Southwest Symposium 2018

Jason D. Robertson is the co-author of Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine (Eastland Press, 2008) with his teacher Professor Wang Ju-yi (王居易). Mr. Robertson has studied Chinese language for 25 years and has studied Chinese medicine in Chengdu and Beijing. He currently maintains a private practice in Seattle, WA and is a full-time faculty member at the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine (www.siom.edu). Mr. Robertson has taught courses on channel theory and diagnosis around the world.

Qianzhi Wu began his practice of acupuncture in 1977 under the direction of a veteran barefoot doctor. Dr. Wu later enrolled in TCM universities, where he deepened his knowledge base while studying over the course of ten years. He served as supervisor, associate professor, and medical doctor at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and its teaching hospital. Wu has been a professor and clinical supervisor at AOMA since 1996, becoming Dean of Faculty on 2006 and Vice President of Faculty in 2009. Wu has published over a dozen books and multiple articles on TCM.

Mark Blumenthal is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. He is the Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal, the contents of which reflect the educational goals of ABC. For six years he was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, teaching a course on herbal products in today’s pharmacy. Mark has served as Co-Founder and former Vice-President of the Herb Research Foundation (HRF) and President of the Herb Trade Association, the former organization that represented the interest of the herb industry in the 1970s. He was also a founding board member of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA).
He is the senior editor of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs—Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, a rational system for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. This publication was ranked second of the medical books published in 1998. Mark is the senior editor of The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, a reference work and former continuing education module.
Mark is a sought-after and frequent speaker and/or panelist at conferences, universities, and pharmaceutical, natural foods, botanical and agricultural associations. He has appeared on over 600 radio and television shows and has written over 700 articles, reviews and book chapters for many major publications. Earlier this year he was inducted into NewHope360's 2012 Hall of Legends which celebrates “having made significant contributions to the development and evolution of the natural products industry”. In 2010 Mark was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize in honor of the late Purdue Professor Varro E. Tyler from the American Society of Pharmacognosy. In 2008 he was awarded the “Natural Legacy” award from Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine and he has also been named to Natural Health Magazine’s Hall of Fame Award for “…opening America’s eye to the healing powers of herbs.” He has been a leader in the concern for more rational regulations of herbal and natural product manufacturing, and education on plant-based medicines for over 36 years.

Xiaotian Shen is a 4th generation Chinese Medicine practitioner. As a small child and while growing up, he was surrounded at home by frequent conversations about the philosophies of healing and medicine. This experience instilled in him an abiding love for his cultural heritage and its capacity for healing.

Shen taught acupuncture and herbal medicine at two colleges in China and was also a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine at the Teaching Hospital of Chengdu College of Medical Continuing Education. He has been a faculty at AOMA for near 20 years and been working to support the larger profession. In addition to contributing to professional journals and participating in ongoing research projects, Shen serves as a member of the NCCAOM exam writing committee and a certified examiner of the CNT examination. Shen is a frequent presenter not only at national and international conferences but also at local hospitals and universities. His scholarly presentations share his acumen in the fields of diabetes, multiple sclerosis, emotional care, pain management, women’s health, and herbal safety.

John Neustadt, ND was Founder and Medical Director of Montana Integrative Medicine and is Founder and President of Nutritional Biochemistry, Inc. (NBI), NBI Pharmaceuticals and LiveFullOut Media. He is a Medical Expert for TAP Integrative, a nonprofit dedicated to educating doctors about integrative medicine. He’s published more than 100 research reviews and was recognized by Elsevier as a Top Ten Cited Author for his work. Dr. Neustadt’s books include, A Revolution in Health through Nutritional Biochemistry and the textbook, Foundations and Applications of Medical Biochemistry in Clinical Practice.

Dr. Neustadt is an editor of the textbook, Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine (2d Edition) and was voted Best Doctor among all physicians in his area. This is the first time a naturopathic physician ever won this category. Dr. Neustadt has received 15 Orphan Drug Designation by the US FDA for the use of natural products for the potential treatment of rare diseases. He graduated from Bastyr University.

Brad S. Lichtenstein, ND, BCB is a graduate of Bastyr University, where he supervises the Mind-Body curriculum, and is BCIA Board Certified in Biofeedback. His work emphasizes the creation of psycho-emotional-spiritual wellness in the midst of living with chronic, life-challenging illnesses and trauma. For several years, he worked at the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center (BIORC) providing counseling, biofeedback, meditation, breathwork and other mind-body therapies.

For three years, he was involved in a joint research study between Bastyr University and University of Washington examining end-of-life care and quality of death, during which time he lead over 500 guided meditation session to hospice patients. At Bastyr Center for Natural Health, he supervises Integrative Mind-Body / Biofeedback shifts, teaching mind-body modalities to patients to help balance their nervous system, minimize pain, and create a helath and wellness.

In addition to his work at Bastyr, Dr. Lichtenstein maintains a private practice as providing mind-body approaches, somatic and mindfulness based therapies, and biofeedback mentoring and training to licensed practitioners of all disciplines in person and via the Internet. He continues to facilitate group workshops as well as write.

Prior to beginning her employment with AOMA, Dr. Song began her teaching career in 2002, when she took a position as an instructor at Chengdu University. There, she lectured on the science of TCM prescriptions and on TCM herbology and TCM pharmacology. She has participated in research studies that investigated the compatibility, pharmacology, and toxicology of TCM formulas and Chinese ethnic medicine, including Tibetan medicinal herbs. She has also participated in studies funded by research grants from the National Science Foundation of China. Song has been on the faculty at AOMA since 2008.

Dr. Michael Corradino, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Founder/CEO of Neuropuncture LLC, graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Cum Laude, in 1995 with his Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine after studying molecular biology at Seton Hall University and philosophy at San Diego State Univ. Dr. Corradino completed the first “China Masters Tour” with Alex Tiberi, in which he traveled throughout different provinces studying with Masters at different hospitals and Chinese medicine schools. Michael has been in the field of Integrated Chinese Medicine since his graduation (20+yrs). He completed the first Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, DAOM, at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in an effort to further enrich and deepen his understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.


Michael is a published author, and international speaker in the area of neuroscience and acupuncture, and he is currently involved in groundbreaking research with electro-acupuncture and stem cell proliferation, spinal cord injury, and oncology. Michael’s passion, devotion and belief in the Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medical science contribute to his success.

Dr. Moll is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine specializing in neurological disorders, chronic pain, and concussion recovery. She is an Assistant Professor of Acupuncture at the Carrick Institute. She lectures nationally on topics including concussion recovery, dysautonomia and neurological exam techniques. While in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Moll was the lead researcher on a randomized clinical trial on the effects of acupuncture on cerebral blood flow velocity in mixed martial arts fighters following concussion. She was the team acupuncturist for the professional MMA fighters at Fortis MMA in Dallas Texas, working with UFC and Legacy fighters and is now currently back in private practice in Bend, Oregon providing a unique combination of acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and functional neurology for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Will Morris is one of the world’s leading experts on pulse diagnosis. Both his doctorate of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and his PhD were focused upon the topic. While he has 40 years of experience teaching in general and 28 years of experience teaching the topic of pulse diagnosis, is also earned a master degree in medical education to support the process. Will has 39 years of clinical experience with more than 30,000 patient visits. Will is author of: Li Shi-zhen Pulse Studies: An Illustrated Guide and transformation: Treating Trauma with Acupuncture and Herbs. His dissertation on pulse diagnosis soon be published as: Neoclassical Pulse Diagnosis.

Dr. Kate Naumes holds a Doctorate in Naturopathy and a Certificate in Midwifery from Bastyr University; she holds a BA in Biochemistry from Mt. Holyoke. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the Texas Association of Naturopathic Doctors and has been featured as a Natural Health Expert on TV programs such as ABC’s Good Morning Texas, KTXD’s ‘D’ The Broadcast, CW’s DFW CloseUp, and radio programs across the US. Dr. Naumes has run her Dallas-based women's health practice, Holistic Wellness, for the last 7 years.

Dr. Lumiere directs the DAOM program at Bastyr University where she also works as a core faculty member in the classroom and clinic. She maintains a private practice, and pursues research and writing projects associated with pain and trauma, cancer, stroke rehabilitation, electroacupuncture, and low level laser therapy. She received her MAc from NIAOM in 1999, and her DAOM from Bastyr in 2008. Along with her family she lives in the Seattle area.

Lauren Hubele is an educator, author, and practitioner who lives and works in Austin, Texas. Her practice provides a framework for resolving chronic and acute conditions using Gemmotherapy, Homeopathy, and a Plant-Based Diet for babies, children, and teenagers, as well as their parents. Lauren has studied with a variety of international experts on a range of natural healthcare practices. She frequently travels worldwide speaking and educating practitioners of all modalities on the healing potential of Gemmotherapy and has served on the board for the National Center for Homeopathy.

Lauren is also the author of the Gemmotherapy For Everyone series which currently has three volumes: Building Immunity In Babies & Young Children, An Introduction To Acute Care, and Restoring your Immunity, all written and designed to make Gemmotherapy more accessible for everyone.
Having raised three vibrant children on plant-based diets and natural medicine, Lauren is passionate about empowering families of all kinds to care for themselves using the power of plants.

Marilyn Allen is a founding member of COMRE. Ms. Allen is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on the subject of alternative healthcare professions and serves as the Editor of Acupuncture Today, one of the leading periodicals for the acupuncturist profession. Ms. Allen regularly speaks at associations, schools, and regulatory boards on the topics of practice management, risk management and ethics. In addition Ms. Allen is currently serving as the liaison to the World Health Organization for the International Classification of Traditional Medicine Committee and is a U.S. delegate to the International Standards Organization’s technical advisory group.

Rachelle Lambert is a Licensed Acupuncturist and has practiced since 2009. Rachelle has travelled the world practicing acupuncture including locations in China, Europe, the Caribbean, and Nepal. Rachelle is the Unit Coordinator of the Colorado Acupuncture MRC, and is fully involved with planning, procedures, recruiting, deployments, and training of acupuncturists in a state wide acupuncture MRC. While working on cruise ships crew members were trained in emergency procedures and Rachelle realized that one person can truly make a difference in many lives during times of crisis.

Rachelle began to volunteer in 2014 and has been involved with deployments internationally in Nepal after the earthquakes of 2015, in Colorado Springs during the Planned Parenthood Active Shooter Recovery in 2015, the Colorado Cold Springs Fire Response and Recovery in 2016, and the Sunshine Canyon Fire Response in 2017. Rachelle also supported Texas and Florida efforts to informally respond to natural disasters and community crisis, as well as supporting the acupuncturists in those states to join local MRCs and create their own state wide unit. Rachelle joined the first Emergency Management Assistance Compact Disaster Behavioral Health Team, deployed to Puerto Rico to support the Hurricane Maria Response in 2017.

Dr. Steve Shomo, DAOM is board-certified and dual licensed in Colorado and Florida. He is a WMA Wilderness First Responder, SARTECH Search and Rescue, and a Unit Coordinator and Training Specialist for the Colorado Acupuncture Medical Reserve Corps (CAMRC), the nation's first acupuncture based federally approved MRC responding to disasters and critical incidents.


Steve is extensively trained and experienced in Remote Wilderness Medicine, Global Health, Disaster Mental Health, Emergency Response and Humanitarian Acupuncture. He is a national and international speaker and educator on Humanitarian Integrative Acupuncture in Conflict and Disaster Response, PTSD/trauma recovery, wilderness/remote medicine, and acute care and emergency skills for the acupuncturist. Steve is a WMA Wilderness Medicine instructor and a NCCAOM ceu provider.


Steve's deployments include; Hurricane Katrina & Wilma 2005, Tropical Storm Fay 2008, Tropical Storm Beryl 2012, Boulder Floods 2013, Yucatan, Mexico 2013, Craigslist Fetal Abduction Longmont, CO 2015, Planned Parenthood Shooting 2015, Pulse Shooting 2016, Cold Springs and Lightner Creek Fires 2016, Syria/Jordan 2017, Ukwala, Kenya 2017.


In addition, he has consulted and provided logistics for numerous other disaster and critical incidents domestically and internationally. He continues his research in acupuncture for emergency responders and traumatic stress, PTSD, and suicide. When Steve is not teaching or providing care he can be found hiking, kayaking,
paddle boarding, mountain biking, trekking, snowshoeing, or traveling the world.