Core Clinical Medical Modules
The Core Clinical Medicine modules present an in-depth discussion of clinical medical fields as well as
Medical Qigong to deepen the student’s theoretical understanding and therapeutic skills in TCM Clinical Medicine. Both the clinical application of Classical TCM texts and the modern Integrative
Medicine approach are discussed. Current research in both Chinese and Western clinical medicine is critically reviewed. Classroom lectures are given in parallel with clinical training. Externship opportunities in community health clinics and Western medicine settings may be arranged.
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| DCC 900 3.6 Units 116 Hours |
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| These are the clinical training hours that the students will complete in at least 6 of the 16 fields of core clinical medicine. These will be completed within the 3 flexible options (with teaching faculty, with preceptor, or independent study), with a maximum of 36 hours in independent study. |
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| DCM 800 2+0.75 Units 32+24 Hours |
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| 2 units/32 hours (Didactic), 0.75 units/24 hours (Clinic) This module gives an advanced presentation of the etiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment of various diseases of the musculo-skeletal system and orthopedic disorders. Pain management as it relates to orthopedic conditions will be emphasized as well. The module covers the TCM theories related to musculo-skeletal conditions as well as international scientific differential diagnosis. The class instructors will also share their personal clinical experience in treating physical injuries, orthopedic conditions and pain management. After the completion of this module, students will have general skills to perform orthopedic examinations and to use imaging technology to aid diagnosis and determination of the most effective treatment protocols. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 801 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) This module covers the etiology, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, treatment principles and treatment therapies of the most common dermatological disorders and sexually transmitted diseases expressed in the skin. Additionally, a discussion regarding the treatment of a number of TCM external conditions such as hemorrhoids, mastitis, and furuncle will be presented. Furthermore, facial rejuvenation with herbal cream formulas will be introduced as well anti-aging treatments using acupuncture and herbal medicine. At the end of this module, students will be able to diagnose dermatological disorders based on their appearance and give corresponding treatments. They also will be able to diagnose and treat external diseases from TCM and Western medicine perspectives. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 802 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) This module will familiarize the learner with the etiology, pattern differentiation, and treatment principles of common disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat (EENT). An integrative approach to the common conditions such as myopia, hordeolum, tinnitus and deafness, otopyrrhea, rhinitis, toothache, laryngitis and pharyngitis will be discussed in depth. Students will also learn to recognize red-flags that might suggest a more serious pathology that requires referral. Upon completion of this module, students will gain an understanding of how to perform an EENT-related physical exam, assess and diagnose the conditions from both TCM and Western medicine perspectives, and treat these conditions with acupuncture and herbs. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 803 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module gives an overview of the epidemiologic and genetic aspects of tumor formation, diagnosis of cancer, and modern therapies for cancer with an emphasis on the context of specific common tumors (breast, prostate, colon and lung). Delivery of pain management, supportive treatment to counteract the adverse effects of radio/ chemotherapy to improve life quality, palliative care, as well as preventative treatment for cancer patients will be presented. Ethical and legal issues related to cancer care will be discussed. Case studies will highlight multi-disciplinary approaches to common cancer conditions. Upon completing this module, students will gain a clear understanding of the role of Chinese Medicine in the integrative care of oncology patients. Students will be able to prescribe herbal and acupuncture treatments for cancer prevention and therapy support. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 810 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module introduces a method for integrating the patient interview and neurological examination with an analytical approach to neurological diagnosis and management. Cases are presented and discussed in terms of both TCM and Western medicine approaches. This course is designed to provide further understanding of the basic principles of neurological diagnosis, including the evaluation of neurological signs and symptoms and laboratory procedures for conditions such as insomnia, epilepsy, facial paralysis, wind stroke, headache (including trigeminal neuralgia), Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Wei syndrome. Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate a general knowledge of the evaluation of neurological disorders and will be able to determine the most effective treatment protocol with Acupuncture and herbal formulas. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 811 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module gives a general overview and evaluates recent advances in cardiovascular medicine as well as differential diagnosis of TCM patterns. Participants will become familiar with the use of the various cardiovascular imaging modalities (echo, nuclear, catheterization, CT,MRI). Emphasis will be given to the pathophysiology of cardiac illness, physical diagnosis, electrocardiography (EKG reports) and patient management. Course Topics will cover valvular heart disease infective endocarditic, pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery disease: acute and chronic, the electrical system of the heart, myocardial, pericardial and vascular diseases congenital heart disease and heart failure. By the end of the module, students will be able to recognize coronary red flags and risk factors, diagnose cardiovascular conditions according to disease and pattern differentiation, and treat them with acupuncture and herbs. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 812 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) Proper function and malfunction of the immune system will be reviewed from both Western and Chinese medical points of view. Allergy and asthma, inflammatory bowel syndrome as well as the more complex autoimmune disorders such as Lupus and other rheumatic pathologies will be discussed. The preparation and application of a specially formulated herbal-mixture moxa for boosting the immune system and delaying the aging process will be presented as well. By the end of this module, students are expected to gain an in-depth understanding of how biomedicine and Chinese medicine view the function and malfunction of the immune system. Students will also be able to apply treatments for the conditions taught in class and analyze similar conditions based on materials presented. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 813 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) This module introduces diseases involving the human respiratory system through an integrative approach to their treatment. It will cover chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), asthma, infections involving the lungs, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary venous thrombosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and pleural disease. At the end of the module, students will become familiar with the different pathologies of the respiratory system. They will be able to perform a physical examination, collect relevant clinical history data including review of chest radiology, spirometry, and other diagnostic tools. The students will be able to diagnose common pulmonary diseases using TCM and Western medicine perspectives, perform pattern differentiation, and apply both herbal and acupuncture treatments. