Institutional History

Institutional History

The Virginia University of Integrative Medicine was established as the first institution offering Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine training in the state of Virginia and became the first such accredited program in the state of Virginia. Originally founded in 2004, VUIM currently offers a four-year Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM) as well as a three-year Master of Science in Acupuncture (MAc). Both of these degrees are offered in the English, Chinese, and Korean Language. VUIM also offers a Certificate in East Asian Nutrition (i.e. Herb Certificate Program).

Also, the institution offers the following Doctoral level degrees, Professional Doctorate [Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc.)/Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM)] program and its Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program (DAOM). All VUIM programs have been approved and are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

A timeline of the institution’s key developments is noted below:

2004

  • Established as the Virginia College of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine (VCAOM)

2008

  • VCAOM changes its name to the Virginia University of Oriental Medicine (VUOM). The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) provides certification to operates as an institution of higher learning in the state of Virginia. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants VUOM approval to accept and educate International students through its programs of study.

2010

  • Dr. Lixing Lao was appointed as the first President of VUOM.

2013

  • VUOM achieves Candidacy Status for Accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (ACAOM). VUOM produces its first graduating class of MAcHM program in Fall 2013.

2014

  • Dr. Tae Cheong Choo joins VUOM as its CEO to lead the institution’s ongoing academic and clinical program development. VUOM enters a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea’s leading herb/tea manufacturer/distribution company – Omniherb Co. – to pursue research & product development collaborations.

2015

  • VUOM achieves institutional accreditation status with the ACAOM in February 2015 and becomes the first accredited school of acupuncture & integrative medicine in Virginia.
  • VUOM enters into a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing its relationship with Kyung Hee University of Korean Medicine, South Korea’s renowned institute of Integrative Medicine, to facilitate the exchange of faculty, students, research, and product development its university hospital.
  • VUOM enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine in South Korea, one of the global leaders in AOM education, to foster student exchange, joint research activities, and the exchange of academic materials.
  • VUOM enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Hong Kong School of Chinese Medicine to promote cooperation between the two institutions in the areas of student education and academic research of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the goal of developing joint research projects on Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as to jointly host academic and research activities, conferences, and seminars.

2016

  • VUOM receives approval from ACAOM and SCHEV to offer a Certificate in East Asian Nutrition. In addition, the institution receives approval to offer its Master of Science in Acupuncture (MAc) as well as its Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM) through the English, Korean, and Chinese language degree tracks.
  • VUOM enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the AIM Health Institute, the non-profit organization responsible for the George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine (GWCIM). AIM was created at the initiative and is supported by The Center for Integrative Medicine at the George Washington University Medical Center.

2017

  • VUOM receives approval from ACAOM to begin offering its Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program, recruiting its first cohort for training in July 2017.
  • VUOM receives approval to begin offering GI Bill education benefits to its student community.
  • VUOM begins offering its students access to the Federal Financial Aid program through its Title IV Certification.

2018

  • VUIM officially begins operating as the Virginia University of Integrative medicine. VUIM receives approval from ACAOM to operate its classroom – teaching site located in New Jersey.

2019

  • VUIM begins offering coursework to the inaugural cohort for its Professional Doctorate program. VUIM welcomes back Dr. Lixing Lao as the institution’s President.

2020

  • VUIM’s Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) is accredited. More than 400 students are actively enrolled. 

2021

  • VUIM programs, Professional Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc.), and Professional Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM) are accredited. 
  • VUIM receives approval from the State Department of Higher Education in NJ to offer both the Master of Acupuncture and the Master of Oriental Medicine program on site at VUIM’s Ridgefield NJ location. This site is now the second official location for VUIM. 
2022
  • VUIM receives approval from the US Department of Education and is authorized by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission to offer master’s and Doctoral programs at VUIM’s Duluth GA location. This site is now the third official location for VUIM.

2024

  • VUIM celebrates its 20th anniversary with over 800 attendees at the annual Commencement ceremony at Capital One Hall in Tysons Corner, Virginia. VUIM sends students to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM) for the first time.