KPU becomes first Canadian public institution offering traditional Chinese medicine degree
Officials from the university and B.C. government gathered at the Richmond campus to share the news
Chair of the KPU traditional Chinese medicine program, Dr. John Yang (left), and B.C. Premier David Eby (right) were among the speakers at the degree's launch announcement July 26 at the Richmond campus. (Suneet Gill)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is set to become the first Canadian public institution to offer a bachelor’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
The new program will allow students to explore the principles of Chinese medicine — such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and tuina, an ancient Chinese massage — and complete hands-on lab work and direct patient care.
Members of the KPU community and B.C. government, including Premier David Eby, took part in unveiling the degree on July 26 outside the Richmond campus’s TCM clinic.
“A unique aspect of our program is emphasized on patient experience. We train our students to [diagnose], treat, [and] manage patients with complex health-care needs, fostering a holistic approach to health and well-being,” said Dr. John Yang, chair of TCM at the university.
“As our population continues to grow and age, the need for qualified traditional Chinese medicine practitioners is increasing. These professionals are essential to complementing our health-care system, offering integrated [approaches] that enhance patient outcomes and overall quality of life.”
Eby said despite the increased demand in the province for what TCM offers and for qualified, professional graduates who understand its history and tradition, there has not been a degree program in the field available anywhere in the country.
“What is very clear is that this degree program will offer students a pathway to practise traditional Chinese medicine at the highest levels, to be respected internationally for their knowledge and their technique, and to support British Columbians with better care, which is what we all care about,” Eby said.
B.C. Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang was also at the announcement, where she spoke about growing up with TCM, particularly through her grandfather who practised tuina.
She also said there are significant benefits to TCM being complementary to western medicine, and British Columbians have more health-care options to choose from.
“In 2017, when John Horgan and the BC NDP came to government, we made sure that we supported KPU in its journey to being successful in their bachelor’s of TCM,” Kang told The Runner following the announcement.
“What that looked like was making sure they had money to be able to do a report to see the needs of the community and how such a program could progress. There was $1.2 million already invested in this program to make sure that it continues to run.”
She added that she understands there will be a great reception for the program, with many students being part of it, and the provincial government will step in and continue its support if the need arises.
Richmond South Centre MLA Henry Yao, who Eby said has been an advocate for the government to accelerate its approval of the program, also spoke at the event, in addition to Faculty of Health Dean Sharmen Lee.
“This program not only prepares students for licensure, but also provides advanced standing for practising acupuncturists seeking to obtain a bachelor of traditional Chinese medicine and the higher credential of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner,” Lee said.
Student Caldwell Lever also addressed the audience, speaking on his experience in the TCM diploma program thus far. Provost and Vice-President Academic Diane Purvey emceed the event.
The program is expected to receive its first intake September next year, according to a KPU press release.
Students pursuing the degree will first complete the acupuncture diploma program, which has an intake of 35. The bachelor’s portion will be open intake and not cohorted, allowing practising acupuncturists to return to school without closing their clinic or inconveniencing their patients. KPU is considering class sizes of about 35 for the degree, Lee said.
After the announcement, there was a short acupuncture demonstration with Lever as the patient. Eby then volunteered to get poked with the acupuncture needles, too.
For more information about TCM at KPU, visit kpu.ca/health/acupuncture/.
