Univ. Ohio Traditional Chinese Medicine

[dancote]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My wife and I are very, very interested in OUCOM's program and especially like the idea of international rotations in China. My family lives in Michigan, so I had to sign a 5-year contract to say I would practice there if I am accepted into the school. My wife and I know we would enjoy raising our 3 kids in Ohio, and with her family in Indiana and mine in Michigan, it would be a good location.
Anyone have experience with one of these programs in the Trad. Chinese Medicine at OU? Anyone go there who would be willing to share their view of the program and especially the PBL or Chinese medicine rotations or classes? I don't have a lot of chance getting in as an out-of-stater, but it sure sounds like an awesome program--I have my fingers crossed that they will interview me this fall!

-Dan

 

[Sinnman]

I'm not sure how much this helps but I know a little about the TCM program. As I understand it, there are basically two opportunities to learn TCM in China. First, there is a one month long program at the beginning of the summer after your first year. There is a second opportunity during your elective time during your fourth year.

The TCM guru here is Dr. Gotfried. He is a D.O. general surgeon who used to be an oncology surgeon and "discovered" TCM after he ran out of options with cancer patients. He now only does TCM and there are rotations with him available during your first and second (maybe more?) years. He also does some lectures through out the year. Very cool guy.

BTW, I'm an out-of-stater here. I think if you?re a good overall candidate being out of state is not a big issue.

Hope that helps and best wishes.

 

[T.A.M]

Can't help you with OUCOM, but at KCUMB, one of our staff, Dr. Sun, practices TCM in addition to standard medical procedures. There is no set program on TCM, but we have a few lectures scattered here and there. We even get the chance to try accupuncture on each other.

Although I don't believe in the theories behind TCM (they're pre-scientific, ie, the theory proves the experiment, not the other way around), there are some interesting TCM-OMT correlates, and some of it offers effective minor pain relief, albeit probably through induced endorphin release, rather than some mystical "qi" force.

 

[DistantMets]

I'm also an OUCOMer and Dr. G pretty much is the TCM curriculum at OUCOM. He takes a group to China every year, usually in June and lectures on accupuncture, tongue diagnosis, etc. These are usually noon-time talks sponsored by the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Club and I don't think they are tested in the CPC curriculum in any way. He is very much involved in the PCC as a group facilitator in year 2 and the summer of year 3. He is a retired surgeon afterall, so it's not all TCM with him. Very nice guy and an excellent teacher. He's has an accupuncture clinic a few half day per week and students can do Early Clinical Contact with him in the first and second year. I don't know how much longer he's going to decide to work, but if you're interested in TCM, the PCC would be a good curriculum for you to apply for. The OUCOM website has plenty of info on the two curricula. I'm in the PCC and I love it, both curricula have their flaws for sure, but we PCCers seem to be a pretty happy bunch. PCC pluses...better anatomy course, better clinical skills course, more time in the clinic. And, yes, we cover enough material to do fine on boards (at least 5 of us scored in the 90th percentile or better this year and several people were in the 70s and 80s). Hope this helps.

 

[TraumaDR]

I was able to go with Dr. Gotfried on this summers trip to China to study TCM. The trip is amazing, you spend four week in Beijing, China. You spend the first two weeks listening to lectures provided by some of the top TCM researchers in China. Then the last two week are spent doing clinical work. We mainly spent our mornings doing acupuncture, then the afternoons were spent doing various other forms of TCM (i.e. qi gong, cupping, herbal remedies). Not to mention that on the weekends you get to see some impressive tourist sights (Great Wall, Emeperors Palace).

As for Dr. Gotfried, the man is very knowledgable with TCM. As stated before he is a retired gen. surgeon who became interested in TCM during the Nixon presidency. During Nixons presidency, while on a trip in China one of the journalists became ill and was treated at a TCM hospital for appendicitis. He recovered quite well and came back to write in the New York Times?? about his experiences. Dr. Gotfried has an acupuncture clinic right behind Grosvenor Hall located in Parks Hall, and yes you can spent time with him during your first and second years at OUCOM. I spent four, 4 hour afternoons with him during the winter quarter.

best of luck to you in the interview process!