Florida College of Integrative Medicine

Mission Statement

Established in 1990, the Florida College of Integrative Medicine began as a single-program acupuncture, herbology and Oriental medicine college. It was the first school in Florida accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and the first school of its type to be licensed by Florida's Commission for Independent Education as a college with approval to award the bachelor degree in professional health studies, master's degree in Oriental medicine and the doctor of naturopathic medicine degree.

The FCIM curriculum emphasizes Western biomedical sciences, technologies and clinical practices to support proper patient treatment and integration of the medicine within the overall health care delivery system. the college is committed to preparing students for the future of integrative medicine. The school is confident that the experiences gained as a student at FCIM will be rewarding.

History

The Florida College of Integrative Medicine was founded in 1990, and was originally known as the National College of Oriental Medicine. The school later changed its name to reflect the wide range of programs it offers. The school's Oriental medicine program attained candidate status from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in May 1996, and was accredited in November 1997. It was reaccredited in 2000 and 2003, respectively.

Programs Offered

The Florida College of Integrative Medicine offers degrees in naturopathic medicine and Oriental medicine. The Master of Oriental Medicine degree program is a professional four-year program accelerated over 36 months and consists of 2,740 hours of instruction or 152.5 semester hours of credit. Comprehensive study of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbology is included, as well as training in tuina (Chinese medical massage).

The focus of the program is primarily on Chinese modalities of health care, but emphasis is also placed on Western medical concepts. This blend prepares graduates to integrate competent practice of Oriental medicine within a health care system that is predominantly Western.

The program's basic instructional goal is to educate and graduate primary health care practitioners based on traditional medical concepts that employ acupuncture diagnosis and treatment, as well as adjunctive therapies and diagnostic techniques, for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of disease. The program also utilizes the following objectives:

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the fundamental academic and clinical knowledge drawn from Oriental and biomedical science content and experience that is necessary to practice effective Oriental medicine.
2. Graduates will be able to assess and diagnose patient conditions using all relevant Oriental medical diagnostic theory and procedures and appropriate biomedical diagnostic principles and techniques.
3. Graduates will be able to formulate effective treatment plans that are indicated by careful diagnosis and based upon sound clinical reasoning.
4. Graduates will be able to recognize patient conditions that require referral to other healthcare professionals.
5. Graduates will be able to articulate the importance of ethical behavior in their professional and personal lives.
6. Graduates will be able to communicate competently about Oriental medicine with patients and other healthcare professionals.
7. Graduates will be knowledgeable of the principles of practice management to include applicable federal and state laws and local ordinances.

Contact Information

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