Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine

What Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine does

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution headquartered in Bradenton, Florida (relocated from Gainesville in 2022 into a 16,500 sqft campus). Founded in 2001 by Dr. Leon Hammer, the college operates as Dragon Rises School of Oriental Medicine (EIN 46-1540871), is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), and holds Florida Commission for Independent Education license #2425. It delivers a single core product: a 3,225-hour combined Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine degree program, with optional hybrid/distance delivery, on-campus and off-site clinical training (including affiliations with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, VA Orlando, USF, and community clinics), in-house cadaver labs, and a public-facing student clinic at 1416 59th Street West, Bradenton.

The college's underlying intellectual property is its proprietary curriculum — Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis® and Contemporary Oriental Medicine® — developed from the teaching legacy of Dr. Leon Hammer and his 27-year apprenticeship with Dr. J.F. Shen, and described as exclusively taught at Dragon Rises. The technology stack is conventional: Jane App for clinic scheduling, PayPal for payments, EBSCO-based research library, and learning management for distance education, with no public API or proprietary AI/ML systems disclosed.

Revenue is generated from four streams: tuition and fees for the degree program (primary), discounted student clinic services to the general public (acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, therapeutic massage, plus Neuro and Facial Cosmetic specialty clinics), continuing education courses ($850 practitioners/$750 students) and classroom rentals ($350/room/day), and tax-deductible donations. The institution also accepts federal financial aid, VA benefits (Chapters 31, 33, 35, 38), and scholarships. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Dr. Dorian G. Kramer (Fall 2024), Academic Dean Dr. Jessica Fritz, and a board chaired by David King, with no private equity, venture capital, or parent company ownership — the organization is independently managed through its board and administrative staff.

Name

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine

Legal name

Dragon Rises School of Oriental Medicine

Website

https://dragonrises.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine is a Florida-based, 501(c)(3) accredited acupuncture college offering a combined Bachelor/Master degree program, built around proprietary Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Oriental Medicine curricula, supplemented by a public student clinic and CEU courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAHAH

Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

Keywords

• Acupuncture education
• Oriental medicine training
• Chinese herbal medicine
• Integrative healthcare degree
• Pulse diagnosis techniques

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition for the combined Bachelor and Master degree program in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Students pay tuition and fees for the 40-month program with financial aid and VA benefits accepted.
2. Student Clinic Services: The college operates a public-facing student clinic offering acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, and therapeutic massage treatments at discounted rates.
3. CEU Courses and Facility Rentals: Continuing education courses offered to practitioners ($850 for practitioners/staff, $750 for students) and classroom/facility rentals at $350 per room per day.
4. Donations and Support: The institution is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting tax-deductible donations for program support, campus repairs, and student scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine is a Florida-based private nonprofit college offering a fully accredited combined Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine degree program totaling 3,225 program hours over approximately 40 months. The curriculum centers on the proprietary Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis® and Contemporary Oriental Medicine® methodologies, supplemented by on-site cadaver labs, a teaching clinic open to the public, specialty Neuro and Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture clinics, and continuing education workshops for licensed practitioners.

