You probably have a lot of questions about acupuncture school and what it’s like to study Oriental medicine at Emperor’s College. We’re here to help you answer your questions.
Take a peek into the life of an acupuncture student at Emperor’s College. We’re excited to meet you and show you around!
Who studies at Emperor’s College?
As a result of our broad based approach to Oriental medicine and our emphasis on community, you will find that Emperor’s College students are as diverse as the personal, academic and professional backgrounds they bring to their traditional Oriental medicine studies.
The diversity of the Emperor’s College student body and the close-knit, supportive community are decisive factors for students who choose to study acupuncture and Oriental medicine with us.
“Emperor’s College provided me with the resources to accomplish my goals in an environment that encourages free thinking, promotes group discussion, and views one’s personal growth and development as essential to becoming a well-balanced practitioner.” ~Joshua Jones, LAc
Meet our students
Anisa Kassim and Desmoine Boyd
Fourth year student Anisa Kassim and second year student Desmoine Boyd discuss what it’s like to be enrolled in the Masters of Traditional Oriental Medicine program at Emperor’s College.
Listen in here:
Lisa Weber
New master’s program student Lisa Weber shares lessons she learned in her first quarter at Emperor’s College on the Qi blog.
“It’s hard to believe that I’ve already completed 8 weeks of the master’s program at Emperor’s College. But I’m proud to say, I’ve learned a thing or two in what I’d like to call: top 5 lessons learned in quarter 1.”
Read about Lisa’s top 5 lessons learned in her blog post here.
What’s the community of students like at Emperor’s College?
Community Life
Emperor’s College is an international community, made up from students from the US, Europe and beyond. Over 250 students are currently enrolled in the master’s program. The college administration together with student council supports the experience of students at Emperor’s College by offering a number of services and organizing events throughout the year that enhance relationships and assist students with their studies and exam preparation.
Want in on what we’re up to at Emperor’s College? Join our community on Facebook and connect with us and other students!
College Retreat
College retreat at Big Bear Lake
Each year, students together with faculty and staff gather for a weekend retreat in a beautiful mountain setting at Big Bear Lake, California. In an atmosphere of relaxed fellowship and social activities students nurture those community bonds and build long-lasting friendships.
The retreat is offered as a 2-unit elective course. The weekend allows new and current students the space to open their hearts, explore their capacity to heal themselves and others, and commit themselves to the mission of Emperor’s College in achieving brilliance within their profession.
See photos of our college retreat on our Facebook page.
“It’s remarkable how non-competitive we are here. We all help each other.” ~Desmoine Boyd, student in the master’s program at Emperor’s College
What are Emperor’s College alumni doing now?
Emperor’s College distinguished alumni are successful and highly regarded practitioners of Oriental medicine who continue to push the medicine to new heights while remaining deeply rooted in its history and tradition.
Emperor’s alumni maintain thriving private practices, serve as faculty and directors at acupuncture and Oriental medicine colleges across the country and are known as pioneering political leaders within the field. Our graduates hold leadership positions in national and statewide organizations, including the American Association of Oriental Medicine and the California Acupuncture Board.
Meet some of our accomplished alumni here:
Cathy Margolin
Master’s program alumna Cathy Margolin founded Pacific Herbs, an herb company that offers concentrated herbal powders in individual packets. Margolin says she founded her wellness company because she always had a passion for health. “I have always known botanicals can provide us with dynamic health.”
Dr. Brendan Armm, DAOM who received both his master’s and doctoral degree at Emperor’s College, is founder of Lotus East-West Medical Center in Santa Monica, California, an integrated health clinic that brings together acupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy, osteopathy, and psychotherapy. Armm also teaches Oriental medicine and meditation to the master level students at Emperor’s College.
Master’s and doctoral program alumna Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald, DAOM founded the Santa Monica Wellness Center in 1994 after being in private practice for several years. She also serves as the wellness editor of the Aol Huffington Post Media Group. Dr. Fitzgerald is the author of the best-selling award winning book, The Detox Solution: The Missing Link to Radiant Health, Abundant Energy, Ideal Weight, and Peace of Mind. This groundbreaking book has received rave reviews from the press as well as medical professionals.
