Foundations Level I Mentorship Training

Course Instructors

PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Edward Neal, MD, MSOM

Associate Teachers

Lorraine Wilcox, LAc. (Moxibustion and External Therapies)
Deborah Woolf, LAc. (Sinology and Chinese language)
Rebecca Fettig, LAc. (Japanese Moxibustion)
Donna Guillemin, (Plant–Based Medicine)
Stephen Kroth, DO (Nature–Based Osteopathy)
Hirsh Diament, PhD (Calligraphy, Text Reading)
Michael Deagro, LAc. (Nature–Based Shiatsu/Artist in Residence)
Paige Barnes, LAc. (Pulse Diagnosis and Movement/Artist in Residence)

Advanced Student Teaching Assistants

Advanced students participate as teaching assistants and student mentors in the Foundations Level I Training.

Helpful Links

Foundations Level I Training

General Policies

The health and thriving of our community is a central priority.

We are a vibrant and diverse community of learners from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We engage in ethical scholarship, where different points of view are welcome as long as they are discussed in a respectful and thoughtful manner. All are welcome in our community and training, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender identity, background, or training. In nature, diversity is an important sign of thriving, and we embrace it.

In a challenging world, our communities serve as virtual groves of respite where we come to be restored and learn. To maintain a high standard for our classes, derogatory comments, bullying, grandstanding, or disrespectful actions will not be tolerated. If students persist in unwanted behavior despite receiving verbal or written feedback from staff, they may be expelled from classes without a tuition refund or the right to appeal, at the sole discretion of the primary course teacher. They may also be barred from any future training opportunities.

Students with concerns or complaints should contact the primary teacher or course ombudsman. If these experiences occur during a live clinical training, students should communicate their concerns directly with teaching assistants or the primary teacher.

Learning new skills always requires a degree of caution and common sense. The following guidelines should be observed:
  • Advanced clinical skills are demonstrated by instructors in Level I classes. It is important to treat within your skill level and avoid attempting new skills without proper training and supervision.
  • The Foundations Level I class is designed to provide students with basic skills required to treat commonly encountered problems in primary care practice. This course does not cover the treatment of advanced and complex illnesses. Instead, these skills are taught in Advanced Training Level II courses. Level I students should not use their training to treat such illnesses or promote their abilities to treat these conditions to the public. Students with previous experience treating such conditions may continue to use these techniques.
  • Pneumothorax is the most common and significant medical complication of acupuncture. While teachers and teaching assistants strive to monitor student treatments, it is essential to exercise special care when learning new techniques used in areas such as the chest, diaphragm, shoulder, and neck.
  • Teachers and teaching assistants work hard to create safe learning environments. However, it may not be possible to monitor all student experiences. During training, it is vital to take care of oneself. Students may decline clinical exercises or treatments for any reason without explanation or apology. Self-monitoring and self-care are always encouraged and acceptable. Sufficient downtime should be taken.
  • Clinical training involves working closely with other students in various settings. At times, students may use new skills in ways that make the student being examined uncomfortable, such as palpating too deeply or abruptly. In these cases, providing thoughtful feedback to the student practitioner can be valuable in improving their skills.
  • The standard in our training is always to ask permission before examining another student or patient. Proper draping should always be used.

Special Message on the Use of Course Material, Authorization, and Copyright Law

Our community depends on the free exchange of information and ideas for its continued health and thriving. This only occurs in environments where ideas, writings, and intellectual property are respected and protected from plagiarism and intellectual theft. For this reason, we enforce a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Plagiarism and intellectual theft exists on a spectrum, ranging from repeating other people’s ideas and writings as one’s own without giving proper attribution to the full-scale creation classes and programs based on others’ intellectual work.

Course materials are provided for personal study only. Students who wish to use course materials in their teaching, writing, or research must first obtain written authorization from the course teachers or students involved.

Unauthorized sharing, copying, broadcasting, or use of material in research, teaching, publications, or other media venues without prior written permission is strictly prohibited and grounds for immediate dismissal from the course without a tuition refund and can result in legal action. Access to course lectures and materials is granted only to individuals who are officially registered and up to date in their course tuition.

