Interview with Dawn Upchurch, PhD, LAc, Professor of Public Health at UCLA
Emperor’s College master’s program alumna (2011) Dawn Upchurch, PhD, LAc, is a professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS), at UCLA School of Public Health. At CHS, Dr. Upchurch is involved with social and behavioral research applied to health and public health practice.
She focuses on women’s health and well-being over the life course, especially women’s reproductive health during mid-life. Dr. Upchurch is particularly interested in complementary and alternative medicine, especially traditional Chinese medicine, and how it can help address women’s health issues.
1. What motivated you to enroll in a master’s program of acupuncture and Oriental medicine at Emperor’s College?
I was awarded a research career development award from the National Institutes of Health to receive training and conduct research in acupuncture. Because I would be conducting acupuncture research, I thought I should learn a little something about meridians and acupuncture points and therapeutics. My original intention was just to take a couple of courses. But once I got to Emperor’s College, my interests expanded and little by little I found myself completing a full master’s program.
2. Did you have any trepidation about embarking on acupuncture school?
Well, I’m a professor of public health at UCLA and had been for 15 years when I started the master’s program at Emperor’s College, so I had been out of school for quite a while. Plus, I was much more comfortable being on the *other* side of the lectern as professor. But overall it was an enriching experience to be a student again and having the opportunity to learn a completely new field well into my professional career.
3. Why do you think alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, have become increasing popular over the past thirty years?
The public health paradigm is about maintaining health and well-being and reducing risk of disease through preventive strategies. As a professor of public health I am strongly committed to this tradition. Therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine provide people with opportunities to actively engage in their own health care and wellness; it is about personal empowerment. My training at Emperor’s College has taught me the infinite wisdom of the body and its inherent healing capability.
4. What kind of research are you interested in?
Because I have substantial experience in conducting observational studies I want to apply that to traditional Chinese medicine research. I am interested in finding answers to questions such as why are people going to see acupuncturists; do people feel they are getting better; and to what extent do people seek health and wellness counsel and prevention advice. The third Strategic Plan of the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health released in 2011 specifically highlights the importance of studies dealing with issues of health, wellness, and prevention.
5. When do you think that Oriental Medicine will be integrated in the hospital system?
I think it will happen sooner than we think. The national data show that one-quarter of acupuncture patients have been referred by their MDs, so I am optimistic. Many professionals in the conventional medical community recommend acupuncture, especially when they know there is not a lot they can do with conditions such as chronic pain, joint pain, or arthritis.
6. What is your favorite aspect of Oriental medicine and how do you use it in your life?
Two of the basic tenets of Oriental medicine are the holistic approach to health, wellness, and treatment of disease and the importance of balance in one’s life to maintain health. Through my studies, I’ve come to understand that mind, body, and spirit are essentially the same thing and mutually influencing. This knowledge has helped me to be gentler on myself, and I now try to practice what I preach. I am much more grounded and less critical. I feel that I’ve come home to myself.
Dr. Dawn Upchurch, PhD, LAc, is a professor of public health in the Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS), at UCLA School of Public Health. She also completed the master’s program at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist. Dr. Upchurch is doing research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and women’s health, with a particular focus on traditional Chinese medicine and women’s reproductive health during mid-life.