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) proudly celebrated the tenth anniversary of Shakuju classes taught by founder Shoji Kobayashi, LAc and NESA’s own Diane Iuliano, LicAc. Over the course of one weekend students were offered beginner and advanced Shakuju Therapy courses. Students were taught fundamental techniques and diagnostic skills. The NESA community held a reception celebrating this remarkable milestone after the end of day two. JAS faculty were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the curriculum. President Susan L. Gorman presented gifts to Mr. Kobayashi and all eleven of his colleagues. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and gratitude.
Chinese New Year 2013 & NESA Community Awards
February 11, 2013
On February 11, NESA celebrated the Year of the Snake by bringing together students, staff and faculty with a Winter Community Social. The 2013 Community Awards Ceremony recipeints were Cid Tamagno (administration), Steve Cina (faculty), Zoe Cullbertson (3rd year), Dan Chace (2nd year), and Raul Alatore (1st year) for their excellence in leadership which has made a significant impact on the NESA community over the past year.
NESA Alumni Featured in Acupuncture Today
January 10, 2013
NESA Alumni Mike Arsenault '99 was featured in an Acupuncture Today article about the success of his practice and the development of his Emily Skin Soothers brand of topical herbal products. He talks about how NESA's herbal program taught him the formulas that got him started.
Gulf War Illness Study Interview
December 13, 2012
Here is a link to a video the US Department of Defense made featuring NESA's Lisa Conboy, Director of Research and Chair of Western Biomedicine Department, and Meredith St. John, Vice President and Academic Dean, about NESA's study of acupuncture on Gulf war Illness.
http://cdmrp.army.mil/pubs/video/gwi/conboy_stJohn_video.shtml
NESA’s First Alumni Weekend
November 14, 2012
Thank you so much for everyone who came to NESA’s First Annual Alumni Weekend!
Your support made Friday’s Kick-Off and Award’s Dinner memorable and the Weekend’s Lectures interactive and dynamic. We are already looking forward to next year!
NESA Alum Weihui Li (’11) Funded to Study Hemodynamics of Acupuncture Manipulations
November 1, 2012
Weihui Li (’11) has received a grant from a private foundation to conduct measurements of traditional acupuncture techniques, “Burning Fire” and “Penetrating Cool.” According to acupuncture theory, these techniques for tonification and dispersion contribute significantly to the effectiveness of acupuncture; and patients often report confirmation of the appropriate sensation of warmth or coolness. The underlying mechanism may involve mechanoelectrical coupling between collagen piezoelectricity (electricity resulting from pressure) and electrophysiological response of the vascular bed. Weihui and her team will conduct experiments at NESA, using NESA students as subjects, in which the axial (in and out) motion and force of acupuncture manipulations, local and distal temperature and microvascular/macrovascular blood perfusion of local dermal tissue are recorded. She hypothesizes that “Burning Fire” is associated with greater local blood perfusion, higher local body temperature and larger peripheral blood volume compared to “Penetrating Cool” in within-subject repeated measurements. NESA has hosted previous experiments with the Acusensor technology used in this study, a device manufactured by Stromatec, Inc. of Burlington, VT that measures aspects of needling technique. Since graduating in 2011, Weihui has worked with Dr. Andrew Ahn at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital. Weihui also plans a private practice in Natick.
NESA in the Top 3 of US Acupuncture Schools
September 25, 2012
NESA was named in the top 3 out of over 60 acupuncture schools in the United States. Click here to read more.
2012 NESA Alumni Weekend - October 19-21
August 28, 2012
Join us for this Weekend of Reconnection! October 19-21
Reconnect with your fellow alumni at the Friday Night Kick-off and Awards Dinner at the beautiful Boston College Club in downtown Boston.
Attend an exciting weekend of free lectures planned for you. Guest speakers include:
Casey Truffo, author of Be a Wealthy Therapist;
Jeffrey Grossman, Founder of Acupuncture Media Works;
and Jill Shah, Founder & CEO of Jill's List.
We hope to see you there!
Congratulation Class of 2012!
August 17, 2012
NESA graduated the Class of 2012 on August 17th.
We wish them the best of luck in all of their endevours and we hope they come back soon to visit!
Dry Needling Update
July 24, 2012
We have GOOD NEWS! This morning as a result of our efforts to oppose dry needling by physical therapists in Massachusetts, the Dry needling vote has been DROPPED from the agenda of the Board of Allied Health Professionals meeting for Thursday July 26, 2012. Thank you to everyone who participated in the campaign to call and write the Allied Health Board, local legislators and officials!
However, this issue isn't finished. We still need to engage the Board of Allied Health Professionals into a dialogue about what acupuncture is and who should practice it. Therefore, we ask that you still please join NESA President Sue Gorman in attending the meeting to maintain pressure on this important topic. Details of the meeting are below:
Board of Registration of Allied Health Professionals
Thursday July 26, 2012 at 9:00 AM
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710 Boston, MA.
For directions and parking visit: http://license.reg.state.ma.us/public/dpl_location/dpl_office_locator.asp.
NESA is organizing rides and car-pooling. If you wish to commute with us, please arrive at NESA no later than 7:30 am on that morning.
Please contact frontdesk@nesa.edu to offer rides or to sign-up for one.
Oldest School of Acupuncture in United States Inaugurates Sixth President
June 8, 2012
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Newton, MA - In a ceremony full of old and new traditions, Susan L. Gorman was sworn in as the sixth president of New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) on Sunday, June 3, 2012. The Inauguration and Investiture ceremony began at 3 p.m. in Lindsay Hall on Bentley University’s campus and included a formal procession of trustees, distinguished guests, and faculty, with a reception following the ceremony.
“Embracing the Past; Inspiring the Future”
In her Inaugural address, President Gorman celebrated the past achievements of the school while laying out her vision.
“Our past has been exhilarating, meaningful, and momentous, but it is, nonetheless, our past. Today belongs to the present and the future. The question remains “What are we going to do in our time?” “Where will NESA be in 10, 20, 30 years?”, and “How can We Inspire the Future?””
President Gorman identified the theme of her Presidency –“Building Bridges”. Core to the theme is innovation – bridging traditional practices with new techniques and ideas. As the oldest acupuncture school in the United States located near bustling medical facilities, NESA must continue to be the leader in both education and research. In order to retain our leadership, NESA will pursue regional accreditation and doctoral programs.
NESA will build upon existing relationships with healthcare practitioners and providers to develop innovative partnerships and help educate the community as to the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
“I want to continue to help educate biomedical providers on the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine. There is a shift going on already; just this week I had two different conversations with friends who had a primary care doctor recommend acupuncture.”
Many don’t realize that acupuncturists must complete a Master’s degree, over 3,000 hours of study including 600 hours of clinical practice in order to sit for the national exam to become licensed.
Finally President Gorman showed a picture of a potential future campus for NESA. The vision is for NESA to serve more students with more services and offer a larger clinic.
While noting that her vision is both ambitious and difficult, President Gorman stated that it was the right thing for NESA to do.
“We’ve got what we need. With the right vision and the right people we can determine our future. We have passion, focus, creativity, and drive. We only need a collective vision and the collective commitment to see that vision realized.”
“It’s our time now.”
President Gorman closed with asking the audience to try acupuncture if they hadn’t already and to advocate for the profession.
About New England School of Acupuncture
New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) was founded in 1975 by Dr. James Tin Yau So – one of the most influential figures in American acupuncture – along with several of his students. Beginning as a one-year diploma program, NESA has flourished into an institution with two masters degree programs, a renowned Research Department, six satellite clinics and affiliations with many well-known biomedical institutions.
The oldest school of acupuncture in the United States, NESA has over 1,600 alumni. With 200 students enrolled, the school offers training in Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, plus a program in pain, research, education, and policy with Tufts University School of Medicine. Continuing Education makes available additional certificate programs, post-graduate programs and opportunities to learn from highly-accomplished practitioners.
For more information, please contact: Kristin Greene at kgreene@nesa.edu.
NESA Welcomes Ted Kaptchuk for an Alumni Event
May 10, 2012
We were thrilled to offer our first Connections ~ Bringing Alumni Together event the morning of April 3 here at NESA.
With alumni from the class of 1977 through the current graduating class networking throughout the morning, the highlight of the event was a captivating and engaging dialogue with acupuncture and Oriental medicine luminary Ted Kaptchuk. In this truly inspiring discourse, alumni benefitted from Kaptchuk’s unparalleled experience and leadership in the evolution of acupuncture and OM in the West.
NESA & Matt Callison Present Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program
April 25, 2012
NEWTON, MA (April 20, 2012) New England School of Acupuncture (www.nesa.edu), the nation’s first institution of higher education for Traditional Chinese Medicine (both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine), is pleased to announce an agreement with Matt Callison, MS, L.Ac of AcuSport Seminar Series, LLC to offer the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program (SMAC) at NESA’s campus here in Newton, MA starting this Fall.
“NESA has had a wonderful relationship with Matt Callison for years and we are thrilled to have him offering the SMAC program for acupuncturists at our home base; this certification program will not only help our professionals treat sports-related injuries but repetitive overuse injuries as well,” stated Susan L. Gorman NESA president.
