Decheng Chen, PhD, LicAc, has a Ph.D. in acupuncture. Licensed Acupuncturist in NY, President of Natural Acupuncture & Wellness, Professor of New York College of Health Professions, Director of TCM and Acupuncture Inheritance base of New York, USA by WFAS.  He graduated from the Nanjing University of TCM in China. Dr. Chen followed one of the top ten Chinese doctors in China, Dr. Qiu Maoliang, learning acupuncture for three years. Before coming to the United States, he practiced and taught as a professor in The Acupuncture Institute of China Academy of TCM in Beijing. He has more than 30 years of clinical and teaching experience in China, Russia, Egypt, Dubai, the U.A.E., and the U.S.A. He has published Chinese Single Therapy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Clinical Application of Double-Point of Acupuncture, and Acupuncture for cosmetics and Aging, etc. In total, he published 16 books and more than 100 articles on Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and has received numerous prizes and honors for his works. He had a chance to provide acupuncture treatments for Egyptian President Mubarak in 1999. He is licensed to practice acupuncture in New York City. More information, please visit web: www.acupunctureland.com

Katie Clifton, L.Ac., is the owner and acupuncturist of Queenpin Acupuncture in Roanoke, Virginia. She channeled her passion for accessible healthcare into creating The Wellness Wagon. This innovative nonprofit transformed a 36-foot school bus into a fully equipped mobile acupuncture clinic. The Wellness Wagon travels across Southwest and Central Virginia, bringing the 5 Needle Protocol to medically underserved communities. Driven by a deep commitment to health equity, Katie recognized the urgent need to make acupuncture accessible to individuals in struggling and marginalized areas, providing transformative care to those who need it most.

Haunani Chong Drake, DACM, L.Ac., is an international Yoga and Ayurveda practitioner, educator, and mentor, adjunct faculty at Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM) and William & Mary, and Board member for the Acupuncture Society of Virginia. 

Haunani [houW-nuh-nee] has been in practice since 2011, co-founding Ocean Acupuncture, a community Acupuncture clinic in north county San Diego, and has worked at various integrative health clinics including USMC Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and John D. Dingell Veteran Medical Center in Detroit. She is currently the lead L.Ac. at William & Mary’s Integrative Health and Wellness Center. As a proud mixed-Asian American raised in a Hawaiian community, she chooses to nourish and take her ancestral and mixed-culture roots into her work through a lens of cultural stewardship.

Justin Flinner, DAc, LAc, DiplAc (NCCAOM), is a U.S. National Champion in Chinese martial arts with over 25 years of teaching experience. He is the owner of My Metro Medicine and the creator and Chief Instructor of the My Metro Medicine Tai Chi and Qigong Instructor Training program offering 42 PDAs. Dr. Flinner has taught thousands of individuals across the Washington, DC metro area and beyond, delivering seminars and courses to international organizations, financial institutions, and government offices. In addition to his expertise in Tai Chi and Qigong, Dr. Flinner is holds a Doctor of Acupuncture degree from the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM), where he is also a core faculty member, teaching internal medicine, orthopedics, clinical techniques, Tai Chi and Qigong, and more.

Roxanne Francis, MSW, RSW, is a trained psychotherapist and group practice owner with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She started her journey as a social worker and social justice warrior.  Now, as the CEO of Francis Psychotherapy, she is an industry leader who applies her skills from a Trauma-Informed, Anti-Racist, and Anti-Oppressive lens, and work from a place of understanding andcompassion. Ms. Francis graduated from the University of Toronto with her MSW in Children and Families, and has her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Ryerson University.

Olivia Hsu Friedman  DACM, LAc., Dipl. OM (NCCAOM) is the Chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists. Before serving on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, she was one of two ASA Illinois delegates and served on the Illinois Society of Acupuncturists as Vice President.  She earned a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, a diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology from Avicenna UK, and an MSOM from National University of Health Sciences. 

