Join the ASA 2023 Live In-Person Conference: Envisioning Our Future!

Register Now!

American Society of Acupuncturists
2023 Live In-Person Only Conference
Envisioning our Future
Saturday & Sunday: May 13 – 14, 2023

& Free BONUS Pre-conference Webinar Series for all Conference Registrants Only

A total of 30 NCCAOM PDAs approved for
Live In-Person Conference & Pre-conference Webinar Series;
PDA-169212-10 & PDA-169212-11

A total of 29.5 CEUs (Cat 1) was approved by the
California Acu Board (CAB), provider #1527

Advocacy Day (ASA Federal Fly-In & Acupuncture for Our Public Servants): May 15, 2023

Registration Rates:

ASA Members:
$399 by May 14, 2023

Non-ASA Members:
$499 by May 14, 2023

Students:
$399 by May 14, 2023

CANCELLATION POLICY:
50% refund before March 1, 2023; 25% refund before April 15, 2023; No refund after April 15, 2023.

The American Society of Acupuncturists’ Annual Conference returns back to Washington, DC, live in person only! Come join us in person, as we get together to learn about the issues affecting our profession. After the 2 day conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, you will have an opportunity to meet with state representatives’ offices so that you, their constituent, can share the importance of acupuncture with them.

It has been over 50 years since James Reston’s New York Times article shared the power of acupuncture with the American public. Join us as we reflect, examine the present, and look forward to strengthening our profession at our ASA 2023 Annual In-Person Conference. Meet new friends and reconnect with those you know, as our profession comes together again! The acupuncture profession is stronger when we all work together. Your participation matters! See you in Washington DC!

Participate in the ASA Federal Fly-In

Here’s your opportunity to advocate for Medicare recognition through in-person meetings with your legislators’ office. It is FREE for those who register for the conference. The more people who spread the word about acupuncture, the greater our impact will be!

We will:

Offer online advocacy trainings to all who register
Provide you with talking points for your meetings and help you develop your own personal message.
Schedule your meetings for 05/15/2023 between 9am- 3pm (EST).
Meetings are subject to the availability of your legislators’ office.
All registrants must follow any COVID guidelines of each office.

You will:

Attend both mandatory trainings prior to the Federal Fly In: (1) online ( Details forthcoming) AND (2) in-person on 05/14/2023 at 2pm in the Omni Hotel, Washington D.C.

***REGISTRATION FOR THE FLY IN HAS ENDED***

OR Participate in Acupuncture for Our Public Servants

Conference participants can apply to provide acupuncture treatments at Acupuncture for Our Public Servants (AOPS). Please note that AOPS participants may not participate in the ASA Federal Fly-In as they are simultaneous events. Please note that stipulations apply. If you’d like to learn more and provide AOPS.

***REGISTRATION FOR AOPS HAS ENDED***

CONSENT FOR USE POLICY: During some offerings, ASA may seek to photograph, record, or video (images and recordings) aspects of the program for the production of marketing promotional materials, and all other media including print, advertisements, web pages, and in social media sites (including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter). ASA may use crowd or group scenes where no single person is the dominant feature without my consent. Photos and recordings taken by ASA become property of ASA and may be used for educational, commercial and/or marketing purposes.

By registering for this conference, you agree that the ASA may capture images and recordings in which I am visibly recognizable or identified during this offering. I agree to waive all rights that I may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any presentation of this recorded participation and/or appearance, regardless of whether such use is under philanthropic, commercial, educational, institutional, or private sponsorship. For individuals who do not wish to be included in photos. It is your responsibility to inform those taking photos, step out of the frame for group photos, and to ask where to sit to avoid the camera.

The ASA is not responsible for photos taken and shared by individual Conference participants.

Register Now!

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 13, 2023

7:30AM – 8:30AM
Qigong: The Daily Three
Joe Pandolfo, MA, ADS

In this class we’ll explore and enjoy three key phases of daily qigong practice – clearing, generating and distributing qi in the body. We’ll use select movements from traditional qigong forms that are easy to learn and practice, and suited to share with patients as a home health routine. Together these phases provide a wholesome daily practice, and can also help with the particulars of stagnation, depleted energy, and imbalance.

9:00AM – 9:30AM EDT
Welcome & Intro to ASA’s work
Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, LicAc

The American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) works to advance the professional practice of acupuncture as a whole system of medicine through advocacy, education, and research. This welcoming statement will highlight ASA’s work in supporting the acupuncture profession.

9:30AM – 10:30 AM
NIH NCCIH Database for Anatomical and Physiological Ontology of Acupoints Project
Wen Chen, Ph.D. and Emrin Horgusluoglu, Ph.D.

