SCU Highlights a Decade of China Study Experiences at Higher Education Forum

Students from SCU’s Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program who traveled to China to deepen their understanding of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine recently joined faculty and university leaders to share the value of those experiences with a wider academic community. Their participation in the US-China Higher Education Exchange Forum on October 30, 2026, came as Southern California University of Health Sciences marked 10 years since its first affiliation agreement in China.

Held at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles, the invitation-only forum brought together more than 120 participants to exchange perspectives on studying abroad in China. SCU was the only acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine program invited, joining institutions including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, Loyola Marymount University, and Saddleback College.

Dr. Jenny Yu, Dean of SCU’s Eastern Medicine Department, attended with faculty member Dr. Blake Daniels and students Ani Zakarian, Jennifer Banuelos Echeagaray, Mackenzie Hamilton, Shelby Wasson, Regina Ma, and Tatiana Mikhailova. Daniels presented an overview of SCU’s exchange experiences spanning 2016, 2018, 2024, 2025, and 2026, tracing how international partnerships have opened opportunities for students to learn in China.

“Participating in the forum was especially meaningful as we marked the 10th anniversary of SCU’s first affiliation agreement in China,” Yu said. “It gave us an opportunity to share our journey with other universities, learn from their experiences, and reflect on what these partnerships have made possible for our students.”

Connecting Classroom Learning with Experience

That journey began in 2016, when SCU President John Scaringe signed the university’s first China affiliation agreement with Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since then, approximately 50 SCU students have participated in study opportunities in China, connecting their education with the cultural foundations and practice of Chinese medicine. Reflections from participants over the decade show how those experiences have shaped their understanding of their future profession.

“The trip to China has furthered each of our journeys toward being better, well-rounded, and global players in TCM Education and transmission of its benefits to the United States,” said Kenneth Mittelstadt, who participated in 2018.

Those opportunities have taken different forms. An academic experience at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in November 2025 included classroom learning and hospital observation, giving students a closer look at how Chinese medicine is taught and practiced in a different healthcare setting. An April 2026 cultural exchange through Shanghai and Sichuan explored the relationship between traditional practices and daily life. Together, these experiences have helped students consider how their learning can inform their work with patients and communities in the United States.

For Joseph Brown III, who participated in the 2025 trip, the experience also inspired gratitude for the support that made it possible and a desire to see future students benefit.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me in qualifying for this externship to China. I’ve walked away from this experience with enrichment and gratitude. I sincerely hope sponsors continue supporting SCU and its students, so future cohorts can benefit from similar transformative clinical training that I’ve returned home with to the United States!” Brown said.

Yu sees the connection between classroom knowledge and firsthand experience as one of the most lasting benefits of studying abroad. Observing different educational and healthcare settings can broaden students’ perspectives, strengthen their cultural understanding, and encourage them to think critically about how they will communicate and apply what they learn. In her view, those experiences also help future practitioners develop respect for traditional knowledge alongside a commitment to evidence-informed practice.

The forum offered an opportunity to reflect on that educational purpose while exchanging ideas about future academic collaboration. For Yu, the milestone also provided a moment to acknowledge the people and institutions that have sustained these opportunities.

“I sincerely appreciate the Consulate General, SCU leadership, and everyone who has supported our students’ learning experiences in China over the past decade,” Yu said. “These opportunities truly provide invaluable educational and cultural experiences, broaden students’ understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and strengthen the bridge of cultural exchange between the US and China.”

As SCU looks toward future exchanges, Yu emphasized the personal and professional growth these opportunities can inspire, preparing thoughtful, culturally aware practitioners who can connect their learning with the needs of the communities they will serve.