Dr. Friedman serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, the faculty of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Support Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association and the NUHS Presidential Alumni Advisory Board. She is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and practices TCM Dermatology utilizing only herbal medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Thomas Kouo, DAOM, LAc, DiplOM (NCCAOM) is the current president of CCAHM, following roles as Vice-President and Executive Committee member. He co-chairs the Academics Committee and previously led the Herb Committee. As Institutional Vice-President at VUIM, he directs the New Jersey campus. A former Academic Dean at VUIM and Eastern School of Acupuncture, he lectures nationally and teaches in doctoral programs. Dr. Kouo guided VUIM through initial ACAHM accreditation, achieving maximum term length. Previously, he chaired the Herbal Department at Pacific College, teaching and supervising clinically. A Pacific College graduate, he founded Elemental Harmony Acupuncture in San Diego, specializing in pediatrics, orthopedics, and women’s health. He also developed the “Age-Reversal Therapy” (ART) facial rejuvenation protocol.

Xiu-Min Li, MD, MS, MPH, Dipl Ac & CH (NCCAOM) is a Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Professor of Otolaryngology, and Professor of Dermatology at School of Medicine, New York Medical College. Dr. Li obtained her medical degree from Henan University of Chinese Medicine and a master’s degree in China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Immunology at Johns Hopkins. She obtained an MPH at the School of Public Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College. She has chaired prominent committees about the use of complementary & alternative medicines for allergic diseases in the US and internationally. Her research focuses on Integrative Medicine for food allergy, asthma and eczema, and Wellness. Her research has yielded over 100 publications. She was awarded the Future of Health Technology Award for 2016. She and Henry Ehrlich co-authored the book titled “Treating Eczema with Traditional Chinese Medicine”, and the book titled “Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Fight Against Allergic Disease”.

Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CAE has utilized her association management and leadership experience to serve the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) for the past 20 years, moving up to the Chief Executive Officer position in July 2019. Mina helped create the public relations and marketing department and launched a media campaign that brought national recognition to NCCAOM and its Diplomates. She also led the Advocacy team that has helped bring federal recognition to NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturist™.Mina has devoted many hours overseeing NCCAOM’s Regulatory Affairs Department,partnering with states to adhere to NCCAOM standards for the safe and ethical practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine resulting in 46 states plus the D.C. to require NCCAOM certification or exams as a prerequisite for state licensure. Under Mina’s leadership, the NCCAOM won the coveted ASAE Gold Circle Award in 2021 for their COVID-19 NCCAOM Diplomate Recognition and Awareness.

Mark S. McKenzie, PhD, MsOM, LAc, is currently the Executive Director of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine after serving as Dean at the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Northwestern Health Sciences University for over 10 years. 

Dr. McKenzie earned his PhD in TCM from Tianjin University TCM, in 2015, his Master of Oriental Medicine from the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2002. He also completed the Summer Institute for Educational Management at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is currently co-chair of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH) Council of the Academy for Integrative Health (AIHM) and has previously served in various positions on the boards of the ACAHM, AAAOM, and CCAHM.

Megan Odell, MS, L.Ac. is the Acupuncture Lead for the outpatient acupuncturists of Allina Health’s Penny George Institute for Health & Healing (PGIHH), the largest hospital-based integrative medicine clinic in the country. She provides clinical oversight for more than 30 acupuncturists in 20 locations, including standalone integrative health clinics, primary care clinics, and specialty care clinics (a cancer institute, rehabilitation institute, a pain center, and women’s health clinics). In addition to her leadership of the outpatient program, she sees patients at Minneapolis’ Abbott Northwestern Hospital, specializing in pediatrics and women’s health. Prior to serving as the PGIHH lead, she is proud to have founded the TCM program at the National Center for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) in Bristol, England; she continues her work with NCIM as a core tutor on the masters-level diploma in integrative healthcare, teaching the module on “Critical Appraisal of Integrative Medicine Research.”

Jessica Peck-Lindsey, DAIH, MS, MAc., LAc., Dipl. AC (NCCAOM) is certified in Traumatic Stress Studies. She is a board-certified and licensed acupuncturist with a Doctor of Acupuncture and Integrative Health degree. She has a Master of Science in Pain Research, Education and Policy and a Master of Acupuncture. Peck-Lindsey is also a Reiki II practitioner and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She owns and operates Peck’s Family Acupuncture, serving rural York County, Maine since 2011. She is the President of the Maine Acupuncture Society and a former Court Appointed Visitor for York County Probate Court. Peck-Lindsey has co-facilitated educational programs for domestic violence abusers and worked as an actor for Add Verb Productions, a theater company promoting positive social change. 