The acupuncture research community has generated a substantial amount of anatomical, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral data. However, a lack of consensus on the location and functional significance of specific acupoints (referring to locations on the body that can be stimulated using a variety of methods including, but not restricted to, acupuncture needles) has hampered substantial development of rigorous research on acupuncture’s therapeutic value. The NIH NCCIH Database for Anatomical and Physiological Ontology of Acupoints Project was created in response to a need for a database to deposit, share, and compare anatomical and physiological data associated with acupoints among various studies.

NCCIH sought input from the broader research community on the value of a potential open-access repository or database for acupoints and on key criteria and elements that would make this resource most useful. Instructors will share information about the development of this NIH-sponsored open-access repository/database for the anatomical and physiological ontology of acupoints.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Exhibitor Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Everything you wanted to know about acupuncture in the Veterans Health Administration
Juli Olson, DC, DACM, FAIHM

The Veterans Health Administration’s acupuncture program has been growing tremendously with over 115 licensed licensed acupuncturists hired. This presentation will include information about trends in the use of Acupuncture in the VHA, including the growth of visits, hiring of Acupuncture providers, the use of Acupuncture protocols such as BFA and NADA. Practice pivots to the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic will be covered. How to become involved in the treatment of veterans through the use of community care consults while in private practice, or looking for a job in the VA will be discussed. Finally research updates will be presented including the new Evidence Map of Acupuncture and how Acupuncture fits into the VA’s model of Whole Health and the research finding of the Whole Health System of care.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
The Prosperous Acupuncturist: How to attract New Patients and Referrals
Lorne Brown, B.Sc., CPA, Dr.TCM, FABORM, CHt, CLT, RTT
(sponsored by Jane App)

Are you tired of struggling to attract new patients and referrals as an acupuncturist? Do you want to learn how to run a successful practice and attract patients who are willing to pay top fees? Join us for “The Prosperous Acupuncturist” talk and discover the secrets to building a thriving practice.

In this talk, you’ll learn how to transform self-limiting beliefs that interfere with your joy and abundance, the most important habits of successful practitioners, and how to become a referral magnet. You’ll also discover how your belief systems and attitudes impact your practice’s success and how to work smarter, not harder.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to bring in more patients and referrals, and build the successful practice you’ve always dreamed of. The world needs more prosperous acupuncturists like you!

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM LUNCH and EXHIBITOR HOUR

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Neuromuscular Facial Conditions
Michelle Gellis, AP, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
(Sponsored by Lhasa OMS)

The face is a tricky area to treat with regard to acupuncture techniques. In this workshop, Michelle Gellis will talk about the theoretical reasoning and usage of different techniques used to treat neuromuscular facial conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, TMJ, and other facial neuromuscular conditions. She will highlight different styles used such as scalp acupuncture, motor point acupuncture, and derma rolling.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Exhibitor Break

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Granules: Global Trends and Clinical Gems
Eric Brand, PhD (China), LicAc., Dipl OM (NCCAOM)
(Sponsored by Treasure of the East)

Over the past twenty years, the increasing use of granules has had a tremendous impact on Chinese medicine worldwide. Originally pioneered in Japan, granules were extensively produced in Taiwan by the end of the 20th century, leading to a distinctive regional style of mixing whole formulas with single herb extracts. By the late 1990s, single herb extracts in granule form began to be incorporated into TCM hospitals throughout mainland China; today, Chinese TCM hospitals prescribe billions of dollars of granules every year, leading to advances in delivery methods and newly emerging standards and regulations.

In this course, we will investigate global trends in granule extracts, with attention to clinically relevant topics such as dosage and formulation strategies. Attendees will gain a thorough understanding of how granules are made, along with updated information on the latest regulatory and quality control trends in Asia. A focused discussion on different prescribing styles will clarify key considerations when using granules in clinic, leaving attendees with increased confidence in their ability to prescribe granules effectively.

5:00 – 6:00 PM
A Classical Perspective on Pathogens
Sharon Weizenbaum, Lic Ac., Dipl Ac., Dipl CH
(sponsored by Kamwo Herbs)

In this 1 hour lecture, Ms. Weizenbaum will articulate the narrative about pathogens as expressed from a classical point of view. She will challenge the standard view of pathogens as being something that must be expelled from the body, showing that this is not the classical paradigm. Instead she will offer an approach that has been much more effective for her in her practice and that of her students and that is more consistent with the teachings of our root texts, Huangdi Neijing and Shang Han Za Bing Lun.

6:00 – 7:00 PM Exhibitor Hour

Sunday, May 14, 2023

7:30 – 8:30 AM
Taiji: Essential Centering
Joe Pandolfo, MA, ADS

In this class, we’ll feel and connect to our vital center, the dan tian. We’ll work with a small set of Yang-style taiji movements to clearly sense the center, radiate momentum out from it, and bring the energy ‘back home’. For your own practice and as a technique to share with patients, working in the body’s physical center of gravity provides a sense of balance and stability. As an energetic center the dan tian is a powerful resource for the health of inner circulation.

