Scholarship Announcement
Sponsored by the Scheidel Foundation
The Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity—generously funded by the Scheidel Foundation—for acupuncturists to complete an advanced online oncology acupuncture course developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Program Title: GLObal IMPlementation of Acupuncture Cancer Therapy (GLO-IMPACT)
Course Title: Addressing Cancer-Related Pain Through Acupuncture
Format: Self-paced, online
Duration: Approximately 8 hours (plus optional webinars)
Focus: Training licensed acupuncturists in the evidence-informed IMPACT protocol for cancer-related pain
CEUs: Provides 8 continuing education credits from the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM)
Course Fee (after scholarship): $150 USD (Scholarship value: $245 USD)
This course content and acupuncture protocol are built on the pioneering and practice-changing clinical trials conducted at MSK (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2777349 and https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2811822). The course is designed to deepen acupuncturists’ clinical skills for working with oncology patients, integrating current research and best practices to safely and effectively address cancer-related pain.
PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE
Our goal is to expand access to evidence-based oncology acupuncture training, improve management of cancer-related pain, and support the integration of acupuncture into mainstream oncology care globally.
This scholarship program aims to:
- Increase the number of acupuncturists trained in evidence-based oncology acupuncture for cancer-related pain.
- Support the implementation of an evidence-based oncology acupuncture for pain protocol in diverse clinical settings, including community practices. This protocol is a semi-fixed acupuncture approach using defined point algorithms (local and distal) with optional TENS, designed for cancer-related pain and common co-morbid symptoms.
- Enhance the quality and consistency of acupuncture care for people living with and beyond cancer worldwide.
- Support acupuncturists in tracking outcomes and reflecting on real-world implementation related to oncology acupuncture, including case report writing.
- Foster a global community of shared learning through SAR-hosted live webinars in collaboration with SAR’s international ambassador network.
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Applicants awarded a GLO-IMPACT Scholarship will receive a discount code that reduces the course fee from $395 USD to $150 USD ($245 USD scholarship value).
WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES
Each scholarship recipient will receive:
- A $245 scholarship to offset the registration cost of the MSK course “Addressing Cancer-Related Pain Through Acupuncture.”
- Access to SAR-led live monthly webinars featuring oncology acupuncture experts and SAR’s global ambassadors.
- Opportunities to share case examples and practice experiences, and to contribute to SAR’s outcomes data collection and case report efforts.
- Opportunity to present at a major conference: Top case studies will be selected for presentation at SAR’s 2027 international research conference, offering global visibility and professional recognition.
- Continuing Education Credits: Receive 8 PDAs through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM), or receive a certificate of completion in regions where NCBAHM credits are not applicable.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must:
- Be a licensed or credentialed professional acupuncturist (or equivalent designation) in their jurisdiction, OR be eligible under local regulations if formal licensing is not applicable.
- Be actively practicing acupuncture at the time of application.
- Have regular or anticipated contact with patients with cancer or cancer survivors (e.g., oncology centers, integrative clinics, community practices).
- Be able to complete the MSK course within 6 months of receiving scholarship notification.
- Agree to participate in follow-up surveys and basic outcomes reporting (e.g., numbers of patients and cancer patients treated using the IMPACT protocol).
- Be able to complete the course in English (course language), with the understanding that additional translations and adaptations may be developed over time.
PRIORITIES FOR SELECTION
While all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply, if the number of applications exceeds available funding, priority consideration may be given to:
- Practitioners serving underserved, rural, or low-resource communities.
- Practitioners who treat a higher volume of patients with cancer.
- Applicants from geographically diverse regions (both within and outside the U.S.).
- Applicants who express strong interest in implementing and sharing the IMPACT protocol in their local context.
- SAR members
PARTICIPANT COMMITMENTS
By accepting the scholarship, recipients agree to:
- Register for and complete the MSK “Addressing Cancer-Related Pain Through Acupuncture” on-demand course within the specified time-frame of 6 months.
- Apply the IMPACT protocol or key course principles in their practice, when clinically appropriate.
- Participate in 1–2 brief online surveys regarding their experience with the course and how they are using the training in practice.
- Provide summary data on their clinical activity, such as:
- Average number of patients treated per week
- Approximate number of patients with cancer treated per week
- Basic information on implementing the IMPACT protocol in their setting
- Maintain appropriate professional licensure/registration throughout their participation, in accordance with local laws and regulations.
- Permit SAR to use de-identified, aggregate data from surveys and reports to evaluate and disseminate program outcomes (e.g., in conference presentations, publications, or reports to funders).
HOW TO APPLY
Interested acupuncturists should complete the GLO-IMPACT Scholarship Application Form by March 31, 2026:
Apply HERE
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be notified within 2 weeks of their submission.
For questions, please contact:
Laura Triplett, Executive Director
Society for Acupuncture Research
Email: ltriplett@acupunctureresearch.org
Website: www.AcupunctureResearch.org