Alumni
Who are the people who can tell you the most about the experience of studying Acupuncture TCM, or one of the other professional TCM training programmes run by the ICTCM? Our Alumni.
Here we provide an opportunity for our graduates to share something of their own educational and professional journey with people thinking of joining the ICTCM to change career. We asked them to focus not only on the rewards that they reaped from their studies but to also mention the challenges they had to face.
We agreed to respect people’s privacy and have not used the real name of the graduate nor their photograph.
The people featured in this section will change from time to time.
Alumni Profiles
RICHIE – a 1980s graduate
I graduated from one of the first groups of students who studied Acupuncture TCM at the college. I had already spent three years studing Acupuncture at a College of Five Element Acupuncture, which I did alongside a full time job. One of my fellow students was a Western Medical Doctor who had studied Western Medical Acupuncture before she joined the College. We shared the same desire, which was to find a fully comprehensive programme of TCM education and training which would enable us to have the confidence, knowledge and clinical skills necessary to practice Acupuncture as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Neither of us had achieved that during our previous Acupuncture programme.
I can only say that the ICTCM programme, while time-consuming (because there was so much to learn) changed my life by enabling me to change career, earn a good living and feel that I was living a worthwhile life helping others.
Was it an easy course – No. Was it a comprehensive course – Yes. Was I glad that I found the Irish College of TCM – Yes. The Director Tom Shanahan, having devoted his own life to first learning, and then practicing and teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine in his home country, has very high standards and does not suffer fools gladly, so he expects a lot from his students. I know he wanted us all to be the best TCM practitioners that we could possibly be and if we, the students, put in the time and effort he as the main teacher at that time, re-doubled his efforts to help us on the way. He is a kind and helpful clinician and clinical supervisor.
I went on to change my career – becoming a full time Acupuncture TCM practitioner nearly 40 years ago. I have regularly recommended the Lic.TCM course to others and I have only used ICTCM college graduates to act as a locum for me, since then.
SZANDRA – a 2020s graduate
I am fairly recent graduate from the ICTCM. Due to some health issues I first met the college in one of the Teaching Clinics in ICTCM House, Dublin 3. Being unwell for some time made me very interested in health and well-being and alternative approaches to treatment. I was not sure if I was suitable but one of my friends had graduated from the college and recommended me to apply.
English is not my first language so, when I was accepted, I was worried my English was not good enough. That was the biggest challenge – not just learning Pinyin Chinese terms but also needing a much bigger English vocabulary. But, I managed to do it! I had good support and that made a difference.
Now I have a part time practice in Acupuncture TCM and I look forward to starting a postgraduate course at the college. I hope it will be soon – please remember me!
Do you wish to apply for one of our courses?
If so, go to our Acupuncture TCM Training page if you wish to become a professional TCM Acupuncturist.
Or is you are already a fully trained TCM professional take a look at our Postgraduate programmes.