8:00 – 9:00 AM Exhibitor Hour

9:00 – 10:30 AM
Coming Together as One Medicine: Treating the Whole Person
Jane Grissmer, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. with Linda Simons, M.Ac, L.Ac, R.N.

Discover the perspectives of early visionaries who brought acupuncture to the West. Learn how the foundation they built provides every practitioner with a roadmap to harness the full depth and breadth of this medicine. As JR Worsley said, “The role of the doctor of acupuncture is to see each person as whole in body, mind, and spirit, with every possibility of their unique being realized.” As practitioners, when we work in this field of Qi rather than only its parts we are enlivened and nourished by the exchange.

10:30 – 11:00 AM Exhibitor Break

11:00 – 12:00 Noon
Integrating Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and Integrative Health Into an Academic Medical Environment
David W. Miller, MD, LAc

As the evidence base grows for acupuncture and many integrative therapies, opportunities for incorporating these into the academic medical setting also increase. With hospitals mandated to offer non-pharmacologic care for pain, exploding demand for mental health support, increasing patient interest in integrative therapies, and with the system being faced with health challenges such as Long-Covid for which there are not identified care paths, the solutions offered by more holistic systems and strategies are being sought. This talk will explore the landscape of one large, academic medical system as it opens to acupuncture, massage, mind-body medicine, and holistic thinking, and will also give an overview of the general terrain nationally, including key considerations to replicating and evolving the model.

In this workshop, we will identify ways in which acupuncture and other mind-body techniques are being incorporated into care within academic medical centers; understand the opportunities and challenges for incorporating these into the academic medical setting, and recognize key elements critical for the success of integrating acupuncture and similar therapies into this environment.

12:00 – 1:00 PM
Wildlife in TCM: History and Ethical Considerations
Lixing Lao, Ph.D., L.Ac.

While Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice has disseminated rapidly worldwide and become popular, the use of wildlife in TCM products brought serious concerns among the public which significantly hindered the development of TCM. There has been a misinterpretation about Chinese medicine that wildlife animal products such as tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, bear gallbladder bile, and pangolin scale are believed to be tonics and even can prolonger one’s life even though no scientific clinical evidence supports such claim.

Even in the long history of TCM development, use of wildlife in TCM was controversial. In Tang Dynasty （618年－907AD）, “King of Chinese Medicine,” Sun Si Miao (581-682 AD) in his well-known classic “Da Yi Jing Cheng” – “Great Doctor of Medical Ethics” clearly stated his opposition against the using animal products in his prescriptions and strongly believed that the use of wildlife in TCM prescription was unethical. In his presentation, Dr. Lao will introduce wildlife used in TCM history and its ethical considerations.

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
NCCAOM Code of Ethics Revisions & Risk Management
Michael Taromina, Esq

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of recent revisions to the NCCAOM Code of Ethics and other changes to NCCAOM regulations. Attendees will gain insight into the recent disciplinary matters and trends throughout the country. Presenter, Michael Taromina, Esq, Chair of the NCCAOM Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (PEDC), oversees the investigation and adjudication of all NCCAOM disciplinary complaints and has drafted all amendments to the code of ethics for over 15 years. Michael will advise on best practices and risk management strategies to mitigate and/or avoid disciplinary complaints, litigation, and other legal/ethical pitfalls.

3:00 – 3:30 PM
Closing: Envisioning Our Future
Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, LicAc

As we wrap up our ASA 2023 Conference, we will recap the issues that affect our profession, and look at the steps that we can all take to help build our profession.

3:30 – 4:00 PM Exhibitor Break

4:00 – 6:00 PM
Acupuncture Advocacy In-Person Conference Training
Molly Ford, MPP, Jennifer Broadwell, AP, Diplomate OM (NCCAOM), Nell Smircina, DAOM, LicAc, Dipl OM (NCCAOM)

This course will provide information to promote healthcare access through acupuncture advocacy. Instructors will provide an update on the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act. We will also go through the information needed to speak with our elected leaders on the role of acupuncture in healthcare, including talking points, background information, and research fact sheets. This interactive class will conclude with practice sessions. There will be time for questions and answers, as we work to increase acupuncture healthcare access.

Speaker Biosketches

Eric Brand is a Chinese medicine practitioner with a passion for materia medica and herbal quality discernment. After graduating from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2003, Eric spent over a decade pursuing academic and clinical opportunities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. He earned his PhD at the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University with a focus on Chinese herbal pharmacy, and he serves as a TCM advisor to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Eric has written or translated a variety of modern and classical texts and peer-reviewed articles, and he served as Chair of the U.S. delegation on the ISO Technical Committee for international TCM standards (ISO TC 249) from 2014 to 2017. Eric remains active in teaching and research, and serves as an Assistant Professor at Taipei Medical University.

He is the founder of Legendary Herbs, working to advance the field by introducing premium products while teaching Western practitioners about the rich history of herbal quality discernment and processing.

