Founded in 2001, Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine began in Gainesville, Florida, with a vision unlike any other—to educate practitioners who combine exceptional clinical skill with compassionate, patient-centered care. Today, from our Bradenton, Florida campus, we continue that tradition while preparing the next generation of leaders in East Asian Medicine.
Dragon Rises College was co-founded by the late Dr. Leon Hammer, one of the world’s foremost authorities on Chinese pulse diagnosis. His decades of clinical practice, research, and teaching helped shape a curriculum that emphasizes not only technical excellence but also the art of truly understanding each patient as an individual.
Our students learn within a rigorous academic environment that blends the wisdom of classical East Asian medicine with contemporary biomedical sciences and evidence-informed practice. The result is an educational experience designed to produce confident, compassionate practitioners who are prepared to thrive in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
A Distinctive Educational Experience
Dragon Rises College offers a comprehensive Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine that exceeds national educational standards while emphasizing hands-on clinical training and individualized mentorship.
Our curriculum is designed to help students:
- Develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills.
- Master acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine through extensive practical training.
- Build confidence through supervised patient care.
- Integrate East Asian medicine within today’s collaborative healthcare environment.
- Prepare for national board examinations and professional licensure.
Students benefit from small class sizes, experienced faculty, personalized instruction, and an educational philosophy that values curiosity, critical thinking, professionalism, and lifelong learning.
A Legacy of Excellence
For more than two decades, Dragon Rises College has attracted students and licensed practitioners from across the United States and around the world who seek advanced knowledge in Chinese pulse diagnosis and East Asian medicine.
Many graduates and visiting practitioners consider the education offered at Dragon Rises to be unlike any other, combining centuries-old traditions with modern clinical application.
What Leaders in the Field Say:
“I trained at one of the oldest and most respected schools of Chinese medicine outside of China. Yet I have returned to Dragon Rises many times for postgraduate study to learn what students here begin learning from day one. If I could start my education again, Dragon Rises would be my first choice.”
— Oliver Nash, L.Ac., MBAcC, United Kingdom
“As a doctor of Chinese medicine trained in Taiwan, I searched for years to find the highest level of pulse diagnosis education. At Dragon Rises, I found a remarkable combination of art and science that transformed my clinical practice. It has been my privilege to bring this knowledge back to where it originated.”
— Dr. Wen-Huai Chang, M.M.S., D.O.M., D.D.S.
Our Mission Today
Dragon Rises College is setting the standards of East Asian medicine by educating and inspiring the next generation of practitioners and leaders in their field while creating pathways for integration into Western medicine to transform modern healthcare.
Every student who joins our community becomes part of a legacy dedicated to clinical excellence, compassionate care, lifelong learning, and advancing the profession of East Asian Medicine.
Whether you are beginning your healthcare career or pursuing a calling to help others, Dragon Rises College provides the education, mentorship, and clinical experience to help you become the healer you aspire to be.
Your journey begins here.