William Skelton, MD

Bill Skelton's journey into the world of acupuncture began in the early 1970s when he attended a lecture on the traditional Chinese medical system that changed the course of his life. The system emphasized the significance of preventative care and offered profound insights into what we now recognize as the biopsychosocial model of health – a holistic understanding of how various factors interact to impact one's well-being and that of the surrounding community. However, there was a challenge: there were no acupuncture colleges in the United States at that time. Undeterred by this obstacle, Bill was accepted at the Chinese Medical Institute in the Republic of China (Taiwan), where he devoted himself to his lifelong study of the art of acupuncture. Upon returning to the United States, Bill, with other early practitioners of acupuncture, worked to facilite acupuncture’s integration into the Western medical system. That mission was not without its challenges. Acupuncture needed to establish itself as a legitimate healthcare profession, navigate state-by-state legislation to permit practice, create competency boards, develop educational institutions granting degrees, secure hospital privileges, and garner funding for research to demonstrate its effectiveness. Bill has been dedicated to shaping the future of acupuncture and exploring its efficacy and potential to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities. He has always found the greatest reward in helping patients rediscover their path to better health and well-being.