Apricot Grove Refund Policies

Maintaining financial health is necessary for our long-term planning. For this reason, our class tuition refund policy is as follows:

ONLINE TRAININGS
  • $750 deposit for the Foundations Level I course required at the time of registration is non-refundable.
  • 30 days prior prior to the first class: 100% of tuition balance may be refunded (not including deposit listed above).
  • 15 days prior to the first class: 75% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit listed above).
  • Less than 15 days prior to the first class and after the course has begun: no tuition refunds are given.

NOTE: If you enroll in a payment plan program and withdraw prior to the beginning of the class as outlined above, you are still responsible for any balance due less the refund amount.

IN-PERSON TRAININGS

Due to the administrative cost requirements of in-person trainings, the refund policy is different from that of online courses:

  • To reserve a position for an in-person training, the complete tuition must be paid at the time of registration.
  • 30 days prior to the first class, 75% of tuition balance may be refunded.
  • Less than 30 days prior to the first class, no class refunds are given.

NOTE: Tuition for in-person training does not include room, board, or travel costs.

Absences and Withdrawals

Students encountering unexpected life events such as medical illness, family difficulties or sudden financial hardships may take a leave of absence from their training with the permission of the instructor. In such cases, students may resume their training at the same point in a future calendar year if space is available. Due to budgeting and planning constraints, class refunds are not offered after the course begins.

Prerequisites

FOUNDATIONS LEVEL I TRAINING

No prerequisites are required for the Online Lecture Series. Application to the Foundations Level I training is required.

IN-PERSON CLINICAL PRACTICUMS

Students wishing to participate in clinical skills during Clinical Practicums must be medically licensed in the locality in which they live, or must be currently enrolled in a recognized training program. Acceptable medical licenses or training programs include LAc, MD, PA/FNP and RN.

ADVANCED LEVEL II TRAINING

Students who have successfully completed the Foundations Level I Training (Online Lecture Series + all 3 Clinical Practicums) are eligible to apply for Advanced Level II Training. Due to the clinical nature of the advanced level of study, applicants must be medically licensed in the locality in which they live. Acceptable medical licenses or training programs include LAc, MD, PA/FNP and RN.

Helpful Links

Foundations Level I Training
Foundations Level I Mentorship Training

Course Instructors

PRIMARY COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Edward Neal, MD, MSOM

GUEST INSTRUCTORS

Lorraine Wilcox, PhD (Moxabustion and External Therapies)
Deborah Woolf, LAc (Sinology and Chinese language)

ADVANCED STUDENT TEACHING ASSISTANTS

As part of their training, advanced students enrolled in the Advanced Level II Training, participate as teaching assistants and student mentors in the Foundations Level I Training.

General Course Policies

The health and vitality of our community is a central priority that we monitor continually.

We are a vibrant and diverse community of learners from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We engage in ethical scholarship, where different points of view are welcome as long as they are discussed in a respectful and thoughtful manner. All are welcome in our community and training, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender identity, background, or training. In nature, diversity is an important sign of thriving, and we embrace it.

In a challenging world, our communities serve as virtual groves of respite where we come to be restored and learn. To maintain a high standard for our classes, derogatory comments, bullying, grandstanding, or disrespectful actions will not be tolerated. If students persist in unwanted behavior despite receiving verbal or written feedback from staff, they may be expelled from classes without a tuition refund or the right to appeal, at the sole discretion of the primary course teacher. They may also be barred from any future training opportunities.

Students with concerns or complaints should contact the primary teacher or course ombudsman. If these experiences occur during a live clinical training, students should communicate their concerns directly with teaching assistants or the primary teacher.