Jennifer Broadwell, MSOM, AP, Dipl OM (NCCAOM) is the Advocacy Chair of the ASA and a member of the ASA NCCAOM Medicare Task Force. She served on the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association Board of Directors as vice president, secretary and board director from 2012 to 2018. She has her Master’s from the Acupuncture and Massage College.

Lorne Brown B.Sc., CPA, Dr.TCM, FABORM, CHt, CLT, RTT is the Clinical Director of Acubalance Wellness Centre (Vancouver BC Canada), and the Founder of Healthy Seminars and the chair of the Integrative Fertility Symposium. After a career as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), he received his Doctor of TCM at Vancouver’s International College of TCM. Lorne has postgraduate training in Clinical Hypnosis, Infertility, low level laser therapy (LLLT), energy psychology, and Functional Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM.org)

Lorne has successfully integrated his entrepreneurial skills and background as a CPA with his passion for Chinese Medicine establishing a very successful fertility practice and pioneering online continuing education through Healthy Seminars, as well as establishing the Integrative Fertility Symposium for CAM Practitioners worldwide. He published a practice management book for TCM practitioners called “Missing the Point: Why Acupuncturists Fail and what they Need to Know to Succeed.” In August 2022, he launched The Conscious Fertility Podcast which has attracted celebrity authors and scientists as expert guests.

Wen G. Chen, PhD, formerly a program director at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), now serves as the branch chief for the Basic and Mechanistic Research Branch, in the Division of Extramural Research at the NCCIH. Dr. Chen’s current portfolio focuses on neurobiology and integrative physiology of complementary approaches ranging from mind and body practices (e.g., acupuncture and meditation) to natural products, including Chinese herbal medicine.

Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. in biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology from Harvard University. She also earned a master’s degree in medical sciences as part of the Harvard-Markey Medical Scientist training program at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chen did her postdoctoral training in proteomics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining NCCIH, Dr. Chen worked as a scientific editor at NEURON, a program coordinator at the National Institute of Mental Health, and a program director at the National Institute on Aging, overseeing the research portfolio on sensory and motor disorders of aging.

Molly Ford, MPP, is the Director of Advocacy & Government Relations for NCCAOM. She is a senior manager of government relations at SmithBucklin Corporation. Molly graduated from George Washington University with her Master’s in Health Policy Analysis in 2012. Hse obtained her bachelor’s degree in European history from Smith College in 2006.

Olivia Hsu Friedman, DAc, LicAc is the Chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists. She holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and completed an additional diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology. She is a former Vice President of the Illinois Society of Acupuncturists. Olivia is an NCCAOM board-licensed Illinois acupuncturist, and owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions treating dermatology patients using only herbal medicine.

Michelle Gellis, AP is a Florida Licensed AP. Currently on Faculty at Yo San University (Los Angeles), she is former Faculty and Clinic Supervisor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health (2005-2019). She teaches facial acupuncture internationally and has been published in prominent acupuncture publications such as the Journal of Chinese Medicine. Throughout her career Michelle has been sought out to lecture by numerous prestigious national and international organizations such as The Florida State Oriental Medical Association, The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (UK), China Books (AU), and American Acupuncture Council. Michelle’s brings a vibrant teaching style and breadth of knowledge of facial and cosmetic acupuncture encompassing safety, ethics, theory, history, point location, and unique precision needling techniques.

Jane Grissmer, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. is a pioneer in the development of the healing arts in this country, starting as a massage therapist and then an acupuncture clinician and educator for 40 + years. Jane studied with JR Worsley in England in 1980 where she first learned the concept of “Treating the Whole Person”; then joined Bob Duggan and Dianne Connelly in the development of Traditional Acupuncture Institute (TAI) where the philosophical roots of Taoism infused acupuncture education.

As faculty, she developed a broad range of curriculum, and in her tenure as Dean of Faculty, she brought the Herbal Medicine program and 8 Principles education to the school. She then served as Division Chair of Theory at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) for

nine years. In 1992 she founded “Crossings: A Center for the Healing Traditions” in Silver Spring MD with a mission to anchor the practice of the Integrative Healing Arts for passage to the next generation. She has written articles on the Seasons and Health; Emotions as Wave Forms; Long Covid and 5 Elements; Dosage: An Acupuncturists Art Form; A Day in the Life of an Acupuncturist.

Emrin Horgusluoglu, Ph.D., is a program director in the Basic and Mechanistic Research Branch of the Division of Extramural Research at the NCCIH of the NIH. Dr. Horgusluoglu is also the coordinator for NCCIH’s small business research programs. Dr. Horgusluoglu’s portfolio supports the development of whole person research involving multisystem interactions and multicomponent interventions, with an emphasis on technology, database, and computational method development, as well as the development of technologies and methods to monitor or enhance mind and body interventions through small business funding mechanisms.

