The Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, located at 305 SE Second Ave., is celebrating the graduation of its first Gainesville class.
Founded in Hallandale in 1988, the school moved from Broward County to Gainesville three years ago looking for a greener environment.
The academy offers a three-year intensive program that draws students from all over the country.
For the first two years of the acupuncture program, students come to Gainesville throughout the year for two-week study sessions.
Students move to Gainesville in their third year, at which point they begin working with real patients.
The 17 new graduates earned their master’s degrees in the ancient Chinese medicine, although many of them already have degrees and careers in areas such as journalism, history and social work.
Ming Su, 52, was born in China and worked in the aerospace industry for 20 years before enrolling in the local academy.
“I need to do something I like,” Su said about her decision to go back to school. “I think acupuncture is my calling. I want to help people. I’m very excited to be here.”
Carrie Hull, 34, used to work in sales until her yoga instructor talked her into trying acupuncture.
She was so pleased with the results she decided it was time for a career change.
“I can’t believe someone’s going to pay me to do this,” she said. “This is awesome!”
Hall moved here from Michigan but plans to stay in Gainesville and open her own practice.
Like Hall, quite a few graduates have been tempted to stay in the area.
But no matter where they set up shop, the graduates know the friendships they’ve made will last for the rest of their lives.
“I know there are 12 people in the world who I can call anywhere, anytime,” Hall said.
Editor's Note: It was incorrectly reported that the school was founded in 1998 instead of 1988. Carrie "Hall" should have read "Hull," and let it be understood that the class was not the very first to graduate from the Gainesville school, but merely the first to complete the course in this town from beginning to end.
