Jo Rochford - Acupuncture

Proud to have led College of Integrated Chinese Medicine through the merger with Health Sciences University. Looking forward to an exciting future as part of the HSU family.

Health Sciences University (HSU) and the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM) are delighted to announce a significant milestone for both institutions, as CICM joins the HSU community.

This new chapter builds upon a long-standing and successful academic partnership, through which HSU has validated CICM's degree programmes for several years. Bringing CICM into HSU creates a strong platform for the continued development of high-quality healthcare education, clinical training and professional development.

As part of this development, CICM's Reading campus becomes HSU Reading, joining HSU's established campuses in Bournemouth and London.

Within HSU Reading, CICM Acupuncture will continue to provide specialist BAAB-accredited acupuncture education, maintaining the identity, expertise and reputation that have made CICM one of the UK's most respected providers of acupuncture education.

Read the full announcement: https://www.hsu.ac.uk/health-sciences-university-and-the-college-of-integrated-chinese-medicine-confirm-completion-of-merger/

📸 Left to right: Sara Lacey, CICM Vice-Principal; Professor Lesley Haig, HSU Vice-Chancellor; Jo Rochford, CICM Principal; and Sharon Potter, HSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Health Sciences University

A great weekend at the joint BAcC and RCHM 2026 conference!

Wow - what a wonderful week at the TCM Kongress in Rothenberg. It’s hard to know where to start ..from the beauty of the setting of the conference venue, to the wonderful medieval town of Rothenberg, to the joy of spending time with so many like minded acupuncture professionals.

Attending lectures on the management of endemetriosis as a systemic disease, channel harmony through treating Jing well points, endometrial receptivity in fertility, Nei Jing medicine and discovering all the wonderful TCM research being done across Europe, as well as hearing about the work of the ETCMA and AGTCM.

A truly inspiring week - thank you to all for such a brilliant conference - and to BAcC for making it possible for me to attend. Can’t wait for next year!

A great weekend at the UK Conference of Chinese Medicine this weekend!

Spring is the time of the Wood Element in Chinese Medicine. New life shooting from the soil, new beginnings, growth and expansion.

The transition from Winter to Spring means longer, lighter days and nature blooming but can also see patients talking about coughs and colds, hayfever and other respiratory symptoms coming to life!

Do let me know if you have any questions about how acupuncture can help you this Springtime.

I’m delighted to be appointed Principal of CICM- thank you to all for the lovely welcome!

🎉 We have a new principal! 🎉

We are excited to announce that we have found our new principal, and are delighted that Jo Rochford, who is currently our Student Experience Director, has been recruited to take on the role.

Our Executive Committee are excited to be working alongside her as she moves the college forward onto its next new phase. Jo combines strong leadership skills with her natural inclination to collaborate and work in a team. She also has clear vision, a good sense of humour, and her kindness and fairness have made her popular with staff and students alike.

As well as Jo’s more recent background as CICM Student Experience Director, she has also been our Learning Support Co-ordinator for the last two and a half years. She has 23 years experience as an acupuncturist having been a student in our 97.2 class. Since qualifying, she has worked as an acupuncturist in both private practice and the NHS and she continues to manage and run a large multidisciplinary clinic in Solihull with 70+ practitioners.

Jo also has an MSc in Advanced Oriental Medicine and is studying for a postgraduate Certificate in Dyslexia and Literary Difficulties (AMBDA). These are some headlines - she has many, many skills - too many to mention in this post!

So, what about the important next stage of creating a smooth transition? Jo and Angie as the Interim Principal, have already discussed a timeline, and we shall be recruiting once again for the Student Experience Director, as well as Jo’s Learning Support Co-ordinator role.

We will be looking to interview and recruit in late January / early February (please look out for the ads if you’re interested!), and Jo will then remain in these posts until Easter as she supports the incoming candidates.

Between Easter and September, Jo and Angie will be Joint Principals as Jo takes on her newest role. We are flexible with the timing, but Angie will then step down when Jo is ready to take the reins.

When asked about her change within the team, Jo said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be asked to be Principal of CICM. We have a team of dedicated, passionate and inspirational teachers and staff here, that I’m proud to work alongside, and a great community of enthusiastic and keen students. Who could ask for more in a job than to be able to support such a wonderful community and help the next generation of acupuncturists to flourish and take this amazing system of medicine out in to the world to help others.”

We are thrilled to be starting a new chapter here at the college and look forward to sharing it with you all!

Celebrating getting my MSc in Advanced Oriental Medicine today.

A big thank you to all my friends, family and colleagues who supported me through it.

I started the new post of Student Experience Director at CICM last month and am really enjoying supporting the students through their studies there

Grateful goodbyes, and warm welcomes…

In today’s post we are welcoming existing CICM employee, Jo Rochford, into her new role as Student Experience Director.

Have you read the blog we wrote about all the changes that have been happening at the college over the past few months?

We wanted to introduce you to our newest members of the Executive Committee, and share their words, whilst also reflecting on the impact Jonathan Pledger and Karen Starr made over their many years at CICM.

You can read the blog here - https://acupuncturecollege.co.uk/2023/10/18/grateful-goodbyes-warm-welcomes/