Dr. Barbara De La Torre's "Why Acupuncture Didn’t Integrate Even When It Almost Did." 5.28.26

In this lecture, Why Acupuncture Didn’t Integrate Even When It Almost Did, Barbara de la Torre, MD, DABMA, FAAMA, offers a thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal moment in medical history when acupuncture came closer than expected to entering Western medical education. As a physician and board-certified medical acupuncturist, Dr. de la Torre brings a dual clinical perspective to the question of how different systems of knowledge are understood, taught, and sustained within healthcare. Designed for acupuncturists and perinatal care providers, this session examines how clinical practices are shaped not only by effectiveness, but by the systems that determine what is taught, recognized, and sustained within healthcare. Through the lens of William Osler, a foundational figure in modern medical education whose work helped shape how medicine is taught in North America, Dr. de la Torre explores why acupuncture did not continue along a path toward integration, despite early inclusion in medical training. Featured Speaker: Dr. de la Torre will also be presenting at this year’s Perinatal Acupuncture Conference. In this session, you will: • Discover a lesser-known historical moment when acupuncture was part of Western medical training • Learn how medical education shapes what becomes accepted practice • Explore key events that influenced which forms of medical knowledge were carried forward and which were not • Understand how knowledge access and cultural perspective shape clinical understanding • Apply these historical patterns to better understand the current position of acupuncture in healthcare Rather than focusing on technique, this lecture invites participants to examine why effective practices are not always sustained within healthcare systems. Dr. de la Torre brings a unique perspective that bridges clinical experience, historical research, and systems thinking, offering insights that are directly relevant to practitioners navigating today’s healthcare landscape.