Sponsorship & Support

Our scholarship programs thrive because of the generosity of AOM schools, supporting businesses, and individuals like you. Together, we are helping the next generation of acupuncturists and Oriental medicine practitioners step into their calling with less financial burden.

How to Donate

For Schools

  1. Donate & Complete School Sponsorship Form.
  2. Promote the scholarship to your students.
  3. Donations of $200+ qualify your school as a sponsor. If one of your students is selected, they will receive additional funds thanks to your and other sponsoring schools’ support.
  4. Donate by October 20, 2024 to receive a personalized flyer to help promote your sponsorship.
  5. As of September 2025, schools no longer have to manage their students’ applications. We now accept applications directly from students, reducing administrative burden while expanding access. We encourage you to support your students in applying and to help them develop the leadership and community engagement that distinguish our top scholars.

For Individuals and Businesses

If you believe in the future of AOM and want to directly impact students’ lives, make a tax-deductible donation today. Every contribution helps reduce the burden of tuition and training costs.

Celebrating our sponsors!

Because of you, more students can follow their calling while reducing their debt.

  • We continue to envision a future where all AOM schools participate as annual sponsors. With broader participation and increased support, we will be able to significantly expand the number and size of awards offered each year—including the potential to introduce a $10,000 top scholar award.

2026 Sponsorship Highlights

State Organization Sponsors

For the third consecutive year, Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA) continues to lead as the only sponsoring state organization.

Their ongoing support has allowed us to establish and grow the Florida Fund, supporting scholars from Florida-based institutions.

This year, FSOMA’s support directly contributed to awarding the 2026 Florida Top Scholar.

School Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to the schools who supported this year’s program:

Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts
Five Branches University
Middle Way Acupuncture Institute
Wongu University of Oriental Medicine
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Each of these schools is helping to create meaningful opportunities for their students and for the future of our profession.

We look forward to growing this list in the coming year.

2025 marked the highest number of sponsoring schools in our program’s history!

All 10 of the schools below have become consistent supporters over the years:

  1. Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College
  2. AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine
  3. Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts
  4. Florida College of Integrative Medicine (once again, our distinguished top sponsor!)
  5. Middle Way Acupuncture Institute
  6. Midwest College of Oriental Medicine
  7. WON Institute of Graduate Studies
  8. Five BranchesUniversity
  9. Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
  10. Texas Health and Science University

See our full list of past sponsors here:

Sponsor Honor Roll

 

Sponsorship Benefits

Platinum Sponsors $10,000+

  • All acknowledgments from other tiers

  • Plus: Create a custom essay question for our annual application. The top scholar’s essay will receive a special award in your name.

Past Platinum Sponsors:

  • Trudy McAlister and Mary Hecht, whose visionary gifts laid the foundation for this scholarship program. Their legacy proves the power of individual generosity to transform a profession.

Gold Sponsors $2,000+

  • All Silver benefits

  • Plus: Recognition through one of our named scholar awards.

Past Gold Sponsors:

  • Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, a steadfast partner for the first decade of this program, providing high-quality herbal formulas, acupuncture supplies, and unwavering support for future practitioners.

Silver Sponsors $200+

  • Recognition each year on our website, social media, and in marketing sent to all AOM schools and students.

Examples:

  • Heather George, DSOM, LAc  Dr. George won our scholarship in 2015, then became our first volunteer student representative on our Board. In 2016 she agreed to become the Executive Director, and is now the Board President. Heather is dedicated to ‘paying it forward’ by growing this foundation in every way possible to support those taking on significant financial debt in order to pursue their studies and commitments to practicing this medicine.
  • Gene Bruno, OMD, LAc
  • Martin Herbkersman

Licensed Acupuncturist Sponsors:

As this group grows, we will open new scholarship opportunities for continuing education among U.S. licensed practitioners.

If you believe in the future of AOM and want to directly impact students’ lives, make a tax-deductible donation today.