ATCAE - Acupuncture and TCM Society of Physicians Trained in China

(Akupunktur und TCM Gesellschaft in China weitergebildeter Arzte e.V. )

ATCAE was founded in 1998 by a group of German doctors who commit themselves strongly to acupuncture and TCM and have a strong affection for China. Its predecessor was the study group acupuncture “ Mainspitze “ which was founded in 1994 and was also an association of doctors for acupuncture with an education in acupuncture at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine Beijing. All members of ATCA are doctors. A further prerequisite for the membership in ATCAE is a training of acupuncture at a WHO Collaborating centre.

Reasons for the foundation of ATCAE

German women doctors and doctors educated in acupuncture in China did not have any representation for their interests in Germany until the foundation of ATCA. The Chinese acupuncture education was not appreciated in Germany by the German health insurance companies and the German State and Federal Medical Boards.

Therefore it was absolutely necessary to set up a powerful society to represent effectively the interests of these doctors in Germany. ATCAE is a member of WFAS since 1999 and member of the executive board since the 2000.

The executive board of ATCAE

Chairman of ATCAE is Dr. Michael Germann, doctor for general medicine who received his acupuncture education at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in Beijing.
Dr. Germann teaches acupuncture at Frankfurt university.

Second chairman is Dr. Juergen Eckelt, doctor for internal medicine, Munich

The other executive board members of ATCAE are:

Dr. Ruediger Telle, doctor for general medicine as treasurer, in charge of internet affairs
Dr. Ulrich Woerner, doctor for neurosurgery, as secretary,
Dr. Gerrit Kunz, doctor for general medicine, in charge of press relations,
Dr. Monika Hildenbrandt, woman doctor for psychotherapy, as committee member,
Mr. Andreas Rinnoessel as representative of the WHO Collaborating centre of Traditional Medicine for Germany,
Dr. Michael Grandjean, doctor for general medicine, as committee member,

All physicians of the executive board have received their acupuncture education at the WHO Collaborating Centre in Beijing.

The course of time made it necessary for ATCAE to include an education in acupuncture of its own and give examinations for the various German acupuncture diplomas. ATCAE is accredited by the State Medical Board as an educating and examinating acupuncture society.

The essential aims of the society

Representation of the interests of the members in relation with the health insurance companies and the State Medical Boards of Germany.

The promotion of teaching and research about acupuncture in Germany.

The standardization of the education of acupuncture in Germany on a high nation wide standard. To achieve this ATCAE cooperates closely with other acupuncture companies in Germany and with the Federal State Medical Board.

Scientific activities in research on acupuncture and teaching of the same in the own society and at universities.

The care of the good relations between ATCAE and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in Beijing.

Representatives of ATCAE participated actively in all WFAS conventions having taken place since 1998 and published a number of own scientific works there.

ATCAE was honour fully trusted to be observers of WFAS at the general Assembly of the WHO2001 and 2002.