The Mission of AOMA is to transform lives and communities through education, patient care, leadership and research in Chinese and other integrative medicines.
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine
Currently offers regionally accredited master's-level and doctoral-level graduate programs in acupuncture and Chinese medicine that prepare students for careers as skilled, professional practitioners.
Since AOMA’s founding in 1993, the institution has grown rapidly in size and reputation, drawing students from around the nation and faculty from around the world. AOMA is an active member of the national and international healthcare community and remains committed to scholarship, research, and engagement, as evidenced by the publication and presentation schedules of the faculty, the yearly Southwest Symposium it hosts, and the continuing education opportunities the institution provides. AOMA also conducts approximately 17,500 patient visits annually in its student and professional clinics. AOMA works cooperatively with Western healthcare institutions, and gives back to the community through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and by providing free and reduced-price treatments to people who cannot afford them otherwise.
The Mission of AOMA is to transform lives and communities through education, patient care, leadership and research in Chinese and other integrative medicines.
OUR VISION:
AOMA’s vision is to be a leader in Chinese medicine and other integrative medicines by engaging with our communities and by preparing compassionate and skilled practitioners who embody the art and spirit of healing.
CORE VALUES
We recognize that the outcomes we produce result from collective activities that are consistent with the following core values:
Sustainability
Our programs and community engagements are sustainable and effective.
Integrity
We do what we say we will do. In our communication, we are honest and complete
Inspiration
We are called into action by a spirit of purposeful aliveness
Flexibility and Openness
We conscientiously choose our actions in consideration of all the parties involved
Professionalism
In all that we do, we are impeccable, clear, and complete
Compassion and Service
In word and action, we look for opportunities to benefit others.
Our programs and community engagements are sustainable and effective.
We do what we say we will do. In our communication, we are honest and complete
We are called into action by a spirit of purposeful aliveness
We conscientiously choose our actions in consideration of all the parties involved
In all that we do, we are impeccable, clear, and complete
In word and action, we look for opportunities to benefit others
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine currently offers a master's-level graduate program in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, preparing its students for careers as skilled, professional practitioners. Since its founding in 1993, AOMA has grown rapidly in size and reputation, drawing students from around the nation and faculty from around the world. AOMA also conducts more than 20,000 patient visits annually in its student and professional clinics. AOMA collaborates with Western health care institutions including the Seton Family of Hospitals, and gives back to the community through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and by providing free and reduced price treatments to people who cannot afford them.
STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2021 - 2023
AOMA's Board of Governors
AOMA’s governing board is the legal body granted specific authority over the institution’s governance.
It was elected based upon their ability, skills, and experience to set the strategic plan and policies that ensure the institution will achieve its mission.
The AOMA’s governing board has approved the following Strategic Goals for 2021 through 2023 which are designed to meet the needs of the institution’s growth and development over the next three years.
Strategy: Partnerships
Goal: Foster Clinical, Academic, and Community Partnerships to promote research, influence, and financial sustainability
Strategy: Growth & Stability
Goal: Develop/create an appropriate online program in the next 3 years.
Strategy: Marketing & Branding Infrastructure
Goal: Strengthen Marketing Infrastructure
Strategy: Academic Excellence
Goal: Improve student diversity and create on-line courses
Strategy: Campus and Clinic Facilities
Goal: By last quarter of 2023 AOMA will have developed and executed a plan to enhance scholastic and clinic facilities to include diversity in locations for clinical services, broaden collaboration with community partners, and established appropriate outcome measures
Strategy: Operational Excellence
Goal: By Summer of 2021 update school/academic technology to increase student and staff productivity and user ability
Strategy: Student & Alumni Success
Goal #1: Demonstrate student success and educational competency through timely graduation and licensure in Chinese Medicine by first quarter in 2022. Goal #2: Cultivate alumni success in the establishment and maintenance of a career and leadership in the field of integrative medicine by first quarter in 2022.
Strategy: Healthcare Excellence Patient Care
Goal: Working with key stakeholders, better define, enhance, and distribute healthcare excellence through integrative care models (western and traditional, East Asian Medicine) by first quarter in 2023.
