Twenty-five years ago research on acupuncture was classified as poor quality and insufficient to justify mainstream usage or insurance coverage in the US. Consumer research undertaken at Harvard University in the 90s showed unexpected high use of acupuncture and other ‘alternative’ therapies, and was a catalyst for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an office to conduct research into the effectiveness and safety of these therapies. Acupuncture research in the US and around the world has been the greatest force moving acupuncture into the mainstream and showcasing East Asian medicine as a valid medical system. This talk will examine important developments in East Asian medical research, the intersection of such research with urgent unmet needs within the US healthcare system, and how you can leverage this to build a vision for the future of your practice.