Acus Foundation

What Acus Foundation does

Acus Foundation is a Berkeley, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that trains U.S. military physicians in medical acupuncture through a 300-hour certification program built on the Helms Medical Institute curriculum. Its training covers auricular, scalp, and body acupuncture techniques, including the proprietary Auricular Trauma Protocol (ATP) developed by founder Dr. Joseph Helms for battlefield and rehabilitation use. Since launching its flagship pilot at Nellis Air Force Base in 2015, Acus has expanded to five Air Force Family Medicine Residency sites (Eglin, Nellis, Offutt, Scott, Travis) and multiple VA Medical Centers, training more than 500 military physicians cumulatively and reporting a 45-62% reduction in opioid prescriptions at participating sites.

The organization's revenue model relies on tax-deductible charitable donations, foundation grants (MDRT Foundation, Mary E. Groff Charitable Trust), and limited training fees, having lost its original Department of Defense contract (2009-2012) prior to incorporation. Acus monetizes primarily through demonstrated clinical outcomes—reduced opioid prescribing, symptom improvement in PTS/TBI/chronic pain, and $250,000 in reported medical-cost savings at Nellis AFB in 2016—rather than fee-for-service scale. In 2020 the program transitioned to a distance-learning model with home-base mentors to maintain training continuity through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Name

Acus Foundation

Legal name

Acus Foundation

Website

https://acusfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Acus Foundation is a Berkeley, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains U.S. military physicians in medical acupuncture through a 300-hour curriculum deployed at Air Force bases and VA medical centers to reduce opioid reliance and treat pain and PTSD in service members and veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Training and Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAGAH

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Medical & Health Sciences Universities

Keywords

• Medical acupuncture training
• Military physician education
• Integrative pain management
• Veterans healthcare services
• Opioid reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, Acus Foundation relies primarily on public donations. Contributions are tax-deductible.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as the MDRT Foundation ($20,000 in 2017, $2020 grant) and Mary E. Groff Charitable Trust. Previously received Department of Defense funding (2009-2012) for training 150 military physicians.
3. Training Program Fees: Military medical acupuncture training courses with tuition for the 300-hour physician training program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Acus Foundation provides a 300-hour certification program that trains U.S. military and VA physicians in comprehensive medical acupuncture, including the proprietary Auricular Trauma Protocol for battlefield use. Training is delivered through cohorts at military installations (notably Nellis AFB) and VA Medical Centers, with a distance-learning option introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation supports graduates in applying acupuncture as a first-line, non-pharmaceutical treatment for chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and traumatic brain injury in active-duty service members and veterans.

Product overview

Acus Foundation offers a comprehensive medical acupuncture training program for military physicians. The core offering is the 300-hour Medical Acupuncture for Military Physicians Course, which includes the Auricular Trauma Protocol (ATP) and trains physicians in auricular, scalp, and body acupuncture. The organization promotes a 'Think Acupuncture First' treatment philosophy. Programs are delivered through in-person training at locations like Nellis AFB and via distance learning platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Acupuncture for Military Physicians Course A 300-hour comprehensive certification program that trains military physicians in auricular, scalp, and body acupuncture techniques, along with the underlying theory to creatively design treatments for individual patients. Delivered in cohorts at military installations, primarily at Nellis AFB.
• Distance Learning Program A virtual training format allowing military physicians to view digital lectures and work with home-base mentors to learn advanced medical acupuncture theories and protocols, introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% reduction in opioid prescriptions when acupuncture added to patient care at Nellis AFB
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, research and minor.

• Helms Medical InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcus Foundation builds on the work of Helms Medical Institute, the oldest ongoing medical acupuncture training program in North America. Dr. Joseph Helms chairs the program through HMI in Berkeley, California. The teaching team has been training military healthcare providers since 2007. 7,000 physicians have completed HMI training.
• Nellis Air Force BaseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship Acus training program location. Houses the Family Medicine Residency program where all Air Force physicians receive acupuncture training. At this location, every patient can receive acupuncture at every appointment without long waiting lists or referrals.
• U.S. Air Force Family Medicine ResidenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 5 Air Force Family Medicine Residencies: Eglin AFB (FL), Nellis AFB (NV), Offutt AFB (NE), Scott AFB (IL), and Travis AFB (CA). All residency programs incorporate Acus medical acupuncture training.
• Southern Nevada VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Nellis AFB program. Dr. Heather Pickett works in Pain Management clinic at this VA facility providing medical acupuncture and osteopathic manipulative medicine to veterans with pain and mental health issues.
• Salt Lake City VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Acus training program for Class of 2019-2020, sending physicians to receive medical acupuncture training.
• Phoenix VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Nacchal Nachiappan, Acus graduate, provides acupuncture treatments at Phoenix VA treating veterans with chronic pain and mental health issues. Established weekly acupuncture clinic at the facility.
• University of FloridaresearchStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Carla L. Fisher, Assistant Professor at University of Florida, conducted utilization study research on medical acupuncture at Nellis AFB. Member of Acus research team studying patient-provider communication and health outcomes.
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)researchStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Christy Ledford of USUHS collaborated with Dr. Fisher on research interviewing patients and physicians about medical acupuncture perceptions and experiences at Nellis AFB.
• Semper Fi FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavy Captain (ret) Robert Koffman, MD serves as Medical Director of Semper Fi Fund. He accompanies and treats veteran Marines at sporting events. Advisory Board member of Acus Foundation.
• World Health OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Helms has served as consultant on WHO acupuncture scientific advisory committees that established international training and practice standards.
• American Academy of Medical AcupuncturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Helms is founding president of the national professional society that has established training and practice standards for medical acupuncture. Represents 90-95% of physicians practicing acupuncture in the US.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bastyr University: Accredited university offering graduate-level programs in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and integrative health. Comparable in producing integrative health practitioners, but at a much larger degree-granting scale versus Acus's specialty physician certification.
• National University of Natural Medicine: Accredited university offering programs in naturopathic and classical Chinese medicine including acupuncture. Comparable in providing structured acupuncture education, though at a larger university scale.
• Pacific College of Health and Science: Accredited health sciences institution offering degrees in acupuncture, nursing, and holistic medicine. Adjacent comparability given shared emphasis on acupuncture training, broader scope and degree focus.
• Maryland University of Integrative Health: Graduate university offering master's and doctoral degrees in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative health. Comparable as an accredited acupuncture educator targeting health professionals.

Direct peers

• Society for Acupuncture Research: International research society where Acus Research Director Dr. Remy Coeytaux serves as Treasurer. Directly comparable in advancing clinical evidence on acupuncture outcomes relevant to military populations.
• American Academy of Medical Acupuncture: National professional society founded by Dr. Helms representing physician acupuncturists in the US. Comparable professional/educational mission in medical acupuncture training standards and credentialing.
• Helms Medical Institute: Acus Foundation's named partner and the originator of the 300-hour Medical Acupuncture for Physicians curriculum that Acus delivers to military doctors. Both run by Dr. Joseph Helms and share training faculty including Donna Pittman and Lynne Gumina.

Emerging players

• Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine: Professional membership organization providing integrative medicine training and continuing education for licensed health professionals. Similar continuing-education mission targeting working physicians and integrative modalities.
• Samueli Institute (now Integrative Medicine Alliance): Nonprofit research and education organization focused on integrative medicine for military, veterans, and the public. Comparable in advancing non-pharmaceutical pain and PTSD interventions, though its research emphasis differs from Acus's training-focused model.

Others

• National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: National certifying body for non-physician acupuncturists. Indirectly comparable as the credentialing infrastructure for the broader acupuncture profession in which Acus-trained physicians also operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acusfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPIUu6xv_xDjX161MkcKTgA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcusFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/acusfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Acus Foundation