Fellow and Intern Program Update

As previouly shared, ACAHM’s Fellow Program is designed to create opportunities for early-career faculty and higher education administrators employed by ACAHM-accredited institutions/programs to develop leadership skills and engage in focused training, research, and advocacy opportunities for the benefit of the acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) profession.

In comparison, ACAHM’s Intern Program is designed to create opportunities for students enrolled in an ACAHM-accredited doctoral program (DAOM or PD) to develop leadership skills and engage in focused research and advocacy opportunities for the benefit of the AHM profession.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

The number of Fellowships and Internships available each year varies. Fellowship and Internship appointments are typically for one (1) year and could require up to 100 hours of project-based service and engagement in a mutually agreed upon project. Prior to beginning work, each Fellow and Intern receives an orientation to familiarize them with the purpose and requirements of their project, and to introduce them to their ACAHM staff mentor. Service expectations, responsibilities, project deliverables, and deadlines are memorialized in an agreement executed with ACAHM.

Fellow and Intern positions are unpaid, part-time volunteer positions. Pre-approved expenses incurred to fulfill responsibilities of the position are reimbursed by ACAHM, and an honorarium is awarded upon successful completion of the respective Fellowship or Internship.

DR. ROBYN SODDERS: 2024-2025 ACAHM FELLOW

The Commission would like to recognize and thank Dr. Robyn Sodders, Chair of the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program at Five Branches University in California, as its first Fellow. Dr. Sodders’ mutually agreed upon project focused on two (2) objectives: (1) help to pilot implementation of the Commission’s Fellowship program, and (2) help lead the Commission’s effort to determine the viability of using a learning management system (LMS) as a force expander for conducting virtual training of Commissioners and site visitors. The Commission is happy to report that Dr. Sodders professionally, competently and successfully satisfied her agreed-upon project objectives: both proofs-of-concept were achieved. Additional curricular work is needed before the Commission LMS can be fully implemented.

Please join the Commission to congratulate Dr. Sodders for her service as the Commission’s first Fellow, and for using her technical and professional skills to help evaluate ways in which an LMS may be used for meeting the Commission’s training needs.

2025-2026 OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWS AND INTERNS

Advertisements and application forms for ACAHM’s Fellow and Intern programs will be made available to the public on ACAHM’s website beginning 1 June 2025. The deadline for submitting applications is 1 July 2025 and we expect to make Fellow and Intern appointments by 1 August 2025.