Beginning in Gainesville, Florida, Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine provides the ideal environment and resources for acupuncture students. Co-founded in 2001 by Dr Leon Hammer, DRCOM aims to disseminate and propagate his extensive clinical experience and decades of study.

Unique among acupuncture schools, Dragon Rises College offers its students a complete and far-reaching education, enabling them to become competent, confident and successful acupuncturists.

The curriculum is demanding and comprehensive, crafted from the knowledge and wisdom of some of Oriental Medicine’s most eminent scholars. For students wishing to learn acupuncture in a dynamic and inspirational way, DRCOM is an excellent choice.

Experienced practitioners from around the World regularly travel to study at Dragon Rises College, as some of the skills taught at the school are offered nowhere else.


“I trained at what is considered one of the best and oldest schools of Chinese medicine outside of China. I have since travelled to Gainesville many times over the years for post-graduate courses, to learn what you have the chance to learn from day one of your training. I am not alone in making this journey. If you want to work in healthcare and you have a choice between several colleges, or even several professions, save yourself the time and expense later on. Start out by learning the material you need to be a great practitioner. I am already licensed, but if I could be a Masters student at Dragon Rises College, I would.”
– Oliver Nash L.Ac, MBAcC, United Kingdom

“As a doctor of Chinese medicine trained in Taiwan, my colleagues and patients are always impressed by the pulse diagnosis I do. They are even more surprised when I tell them that I learned this knowledge and skill overseas at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine in the USA with Dr. Hammer. This is almost analogous to western people studying the Bible in China – it is just beyond imagination. The truth is, pulse diagnosis is becoming dimmed both in education and practice in Taiwan and China as well. Without lineage and hands-on training, it is impossible to become sophisticated in this realm. That is why professional people find it so hard to apply pulse diagnosis clinically, even though we understand well the value of it, and know it is an indispensable part of daily practice. I spent a decade after studying Chinese medicine to search for the best system of pulse diagnosis around the world. I was thrilled when finally I saw the beauty of it, a combination of art and science, at DRCOM. It is a privilege to be enlightened in the way I dreamed to be. I am more than happy to transmit this system back to where it originated.”
– Dr. Wen-Huai Chang Ph. D. student, M.M.S., D.O.M., D.D.S.


To study acupuncture and Chinese medicine at an exceptional college, and to become an acupuncturist of exquisite skill and awareness, contact Dragon Rises to begin your journey.

Dragon Rises College gets its name from Dr. Leon Hammer’s book Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies.

The Dragon is the symbol of force and power: the energy of the cosmos. The Red Bird, or Phoenix, is the emerging soul arising from the ashes of immolation,

growing toward a oneness with God, the Tao, All That Is. Consequently, the Dragon is the power or life force, and the Red Bird is the rhythm of the universe. Together, they make up the energetic “evolution of a being.”

In Chinese vernacular, the Dragon is often used to symbolize people who are considered excellent and outstanding: attributes of which we are all capable.

The DRAGON RISES from within us.

We aim to graduate successful, caring and competent practitioners of Contemporary Oriental Medicine® who are able to help people achieve not only genuine healing, but also to lead them to their highest sustainable level of long-term health and wellness.

Our Vision

We hope that Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine will become the recognized educational leader in Oriental medical diagnosis.

At Dragon Rises College, we teach Contemporary Oriental Medicine®, a comprehensive and cohesive model incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Five Element Theory, and many strengths of the diverse traditions of Oriental medicine. We teach an integrated model, in an integrated fashion, and our students graduate with a sound foundation of diagnostic and treatment principles on which to build an effective practice.

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine graduates will:

Be effective Contemporary Oriental Medicine® practitioners especially skilled in Oriental diagnosis.
Practice principles and techniques of Contemporary Oriental Medicine® to prevent and treat various conditions.
Demonstrate professionalism, including ethical and appropriate practice.
Demonstrate the knowledge to effectively communicate with other health care practitioners for the purposes of improved patient care.
Core Values

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine instills the following values in its graduates:

  • Integrity
  • Academic Excellence
  • Respect Awareness
  • Critical Thinking
  • Professionalism
  • Student Support
  • Excellence in Health Care
  • Dedication to Diagnosis
  • Harmonious Teamwork
  • Promotion of Contemporary Oriental Medicine®
  • Integration of Diverse Oriental Medical Models
  • Comprehensive Individualized Diagnosis and Management

Dragon Rises College provides exceptional training in all aspects of Oriental medicine, with special emphasis on the science and art of pulse diagnosis. Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis® and Contemporary Oriental Medicine® form the basis of our curriculum, and provide students with an outstanding education.

Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis®, based on the work of John HF Shen, OMD, and further developed by Leon Hammer, MD, is taught as a basic part of the curriculum. The pulse provides the foundation for an in-depth diagnosis, and for preventive medicine. Pulse diagnosis is an exquisite and sophisticated means of understanding the whole person, as the pulse reveals the patient’s constitution, previous illnesses, early insults to normal physiology, environmental stressors, trauma, lifestyle, emotions, and behavior. Pulse diagnosis can also accurately predict possible future pathologies, allowing the practitioner to address the patient’s unique situation, rather than merely a pattern, disease, or Causative Factor. Dragon Rises is currently the only college in the United States teaching this sensitive and subtle skill.

Contemporary Oriental Medicine® emphasizes the patient’s lifestyle as a primary Causative Factor of disease, and considers it a key component of any treatment plan. Students are taught to identify the impact of lifestyle choices, and to support the patient in establishing necessary change. They learn how to foster therapeutic relationships essential to a successful healing intervention.

Our strong clinical orientation provides a rich and meaningful experience, grounding students in the practice of Oriental Medicine.

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine and its master’s-level program in Oriental Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
(ACAHM). Institution/program accreditation history, notes and dates of review may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/

ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture and oriental medicine
practitioners. ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, MN 55331. Phone (952) 212-2434 ~ Fax (952) 657-7068; www.acahm.org

Licensure

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine is licensed by the Florida Department of Education’s Commission for Independent Education (CIE) to award the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degrees (license number: 2425). Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting the FLDOE CIE at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, phone (850) 245-3200.

Dragon Rises College is an alcohol and drug-free space

Possession or use of alcohol and/or recreational drugs is strictly prohibited on the college grounds, and students under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not permitted on campus. Smoking is discouraged; we focus on creating a healing space and enjoying a healthy environment, and the use of tobacco and abuse of other substances are contrary to the healing profession and a healthful lifestyle.

The campus is smoke-free

The student clinic can help with smoking cessation. This is discussed in the student handbook on page 12, and help for problems with addiction is provided through these websites:

https://www.aagainesville.org/

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-interventions-young-adults

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/prevention