Why get a doctorate?

At the end of their third year, SIEAM students can graduate with their master’s degrees, sit for the NCCAOM board exams, and apply for licensure in any state (except California). So, why pursue an additional year of study when you can legally practice without it?

Specialize — East Asian Medicine is a complete medical system. It is vast, including highly effective treatments for patients with acute trauma to chronic illness, broken bones to painful side effects of cancer medications. By the end of their third year, SIEAM students will have seen patients for two and a half years, gaining exposure to the breadth of the medicine. The fourth year is an opportunity to do a deep dive and explore a personal area of interest. Unlike the first three years, the fourth year is flexibly designed for the student to pursue their individual interest.

Doctorate research topics have included…

• Qi Gong for Improving Health Outcomes for Survivors of Breast Cancer

• The Role of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine in Workplace Wellness: Potential Benefits, Feasibility and Future Opportunities 

• Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Experience in an Integrative Cancer Center

• Learning from History: Qing Dynasty Herbal Treatments for Opium Addiction

• Benefits of Using Acupuncture for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Case Series on the Prevention of Preeclampsia in a Subsequent Pregnancy and Development of the Maternity Acupuncture Data Assessment Tool (MADCT) 

• Writing Experience into the World: Case Histories in Chinese Herbal Medicine — History, Function, and Practice

• The Prophylactic Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on Cardiovascular Disease

• The treatment of aromatase inhibitor arthralgia with Chinese herbs, using bi zheng (impediment disease) theory as a model for pattern differentiation

• Acupuncture During Labor and Delivery

• Structural and Movement Energetics: A Diagnostic Approach for the Treatment of Internal Disease

• Bearing Witness and Seeing Through: A Healthcare Providers Role in the Treatment of Trauma 

Year 4

Those who choose to continue their studies at SIEAM to obtain their doctoral degree begin the personal assessment of their skills and clarify the personal interests they wish to develop as physicians. The fourth year of the doctoral program focuses on individual interests in practice, research and scholarship; while also participating in collaborative efforts with other health care practitioners in decision-making regarding patient care.

Each student, in conjunction with faculty mentors, maps out a personalized instructional plan based on their special clinical interests and needs. This plan includes specialty clinical practice experiences, choosing skilled mentors, translation of useful texts for their focus, and participating in opportunities for instruction and research in their selected area of interest. Ultimately the goal of this fourth year is to refine each learner’s ability in regard to their role as clinician, communicator, and explorer in deepening personal and professional understanding of the value of East Asian Medicine in the integrative health care field of this century.

The program has two major components:

1. Independent Study

2. Guest Lectures

Independent Study

Doctoral students choose a topic of interest and complete independent study of this topic in the following ways over the course of one academic year.

• Faculty Mentorship — Receive direct instruction from a mentor(s) who specializes in your area of interest.

• Clinical Practice — See patients and attend seminars in your area of interest.

• Outcomes Based Study — Research and design a study in your area of interest.

• Chinese Medical Translation — Translate Chinese language material on your area of interest.

• Collaborative Case Studies — Write case studies that involved integrative, collaborative care with practitioners trained outside of East Asian Medicine.

• Instruction — Teach the public and/or peers about your area of interest.

One of the highlights of the program is the list of outstanding guest lecturers. Students are encouraged to submit requests for speakers in their doctoral year.

Here are just some of the speakers who have taught for the doctoral students:

Working During School

The doctorate program is designed for students to be able to work full time while completing the fourth year.

The program is currently open to SIEAM students, alumni, and faculty. Students who go from their third year directly into the fourth year can sit for the NCCAOM board exams, apply for licensure, and begin practicing acupuncture professionally while completing their fourth year. Alumni and faculty can continue engaging in full-time work (practicing acupuncture or otherwise) throughout the program.

Schedule

The schedule for the fourth doctoral year is highly personalized and flexible.

The only fixed components of the schedule are guest lectures and the final capstone presentations. Students are required to attend these components of the program. The final capstone presentations take place on a weekend at the end of the academic year.

The majority of the schedule is independently constructed by the student. Students need to complete a certain number of hours in each category of the independent study. They can complete these hours however they choose. The total hours add up to about 12-15 hours per week minimum.

The 4th Year is comprised of a mix of in-person weekend modules and a series of shorter live-stream lectures scheduled throughout the year.

*Students who plan to reside outside of Washington state during the 4th Year will need to meet with the Academic Dean in advance of the start date to ensure that enrollment in the program is in compliance with all applicable state regulations.

Location

Main Campus Building

SIEAM is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, WA. The low-cost student clinic and all in-person classes are held here.

Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine
6363 7th Avenue South,

Seattle, WA, 98108

Total Credits

The following are the total academic and clinical training hours and credits for the entire four-year doctoral program, including the first three years in the MAcEAM program.

Academic Instruction — 2520 hours (167 credits)
Clinical Training — 1425 hours (47.5 credits)
Program Total — 3945 hours (214.5 credits)

Accreditation

All programs offered at SIEAM are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) and lead to licensure in Washington state as well as states around the country.

After Graduation

What do students do with their degrees?

• Work in a mainstream hospital.

• Start a private practice.

• Work at a small bodywork clinic.

• Make an herbal product line.
  Highlight! Check out SIEAM graduate Gabi Masek’s herbal products.

• Teach qi gong.

• Educate.

• Write and translate.

• Provide other public health services.

• Work on a cruise ship.

• Volunteer locally.

• Volunteer abroad.
  Highlight! Check out this program started by SIEAM graduate Grainne McKeone.

Tuition

Students are eligible to receive financial aid loans for all SIEAM programs. To see specific tuition rates, visit the Tuition & Financial Aid page

Admissions

The doctoral program is currently open to SIEAM students, alumni, and faculty. It is not open to students, alumni, or faculty from other East Asian Medicine programs.

How to Apply

Prospective Students
There is one application for SIEAM’s MAcEAM and DAHM programs. When prospective students apply for SIEAM’s program, they are applying for dual enrollment to receive both the master’s and doctoral degrees. They can choose in their third year whether to graduate in three years with the master’s degree or in four years with the doctorate degree.

Current SIEAM Students
Current SIEAM students are already accepted into the doctoral program and therefore do not need to re-apply for enrollment. Students who decide to complete the doctoral completion program must register online in their third year.

SIEAM Alumni
Like current students, SIEAM alumni are already accepted into the doctoral program and therefore do not need to re-apply for admittance. Alumni who decide to complete the doctoral completion program must register online before the academic year of interest. If you are interested in the program and it’s nearing September (the start of the term), please reach out to the admission team to inquire about registration.

SIEAM Faculty
SIEAM faculty are eligible to apply to the SIEAM doctoral completion program. Please speak with the admissions team before applying. If the admissions team approves you for registration, complete the online application for the MAcEAM/DAHM program. Then complete online registration for the doctoral program.

SIEAM students, alumni, and faculty are strongly recommended to reach out to SIEAM’s Director of Admissions early in considering registration for the doctoral completion program. The admissions team is motivated to help customize the program to your unique circumstances.

What’s in the Programs Catalogue?

• Course Descriptions

• Faculty Biographies

• Tuition Details

• Academic Calendar

• …and more!

The master’s program is…

• designed for the aspiring East Asian Medicine practitioner

• a full-time, three year program

• accredited and eligible to be funded by financial aid loans