Learning new skills always requires a degree of caution and common sense. The following guidelines should be observed:
  • Advanced clinical skills are demonstrated by instructors in Level I classes. It is important to treat within your skill level and avoid attempting new skills without proper training and supervision.
  • The Foundations Level I class is designed to provide students with basic skills required to treat commonly encountered problems in primary care practice. This course does not cover the treatment of advanced and complex illnesses. Instead, these skills are taught in Advanced Training Level II courses. Level I students should not use their training to treat such illnesses or promote their abilities to treat these conditions to the public. Students with previous experience treating such conditions may continue to use these techniques.
  • Pneumothorax is the most common and significant medical complication of acupuncture. While teachers and teaching assistants strive to monitor student treatments, it is essential to exercise special care when learning new techniques used in areas such as the chest, diaphragm, shoulder, and neck.
  • Teachers and teaching assistants work hard to create safe learning environments. However, it may not be possible to monitor all student experiences. During training, it is vital to take care of oneself. Students may decline clinical exercises or treatments for any reason without explanation or apology. Self-monitoring and self-care are always encouraged and acceptable. Sufficient downtime should be taken.
  • Clinical training involves working closely with other students in various settings. At times, students may use new skills in ways that make the student being examined uncomfortable, such as palpating too deeply or abruptly. In these cases, providing thoughtful feedback to the student practitioner can be valuable in improving their skills.
  • The standard in our training is always to ask permission before examining another student or patient. Proper draping should always be used.

Special Message on the Use of Course Material, Authorization, and Copyright Law

Our community depends on the free exchange of information and ideas for its continued health and thriving. This only occurs in environments where ideas, writings, and intellectual property are respected and protected from plagiarism and intellectual theft. For this reason, we enforce a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Plagiarism and intellectual theft exists on a spectrum, ranging from repeating other people’s ideas and writings as one’s own without giving proper attribution to the full-scale creation classes and programs based on others’ intellectual work.

Course materials are provided for personal study only. Students who wish to use course materials in their teaching, writing, or research must first obtain written authorization from the course teachers or students involved.

Unauthorized sharing, copying, broadcasting, or use of material in research, teaching, publications, or other media venues without prior written permission is strictly prohibited and grounds for immediate dismissal from the course without a tuition refund and can result in legal action. Access to course lectures and materials is granted only to individuals who are officially registered and up to date in their course tuition.

Apricot Grove Refund Policies

Maintaining financial health is necessary for our long-term planning. For this reason, our class tuition refund policy is as follows:

ONLINE TRAININGS
  • $750 deposit for the Foundations Level I course required at the time of registration is non-refundable.
  • 30 days prior prior to the first class: 100% of tuition balance may be refunded (not including deposit listed above).
  • 15 days prior to the first class: 75% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit listed above).
  • Less than 15 days prior to the first class and after the course has begun: no tuition refunds are given.

NOTE: If you enroll in a payment plan program and withdraw prior to the beginning of the class as outlined above, you are still responsible for any balance due less the refund amount.

IN-PERSON TRAININGS

Due to the administrative cost requirements of in-person trainings, the refund policy is different from that of online courses:

  • To reserve a position for an in-person training, the complete tuition must be paid at the time of registration.
  • 30 days prior to the first class, 75% of tuition balance may be refunded.
  • Less than 30 days prior to the first class, no class refunds are given.

NOTE: Tuition for in-person training does not include room, board, or travel costs.

Absences and Withdrawals

Students encountering unexpected life events such as medical illness, family difficulties or sudden financial hardships may take a leave of absence from their training with the permission of the instructor. In such cases, students may resume their training at the same point in a future calendar year if space is available. Due to budgeting and planning constraints, class refunds are not offered after the course begins.

Prerequisites

FOUNDATIONS LEVEL I TRAINING

No prerequisites are required for the Online Lecture Series. Application to the Foundations Level I training is required.

IN-PERSON CLINICAL PRACTICUMS

Students wishing to participate in clinical skills during Clinical Practicums must be medically licensed in the locality in which they live, or must be currently enrolled in a recognized training program. Acceptable medical licenses or training programs include LAc, MD, PA/FNP and RN.

ADVANCED LEVEL II TRAINING

Students who have successfully completed the Foundations Level I Training (Online Lecture Series + all 3 Clinical Practicums) are eligible to apply for Advanced Level II Training. Due to the clinical nature of the advanced level of study, applicants must be medically licensed in the locality in which they live. Acceptable medical licenses or training programs include LAc, MD, PA/FNP and RN.