“Acupuncture in the United States: From Exploration to Accessibility” Speaker: Prof. LAO Lixing
Prof. LAO Lixing, Professor and President of the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM), USA, delivered the 11th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Acupuncture in the United States: From Exploration to Accessibility” on 8 December 2023. The hybrid lecture attracted over 140 participants joining in person and online from more than 18 countries and regions across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. It was also broadcast live on multiple social media platforms, captivating a viewing online audience of over 12,500.
Prof. outlined the differences in acupuncture between the past and present, and the East and West. He then expounded on the rapid development of acupuncture in the United States, highlighting how acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention gained acceptance by the public and mainstream healthcare system. Additionally, he underscored the significance of research endeavors in acupuncture, encompassing clinical studies, collaboration, and dissemination in driving evidence-based acupuncture. In concluding his presentation, Prof. Lao shared his insights on the future direction for acupuncture research by citing a number of research priority areas set forth by a national complementary and integrative health centre in the United States.
