In this special recording, I had the privilege of speaking with three newly licensed Acupuncturists who generously shared their experiences of opening and managing their own practices. Their honest insights into the challenges they’ve faced – and continue to overcome – provide invaluable guidance for anyone considering a career in acupuncture. I believe their stories will resonate deeply, especially with AOM students and those contemplating enrollment in an AOM program, as it’s essential to understand the real-world hurdles that await.
We explored a variety of experiences, including one Community Acupuncturist who leases her own space, and two others who work from Chiropractors’ offices under different types of agreements. Their diverse backgrounds paint a unique picture of what it takes to build a practice in this field, and I’m incredibly grateful for their openness in sharing their stories. I’m confident that listeners will find this a fascinating and valuable look into the world of becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the possibility of more recordings like this. If you’d like to participate or have suggestions for future interviews, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out via email at info@makingacupuncturepay.mystagingwebsite.com, share your thoughts in the Forum section of this website (look for the thread titled "My First Year in Practice"), or connect with us on the Making Acupuncture Pay Facebook page. Thank you for tuning in – your feedback and participation are always welcome.
This interview completes the series of conversations with three individuals I most wanted to speak with: Michael Smith, Misha Cohen, and Lisa Rohleder. I am truly grateful that they took the time to share their insights with me and allowed me to share our discussions with you. The reason I sought out these three is because each of them has devoted their careers to serving patient populations often neglected by the healthcare system, including many AOM practitioners.
What sets them apart is their hands-on experience in treating thousands of patients, continually refining their knowledge through practice and teaching. Their success has been proven time and again as they’ve taught others and seen their protocols replicated successfully. In my own small way, I strive to do the same – to pass on what I’ve learned about creating successful outcomes for patients and practices, and to see if those approaches can be duplicated by others.
I hope these interviews will be both enlightening and inspiring, as they showcase the remarkable impact one can have when fully dedicated to serving the underserved. Thank you for taking the time to listen, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
– Matthew Bauer
In this third interview, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Michael Smith, widely recognized as the founding Director of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). Many may not fully understand the remarkable work that Dr. Smith has done—and continues to do—and I believe that’s a missed opportunity for awareness.
Thanks to Dr. Smith’s tireless efforts and the dedicated work of the NADA team, hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction have received life-changing support through NADA’s treatment protocols. Notably, these individuals include some of the most marginalized in society, including the poor, the incarcerated, and the homeless.
Below is a 45-minute interview I had with Lisa Rohleder, co-founder of the Community Acupuncture model and movement. Lisa, along with many others, has played a pivotal role in building a thriving organization dedicated to making group-setting acupuncture affordable for everyone.
As you’ll learn, Community Acupuncture is not only the fastest-growing acupuncture practice model, but their multi-stakeholder co-op is also the fastest-growing acupuncture organization in the U.S.—and likely in the Western world overall.
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