Product overview

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine offers a single unified educational product: a combined Bachelor and Master degree program in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (3,225 program hours) with both on-campus and hybrid distance learning formats. The program is built around Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Contemporary Oriental Medicine methodologies, supplemented by hands-on clinical training at the on-site student clinic and specialty clinics (Neuro Clinic, Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture). Additional offerings include CEU courses, Cadaver Labs, and digital/physical library resources. Students graduate with dual degrees qualifying them for NCCAOM board certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Combined Bachelor and Master Degree Program in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine A fully accredited combined Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine degree program comprising 3,225 program hours over approximately 40 months. Designed for prospective students seeking licensure as Acupuncture Physicians. Graduates are eligible to sit for NCCAOM boards and apply for state licensure.
• Hybrid Distance Education Program Flexible learning option combining on-campus instruction with online components, allowing students to pursue the acupuncture degree while maintaining work and family commitments. Operates from the Bradenton campus with technology requirements for distance learning.
• Dragon Rises Student Clinic Teaching clinic open to the public offering acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle consultation, moxibustion, cupping, and therapeutic massage treatments supervised by licensed practitioners. Located at 1416 59th Street West, Bradenton, FL.
• Neuro Clinic Specialty Specialty clinic offering integrative neurological support for conditions including Parkinson's Disease, Stroke Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, and Essential Tremors. Uses electro-acupuncture and Functional Neurology under Dr. John J. Gorsuch supervision. Available Thursdays 2pm-6pm.
• Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture Specialty Clinic Specialty clinic providing facial cosmetic acupuncture treatments based on traditional healing principles. Offers facial anatomy, muscle balance, and lymphatic and circulatory support under Dr. Danièle Saint-Cyr supervision.
• CEU Courses and Workshops Continuing education courses and workshops for practitioners offered on campus, awarding 21 CEUs per workshop. Includes professional workshop spaces, a full clinic with six treatment bays, and media equipment; also available for rental to external instructors at $350 per room per day.
• Cadaver Lab Program In-house cadaver lab program unique among regional acupuncture colleges. Students participate in weekend-long dissection labs (CLP 101, 102, 103) to study anatomy, meridian structures, and needling depth. Awarded 20 hours and 1 elective credit.
• Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis Curriculum (taught within degree program) The college's signature diagnostic technique, a modern interpretation of ancient pulse diagnosis. Studies the twenty-eight pulses found on the wrists, revealing organ function, Qi and blood flow, and tissue health, with the ability to predict disease potential one to three years in advance. Currently the only college in the U.S. teaching this method.
• DRCOM Research Library (EBSCO) Physical and digital library with EBSCO-hosted Dragon Rises Research Library accessible to current students, faculty, and staff via @dragonrises.edu login, covering publications in general, Western and Eastern medical information, journals, and digital media.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates are qualified to sit for NCCAOM boards and apply for state licensure upon completing the program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• John Hopkins All Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical affiliation partner providing off-site internship opportunities for Dragon Rises students, creating pathways for integrative healthcare training and potential employment.
• University of South Florida - Tampa/Varsity BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical affiliation providing student internship opportunities with university athletics, exposure to sports medicine applications of acupuncture.
• Veterans Affairs - OrlandocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical affiliation with VA healthcare system providing internship and job placement opportunities for Dragon Rises graduates, supporting veteran healthcare integration.
• Turning Points Homeless AssistanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing clinical training opportunities for students while serving homeless population with integrative healthcare.
• Multiple Private Practice ClinicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of affiliated private practice clinics providing externship opportunities for advanced students to gain diverse clinical experience.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific College of Health and Science: Multi-campus (San Diego, New York, Chicago) acupuncture and Oriental medicine college offering Master's and doctoral programs with ACAHM accreditation. Direct competitor for the same pool of prospective acupuncture students and faculty.
• Bastyr University: Accredited natural health sciences university in Washington/California offering acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs alongside naturopathic medicine. Comparable degree programs, accredited by ACAHM-equivalent bodies.
• Five Branches University: Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine college with California (Santa Cruz/San Jose) campuses offering Master's and doctoral programs. Direct competitor in TCM curriculum, cadaver lab training, and integrative clinical education.
• AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine (now AOMA College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine): Austin, TX-based acupuncture and Oriental medicine school offering Master's and DAOM programs. Comparable in size, ACAHM accreditation, and curricular approach to preparing practitioners for NCCAOM certification.
• Emperor's College School of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Los Angeles acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine school offering Master's and DAOM programs. Direct competitor for California-licensed acupuncture graduates and faculty, with comparable specialization tracks.
• Maryland University of Integrative Health: Maryland-based university offering acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs with strong clinical and herbal curriculum. Comparable in being a specialized institution focused on integrative medicine education.
• American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine at CIIS: San Francisco-based acupuncture and TCM college (now part of California Institute of Integral Studies). Direct competitor with comparable Master's/DAOM offerings and integration with Western medicine institutions.

Broad incumbents

• Southern California University of Health Sciences: Larger multi-program health sciences university including an acupuncture and Oriental medicine program. Offers broader healthcare curriculum (chiropractic, PA) but with overlapping acupuncture offerings and clinical training partnerships.
• National University of Health Sciences: Multi-program integrative health sciences university offering acupuncture and Oriental medicine alongside chiropractic and naturopathic medicine. Broader institutional scale but overlapping acupuncture program offerings.

Regional players

• East West College of Natural Medicine: Florida-based (Sarasota, FL) acupuncture and Oriental medicine school operating in the same regional market. Comparable in size and programs, and current affiliation partner for some Dragon Rises personnel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DragonRisesCOM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DragonrisesEduCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/20763639983
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dragon-rises-college-of-oriental-medicine
• Instagraminstagram.com/dragon.rises.college

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine