Incorporating Acupuncture Into Medical School Curriculum: An Innovative,Successful Model

Abstract

There is a growing need for the development of medical school curricula that address complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and acupuncture in particular, to match public demand. Over the past several years, the University of Connecticut School of Medicine has incorporated acupuncture into the required, third-year medical school curriculum during a cross-disciplinary interclerkship program called “Home Week.” The half-day session includes a didactic, evidence-based medicine presentation as well as direct demonstrations and hands-on experiences, with a small faculty-to-student ratio. Evaluation data show that medical students find the session useful and recommend that it be continued as part of their educational offerings. Curricular details of this model as well as our successes, challenges, and strategies for incorporating the session into the standard curriculum are described.