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Greetings!
Recently, I had the chance to take a tour of our new campus and clinic downtown. I try to stop by every couple of weeks or so, and each time am amazed at how far along the remodel is, and how beautiful it will be when we move in to the building this September. On this particular tour, I had the great fortune to be on the new fifth floor's patio on a sunny Portland afternoon, a day made all the prettier by the just-opened blooms of the cherry trees lining the Japanese-American historical plaza to the east. What a view! Sung Dynasty poet Chu Hsi, in his poem "Spring Day," could very well have been standing there beside me when he wrote:
Along the Ssu River it's a fine day for blossoms
the landscape is endless and suddenly new
I recognize the East Wind's familiar face
a thousand pinks and purples and everywhere spring
With relocation to Old Town Chinatown only five months away, this issue of the Bulletin is all things OCOM relocation and breaking news ---- read about: the feng shui design of our new campus and clinic; how our new building will enhance our master's and doctoral programs; herb company partner KPC, acupuncture condition additions to the Oregon Health Plan; the latest relocation update; and view photos and videos of our new home on our relocation webpage.
Yours in good health,
Gretchen Horton
Director of Community Relations and Giving
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Increased Acupuncture Access for Oregon Health Plan Participants
On April 1, the Oregon Health Authority added four additional conditions authorized for the use of acupuncture under the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). The updates to the OHP's "Prioritized List" of conditions that can be treated with acupuncture now include: pregnancy, depression and mood disorder, migraines, and tension headaches. Authorization for acupuncture treatment continues for a number of other conditions including abuse or dependence of psychoactive substance, tobacco dependence, HIV disease, among others.
OCOM graduate and Oregon Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (OAAOM) President Laura Ocker played a key role in advocating for these changes. She worked closely with students in the OCOM Research Department to obtain the information presented to the Health Services Commission's subcommittee that made these additions possible. Along with her advocacy work, Ocker has her own private acupuncture practice in the Portland area, Cascade Family Acupuncture.
"It is a joy to see the tide turning," said Ocker, "with conditions now being added to OHP instead of eliminated. And while the increases are gradual, with just a few conditions tacked on at a time, it is a rather remarkable achievement considering the current budget-constrained atmosphere faced by the state. It's been a fantastic process, a true collaboration, with the OAAOM leading the advocacy piece, and the OCOM Research Department supporting the process with evidence and investigation. The students last year did fantastic work and should be extremely proud of their accomplishment. Our colleagues in state government have been genuinely receptive. And we're not done yet!"
View the complete and current prioritized list of health services.
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Creating Optimal Healing Through the Art of Feng Shui
OCOM's new Old Town Chinatown campus and clinic facility was designed with the most innovative and sustainably-minded thinking from both Western and Eastern perspectives. The remodel of the 100-year-old historic building into OCOM's new campus will not only result in a LEED Gold-certified project, it was also designed and built according to the principles of the Chinese art of feng shui.
Feng shui is based on the teachings of Daoism, founded by Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu in the sixth century B.C. It is an increasingly familiar interior design concept in the West, and is commonly used in China to site buildings and design spaces to maximize the potential for success. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine, feng shui is based on the principles of yin-yang theory and focuses on the harmonious balance of the five universal elements ---- water, earth, metal, fire and wood. Feng shui "treats" the built environment through the use of things like strategically placed crystals, mirrors, greenery, and color, while TCM focuses on bringing balance to the human body through acupuncture and herbs. These principles, whether applied to building or individual, seek the same result: the creation of great prosperity, health and success.
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OCOM Students Healing in the Heart of the City
OCOM's new campus represents more than just a move to a new location ---- relocating to downtown Portland is an important strategic initiative essential to meeting the long-term vision and needs of the college.
Increased and growing interest in our master's and doctoral acupuncture and Oriental medicine degree programs is at the root of the move. The new building, nearly double the square footage of our current location, will provide students a state-of-the art academic, clinical and research facility, and double our classroom space. The additional space and ground floor "great room" also allows us to expand our services ---- in both the OCOM Clinic and the herbal dispensary ---- and our wellness programs to serve a broader Portland community.
READ MORE and VIEW PHOTOS
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Partner Highlight: KPC Herbs Visits OCOM's New Campus
International family Chinese herb company, KPC, Inc, stopped by Portland last month for a visit with OCOM and had the opportunity to tour our new clinic and campus downtown. A company known for their commitment to sourcing and providing high quality Chinese herbs, KPC Herbs has formed the backbone of college's herbal dispensary for years. They are also long-time supporters of OCOM, and have been the presenting sponsor for our Continuing Education series the past two years
READ MORE
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Coming Soon! Clinic Newsletter: The Three Treasures
Beginning this month, OCOM will relaunch its quarterly clinic patient newsletter, The Three Treasures. This patient health resource will feature stories about the healing art of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including recipes, TCM health updates from acupuncture to Chinese herbs, special faculty and student profiles, updates on our September relocation, and more.
"The Three Treasures" have special significance in Chinese medicine related to realizing great health and well-being: Jing (essence), Qi (energy), and Shen (spirit) are considered in Daoist thought to be the three fundamental sources or roots of our lives. Ways to build and maintain our treasures include the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine, and our aptly named newsletter will highlight these practices to support your health.
Pick up your copy of The Three Treasures in our clinic or download a copy from our website later this month.
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Relocation Update
The renovation of OCOM's new campus and clinic continues ---- and continues to run ahead of schedule! The five floors of our new home are at various stages of completion, and each day's progress brings us closer to our September move.
These days, with the concrete and structural phase complete, the interior is where most of the work is focused: walls are being painted and light fixtures hung; the beautiful, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows facing the MAX line and looking west toward the Pearl District have been installed; doors, cabinets and sinks are going in the kitchen spaces and clinic rooms; and the downstairs entryway floor was recently stained a warm shade of red.
Follow OCOM President Michael Gaeta in a recent video tour of the building, and view additional photos of the renovation at our relocation webpage.
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Share the Health!
Forward the OCOM Bulletin to family and friends, and encourage them to join our mailing list.
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ocom.edu
The science of medicine, the art of healing
Founded in 1983, the mission of Oregon College of Oriental Medicine is to transform health care
by educating highly skilled and compassionate practitioners, providing exemplary patient care,
and engaging in innovative research within a community of service and healing.
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