Ahhhh… September. While summer is often a time of fun, get togethers, spending time outdoors and other enjoyable fiery activities, I always welcome the return to routine that comes with September.
School’s back and even though I haven’t been in formal education for a long time, it still feels like a time to get focused. Many of us find ourselves returning to more structure in both our personal and professional lives.
I’m probably preaching to the choir, but for our TCMO fans and patients who haven’t studied the medicine like our professional members have, in Chinese medicine, this transition into autumn belongs to the Metal element. Metal is associated with order, organization, boundaries and the ability to discern what is valuable and let go of what no longer serves us.
There is something useful in that perspective for our practices as well.
September is an opportunity to look at the routines and systems we have built around our work. What is working well? What has become unnecessarily complicated? Where have we been operating reactively rather than intentionally? And what deserves more consistent attention?
One area many practitioners struggle to approach consistently is visibility.
Being an excellent practitioner is fundamental, but people also need a way to discover us, understand what we do and develop confidence in seeking our care. Social media can be one avenue for doing that, alongside referrals, community relationships, professional networks and other forms of outreach.
That is why I am particularly excited about our upcoming workshop with Dr. Eileen Li. Dr. Li is is a second-generation licensed acupuncturist, Chinese medicine herbalist, physical therapist, and founder of Anew Integrative Acupuncture in Greenwich, Connecticut. With more than a decade of clinical experience, her background bridges Traditional Chinese Medicine, rehabilitation, chronic pain research, and modern patient education.
Outside the treatment room, Dr. Li has built a multi-platform audience of more than 2.5 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Through @anew.acu, she has spent years translating Chinese medicine into content that is practical, engaging, and relevant to a modern audience.
Rather than simply telling practitioners to “post more,” the workshop will focus on creating a practical, sustainable approach to social media: one that reflects who you are as a practitioner, communicates your value clearly and respects the advertising requirements of a regulated health professional in Canada.
As we move into the rhythm of autumn, perhaps the question is not simply how we can do more, but how we can become more intentional about what we do consistently.
Sometimes growth begins with putting the right structure in place.
Warmly,
Katrina Dollano
President, TCMO