Within TSTCM.....
Since its establishment in 1995, TSTCM has created a caring, supporting and serious institution dedicated to excellent education, services and research in the field of TCM. As a leader, TSTCM is committed to the success of its students, the development and recognition of the profession, and the enhancement of health of Canadians. With over 10 years of hard work and combined efforts of school, faculty, staff and students, TSTCM has earned its reputation and will continue this tradition.

Excellent education and high standard teaching can’t be achieved without the effort of all our instructors who have the love, enthusiasm and commitment to sharing their knowledge and skills. Our volunteer TAs,  in their 3^rd and 2^nd year Doctor of TCM Diploma programs respectively, Krystin Smith and Aric Chan, who have contributed their time and energy in helping junior students in acupuncture practical classes have received great prizes and appreciation from all the students in the classes. TSTCM students study in a caring, clean and spacious school. Particularly I would like to express my gratitude to Mabel Soper whose selfless effort in ensuring the cleanness of the kitchen and recycling materials creates a healthy environment for studying.

I would like to express my gratitude to our School Advisory Council chaired by Dr. Jeson Yan and Cary Rendek for keep transparent communication between the school and the students and for their constructive suggestions regarding the improvement of the school policies and procedures.

My special appreciation goes to Cathy Zeng, my assistant and the advisor of our students, who has contributed to the school and helped all the students with integrity, honesty and care.

Commitment, devotion, cultivation, innovation and dedication are the traditions of TSTCM. Students, faculty, staff and the school will maintain these traditions and work together to welcome the new regulation and to help each other for the success of each and all of us.

1. Representatives of Government and official TCM regulatory body made presentations to TSTCM

Representative from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Mr. Stephen Cheng, and the Transitional Registrar of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO), Ms. Emily Cheung were invited to TSTCM to make presentations and provide information regarding the regulation TCM in Ontario March 5 2008. Students and faculty had an opportunity to learn and to discuss issues concerned. The 2-hour lecture served to encourage open communication between students/practitioners/educators and the official regulatory bodies. Attendants came in with handful of questions and left with clarity and confidence in the future of the TCMA profession.

"The meeting was very informative and I gained valuable knowledge regarding the future of TCM regulation. They responded quickly to any questions we may have had about the regulations." Mort Neek

"I was utterly impressed with the level of professionalism and Emily Cheung gave everyone a clear understanding of the whole registration process by speaking plainly. It was very informative and extremely well organized." Jeff Bryant

2. Happy Gathering of Graduates, Students, and Faculties - A snapshot of TSTCM's 1^st Annual School Gathering Feast

		Faculties and students from all programs and years of study attended the 1st Annual School Gathering Feast on March 30, 2008. Great food, intoxicating drinks and the nice decoration of the restaurant weren’t the main sources of the euphoria shared by all guests. It was by all accounts a great opportunity to socialize and network with other students & faculty. For graduates, the feast means more than a meal but a memorable occasion to celebrate their achievements with family, friends, and fellow students. Paul Marchinko, graduate of the Acupuncture Diploma program, noted that “Everyone had a great time. It felt like a cozy TSTCM family event. We see each other almost every day at school but rarely do we have a chance to get together with everyone outside of the class atmosphere.
The traditional Chinese dinner was delicious."  Aric Chang (second year student) gave a speech on acupuncture role in treating the SARs outbreak in China, which was very insightful and inspiring? commented Jeff Bryant who is in his late 3rd year study with TSTCM. If you missed this scarce opportunity, you can still share our delight from the photos.

3. Well Received Seminars by Doctor of TCM Diploma Candidates

To provide training in research and opportunities for public speech, as well as to introduce TCM to the general public, TSTCM has organized a series of seminars in April and received positive outcomes. Participants of the general public found the seminars were informative, interactive and enjoyable. Students have gained the experience and practice in research and seminar organizations as well as enjoyed the prizes from peer students, family members and from the public.

The topics this month focused on the benefits of TCM and Acupuncture for pain, psoriasis, anxiety & depression and chronic fatigue.  All workshops generated a lot of public interest.  Most attendees came in for multiple seminars.

The seminars are always a great opportunity for the public and students alike to learn more about the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for overall health and well-being in the management of different syndromes.

TSTCM will continue to provide seminars in and outside of the school which agrees with the mission of the school in promoting TCM as a medical science and as a formal health profession for the health benefit of Canadians.

4. Starting the Spring Term

After a long, cold and intense winter term, students will be returning to school from a relaxing and rejuvenating two week break to start the spring term on May 5, 2008. 

A warm welcome at the orientation to new students starting in May finished with students? feeling of excitement, inspiration and being cared.  All new students have had a great time in the first classes of their first term.

Understanding that their professional education will be challenging and intensive, TSTCM has the mentor program providing new and junior students the encouragement, support and care that they need. Acting as mentors, senior students have the opportunity to reinforce their knowledge and skills learnt and to make contributions to the development of TCM.  With the presence of a caring atmosphere, TSTCM has made it so convenient for students who need help.

5.  More than just TCM - by Richard Kwan, graduate-to-be of DTCM

For the past 4 years at TSTCM, I have learned more than just TCM.  I have learned what it means to scream with anger, laugh with joy, study with pensiveness, cry with grief and fear in the face of herb classes (7 emotions of TCM).  I have experienced what Liver Qi Stagnation means and days when my meridians are so obstructed that I need more than just mere Acupuncture needles.  I will never stop seeing meridians on people's body, starring at people's tongues when they talk or going to the washroom without giving the toilet a peek at how my spleen is doing.   The worse yet is never being able to enjoy a slice of pizza ever again without thinking about damp heat and how it affect each of my internal organs.  I have warned you all.

The days that I miss the most after graduation would be the fascinating stories from my professor of how ancient doctors used to use feces and virgin child's urine for herbal remedies (maybe some traditional doctors still do?), observing energetic first years turn into zombies after a month into the first semester, watching students being raise from the dead after 2 weeks of break (vicious cycle?), and seeing students poking each other and giving each other Tuina massage treatments just so that they would be able to last another 12 hour day at TSTCM. 

TSTCM not only taught me to be observant of patient's facial appearance, tongue colour, pulse feeling and poo smell through "Wang, Wen, Wen, Qie" (Observe, Smelling, Questioning, Palpitation), but it has also taught me to be observant with the hearts of TSTCM students.  With so much diversity in education, culture, and religious backgrounds, I find it amazing how almost every student that comes to TSTCM has the same heart to learn TCM so that they can use this power for the betterment of oneself as well as the broken world in which we live in.  What strikes me the most is the fact that students don’t realize that each person has the potential of healing themselves and people around them if they understood what love means.  I see students selflessly sharing class notes with each other and helping each other study, comforting each other when they break down and cry, and wondering at the same time how a student can sacrifice her time in volunteering to help make the school kitchen a better place for everyone.  Other students are graciously looking for stiff shoulders to massage so that maybe someone would massage theirs and being amazed by the words of encouragement and hope that each student brings to one another to keep each other pushing forward and thriving in the career of TCM.  I learned that healing comes not from an Acupuncture needle but from the heart of the patient.  One of my colleagues once said that we are not healers, but only a vessel for the patient, for they are the healers. 

I know that what I gained at TSTCM is only the beginning of a future that yet needs to be painted.  I believe TCM can empower people in having a heart of a doctor to heal themselves through the awareness of oneself.  Thomas Edison once said,
"The doctor of the future will give no medicines, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the causes and prevention of disease."