Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM)
An advanced doctoral program emphasizing qi-based diagnostics, classical theory, and outcome-oriented clinical training.
24 month, 1,215 hour, 55.5 credit, post-graduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM)
- Postgraduate doctoral training for licensed acupuncturists
- Rooted in classical Chinese medicine and qi-based medicine systems
- Designed for advanced clinical competence and real-world outcomes
What Is the DAOM Degree?
At Colorado Chinese Medicine University (CCMU), the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) is an advanced clinical doctoral program designed for licensed acupuncturists seeking mastery in classical Chinese medicine, advanced clinical reasoning, and outcome-oriented practice.
The DAOM program represents CCMU’s highest level of professional clinical training, preparing practitioners to address complex, chronic, and multi-system conditions through root-oriented medical thinking and long-term therapeutic strategies.
DAOM Program Overview
The DAOM is a post-graduate professional doctoral degree focused on deep clinical competence rather than technical specialization alone. The program emphasizes:
Advanced diagnostic reasoning grounded in classical Chinese medicine
Systemic, root-oriented treatment strategies
Long-term clinical outcomes and therapeutic stability
Leadership in professional and integrative healthcare environments
The curriculum integrates classical theory with contemporary clinical application, enabling practitioners to move beyond symptom-focused care toward comprehensive, system-level healing.
Clinical Effectiveness in the CCMU DAOM Program
In alignment with CCMU’s institutional vision, the DAOM program defines clinical effectiveness not as short-term symptom relief, but as the practitioner’s ability to resolve disease at its root.
Within the DAOM curriculum, clinical effectiveness refers to the capacity to restore systemic regulation, particularly at the level of Qi, by integrating:
Constitutional assessment and long-term pattern recognition
Temporal, environmental, and contextual influences on health
Advanced diagnostic reasoning informed by classical theory
Outcomes are evaluated not only by immediate symptom change, but by functional stability, recurrence patterns, and sustained clinical coherence over time.
How Clinical Effectiveness Is Developed at the Doctoral Level
Doctoral-level training at CCMU emphasizes clinical reasoning beyond protocol-based treatment.
DAOM students are trained to:
Identify underlying regulatory patterns rather than isolated symptoms
Integrate classical theory with real-world clinical complexity
Design treatment strategies aimed at long-term stability and relapse prevention
Analyze complex and chronic cases through reflective and outcome-focused frameworks
Through advanced coursework, supervised clinical experience, and structured case analysis, students develop the capacity to intervene at the level where meaningful and lasting change occurs.
Qi-Based Medicine: Pulse-Centered Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
The CCMU DAOM program is grounded in a Qi-based medicine system that integrates diagnosis, treatment, and prevention through continuous clinical feedback.
Central to this system is advanced pulse assessment, which serves as a primary means of evaluating changes in internal Qi regulation. Rather than relying solely on symptom presentation, students are trained to observe and interpret how Qi shifts are reflected in the pulse before, during, and after clinical intervention.
At the doctoral level, pulse assessment is used not only for initial diagnosis, but also as a dynamic tool for monitoring treatment response and for identifying emerging imbalance prior to symptom manifestation. This allows practitioners to adjust therapeutic strategies in real time and to engage in preventive clinical decision-making based on early regulatory change.
Through this pulse-centered approach, DAOM students develop the capacity to evaluate clinical effectiveness by tracking internal regulatory change, not merely external symptom variation—supporting long-term stability and root-level resolution.
Curriculum Focus
Key components of the DAOM curriculum include:
Advanced qi-based diagnostics and pulse-centered clinical reasoning
Application of classical Chinese medical theory to complex conditions
Comprehensive case analysis and integrative clinical strategy
Professional development, leadership, and clinical scholarship
The curriculum is designed to support progressive clinical mastery and doctoral-level judgment rather than technical repetition.
Who Should Pursue the DAOM?
The DAOM program is intended for:
Licensed acupuncturists seeking advanced clinical mastery
Practitioners wishing to deepen diagnostic reasoning and treatment strategy
Clinicians interested in addressing chronic, complex, or recurrent conditions
Professionals preparing for leadership roles in clinical practice, education, or integrative healthcare
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the CCMU DAOM program are equipped to:
Apply advanced diagnostic and treatment methods grounded in classical theory
Evaluate changes in internal Qi regulation through pulse-centered assessment
Address disease at the level of systemic regulation rather than symptom suppression
Demonstrate long-term therapeutic effectiveness, stability, and preventive insight
Contribute to the advancement of professional standards in Chinese medicine
Research in Support of Clinical Practice
Research plays a supportive and integrative role within the DAOM program.
Rather than functioning as an isolated academic pursuit, research at the doctoral level is used to:
Validate real-world clinical outcomes
Refine diagnostic and treatment reasoning
Translate Chinese medicine principles into cross-disciplinary dialogue
This approach ensures that scholarly inquiry remains grounded in clinical reality and patient-centered outcomes.
Advancing Professional Practice
The DAOM at CCMU prepares graduates not only for advanced clinical practice, but also for leadership in the evolving landscape of integrative and professional healthcare.
Graduates are positioned to contribute as:
Senior clinicians and mentors
Clinical educators and supervisors
Thought leaders in outcome-oriented, Qi-based Chinese medicine practice
Admissions and Next Steps
Our admissions team is available to provide personalized guidance regarding eligibility and application steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DAOM Degree
What is a DAOM degree?
A DAOM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) degree is a postgraduate doctoral credential designed for licensed acupuncturists seeking advanced clinical and theoretical training.
Is the DAOM a professional or research doctorate?
The DAOM is a doctoral-level degree that integrates advanced clinical practice with rigorous scholarly and research-informed inquiry.
While the program is designed for experienced practitioners and emphasizes clinical application, it is also grounded in classical theory, critical analysis, and structured academic study.
At CCMU, the DAOM is positioned as an advanced doctoral program that bridges clinical excellence and research-based understanding, rather than fitting neatly into a single conventional category.
Who should pursue a DAOM?
The DAOM is best suited for licensed practitioners who wish to deepen their clinical expertise, integrate classical theory, and advance their professional practice.
Ready to explore advanced doctoral-level training in classical Chinese medicine?
Explore the DAOM Program at CCMU →