Dr. Horgusluoglu earned a master’s degree in genetics from Istanbul University and a doctorate in medical and molecular genetics from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Horgusluoglu was also an adjunct assistant professor teaching statistical methods in psychological research, psychological and developmental disorders of childhood and adolescence, and introduction to neurobiology at the Psychology Department at Brooklyn College.

Lixing Lao, Ph.D., L.Ac is a professor and President of the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM), Fairfax, Virginia, USA. Trained in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and obtained his Ph.D. in physiology at the University of Maryland Baltimore, Dr. Lao has practiced acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines for over 30 years. He has been also a principal investigator or co-investigator of over 20 clinical trials and pre-clinical studies in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding agencies. Dr. Lao published over 300 scientific papers and 20 book chapters.

Dr. Lao has been a long-term advocator of wildlife protection in TCM since 1998 when he gave a testimony on a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources which led to the pass of the Act: “Use of Endangered Species in Chinese Medicines for the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act”. In 1999, he presented at the conference entitled “Traditional Chinese Medicine and Wildlife Conservation Health planet, health people”, in Beijing, China.

David W. Miller, MD, LAc is the founding Medical Director for Pediatric Integrative Medicine with the University Hospitals Connor Integrative Health Network and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He is one of the only physicians dually board certified in Pediatrics (American Board of Pediatrics) and Chinese medicine (NCCAOM – National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Prior to joining the UH Connor network, Dr. Miller was in private practice with East-West Integrated Medicine, LLC in Chicago, Illinois for 15 years, and saw patients of all ages for holistic and integrative care. He was also the founding Chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists and is the past chair of the NCCAOM Biomedicine Exam Development Committee.

Juli Olson, DC, DACM, FAIHM holds doctoral degrees in Chiropractic from the Southern California University of Health Sciences, and Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science. She is fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine by the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. She provides direct patient care in the Pain Clinic at the VA Central Iowa, serves as the National Lead for Acupuncture in the Veterans Health Administration, and as a Clinical Champion for the Integrative Health Coordinating center. Dr. Olson is an instructor at the Pacific College of Health Sciences and is Adjunct Faculty at Palmer College of Chiropractic for whom she is a Residency Attending in the VA Chiropractic Residency Program.

Joe Pandolfo, MA, went from the building trades and night courses to a corporate career and graduate degree in health care public policy (M.A., Trinity College, Hartford CT). He has served with the Connecticut Society of Acupuncturists (CTSA) for over 14 years and helped to write the state’s current L.Ac scope of practice and NADA practice statutes.

Joe is a certified instructor with the American Tai Chi & Qigong Association, and CDC’s ‘Moving for Better Balance’ program. He has taught taiji and qigong to beginners and experienced groups for over a decade in various settings from continuing education courses for health professionals and schoolteachers to community holistic health centers. He currently studies with Bob Klein of the Long Island School of Tai-Chi-Chuan, and has done extensive coursework with Qigong Grandmaster Kenneth Cohen, and international martial art champion Rick Barrett.

In semi-retirement, Joe now serves on the Connecticut Society of Acupuncturists Board and American Society of Acupuncturists committees, teaches community Taiji and Qigong classes, and manages his forest habitat property in northeastern CT.

Linda Simons, M.Ac, L.Ac, R.N., is a health care expert specializing in Five Element Acupuncture with 40 years of clinical experience in Eastern and Western medicine. As an educator, practitioner, and advocate, she has built a successful career advancing relationship-centered integrative care.

Simons is currently a doctoral candidate and assistant professor at the MUIH. She has her own acupuncture practice in Bethesda, MD, specializing in Worsley Five Element Acupuncture, women’s health issues, integrative care, hospice, and palliative care. She earned her M.Ac degree from the TAI in 1996 and Teacher Training Certification from the Worsley Institute in 2004. She studied with Dr. JR Worsley in England and throughout the United States, and she has participated in the Worsley Five Element Master Apprenticeship Program.

Nell Smircina, DAOM, L.Ac., Dipl. OM (NCCAOM) is the ASA Vice Chair of Public Policy. She is the Immediate Past Chair of CSOMA and has served on both the Advocacy Committee and ASA NCCAOM Medicare Task Force. In addition to her state and national experience, she also is the Director of Development for the American Acupuncture Council, working to support the profession through many strategic initiatives, including work to further develop the implementation of ICD11 codes. She is a passionate international speaker on the topics of the integration of medicine and the constantly evolving healthcare industry.

Michael Taromina, Esq., is an expert in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine law and ethics. For over a decade he has litigated, educated, advocated and authored for the advancement and protection of the AOM profession in the United States. He serves as the Chair of National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee. In this capacity, he co-drafted NCCAOM’s Code of Ethics and Grounds for Discipline and has personally overseen the adjudication of hundreds of acupuncture misconduct cases from all over the country.

Michael has served as pro bono legal counsel and advisor to many AOM state and national associations across the U.S. In recognition of his pro bono efforts, Michael has been the recipient of the AAAOM Award for Excellence, the NCCAOM Service Award and the TCM World Foundation Building Bridges of Integration Award. As a faculty member, Michael has designed and taught courses in health law, ethics, liability and practice management at several AOM institutions.

Sharon Weizenbaum, LicAc, Dipl Ac & CH (NCCAOM) has been practicing for 40 years, having graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1983. Her love for East Asian Medicine brought her to study both obstetrics and gynecology and classical formulas in China as well as to learn to translate traditional Chinese texts into English. In 1998 she founded the White Pine Institute and has hosted many of the best teachers to train students including Huang Huang, Feng Shilun, Fu Yanling, and Yu Guojun. She began her two-year mentorship training program more than 20 years ago, having trained hundreds of students in classical formulas.

American Society of Acupuncturists’
Pre-Conference Webinar Series

Free BONUS Pre-conference Webinar Series
for all Conference Registrants Only
Approved by the California Acupuncture Board,

Provider # 1527, for 13 hours of (Category 1, independent/home study) CE Credits
(NCCAOM PDA Points Pending)

The American Society of Acupuncturists’ Pre-conference webinar series is designed to prepare your live-in-person conference experience in Washington DC. You will learn about issues such as orthopedic acupuncture, how to read a research paper, safe herbal compounding practices, and our Acupuncture Foundational Organizations. You will also learn about the hard work of the ASA’s Committees as our volunteers work to promote the acupuncture profession in the US.

Webinars will be available on demand from May 1, 2023 – May 15, 2023 only.

Please note that all courses must be completed to receive credit. Partial credit are not given for this Bonus webinar series. You must complete this full series by May 15, 2023 to receive credits.

You will be completing a worksheet while you are taking the courses. The worksheet helps the student identify the goals of the course and also documents that they completed the coursework. Students need to complete the worksheet questions and return them to the PDA provider before receiving the end-of-course assessment. This review sheet is NOT graded.

Following completion of the webinar series, you will take a quiz, you must score a passing grade of 80% to obtain credit for the webinar series.

COURSES:

The Shoulder Complex, Concepts and Strategies
Stephen Cina DAIH, MAOM, Lic. Ac., ATC, NASM CES

We will review common musculoskeletal imbalances of the shoulder and examine the biomechanical patterns that produce a host of pathologies in this area. Shoulder joint, girdle and body malalignment are all contributing factors that produce pain and dysfunction of this region. After segmenting this area into its parts and applying a few functional assessments we can identify how to best focus our treatment. Traditional acupuncture techniques will be presented along with integrative orthopedic acupuncture approaches and exercise prescription. This video will provide the viewer with a starting point toward acupuncture integrative pain management.

Stephen Cina DAIH, MAOM, Lic. Ac., ATC, NASM CES is the Chair of the ASA Student Leadership Committee. He specializes in integrating East Asian and allopathic medical approaches for the treatment of orthopedic conditions and pain disorders. He received his Doctor of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine degree from the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) at MCPHS University.

Steve serves as a full-time faculty member of the NESA where he teaches courses in anatomy, orthopedic acupuncture, and doctoral level integrative pain management. He is a member of the MCPHS Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (CIPE), Faculty advisor to the Interprofessional Healthcare Forum (IPHF), and Student Association of the New England School of Acupuncture (SANESA).

His accomplishments include acupuncture researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Athinoula Martino’s Center for Biomedical Imaging, contributing member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Health/Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, and a former team acupuncturist for the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots.

3 Crucial Elements for a Successful Acupuncture Association
David Bock C.Ac., Dipl.OM. FABORM
Candace Sarges, MAc, LAc, DiplOM (NCCAOM)
Kelly Hora, MAc, LicAc, DiplAc (NCCAOM)

The ASA was founded to lead the Acupuncture profession on a national level, pulling together the state associations together into one powerful voice. There are three key committees within the ASA whose job it is to be the behind the scenes mechanics of the ASA. They are the Governance Committee (GC), the Nominations Committee (NomCom) and the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). These three function essentially to maintain the past, present and future of this federation.

Participants will be introduced to basic principles of governance for acupuncture associations by GC and given examples and templates they can use. Sustainable leadership and growth are essential, NomCom will share how the ASA implements these processes for successful recruitment of leaders and cultivate membership through succession planning to avoid burnout. SPG, the “think tank,” for current and possible future issues will share how foresight and a big picture perspective of the profession at large can help plan for the future needs of the ASA and the profession.

It is everyone’s responsibility to engage in either your State Association or the ASA Committees or the ASA Board to ensure our position in the healthcare profession, protect our profession, our practice rights, and have our voices heard. That is only done with a strong collaboration between the state and national Boards and the engagement of all acupuncturists.

David Bock C.Ac. ,Dipl.OM. FABORM., has been treating patients in a family practice style of medicine since 1999. He is Wisconsin State Certified Acupuncturist, Nationally board certified (NCCAOM) in Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine and Asian Bodywork Therapies. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. He is a Former president of Wisconsin Society of Certified Acupuncturists (WISCA) and has held various positions in the ASA. Shihan David Bock is Godan level (5th degree black belt) instructor of Wadokai Aikido and has 30+ years of study in various martial arts, and meditative breathing and movement traditions

Kelly Hora, MAc, LicAc, DiplAc (NCCAOM) is a Wisconsin and National Board Certified Acupuncturist practicing in Madison, WI for 20 years. Her collaborative instincts bring people together through professional development and public health outreach. She has served as President and Advocacy Chair of the Wisconsin Society of Acupuncturists (WISCA) and as a Delegate and Nominating Committee Chair to the American Society of Acupuncturists. She is an eager public speaker sharing evidence supporting acupuncture as an alternative to opioids for pain management with legislators, health care providers and the public. In addition to her clinic practice, engaging in healthcare policy as an advocate for patient safety and access to acupuncture is an ongoing commitment.

Candace Sarges, MAc, LAc, DiplOM (NCCAOM) is an NCCAOM Board Certified (OM) Licensed Acupuncturist in both New Jersey and Massachusetts in practice for 24 years. She served for 10 years as president of the New Jersey Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ( now known as the New Jersey Acupuncture Society). She has served at the national level since 2008; Chair of the Council of State Associations from 2011-2013, and as Immediate Past Chair during the transition from CSA to the ASA (prior to the ASA formal incorporation – a founding member) and as Immediate Past Chair on the ASA Board from 2015 to 2020. She was Chair of the Nominating Committee from 2015 to 2019, and is currently Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Acupuncture Health Equity
Afua Bromley, DACM, LAc, Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM) & LiMing Tseng, LicAc, MAcOM, Dipl OM (NCCAOM)

IDEA (Inclusive Diversity, Equity, and Access) are vital to increasing acupuncture’s role in healthcare.

To understand IDEA, we must understand the social determinants of health that impact systemic health inequities are produced by a complex array of circumstances that result in poor health outcomes and quality of life. These current and historical injustices affect all aspects of the acupuncture profession. We will examine how chronic low back pain, the current condition approved by Medicare for acupuncture coverage, can be affected by these social determinants of health.

Cultural humility is the lifelong learning process of self-evaluation, self-reflection, and self-assessment, with regard to one’s own identity and beliefs relative to others’ beliefs and cultural identities, while taking into account historical context.

This webinar will enable participants to identify issues unique to their own situation and examine their current and future patient population, to begin understanding their role within this process to create greater inclusive diversity, equity, and access to acupuncture.

Afua Bromley, DACM, LAc, Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM), is the Past Chair (2017-2020) & Board member(2014-2022) of the NCCAOM and Co-Chair of the NCCAOM & ASA Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Task Force. In addition to her private practice in St Louis, Missouri, she is also the founder and executive director of Universal Holistic Healthcare Services, a 501c3 nonprofit that works towards increasing access to integrative medicine for underserved and under-resourced communities domestically and globally.

LiMing Tseng, LicAc, MAcOM, Dipl OM (NCCAOM) is a co-chair of the NCCAOM ASA Acupuncture Medicine Cultural Competency Task. She is a former Board member and secretary of the American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) (2015-2021), and the current Chair of the ASA Conference Committee. She is a graduate of the Diversity & Inclusion certificate program from Cornell University. Aside from her acupuncture volunteerism, she maintains a private acupuncture practice in Stowe, VT.

American Society of Acupuncturists’ Pre-Conference Advocacy Training
Molly Ford, MPP, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations, NCCAOM
Jennifer Broadwell, AP, Dipl OM (NCCAOM)
Nell Smircina, DAOM, LicAc, Dipl OM (NCCAOM)

In preparation for the ASA Hill Day, this 60-minute Pre-Conference Training Webinar will provide Hill Day participants with an overview of the meaning of Medicare recognition and the ASA’s/NCCAOM’s effort to obtain this recognition for acupuncturists. We will review the federal legislative process and the makeup of the 118th Congress and The Acupuncture for our Seniors Act. Participants will learn the methods to effectively advocate for the Acupuncture for our Seniors Act during Hill meetings, as well as steps to take to prepare for upcoming Hill meetings.

The webinar will include a Q&A session. This webinar is mandatory for all ASA Hill Day participants.

Molly Ford, MPP, is the Director of Advocacy & Government Relations for NCCAOM. She is a senior manager of government relations at SmithBucklin Corporation. Molly graduated from George Washington University with her Master’s in Health Policy Analysis in 2012. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in European history from Smith College in 2006.

