Scholarship Recipients

2026: Terezia Lilly

"As a family medicine physician committed to providing comprehensive and integrative care, I am excited to expand my therapeutic toolbox and offer patients nonpharmacologic treatment options for both acute and chronic conditions. I intend to practice rural primary care in Southern West Virginia, where I hope to make medical acupuncture accessible to patients living in resource-limited communities.

My interest in acupuncture began in college, when I attended a Yoga Nidra class paired with auricular acupuncture. I experienced a profound sense of well-being through that experience and knew that acupuncture was a modality I would one day study and incorporate into my practice. During my residency training in West Virginia—a state deeply affected by chronic pain and the opioid epidemic—I have witnessed firsthand the urgent need for effective, low-risk alternatives to pain management.

Through mentorship with Dr. Unger, I have observed how acupuncture can support patients in tapering off chronic opioid therapy and significantly improve their quality of life. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to making this modality more available to the patients I serve. I also deeply appreciate the holistic framework and rich cultural traditions that underpin acupuncture and the way they complement modern medical practice.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to deepen my clinical skills through formal training in medical acupuncture. I believe this approach will allow me to offer more compassionate, individualized care, especially to patients who have limited access to integrative therapies. I am ready to engage fully in this training, both intellectually and

practically, and I look forward to incorporating acupuncture into my future rural primary care practice."