Colorado Faculty

Please Note: D.O.M. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine) is the title granted by the state of New Mexico upon licensing. L. Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist) is the title granted by the state of Colorado upon licensing.

Campus Director

Valerie Hobbs, B.G.S., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Valerie received a diploma in acupuncture from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and was certified in Traditional Chinese Medical Gynecology from Blue Poppy Seminars in 1997. Before studying acupuncture, she was a Registered Midwife in the state of Colorado and maintained a private practice in midwifery from 1979 to 1995. Additionally, she was licensed as an EMT-Paramedic and worked on rural ambulance service in Ohio from 1983 – 1986. She specializes in TCM gynecology and sports acupuncture, and was one of two acupuncturists who worked at the Olympic Village in Atlanta in 1996. She was formerly the editor of the Journal of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado, and now serves as the association’s current Vice-President. Valerie has been the Campus Director of the Boulder campus since 1999. She teaches Chinese Medical Theory IV, Obstetrics and Gynecology and supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.

Faculty, Boulder

Mei Lie Benink, A.A., B.A. Dipl. O.M., L.Ac., Full Professor
Mei received her Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1995. She holds a Diplomate in Acupuncture and in Chinese Herbology and has a private practice in Denver. Mei Lie is a clinical supervisor for the Boulder Campus.

Carol Conigliaro, B.A., Dipl., Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Instructor
Carol received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Biology from the University of Santa Barbara in 1985. She received her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado in 2000. Since 2000, Carol has been in private practice in Lyons, Colorado. Carol supervises clinic.

Qiang D. (Daisy) Dong, M.H.A., M.A., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Full Professor
Daisy completed her medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Department of Acupuncture and Tui-Na of the Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BCTCM) in 1984. She worked at BCTCM for six years as a lecturer and instructor for the Acupuncture Science courses of their International Training Program as well for two years working with their Medical Qi Gong Research Institute. She was awarded a Master’s Degree in International Health and Health Administration from Ohio University in 1997. Daisy teaches Chinese Pharmacology, Oriental Physical Therapy, and Traumatology and offers an elective in Reading Medical Chinese. She also supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.

Jan Dunn, M.F.A., O.M.D., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Jan earned her Master's in Design from the University of California in 1978 and her O.M.D. from California Acupuncture College in 1985. She has been in private practice as an acupuncturist and herbalist since 1986. She taught acupuncture at her alma mater as well as at the UCLA School of Medicine and supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.

Garima Fairfax, Associate Professor
Garima is a herbalist who has extensive experience with field identification and practical and medicinal application of native herbs. She studied Botany and Environmental Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara and at Santa Barbara City College for five years. During three years with the U.S. Forest Services, she was involved in an extensive identification and mapping of endangered plants in central coastal California, and compiled a book based on her ecological research. She has training in massage and aromatherapy. She has been an instructor for the past five years for the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies. She currently has a business growing herbs to use in her own line of herbal skin care products, and conducts classes on plant identification. She is the designer of the Boulder campus Five Element Garden. Garima teaches Western Herbology electives for the Boulder Campus.

Vanessa Fishback, B.A.,M.S., Associate Professor
Vanessa earned her B.A. in 1980 in Chemistry and her M.S. in 1985 in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of Colorado. She has worked as a research chemist, as a senior analyst chemist for a beer brewing company and as a software designer for scientists. She has ten years experience as an instructor in chemistry at the college level. She has been teaching high school science at Shining Mountain Waldorf School since 2003. Vanessa teaches Introduction to Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and General Physics electives for the Boulder Campus.

Nadia Haddad, B.A., M.S. L. Ac., Associate Professor
Nadia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychobiology from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2001. She received her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from Dongguk Royal University in Los Angeles in 2005. Since 2001, Nadia has been a certified instructor for the Princeton Review in General and Organic Chemistry, Biology, and LSAT, becoming a Princeton Review Teacher of the Year Finalist, making her one of their top ten teachers worldwide. She attained her acupuncture licensure through the State of California in 2005, and is licensed in the state of Colorado. She maintains a private practice in Boulder. Nadia teaches Microbiology 711.

Ted Hall, B.A., Dipl. Ac., D.O.M., L. Ac., Full Professor
Ted specializes in Japanese styles of acupuncture and bodywork. Ted studied at the Kototama Institute from 1982 to 1984 and has also undertaken tutorial studies in Japanese acupuncture, along with several years of advanced bodywork training. He received a B.A. with honors in language and linguistics from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1988. He received a diploma from a tutorial with Dr. Tom Duckworth (1989), and his New Mexico license and the NCCA certification in 1990. He received his M.S.O.M. from Southwest Acupuncture College in 1999. He has previously taught at YoSan University and Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, as well as San Francisco State University and the Inochi Institute. Ted has also performed extensive volunteer clinical work in both Mexico and teen shelters in Santa Fe. Ted teaches Chinese Medical Theory I/II, Oriental Physical Therapy I, Point Energetics, electives in Japanese style acupuncture such as Kototama Inochi Medicine, and is a clinical supervisor.