 Evan M. Rabinowitz, DAc, Dipl AC (NCCAOM) is the founder of Yao Shan Center for Chinese Medicine in Washington, DC. where he has maintained his clinical practice for the last 25 years. Currently, he is a professor at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, Asheville. He is the former Director of Chinese Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) where during his 8 year tenure he helped create the University’s Masters and Doctorate programs in Oriental Medicine. Dr. Rabinowitz is a regular lecturer at Georgetown University School of Medicine’s Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences degree program. He is a former instructor and Chinese herbal supervisor at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, Gainesville. Dr. Rabinowitz has an active private teaching schedule offering continuing education for practitioners across the United States and internationally. He studied extensively with Jeffrey Yuen for two decades. He is a graduate of the George Washington University (B.A.), Traditional Acupuncture Institute (M.Ac.) and Maryland University of Integrative Health (D.AC.).

 Galina V. Roofener, L.Ac., L.C.H., A.P., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM) has over 35 years of experience in health care, including 8 years as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist at the Cleveland Clinic. She was a significant contributor to the development of the Chinese Herbal Therapy program. As a result, Cleveland Clinic garnered global attention as one of the first major medical institutions to open a hospital-based herbal clinic in the United States. Galina is a President Emeritus of the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA) and serves on the ASA Herbal Committee. Before moving back to Florida, she served on the State Medical Board of Ohio’s Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Advisory Panel concerning Chinese herbs and other modalities of Oriental Medicine. Also, in the past, she served on the advisory panel for a few communities of the NCCAOM. Galina is a published author, an avid teacher, and a renowned speaker at many conferences.

 Sina Leslie Smith, MS, MA, LAc, MD, Dipl AC (NCCAOM), is an international speaker, medical doctor, author and licensed acupuncturist who trained in functional and integrative medicine, homeopathy, and culinary medicine and holds advanced degrees in physiology and biophysics, medical education, and acupuncture. She has been a speaker for national and international audiences for over 20 years and is the author of “Demystifying Acupuncture: Modern Answers About Ancient Medicine.” Dr. Smith is the founder and medical director of Chicago Healing Center, offers courses and workshops on her Podia platform, is passionate about empowering people to understand how their bodies work, and emphatically believes that food is our best medicine.  

 Denise Tyson, MBA, DOM, L.Ac, ADS, is a licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner, and Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist. She teaches at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and is past President of the Maryland Association of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine and serves its current ASA delegate.  She is the Chair of the ASA Medicaid Committee. Dr. Tyson serves on the Medstar Research Institute IRB and has over 30 years of experience in health administration and finance, including positions at Johns Hopkins and Howard University Hospital. She also has prior clinical experience as a Cardiac Monitor/EKG Tech. Dr. Tyson earned her MBA from Howard University and her Doctorate in Oriental Medicine from MUIH. She co-owns Advanced Integrative Health Group in Gambrills, MD.

 Charis Wolf  DTCM, Lac, Dipl.Ac, received DTCM from Five Branches University. Currently she is enrolled in an MSc in Philosophy, Science, and Religion through the University of Edinburgh where she plans to go on and get a PhD in the philosophy of Eastern Medicine. Along with serving on the ASA board, she has also served at the state level as a board member and president of the Washington Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association. She has practiced in California for eight years, currently has a private practice and teaches locally in Washington state while doing academic and scientific research nationally. Charis works to support inter professional medical communication and integrated medicine focusing on research based best patient care that includes our full system of medicine.

Xiping Zhou, MDOM, L.Ac, LMT, Dipl Ac (NCCAOM) is an acclaimed acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner with over 40 years of experience. He is president of the American Academy of Health and Wellness and founder of East-West Healing Arts Institute. Dr. Zhou is a renowned speaker at national conferences, sharing his expertise on topics like acupuncture techniques for headaches, neurological conditions, and pain management. He has also authored numerous articles and publications on TCM. Dr. Zhou’s journey includes teaching and practicing acupuncture at the Midwest College for the Study of Oriental Medicine and serving as one of the first acupuncturists at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee.