Medicine Meets Mission

So here’s a life update I didn’t expect to be writing just a year ago: I’ve officially withdrawn from the acupuncture program, with the intention to return later, when the time is truly aligned.

This past year has been a valiant effort. I learned a great deal, stretched my capacity, and affirmed my commitment to integrative medicine. But after deep deliberation with my academic advisor, I realized continuing the dual-doctoral path, at this time, no longer made sense. What started as a seamless integration quickly became a logistical nightmare.

Let me explain.

Why I Pursued the Dual Degree in the First Place

I enrolled in the acupuncture program in Fall 2023, during my second year in the Naturopathic Medicine program. One of the major reasons I chose this school was because of its advertised “dual degree” pathway; a chance to study both Naturopathic and East Asian medicine concurrently, through an enrollment agreement with a local institution.

The vision was clear: I wanted to offer my future patients a robust, holistic model of care rooted in both Western and Eastern healing philosophies. Not only does Arizona offer the broadest scope of practice for naturopathic doctors (including acupuncture), but I also wanted the flexibility to practice in other states where ND licensure is limited or unrecognized. Having an acupuncture license would open doors, and I envisioned being able to blend modalities with proficiency and legitimacy.

I also chose the 5-year ND track over the accelerated 4-year route to create space for this very pursuit.

What Changed? A Breakdown in Structure and Support

Despite my optimism, the reality of concurrent enrollment was not what I expected. Here’s what I faced:

• Misaligned Academic Calendars:
• My ND program is on a quarter system; the acupuncture program switched from a semester to a trimester system mid-year. That meant no overlapping breaks, none. I was in class seven days a week, juggling 34–36 credit hours per term, with zero downtime.
• Separate Clinical Hours, Separate Institutions:
• Each program required its own clinic shifts, which I had to coordinate independently, without cross-credit or flexibility. The programs didn’t speak to each other, literally or figuratively.
• Poor Inter-School Communication:
• Neither institution had a firm grasp of the other’s curriculum, course codes, or graduation requirements. I found myself in the role of academic courier; managing course catalogs, decoding degree audits, and chasing down course equivalency agreements that had become obsolete due to administrative changes.
• Financial Burden:
• Because federal aid doesn’t allow support for two concurrent programs, I was paying for acupuncture school out-of-pocket; on top of my naturopathic tuition and living expenses.

And here’s the kicker: even if I stuck it out, attending school nonstop, with no breaks or relief; I would still need to complete at least 1.5 additional years after finishing my ND to meet the acupuncture degree requirements.

That’s when it hit me:

I could complete the same acupuncture degree in 1.5 years after graduating with my ND; with far less stress, no overlap, and more clarity.

It Wasn’t a Waste. It Was a Wisdom Detour.

Was I frustrated? Absolutely.

I felt hoodwinked.

The dual-degree offering was a major reason I enrolled in this program. I dedicated time, money, and mental bandwidth based on what felt like a promise of integration and acceleration.

But I also trust the signs.

What began as a thoughtful, strategic pursuit started feeling like forced hustle. It felt like Allah was telling me, you’ve learned what you needed from this experience, for now. Return to your original path. Keep the vision, but protect your energy.

So, What’s Next?

I still deeply believe in combining Naturopathic and East Asian medicine. And I still intend to return to acupuncture school—just not concurrently.

I’m choosing clarity over chaos.

Presence over proving myself.

Regulations may shift by the time I graduate, opening doors that are currently closed. For example, California and Texas require acupuncturists to hold a doctorate with a specialization in herbal medicine. That’s exactly the degree I was pursuing. I still want to earn it.

But now, I’ll do it with wisdom, on my terms.

The Bigger Picture

This experience taught me that a pivot is not a failure.

It’s a sacred act of self-preservation.

I’ve learned to:

• Be my best advocate
• Ask the uncomfortable questions
• Challenge outdated systems and assumptions
• Let go when something no longer serves, even if it once did

Sometimes our most important decisions aren’t about what we start, but what we stop.

And for now, I’m choosing to stop splitting myself in two, so I can show up whole, for my calling, my community, and myself.

Your mission doesn’t require martyrdom.

Let that be a lesson for all of us.