ACAHM Update | June 2026

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) is the nationally recognized accrediting agency of programs in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM) and institutions exclusively providing AHM-related programs.

Retirement Announcement for Dr. Karl Gauby

After a decade of distinguished service to ACAHM, Dr. Karl Gauby retired from the Commission effective May 31, 2026. Since joining ACAHM in April 2016, he has served as Director of Regulatory Affairs and has played an important role in strengthening the Commission's policies, complaint processes, and day-to-day operations. ACAHM is deeply grateful for Dr. Gauby's dedication, professionalism, and many contributions to the Commission's growth and ongoing work.

Please join the Commission in thanking Dr. Gauby for his outstanding service and in wishing him every happiness in retirement.

Mark S. McKenzie
Executive Director
ACAHM

From Dr. Karl Gauby

Dear ACAHM Colleagues, Commissioners, and Friends,

It is with a full heart and a profound sense of gratitude that I write to formally announce my retirement from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), effective May 31, 2026.

This decision has not been made lightly. My time with ACAHM has been among the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my professional life. Together, we have worked tirelessly to uphold rigorous accreditation standards of quality, to elevate the profession of acupuncture and herbal medicine, and to ensure that students, practitioners, and the public are served by institutions and programs of the highest caliber. That collective commitment to excellence is something I carry with me with immense pride.

To the Commissioners, staff, and the broader ACAHM community --- thank you. Thank you for your trust, your collaboration, and your unwavering dedication to a mission that genuinely matters. The work we have done together in advancing accreditation standards and advocating for this remarkable field has been a privilege I will not soon forget.

I am equally grateful for the personal connections forged along the way --- the conversations, the shared challenges, and the milestones celebrated together. Those memories are a treasured part of my career and will stay with me long after May 31st.

I leave with full confidence in the strength and direction of ACAHM. The organization is in capable and passionate hands, and I look forward to watching the continued growth and impact of this important work from a well-deserved distance.

It has been an honor.

With deep appreciation and warm regards,

Karl Gauby

Reminder: ACAHM Program Revision Proposals Straw Poll Survey

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) is exploring draft proposals for revising its accreditation standards related to programs of study.

This is in response to two main drivers:

1. recent federal policy changes whose implementation would impact federal financial aid eligibility for students and change gainful employment accountability metrics

2. stakeholder feedback about program length, cost, and accessibility

A stakeholder “straw poll” survey is intended to help ACAHM understand where stakeholder support and concerns currently sit, and which proposals, if any, should be further developed into draft accreditation standards for a formal public comment period. It will not by itself determine final decisions.

In preparation for the survey, please thoroughly review the ACAHM Program Revision Proposals document and associated Summary recording, and then complete the survey by June 21, 2026. All resources are available at the link below:

👉ACAHM Program Revision Proposals Materials

Please share this message with all AHM community stakeholders (e.g., practitioners, educators, patients, employers, students, regulatory agencies, etc.). ACAHM wants to hear from the entire profession.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for contributing to ACAHM’s ongoing review of accreditation standards.

ACAHM Submits Comments to ED

ACAHM submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD): Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability (Docket ID: ED-2026-OPE-0100).

ACAHM’s comment letter addresses critical concerns about how the proposed earnings-based accountability framework would affect acupuncture and herbal medicine programs, particularly:

• The use of IRS-based earnings data that systematically understates income for self-employed practitioners

• The fourth-year measurement window that captures graduates during early practice-building stages rather than mature earnings

• Limited appeal rights that prevent institutions from challenging methodological flaws in the data

• Administrative capability standards that could jeopardize institutional eligibility for single-purpose health science schools

ACAHM’s recommendations urge the Department to adopt a more appropriate earnings measurement window for independent-practice health professions, establish targeted methodological appeals for programs with structural data limitations, and utilize a phase-in of sanctions until the methodology has been validated for self-employment-intensive licensure professions.