The four-module intensive program allows professional acupuncturists advanced training in Sports Medicine Acupuncture which includes; anatomy and palpation with a non-preserved cadaver, assessment and treatments of over 65 work and sports related injuries, therapeutic and postural exercises, and tuina, among many other fascinating topics. Each class within the four modules can be taken individually or sequentially.
Matt Callison said, “I am happy to partner with NESA to bring this unique opportunity to the East Coast. The SMAC program is gaining a lot of attention from not only the acupuncture world but it is starting to become recognized in the health industry. The SMAC graduates get patient referrals, job opportunities, receive case management advice and are able to use the exclusive Sports Medicine Acupuncture® license.”
More about NESA: Founded in 1975, the New England School of is the nation’s oldest acupuncture school. Located at 150 California Street, Newton, MA, NESA offers master’s degree programs in acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as well as a joint master’s with Tufts University School of Medicine in Pain Research, Education and Policy. NESA is recognized for its academically rigorous programs, federally funded research, and dedication to bringing acupuncture to our communities. Visit www.nesa.edu for more information.
More about AcuSport Seminar Series, LLC: AcuSport is a company devoted to raising educational standards of licensed acupuncturists in the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Sports Medicine. We are committed to training acupuncturists around the globe to accurately assess and treat sport, orthopedic and work related injuries. Our goal is for graduates of the Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program to successfully manage the athlete and their injury from the initial assessment, through treatment and rehabilitation and onto injury prevention. Visit nesa.edu/continuing_education/smac for more information or to register.
For more information about registering for SMAC at NESA this Fall, contact Susan Ros at sros@nesa.edu or call 617-558-1788 ext 120.
NESA Board Names Susan L. Gorman New President
March 6, 2012
New England School of Acupuncture
Announces New President
NEWTON, MA (March 6, 2012) New England School of Acupuncture (http://www.nesa.edu), the nation’s first institution of higher education for Traditional Chinese Medicine (both acupuncture and herbal medicine), is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Susan L. Gorman as its next president.
“NESA’s board is confident that Sue’s experience in running an educational institution and her extensive business background, as well as her energy and vision will help lead NESA at this time,” says Laura R. Studen, Esq., Chair of the Board of Trustees of NESA. “After an independent assessment of the school's needs by higher education consultants Mitchell Thiede & Partners, LLC we realized that Sue has the exact leadership skills necessary for NESA.”
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics have documented a dramatic rise in the number of adults visiting acupuncturists, increasing 32% between 2002 and 2007 (http://nccam.nih.gov/). NESA has also experienced increased interest in both its masters programs and its acupuncture clinic and herbal dispensary in Newton, MA. Ms. Gorman comments, “I am excited to offer a vision for NESA that creates new opportunities to meet the growing needs of a population that is just discovering the efficacy of acupuncture.”
Ms. Gorman has held leadership positions at NESA since 2009 when she was hired as Executive Dean & Chief Operating Officer. In November of 2011 she was appointed Interim President. Previously she was Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the Catherine Hinds Companies, the leading accredited school of esthetics in New England. She has also held senior management positions at Atlantic Data Services, Inc. and Systems Engineering, Inc. Sue has a passionate commitment to the local community and sits on the boards of Girls Incorporated of Lynn, Financial Executives International, and the Bentley Executive Club. Originally from Lynn, MA, Sue holds a BS from Bentley University and an MBA from Suffolk University.
Founded in 1975, the New England School of Acupuncture (http://www.nesa.edu) is the nation’s oldest acupuncture school. Located at 150 California Street, Newton, MA, NESA offers masters degree programs in acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as well as a joint masters with Tufts University School of Medicine in Pain Research, Education and Policy. NESA is recognized for its academically rigorous programs, modern clinical and herbal dispensary facilities, and federally funded research.
Research Department’s Gulf War Illness Paper Published
March 1, 2012
The Research Department is proud to announce the publication of its first paper on Gulf War Illness: The effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of Gulf War Illness.
Co-authored by Lisa Conboy, Meredith St. John and Rosa Schnyer, the paper describes the ongoing study, including methodology. This study is funded by the Department of Defense grant. The study is still recruiting veterans.
Full text can be found here:
Interview of NESA’s Interim President, Susan L. Gorman
February 24, 2012
NESA's Interim President, Susan L. Gorman, was recently interviewed for her alma mater's alumni publication, Bentley Observer Magazine. She talks about her hopes for NESA, what the acupuncture community faces and her love for the job.
Bentley alum Susan Barbaro, who is a soon-to-be NESA alum, was also interviewed about her incredible change in lifestyle when she decided to go from a CPA to an acupuncture student.
Happy Chinese New Year!
