Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) received a $5,000 grant award from the Juan Young Trust supporting access to acupuncture and Chinese medicine for children and young adults.

Thanks to the Trust's support, OCOM is able to provide qualifying community members aged 21 years and younger with up to 10 free treatments. Enrollment in this special youth-focused program begins January 3, 2017 and is designed to reduce barriers to receiving an optimal course of treatment. OCOM’s affordable sliding scale fees of $25-$35 continue to apply for all patients of any age in need of access to care.

“This generous grant provides OCOM with an excellent opportunity to provide care for children and young adults and gives our students exposure and experience with pediatric care and young adult care,” says Brooke Alsaker, OCOM Director of Clinical Operations. Analysis of OCOM clinic data revealed that only two percent of current intern patients are under 21, while our alumni report serving 5-20 percent in their professional practices. This award from Juan Young Trust will provide youth with access to care while also increasing meaningful clinical training opportunities for OCOM students.

OCOM is a 33-year-old nonprofit graduate institution that operates two Portland-area teaching clinics: one in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood and another in the Hollywood neighborhood of northeast Portland. OCOM’s Chinese medicine teaching clinics serve approximately 3,000 patients each year. As a member of the Coalition of Community Health Clinics, the college is committed to supplying a safety net of health care access for the underserved.

To enroll in the program, call OCOM’s Patient Services Team at 503-445-0950.