The 2025 Nepal Tour
Sharing Hearts in Nepal will return to Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery in Pokhara to continue offering free acupuncture treatments and education. This trip provides an opportunity to serve the local community while earning PDA points through clinical work and lectures.
Trip Overview
Dates: September 21 – October 5, 2025
Location: Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery, Pokhara, Nepal
PDA Points: 40 TOTAL, which includes the following:
30 PDA points from lectures (AOM-BIO, AOM-AC, PE-CW, SA)
10 PDA points from clinical experience (64 hours)
Sharing Hearts in Nepal invites licensed acupuncturists and advanced students to join a two-week program that combines continuing education with direct service. Volunteers will provide free acupuncture treatments to residents at Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery and the local community while expanding their clinical and cultural competence.
This course fulfills all NCCAOM guidelines for 30 PDA points in classroom education. An additional 10 PDA points for clinical experience will be provided in a letter after the trip’s completion.
Please note: Despite our philanthropic relationship with Pema T’sal Sakya Monastery, Sharing Hearts in Nepal has no religious affiliation.
Details
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Latest Arrival Date: September 20
Orientation and welcome dinner at 5:00 PM
Day 1 (9/21)
Tai Chi (PE-CW): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Free afternoon
Days 2–3 (9/22–9/23)
Acupuncture clinic (PE-CE): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 4 (9/24)
Lecture (AOM-BIO): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 5 (9/25)
Lecture (AOM-BIO): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Lecture (SA): 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 6 (9/26)
Acupuncture clinic (PE-CE): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 7 (9/27)
Tai Chi (PE-CW): 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Free after class
Day 8 (9/28)
Acupuncture clinic (PE-CE): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 9 (9/29)
Lecture (AOM-AC): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 10 (9/30)
Acupuncture clinic (PE-CE): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 11 (10/1)
Tai Chi (PE-CW): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Free afternoon
Day 12: Rest Day
Days 13–15 (10/2–10/4)
Acupuncture clinic (PE-CE): 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Day 16 (10/5): Departure
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You will receive a TOTAL of 40 PDA Points
Clinical Experience (PE-CE): 10 PDA points TOTAL
64 clinical hours over 15 days
Focus: treating individuals in a cross-cultural clinical setting
Note: The NCCAOM requires only 20 clinical hours to award 10 PDA points. This trip includes 44 hours beyond that to meet real patient demand in Pokhara.
Lecture Hours: 30 PDA points TOTAL
14 PDA points (AOM-BIO)
Lecture on SHAPU, a local disease
8 PDA points (AOM-AC)
Eye needling demonstration and hands-on practice
6 PDA points (PE-CW)
Tai Chi training
2 PDA points (SA)
Safety education on SHAPU and infection prevention
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In addition to professional development, this trip serves a deeper humanitarian mission. Should there be any surplus from tuition, funds will be donated to support underserved communities in Nepal or similar global efforts.
Due to the high need for care in Pokhara, volunteers are asked to commit to the full 64 hours of clinical work, which is 44 hours beyond what is required for PDA certification. Your time and service are deeply appreciated.
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Participants are expected to arrive in Kathmandu before September 20th. From Kathmandu, you will fly to Pokhara. The domestic flight takes about 35 minutes and usually costs around $125 USD. If a group of participants travels together, we will arrange transportation from Pokhara airport to Pema T’sal Monastery. Individuals arriving on their own must use a taxi.
If you would like to join the group flight, please let us know—our organization will purchase those tickets.
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Early arrival is essential to your health and success in this program.
We strongly encourage all participants to arrive by September 19, two days before the program officially begins. Meals and accommodations will be provided starting from this date to support your adjustment period.
This early arrival is not optional downtime — it is an essential part of your preparation. Travel to Nepal is long and tiring, and the local food, water, and climate can differ significantly from what you're used to. Giving your body time to recover and adjust will greatly reduce your risk of illness during the trip.
The program schedule is extremely rigorous. Participants will be providing clinical treatments for extended hours, engaging in intensive learning, and serving a high volume of patients who rely on this care. There is very little downtime once the program begins.
Coming early helps ensure that you are well-rested, healthy, and ready to fully participate — both for your benefit and for the many individuals depending on this service.
Meals and transportation are covered beginning September 19.
Please note that if you choose to arrive earlier or travel independently during your rest days, those additional costs will not be covered.
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After submitting your registration, you will be contacted within a few days to schedule a brief interview. This step ensures that each participant is prepared and aligned with the goals of the program.
Once accepted into the program, you will have 5 days from the date of acceptance to pay your balance in full.
If you are not accepted into the program, your $500 deposit will be refunded within three weeks by personal check. Please make sure to include your return mailing address when completing your registration form.
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If you need further clarification, please contact one of the individuals below:
Wanda Inthavong
Project Coordinator
wanda.inthavong@icloud.com
1-206-566-3323Merline Melvin
Project Coordinator
merline.melvin@gmail.com
1-202-288-4026Kyung Shin
info@sharinginnepal.org
1-253-709-0457.
Whom Are We Treating?
The 150 boys including resident staff at the Pema T’sal Sakya Monastic Institute come to live at the monastery because their parents were not able to provide for them due to financial hardship. They live there as monks until adulthood.
Tibetan refugees in Tibetan refugee camps
Eye disease patients in Himalya Eye Hospital: You will treat a variety of patients including SHAPU and other serious eye ailments in this hospital.
Preparing to treat Tibetan refugees
Treatments on refugees at Tibetan refugee camp
Dr. Jeffrey Wong discussing treatment
Dr. Kyung Shin treating a refugee
What is SHAPU?
The image on the left is displayed on the Himalaya Eye Hospital clinic wall says,
“SHAPU (Seasonal Hyperacute Panuveitis) is specially only seen in Kaski district of Nepal or Pokhara area’s hospital which makes our eyes damaged and blind. The main reason is that it makes children’s eyes unilaterally blind. The disease appears in summer season especially in August to November. After having this disease if we don’t check or treat in few hours, we will be fully blind. The symptoms: 1) suddenly eyes color turned into red, 2) can’t see in bright light, 3) sight energy getting low, 4) having pus in the eyeball, 5) eyeball seen white and twinkle. The prevention, 1) far away from white butterfly/moth, 2) don’t use brightest light, 3) window and door should be close in night, 4) turn off the light and use net before going to the bed, 5) if you get any doubt about this disease yourself, you should go to the eye hospital immediately.”