Drew Henderson, B.S., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Full Professor
Drew received a B.S. in Chemistry from Spring Hill College in 1979. He graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1993 and did an advanced clinical internship in Harbin, China in 1995. Drew has a private practice with a focus in sports medicine and has extensive experience with auto accident injuries. Drew teaches Surface Anatomy and is a clinical instructor for the Boulder Campus.

Nina Herrick, B.A., M.A., L. Ac., Dipl. Ac., Associate Professor
Nina received a Bachelor of Arts in English and completed pre-med studies from the State University of New York at Albany and West London Institute of Higher Education in 1978. She completed a M.A. in Journalism at CU Boulder in 1981. Nina completed her training in Chinese Medicine Theory and Acupuncture at the Dechen Yonten Dzo Institute of Buddhist Medicine, taught by Bob Flaws in 1990 and was awarded a Diplomat in Acupuncture in 1991. She did additional training in herbology at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 1991-1993. From 1979 she taught writing at Baruch College. She has maintained a private practice in Oriental Medicine in Boulder since 1991 working at Stillwater Health, Wellspring for Women, and Partners in Health. Nina is a clinical supervisor for the Boulder Campus.

Jan Hughes-Austin, B.S., M.P.T.,  Instructor
Jan is working on her Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of Colorado, Denver. She received her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002 and her Bachelors of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1999. Jan has been a teaching assistant at the University of Colorado Denver in the Department of Preventative Medicine and Biometrics, a clinical instructor for fitness program in Boulder, Colorado, and is also a physical therapist with a retirement community in Boulder. Jan teaches the Public Health and Epidemiology 335 course.

Laurel Lewis, R.N., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Laurel graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing from Cabrillo College in 1985. She worked as an R.N. in various western medical settings including as a charge nurse on a med-surg unit, in home health, a critical care nurse, and as a nurse case manager. She completed her TCM education at Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1999. She studied Japanese acupuncture with Miki Shima. She worked at Southwest Acupuncture College as clinic director from August 2000 until June 2001 and as an assistant instructor. Laurel teaches Medical Terminology and Pharmacology for the Boulder Campus.

Tristan McCoy, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Tristan graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1995 and has a private practice in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Tristan teaches Point Location, Chinese Patent Medicines, and Internal Medicine, and supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.

Joanne Neville, BA, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Instructor
Joanne received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1988. She received her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado in 2002. She maintains a private practice in Boulder. Joanne teaches Point Location 141.

Whitfield Reaves, B.S., O.M.D., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Full Professor
Whitfield received his Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Oregon in 1973. He graduated in 1981 from SAMRA University of Health Sciences in Los Angeles. In 1983, he completed advanced studies for his O.M.D. degree in Oriental medicine that included a four-month internship in Beijing, China. Since then, Whitfield has specialized in the treatment of musculo-skeletal and sports-related injuries. He has taught at numerous acupuncture colleges in the United States and Europe, both as core faculty and as a guest lecturer for graduate and continuing education seminars on sports medicine. He participates as a lecturer in our continuing education program and teaches Chinese Medical Theory, Introduction to Diagnosis, Point Location, and Sports Medicine electives as well as supervising clinic for the Boulder campus.

Mary Saunders, B.A., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Mary received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in 1978 with an emphasis in Spanish language and psychology. Mary spent five years as a teacher and translator in Spain before entering the program at Southwest Acupuncture College. She graduated from the college in 1986 and has since maintained an acupuncture practice specializing in the treatment of women. She is an NCCAOM certified Diplomate in Acupuncture, a Licensed Acupuncturist in Colorado, and is trained in the Hakomi method of body-psychotherapy. Mary supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.

Jack Schaefer, B. S., M.S.A.O.M., Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Jack received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2000 from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. He has since done post-graduate study at the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China where he studied internal medicine, oncology, Chinese Tui na massage, and acupuncture. He has also practiced and lectured in Europe. Jack continues to make regular trips to China for study. He is an NCCAOM certified Diplomate in Acupuncture and Herbs. Jack has been a student of martial arts for 25 years, and has taught martial arts to adults and children for 15 years. He has a private practice in Louisville, Colorado. Jack teaches Point Energetics, Techniques of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Qi Gong and supervises clinic for the Boulder campus.

Debby Shapiro, B.S.N, Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Associate Professor
Debby graduated with a Bachelor in Nursing from Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1982. She completed her Masters of Traditional Oriental Medicine, graduating magna cum laude from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 1992. Debby is well versed in Chinese Herbology and has recently completed a 2-year course on the five-element aspect of herbs called The Emotional and Spiritual Functions of Herbs. She has been an instructor at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture. She is a past-president (1997-1999) of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado and maintains a private practice in Lakewood, Colorado. Debby was an instructor at Southwest Acupuncture College from May 2003 to May 2004. She relocated to North Carolina, and has recently returned to Colorado. Debby teaches Oriental Nutrition and is a clinical supervisor for the Boulder campus.

Deborah Skelton, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., Lic. Ac., R.N., Instructor
Deborah attained an Associate’s degree in Nursing from Arapahoe Community College in 1987 and earned a Nursing Certification in Reproductive Endocrinology in 1993. She graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College with a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine in 2003. She has thirteen years experience in nursing including a surgical assistantship and as an In Vitro Reproductive coordinator. She became a Reiki Master teacher in 2000. Deborah maintains a Reiki and acupuncture practice in Boulder, CO. She teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology 200 A/B and Reiki as an elective.

Bruce Staff, M.B.A., Ph. D., Full Professor
Bruce graduated with an MBA from Michigan State University in 1967. He completed a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri at Columbia in Vocational Education in 1978. From 1973-1979 Bruce was an instructor and Chairman of the Business Division at Penn Valley Community College. From 1985-1992, he was an instructor, Dean of Educational Services and Director of Vocational Education at Lake Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Florida. Bruce has been an entrepreneur for 15 years. He is currently the General Manager of Blue Poppy Enterprises. Bruce co-teaches Practice Management.

Tracey Thomas, B.S., N.D., Instructor
Tracey received her doctorate from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon in 2001 and her B.S. in Kinesiology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1996. She is currently a wellness consultant with a natural medicine consulting firm and was a practicing naturopathic doctor in South Dakota for five years. Tracey teaches in the Western Sciences curriculum.

Honora Wolfe, C.M.T., Dipl. Ac., Full Professor
Honora graduated from the Dechen Yonten Dzo Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1988. She is the co-founder of Blue Poppy Enterprises, Inc. and has published many books on using Chinese medicine to treat women’s disorders. She has taught in many acupuncture colleges and massage therapy institutes around the country, specializing in Tuina and the uses of adjunctive therapies such as moxibustion. In recent years, Honora has been lecturing about building an acupuncture business and practice management. In 2004, she published Points for Profit: The Essential Guide to Practice Success for Acupuncturists. Honora teaches Practice Management for the Boulder Campus.

Michael Young, B.A., Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Full Professor
Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Asian Religions from Occidental College in 1985. He then spent two years studying acupuncture and Oriental healing systems in Japan. In 1990, Michael graduated from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. He was the Founder, Executive Director and Clinical Director of the Immune Enhancement Project, the first Chinese medical clinic to obtain federal funding for low income patient care, in San Francisco from 1990 to 1993. In 2000, he received advanced clinical training in Beijing, China. Areas of special interest for Michael are treatment of chronic pain, immune system dysfunction, and the integration of detoxification and weight loss protocols with Japanese Kampo detoxification formulas. He is also certified in homotoxicology through HEEL, Inc. He is a senior student of Dr. Miki Shima, having studied with him since 1993. Michael teaches Needle Technique Practicum and supervises clinic for the Boulder campus.

Dongping Zhang, M.D. (China), Dipl. Ac., L. Ac., Full Professor
Dongping Zhang received her M.D. from Traditional Chinese Medicine College in Guangxi, China in 1986. She worked on staff at the Chinese Medical Hospital in Guilin from 1987-1999, where she spent her last five years as a clinical supervisor. She authored and co-authored various Chinese journal articles on the use of Chinese herbs from 1987-1998. In 2000, she moved to Denver where she maintains her private practice. Her specialty is OB/GYN, and she is an accomplished herbalist. Dongping is a clinical supervisor.

Jiayu Zhang, O.M.D., Dipl. Ac, L. Ac., Full Professor
Jiayu completed her Medical Degree in TCM in 1989 in China. She was a TCM medical doctor and instructor of TCM in China for many years, specializing in sports medicine. Jiayu has also taught in the United States and has published several articles on sports traumatology. Jiayu teaches Traditional Herbal Prescriptions, Needle Technique Microsystems, and Classical Herbal Theory and supervises clinic for the Boulder Campus.