What’s It Like to Be a Clinic Intern Practitioner at AIMC?
- AIMC
- Nov 23, 2020
- 3 min read
A huge part of your education at Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley is the real-world, clinical experience you gain. Students can become Clinic Intern Practitioners after completing one year of the Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine Curriculum, and observing treatments by licensed practitioners.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, our clinic provides an opportunity to consult with patients, listen to their concerns, and come up with a treatment plan. Doing this in a learning environment under the supervision of a licensed faculty member means you’ll receive guidance and help from a professional throughout the appointment.
Adapting To Telehealth
Like many other schools and businesses, we’ve had to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still ensuring that our students receive the clinical experience they need to graduate. That’s why we started offering telehealth appointments* in the spring of 2020.
Though the virtual student clinic can't offer acupuncture and other hands-on techniques, it can still utilize other branches of traditional Chinese medicine including herbal formulas, and it's allowed our students to continue to meet with patients and prepare for their future careers.
“COVID-19 turned our education style on its head, but I’ve been absolutely impressed by the fluidity in which our school transitioned to a distance learning program and a telehealth clinic,” says Clinic Intern Practitioner, Karina Poliva. “I got all the classes I needed, I got all the clinic shifts I needed, they communicated about the changes in the licensing board rules regarding the new education/clinic style, and the teachers were very open about hearing what it was that we needed to feel successful in the classes online.”
*In-person appointments are available by appointment only for those who do not have symptoms of COVID-19. Rigorous safety and sanitation protocols are in place to protect our staff, students, and patients. Learn more
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What Clinic Intern Practitioners Can Expect
Through Zoom, our Clinic Intern Practitioners continue to perform consultations and discuss treatments with multiple patients each day. It’s also a chance for them to stay connected with their peers and mentors, as each appointment is supervised by a licensed faculty member and could include more than one student intern.
During telehealth or in-person appointment, Clinic Intern Practitioners will ask their patient several personal health-related questions. This includes discussion about sleep, digestion, reproductive and sexual health, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and more. Having in-depth knowledge about a patient’s health is essential to prescribing the right herbal formulas. For more details about patient consultation, read this blog.
Here is a breakdown of what a Clinic Intern Practitioner can expect during an appointment:
Bring all tools and sheets into the clinic
Set up your room and review charts
Welcome patients
Conduct intake & consultation
Return to clinic discussion area
Write out diagnosis and treatment plan
Discuss plan with educator/fellow students
Provide treatment & follow-up care instructions to patient
What Treatments Do We Provide?
As a Clinic Intern Practitioner, you’ll be able to practice and observe the following kind of treatments:
Herbal Prescription
Mindfulness Coaching
Dietary and Nutritional Guidance
Acupressure Instruction
Get The Training You Need at AIMC
If you want to pursue a master's degree at AIMC, contact us today! Our friendly staff would love to help you explore higher education in Chinese medicine and acupuncture. We also offer a doctorate program for those who want to further their education. Now is the perfect time to pursue a career that focuses on healing others. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
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