Dr. Jeannette Painovich
Dr. Jeannette Painovich, DAOM completed her master’s degree in 2000 and her doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine in 2006. Her private practice is in Los Alamitos where she treats both children and adults with a wide variety of health issues as well as a specializing in the area of women’s health, gynecology and obstetrics. Her passion for integrative medicine led her to create the first ever in-patient acupuncture fellowship program for doctoral students at Good Samaritan Hospital in 2004. Two year later, Painovich was awarded a grant to conduct a two-year research program at the same hospital which examines the effectiveness of acupuncture in the in-patient setting. This innovative research project was touted as one of the top integrative programs in the country in 2006.
Russell Brown is a master’s program alumnus who founded Poke Acupuncture in Los Angeles, California, upon graduation. Brown wanted to create a practice that is filled with things he loves. And that’s exactly what he did. Brown says: “I love birds and vintage medical equipment. I like paint-by-numbers and photographs that tell stories. All my good friends know that I love the smell of old books and holding them makes me cry. I want to showcase the tremendous talents of some of the great artists who have donated pieces to my “gallery” and I much prefer the sound of a great melancholy band to the tinkle of a mechanical fountain that just makes me have to pee. I think most of us feel better when we’re cozied up in our living rooms than in a cold medical office and I want that for my patients when they come here.”
Sarah Nargiso graduated from the Emperor’s College master’s program summa cum laude in 2012 and immediately after started her own practice in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, California. During her time at Emperor’s College, Nargiso has utilized her skills as an acupuncturist in integrative medical settings in Los Angeles including The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, UCLA Arthur Ashe Medical Center, and the Simms/Mann Venice Family Clinic.
In addition to her acupuncture practice, Nargiso is committed to working with under served communities both locally and abroad. She is a co-founder and outreach coordinator of a non-profit organization called One World Health Project (OWHP). Nargiso has treated hundreds of patients in Kenya, has trained foreign healthcare workers, and helped to start the first auricular acupuncture clinic at the Koiyaki Community Clinic in Talek, Kenya.
Our students share their knowledge
At Emperor’s College, you don’t have to wait until graduation to share your knowledge about acupuncture and Oriental medicine. As a clinical intern at Emperor’s College, you get to educate people in our community about the benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Emperor’s College is offering students regular opportunities to participate in clinic outreach events in the area including local health festivals and street fairs as well as high school outreach.
Can you imagine how proud our clinical interns were after they saw what impact they had on these Los Angeles high school students?
Emperor’s College at Hamilton High School Health Fair
Check out more Emperor’s College videos on YouTube.
Are you ready to take the next step?
Nothing can give you a better idea of life at Emperor’s College than a campus visit or tour. Have our admissions representatives show you in the ins and out of campus, and get a better feeling for what it will feel like when you start studying at Emperor’s College.
Below are a few options on how you can take the opportunity to observe the day-to-day life of students here:
- Schedule a campus tour: Tours and information sessions are available Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm. Please contact us at 310-453-8300 to schedule your appointment.
- Attend an open house: Open Houses are offered every quarter to provide prospective students an opportunity to learn about the masters program curriculum, speak to current students about their experiences at Emperor’s College and why they decided to pursue a career in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, meet faculty members and staff and tour the campus and clinic. Open Houses are hosted on a quarterly basis and typically occur in the evening during the week.
Check out our upcoming events for the next open house date. - Be a Master’s Program Student for a Day: Be a student for a day and experience life & study at Emperor’s College for yourself! Sit in on classes, meet faculty and students, immerse yourself in campus culture and get a free treatment at Emperor’s College Acupuncture Clinic!
- Take an Opening Series Class: These intro classes for non-matriculated students offer the perfect opportunity to see if Emperor’s College is right for you.
- Attend a Virtual Open House: Can’t make it to our campus quite yet? Attend our virtual open house and listen to the conversation between Dean of Clinical Training, Robert Newman, and Admissions Director, Lisa Rocchetti, as they discuss the benefits of earning your master’s in traditional Oriental medicine at Emperor’s College.
We’re happy to answer any more questions before you’re taking your next steps. Contact our admissions team Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm Pacific time at (310) 453.8300 or request more info by filling out this contact form and we’ll get back to you.
We look forward to speaking with you!
