Ep. 438: Challenging the status quo in acupuncture
Guest: Dr. Linda Rapson, Dr. Rogers Prize co-winner
Renowned acupuncturist Dr. Linda Rapson was the 2021 co-winner of the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
The $250,000 prize is the largest of its kind and available only to work conducted in Canada. Dr. Rapson is an appropriate recipient.
Throughout her career, she has battled the establishment. From the time she entered medical school in 1965 as one of only 13 women, she has broken down barriers and, as stated on the Dr. Rogers Prize website, “swam uphill developing unfailing courage and a thick skin to ensure that her creative and caring view would reach the conservative medical community.”
In 1974, after years of compassion for her patients who were suffering from acute and chronic pain, Dr. Rapson entered the practice of acupuncture. Once again, she was a groundbreaker. She has advocated for patients' access to acupuncture, gone to battle with regulators, and worked with chiropractic, naturopathic and acupuncture professional organizations and associations.
Dr. Rapson has applied acupuncture treatment in hospices for palliative care and initiated groundbreaking HIV/AIDS treatments. She is currently introducing acupuncture as a treatment for people facing opioid and drug addiction.
We invited Dr. Linda Rapson to join us for a Conversation That Matters about acupuncture and the role of complementary treatment in health.