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 814 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) This course will present the diagnosis and management of the most common conditions and diseases in this field such as retention of urine, Lin syndrome, nephritis, edema, and impotence. At the end of this module, students will be able to recognize red flag conditions appropriate for referrals, diagnose these diseases from Eastern/Western perspectives, and provide appropriate acupuncture and herbal treatments. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 815 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) The endocrinology module is designed to acquaint the student with the presentation, evaluation, and management of patients with a spectrum of endocrine and metabolic disorders. This module reviews the body’s control mechanisms for hormonal production and how hormones act to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Faculty will present case studies illustrating abnormalities in the function of the endocrine system. The students will be introduced to the most commonly used diagnostic tests for pituitary, thyroid, ovarian and testicular dysfunctions. Due to the increasing epidemic of diabetes and obesity in western countries, a special focus will be given to these two topics. Upon completing this module, students will have the knowledge to diagnose common endocrine diseases from a TCM and Western medicine perspective, identify their TCM patterns, formulate treatment plans and prescribe both herbal and acupuncture treatments. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 816 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module reviews diagnosis of pathologies the digestive tract, liver and pancreas.Topics will be presented through an integrative approach where differential diagnosis is performed based on both symptomatic and pathological viewpoints. The symptomatic viewpoint will include signs and symptoms such as vomiting, hiccup, diarrhea/ constipation, and gastric/ abdominal pain while the pathologic approach will be disease oriented (IBS, hernia, etc). Upon completion of this module, students will be able to recognize red flags and make necessary referrals, perform disease diagnosis of gastro-intestinal conditions through Eastern/Western integrative approaches, identify their patterns, devise treatment plans, and administer appropriate herbal and acupuncture treatments. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 817 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) Extensive documented treatment protocols with TCM for infectious and emergency conditions date back thousands of years. In this module, students will be presented with common infectious diseases and emergency conditions such as collapse, high fever, convulsive diseases, bleeding syndrome, acute pain syndrome, coma, and contagious viral diseases including hepatitis, SARS, avian flu, and AIDS. These diseases will be presented from both TCM and Western medicine perspectives. Upon completing this module, students will be able to diagnose common infectious diseases through Eastern/Western integrative approaches, perform TCM pattern differentiation, and give acupuncture and herbal treatment; they will also be able to recognize emergency conditions as soon as they are presented and give appropriate acupuncture and herbal treatment with confidence. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 820 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module provides in-depth knowledge and skills to diagnose gynecological diseases from TCM and Western medicine perspectives, identify disease patterns, devise treatment plans, and administer appropriate herbal and acupuncture treatments. The teaching faculty will share valuable clinical experiences with pre/postmenstrual conditions, dysmenorrheal conditions, infertility, and pre/post-partum care. At the end of the module, students will show competency in reading and evaluating lab reports and gain improvement in their gynecology and obstetrics clinical performance. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 830 0.75+0.25 Units 12+8 Hours |
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| 0.75 units/12 hours (Didactic), 0.25 units/8 hours (Clinic) The course presents the interrelation between the child’s environmental, social, and educational factors and his/her growth and development. It emphasizes the unique socio-behavioral aspects of interacting with the pediatric-family population. Students will be exposed to management of common pediatric diseases such as immunity and allergic conditions, gastrointestinal tract disorders and respiratory diseases. Other conditions such as acute convulsion, enuresis, and malnutrition will also be discussed. Students will perform pediatric evaluations, obtain appropriate consultations, observe additional professional assessments (e.g., psychological testing), and formulate treatment strategies. The use of pediatric tuina and acupuncture needling techniques will be presented as well. Upon completing the module, students will acquire understanding of the factors involved in the normal physical and mental evaluation of a child from birth to adolescence. Furthermore, the students will be able to recognize and understand common childhood diseases, their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 840 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) This module presents an overview of psychopathology and psychotherapy techniques. It examines the development of human behavior across the life span.Within a developmental context, students will explore the dynamics of human behavior as they are determined by intrapersonal systems, interpersonal connections, societal patterns, and cultural influences and as they are altered by significant life events. Through the course, topics such as applied psychotherapy techniques and depth psychotherapy techniques for manic-depressive syndrome will be discussed. Lectures and clinical training will be from both TCM and Western medicine perspectives to let students have a more comprehensive understanding of this fast growing field. By the end of this module, students will be able to practice basic psychotherapy techniques in clinic, confidently handle patients with psychological complaints and select appropriate herbal and acupuncture treatments. |
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| Prerequisite: DFM 810 Case Management and Presentation, DFM 850 TCM Classics and Contemporary Applications |
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| DCM 850 1.5+0.5 Units 24+16 Hours |
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| 1.5 units/24 hours (Didactic), 0.5 units/16 hours (Clinic) The mystery of the therapeutic effects of medical qigong is increasingly gaining popularity. This module is an introduction to Chinese Energetic Alchemy. It offers students an overview of the major principles and foundational structures that govern Traditional Chinese Medical Qigong. This course is designed to introduce students to the Study of the Daoist Three Outer Forces (Heaven, Earth, and Man). Course content will include: The Influences of Energy, Food and Diet on the Human Body, Prenatal and Postnatal Jing, Qi and Shen, The Body’s Energetic Internal Structures, The Five Spiritual Aspects of the 5 Yin Organs, Advanced Shengong Cultivation Methods, The 6 Transportation’s of Shen, The 8 Supernatural Powers, Soul Projection, Spirit Projection and Energy Projection. By the end of this module, students will have a deeper comprehension of the body’s physical, emotional, mental and energetic relationship to the universal and environmental energetic fields. |
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| Prerequisite: None |
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