January 30, 2012
On January 23, NESA celebrated the Year of the Dragon by bringing together students, staff and faculty with a Winter Community Social. The 2012 Community Awards Ceremony honored including Lilly Goncalves (administration), CJ Allen (faculty), Phuong Nguyen (3rd year), Melissa Romeo (2nd year), and Jimmy Duong (1st year) for their excellence in leadership which has made a significant impact on the NESA community over the past year.
Photos by Ellen Shub.
Early Decision Deadline Extended
January 24, 2012
If you are thinking about becoming an acupuncturist and want to get a head start, apply now! Our Early Decision deadline has been moved back to March 1st.
Need help to decide?
The New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) can offer you a few ways to learn more about the program:
- You can schedule a visit with the admissions department
- You can attend an Information Session or Experience NESA Day
- You can Skype (account name: nesaadmissions) to arrange a convenient time to video chat with admissions staff from the comfort of your home
- You can also schedule a clinic treatment by our experienced students and faculty
- And you can always call NESA admissions to arrange any and all of these opportunities to learn more at (617) 558-1788, ext. 105 or email admissions@nesa.edu
Still Looking for Acupuncturists for GWI Study
November 29, 2011
The New England School of Acupuncture is seeking acupuncturists highly skilled in TCM-style treatment with an interest in treating veterans for a research study funded by the Department of Defense on "The effectiveness of acupuncture for Gulf War Illness (GWI)". GWI is a chronic multi-symptom illness characterized by pain, fatigability, depression, and anxiety. Subjects will receive individualized TCM-style treatment in practitioner offices twice per week for 6 months. Practitioners are still needed in areas surrounding Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Leominster, and Ayer. If you’re interested in participating in this study, please send your inquiry and CV to us at carole.wyche@gmail.com, and indicate your availability for a training session on Saturday, Dec 3, from 10 AM – 2 PM.
Acupuncture for Veterans
November 21, 2011
Were you deployed to the Gulf Theater of Operations?
Do you have extreme fatigue, mood disturbances and joint and muscle pain?
Did your service include deployment to the "Gulf Theater of Operations" between August 1990 and December 1992?
(Includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above all of these locations)
If so, you may be eligible to participate in a study on Gulf War Illness (GWI). New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) is looking for volunteers to participate in a study on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of GWI. In exchange for your participation you will receive free acupuncture treatments and a small payment. If you are interested in learning more about this study and to see if you qualify, please contact NESA at 617-558-1788 x269.
This study is part of a research program funded by the Department of Defense.
Women’s Health Symposium: An Inaugural Success
October 27, 2011
We want to thank all of you who attended our recent Women’s Health Symposium. We received wonderful feedback from participants that overall this inaugural event was a great success for alumni and students.
This first regional symposium was designed to address women’s health from the perspective of Integrative Medicine (IM), with presenters drawn from nationally recognized leaders in women’s health.
Our keynote presenters, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli and licensed acupuncturist Diane Cridennda, improve outcomes for infertility patients by combining acupuncture with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). They also lectured on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a major cause of infertility and the most common endocrinopathy in women, a condition closely linked to major public health issues of insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes. Participants learned about the standard of evidence-based medicine and its application to research on acupuncture for infertility and oncology. Several presenters described their clinical practice in biomedical facilities, including infertility centers, a medical center in New York, an OB/gyn clinic, and a cancer treatment center. Representing the clinical theme of the conference, NESA senior faculty presented case studies highlighting acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine treatment of menopausal hot flashes, excessive uterine bleeding, fibroids, and rashes during pregnancy and post-partum. One case illustrated successful treatment of vulvodynia using Shakuju therapy, a Japanese style acupuncture based on non-insertive needling.
We are deeply grateful to all of our presenters: Paul Magarelli, Diane Cridennda, Belinda Anderson ‘04, Arya Nielsen ‘77, Weidong Lu, Lisa Conboy, Jeff Matrician ‘02, Jewel Sommerville ’02, Michelle Hay ‘03, Patricia Callahan ‘99, Peter Valaskatgis ‘97, Zhen-Zhen Zhang, Loocie Brown ‘93, Bing Yang and Diane Iuliano ’92, who presented thoughtfully and passionately on aspects of women’s health and their perspectives on integrative medicine.
Dr. So’s 100th Birthday
August 1, 2011
This year has proven to be a busy one here at NESA. In July, we celebrated the 100th birthday of NESA's founder, Dr. James Tin Yau So. Mrs. Isabel So gave a heartfelt speech about her late husband's incredible sense of humor, zeal for teaching, and compassion for his patients. Many of Dr. So's students spoke about the fond memories they had of their beloved teacher and many schools from around the world sent acknowledgements of Dr. So's accomplishments in America. It was truly a special afternoon!