About Me

Currently working on Doctorate from Five Branches University, San Jose

In addition to the curriculum from the University, I have developed an interest in Classical Chinese and have been studying under Sabine Wilms over the last two years to learn to translate Chinese medical texts.  It has taken me longer than expected, but I hope to complete my Doctorate in the next year. 

Graduated from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2016, San Francisco

I enrolled at ACTCM in Fall of 2011 and by the end of 2012 was able to practice Tuī Ná at the ACTCM Clinic while studying in the Master’s Degree program.  I volunteered and then worked in the college medical herb garden which helped me appreciate the effort, care and energy needed to grow medicinals.  This interest has connected me with the Lilium Initiative (https://liliuminitiative.org/) of which I am a member.  

Certificate of Completion for 450 academic hours of Acupuncture, Tui Na & Internal Medicine Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhèngzhōu, China 2015 

While a student at ACTCM I was selected with six other students to receive a scholarship and travel to Zhèngzhōu to study there for over three months.  

Massage Therapist Volunteer, BAYVAC Clinic ACTCM 2012-2013; Acupuncture Volunteer 2017-2019  

The BAYVAC clinic was run by Carla Cassler who is a co-director of Acupuncturists Without Borders.  The clinic provided free or minimal donation community acupuncture for veterans and their families.

I received my Bachelor’s of Arts in Philosophy from UC San Diego.

As I continue on this journey, I have come to recognize the only way to move forward is to embody these gems of wisdom that is Yīn Yáng (陰陽) and Wǔ Xíng (五行) Medicine.  Though I have primarily learned from Chinese sources and the Traditional Chinese Medical model, acupuncture thrives today because of sources from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other South East Asian countries, indeed it is truly borderless in that respect.  It thrives because the knowledge and theory is inherently adaptive, practical, and when applied wholeheartedly, empowers the individual to do the same; to adapt, in other words, care for one self and the community.  Though I have much to learn, and frankly unlearn, I look forward to doing so with you.