New Student Branch of AAOM!

All students of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine across the U.S. are invited to participate in the first ever American Association of Oriental Medicine Student Organization (AAOM-SO).

Student Organization Advisor: Cynthia O'Donnell

Student Organization: Koala Moore
Chair, Development/Membership

Student Organization: Rhonda Wilbur
Chair, ByLaws Task Force

Students nationwide met and discussed their concerns as part of an AAOM Student Caucus at the AAOM ’05 International Conference & Exposition in Chicago last autumn. During the conference, students met with Cynthia O’Donnell, AAOM Student Affairs Chair, and were able to itemize common goals, outline a preliminary focus, and put together teams to help initiate both a Development and By-Laws Task Force.

Unanimously the preliminary goals were: 1) to encourage students nationwide to become involved in the establishment and committees of the new AAOM-SO; 2) to enable students to have a better understanding of their common interests and concerns; 3) to empower students to have a voice in the processes that mold their collective future practices; 4) to successfully create an organization that serves and represents all students Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine nationwide.

Students’ interests were focused into an initial action item agenda. This included working towards a student loan forgiveness program, a mentorship program, reciprocity/national licensing, herbal access, student insurance availability, and corroboration for national promotion of Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine, including public relations work, and public health and research initiatives. Students agreed these objectives would take time and work, but everyone felt they were worth the efforts.

In the months since the AAOM Chicago Expo, the Development/Membership Task Force contacted all Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine colleges across the country, to inform both colleges and students about the new AAOM-SO. Student letters and presentations offering information and invitations to join were emailed to colleges following introductory phone calls, and the colleges were asked to forward these to all students.

Each college was also asked to choose a Student Representative to join the Bylaws Task Force, and help them create the Charter Bylaws for the AAOM-SO. And a special half-price membership drive was held in January. Currently between 300 and 400 students have joined the AAOM-SO, and nationally more than a third of the colleges have chosen their Student Representative.

The ByLaws Task Force brainstormed, networked, and collaborated with AAOM advisors and Student Representatives to initiate, summarize, and write the formal draft of AAOM-SO Charter Bylaws. This draft was then forwarded to the AAOM for their committee review and approval. The AAOM-SO Charter ByLaws include nine separate articles. Among these are Purpose, Membership, Committees and Task Forces, and Voting. Elections for officers are expected to be held for the first time at the AAOM ’06 Expo in Phoenix.

Enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the AAOM-SO has been outstanding, and interest and support has been exceptional. The AAOM created a special Student Services section on their web site to provide information regarding student interests and the new AAOM-SO. A Student Services icon button on the AAOM Home Page at www.aaom.org guides viewers directly to the student area, where students can join online. In addition there is a National Student Forum chat room available through the AAOM site.

All Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine students are invited to attend the upcoming AAOM ’06 Expo in Phoenix from October 20-22. The conference will be held at the beautiful Wigwam Resort and Spa. “Healing the Body, Mind and Spirit,” will be the theme of this year’s lectures. Wellness of the BodyMind is a major topic in contemporary healthcare. The AAOM Phoenix Expo promises to offer not only interesting, but also very timely information. The cost for student registration is just $60. A Student Caucus is planned for the Expo to publicly present AAOM-SO business.

Development/Membership Task Force Members: Rhonda Wilbur (Chair); Myra Becker; Rebecca Christy; Ann Degrassi-Kalkis; Adrian Hillyer; Krista McCain; Claudia McCalla; Jose Montoya; Koala Moore; Loren Romley; Jeannette Schreiber; Mary Thayer; Maureen Woyci.

Bylaws Task Force Members: Koala Moore (Chair); Nina Isaacson, Lauren Lau, Steve Mavros, Ariel Mayer, Anaya Palay, Rachel Peterman, Jessica Puckett, Loren Romley, and Rhonda Wilbur.