Since its founding in 1993, AOMA has grown by every important quantitative and qualitative measure, including its student body, faculty, accreditation status, campus facilities, patients served, and community outreach. Consistent with its strategic plan, AOMA is committed to collaborating with other educational institutions and healthcare providers, shaping and enhancing both the education offered to its students and the healthcare services offered to the Austin community.
TIMELINES
1993 - 2000
• 1993: AOMA was founded as the Texas Acupuncture Institute and enrolled its first class of 16 students.
• 1995: Campus established in North Austin.
• 1996: Accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
• 1996: Approval by the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (TSBAE).
• 1996: First-class graduated.
• 1997: Recognition by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and the California Acupuncture Board.
• 1997: Approval for veteran’s education.
• 1998: Participation in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs.
2001 - 2010
• 2001: Began offering acupuncture and Chinese medical services at the Kerrville Folk Festival.
• 2004: Expanded community clinic offerings to include free-of-charge acupuncture services at People’s Community Clinic. • 2005: William R. Morris, Ph.D. inaugurated as AOMA’s third president.
• 2006: collaboration with the Seton Family of Hospitals begins with an acupuncture clinic inside the Seton Topfer Community Clinic (2006-2017).
• 2008: Participated in the conception and design of the Seton Family of Hospitals’ GoodHealth Commons Integrative Wellness and Education Center, where student interns offered acupuncture clinical services (2008–2011).
• 2009: Granted regional accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the
2011 - 2020
• 2011: Opened new campus in south Austin; SACS-COC approved AOMA’s substantive change request to move from level III to level V in order to offer doctoral degree programs.
• 2011: Increased services to low-income communities in Austin through participation in the Seton McCarthy Community Health Centers.
• 2012: ACAOM approved AOMA’s offering of the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) • 2013: DAOM program enrolled the first cohort.
• 2013: Offered acupuncture services at Austin Pain Associates (2013–2015).
• 2014: Achieved reaffirmation of accreditation with SACS-COC, as well as confirmation of the level change from a level III institution (master’s degree-granting) to a Level V institution (doctoral degree-granting).
• 2014: Offered acupuncture services at Austin Recovery in-residence campus in Buda (2014-2020).
• 2015: Achieved accreditation candidacy with ACAOM for the DAOM • 2016: Betty Edmond, MD inaugurated as AOMA's fourth president.
• 2016: The professional doctoral program (DAcOM) enrolled Its first cohort.
• 2016: Signed affiliation agreement with the Veterans Administration to offer acupuncture services at Austin Out-Patient Clinic.
• 2016: Increased services to low-income communities in Austin through participation in the Seton Kozmetsky Community Health Centers (2016-2017).
• 2017: Achieved reaffirmation of accreditation of the master program (MAcOM).
• 2017: Offered services for veterans at the Veterans Administration's Austin Outpatient Clinic.
• 2018: Dr. Mary Faria joins AOMA as CEO and Acting President.
• 2019: Achieved initial accreditation for the DAOM program.
• 2019: Submitted initial accreditation application for the professional doctorate with ACAOM.
• 2019: Offered services at Texas NeuroRehab's Texas Star Recovery (April-October 2019).
• 2020: Submitted fifth-year interim accreditation report to SACS-COC; Acceptance of Fifth Year Interim Report by SACS-COC.
• 2020:Dr. Faria assumed the permanent role as CEO and President.
• 2020: Received approval of the professional doctoral application (DAcCHM) from ACAOM.
• 2020: Change of degree names and designations for the Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (MAc) and the Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (DAcCHM) in accordance with ACAOM’s new requirements.
• 2020: Approval for Distance Education accreditations by SACS- COC.
• 2020: First substantive change application for distance education submitted to ACAOM.
• 2020: Piloted implementation of new distance education learning management system.
• 2020: student-provided services suspended at Peoples Community Clinic, Seton MaCarthy Community Clinic, Austin Recovery, and Veterans Administration's Austin Outpatient Clinic due to the onset of the novel COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 - 2022
• 2021: Approval for Distance Education accreditation by ACAOM.
• 2021: student-provided services reinstated at Peoples Community Clinic, Seton MaCarthy Community Clinic, and Veterans Administration's Austin Outpatient Clinic.
• 2021: signed partnership agreement with Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of TCM to share virtual clinical education.
• 2021: signed partnership agreement with International Jing Fang Institute, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine for collaborations in continuing education in classical herbalism and research.