Only 25 Credits and 300 Hours for completion.

Now encompassing four, in-demand areas of clinical practice taught by industry subject matter experts.

Increased Affordability with Reduced Credits and Financial Aid Options Available.

Dr. Lixing Lao, PhD, LAc is a professor and the President of the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM). He has been appointed since October 2019. He also serves as the Director of the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program. At VUIM, Dr. Lao teaches Acupuncture, Tuina (Chinese massage), Clinical Training, Research (evidence-based medicine), and advanced acupuncture courses in the DAOM program. He also serves as a mentor for capstone projects for the DAOM students here.

Dr. Lao graduated from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SUTCM) in 1983 and completed his Ph.D in Physiology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in 1992. Before VUIM, Dr. Lao taught Family Medicine at the Center for Integrative Medicine of the University of Maryland School of Medicine between 1992 and 2013. In 2013, he became the Director of the School of Chinese Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). In 2014, Dr. Lao was appointed to hold the Endowed Professorship in Integrative Medicine there and taught until 2019. Dr. Lao is an elected vice president of the World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), and the immediate past Secretary General of the Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM).

Dr. Shadi Sarebanha ND, Phd., is a distinguished Naturopathic Physician who began her journey with a Medical Degree in Iran, providing a robust scientific foundation for her holistic health pursuits. A transformative trip to China led her to earn a PhD in Chinese Medicine, immersing herself in acupuncture and herbal medicine. She further expanded her expertise with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Dr. Sarebanha bridges Western and alternative medicine, creating a comprehensive approach to healing physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances. Her mission is to guide patients towards optimal health, focusing on Weight Management, Skin Health,  Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Autoimmune Conditions, Thyroid Issues, Digestive/Gastrointestinal Health (SIBO, IBS, etc.), Anxiety, and Mental Health. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Persian, she values communicating with patients in their native language. Dr. Sarebanha’s biography exemplifies the power of merging diverse medical traditions for holistic healthcare.

Anthony Von der Muhll, DAOM, DNBAO, L.Ac., has served patients with pain, orthopedic and sports injuries, and other neuro-musculoskeletal conditions since 2003 using acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, dry needling, myofascial trigger point needling, prolo-acupuncture, gua sha, tui na, suction cupping, and Traditional East Asian herbology. He integrates traditional acupuncture with contemporary neuro-anatomical approaches to needle therapy. founded the Santa Cruz Acupuncture Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic in 2003, and relocated to the Sports Acupuncture Clinic at Bamboo Family Acupuncture in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2022. He is the only Licensed Acupuncturist in Charlottesville who is a credentialed Fellow of the Academy of Integrative Pain Management, and is also certified in Integrative Sports Medicine, in Acupuncture Orthopedics, and as a Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist (dry needling).

Ryan Smith, M.S., Dipl. Ac., L.Ac., C.SMA, is Co-Investigator and CEO of 5 Point App Inc., received his Master’s Degree from the Tristate College of Acupuncture in 2008. He is a licensed acupuncturist with experience at some of the world’s leading health centers, including the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Ryan earned his certificate in Advanced Oncology Acupuncture from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. As the Founder and Director of 5 Point Acupuncture, he utilizes acupuncture’s precision and power as part of a holistic, integrative approach to health and well-being. Ryan has developed and taught curricula such as The Treatment of Orthopedic Disorders, Myology and Trigger Points, and The Foundations of Evidence-Informed Practice at Pacific College of Health Sciences (PCHS) and Tristate College of Acupuncture (TSCA). He also teaches online acupressure classes for Illness Related Fatigue (IRF) and sleep disturbances for patient-supportive nonprofits. A lifelong learner committed to advancing patient care, Ryan is currently exploring using technology to promote effective self-care techniques. His company, 5 Point App, Inc., is developing its first mobile health (mHealth) software, EnergyPoints, a patient activation and educational app that offers an opportunity to mainstream acupressure—a beneficial strategy to help patients self-manage their symptoms. He is a co-investigator of a Small Business Research Innovation grant funded by the National Cancer Institute to examine the feasibility and usability of the EnergyPoints app.