Jennifer Broadwell, MSOM, AP, Dipl OM (NCCAOM) is the Advocacy Chair of the ASA and a member of the ASA NCCAOM Medicare Task Force. She served on the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association Board of Directors as vice president, secretary, and board director from 2012 to 2018. She has her Master’s from the Acupuncture and Massage College. Jennifer is currently the acupuncturist at the Integrative Health Department of the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute.

How the world can affect the practice of the Traditional Chinese Herbal Medical Practitioner (TCHM).
Linda Robinson-Hidas, DACM, LicAc, Dip OM (NCCAOM) &
Amy Mager DACM, Lic.Ac., FABORM, Dipl OM (NCCAOM)

In this webinar, participants will learn about The Federal Trade Commission’s Health Products Compliance Guidance, and we will provide an overview of the rules regulating advertising.

An introduction of The ASA Herbal Medicine Committee’s documents for distribution and dissemination; “About Herbs,” an informational publication for laypersons & “What Medical Professionals Need To Know,” a one page informational publication for medical professionals will be shared. Finally, we will discuss with herbal purveyors and growers how politics, weather, sustainability, and the pandemic are influencing the availability and cost of herbal products.

Linda Robinson-Hidas, DACM, LicAc, Dip OM (NCCAOM) is currently the ASA chair of the Herbal Medicine Committee, as well as of the American Society of Massachusetts. She was on the board of the Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts for 6 years, serving as Vice President and then President. She was also the Massachusetts delegate to the ASA during this time. Her education includes a Doctorate in Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a Master in Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She earned her Bachelors with dual majors in Biology and psychology from Livingston College; Rutgers University. She also studied massage at Scherer’s Academy. Linda practices Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in Amherst, MA.

Amy Mager DACM, Lic.Ac., Dipl OM (NCCAOM), FABORM, is the former ASA Vice Chair of Public Policy, and a past president of the Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts. She received her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Pacific College of Health Sciences and a Master of Science program from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She studied with Miriam Lee, Master Herbalist Dr. Yat-Ki Lai, and apprenticed with Raven Lang. She continues to expand her knowledge through classes, including an advanced certificate program in Chinese Herbal Medicine and women’s health issues and gynecology, becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Amy practices in Northampton, MA.

Overview of Fraud and Abuse Prohibitions
John Murdoch, Esq

As most acupuncturists serve patients as independent practitioners in private or group clinics, we must all be aware of the issues related to business fraud and abuse and fraud prohibitions, so that we can avoid these mistakes.

In this class, we will discuss the corporate practice of the medicine doctrine and the business entities for acupuncturists. We will learn about the prohibitions against kickbacks, fee-splitting, and illegal self referrals. The fundamentals of insurance fraud and ways to establish compliance policies and procedures will be shared.

John Murdoch is a shareholder of the law firm of Zager Fuchs, PC where he focuses his practice on business transactions and regulatory compliance issues affecting both small general businesses as well as licensed health care professionals and facilities such as physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, physical therapists, chiropractors, surgery centers, hospitals, etc.

With respect to regulatory compliance issues, he assists licensed professionals, facilities, and businesses in complying with the myriad of applicable state and federal regulations, including without limitation to HIPAA. John has presented seminars on the basics of contract law, forming a business entity, reviewing lease agreements, franchise agreements, insurance fraud, healthcare fraud, HIPAA compliance, health care fraud, and abuse laws, liquor license laws, to various healthcare professionals, businesses, and community groups.

He currently serves as the Secretary to the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Business Law Section. He is also an emeritus director of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Health Law Section.

Optimal Management and Clinical Experience Sharing of TCM for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Dr. Suiping Huang, MD, Ph.D

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive tract disorder, and its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated by modern medicine. In recent years, the incidence of the disease has been increasing on a global scale. This lecture will present the clinical curative effect of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment for IBS. Participants will be able to apply the techniques and knowledge gained through this course to their own practices.

Dr. Suiping Huang, MD, Ph.D is a renowned TCM gastroenterologist. He obtained his medical degree from the Guangzhou University of TCM. He is the chief physician, professor, and doctoral supervisor at the Guangzhou University of TCM, as well as the director of Gastroenterology at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM.

Dr. Huang has presided over and participated in 2 national-level projects, 3 provincial and ministerial-level projects, and 7 department-level projects.

He has edited 3 books and published more than 30 academic papers including Specialized Diseases Specialist Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome History.

Acupuncture Research: ASA Members Research Survey and Tips on Reading Research Articles.
Lisa Ann Conboy, MA, MS, ScD

In October and November 2021 ASA surveyed its members querying on their research background, interests, and attitudes. The 28-item survey was administered on the SurveyMonkey® platform. Over 700 responses were received from ASA members. The ASA research committee is excited to share the results of this survey with our members. In this webinar we will review the quantitative and qualitative responses offered by members, with a focus on areas in which there was a range of responses or not clear agreement. We will also consider some of the broader implications for the profession and how application of our varied interests in research can help us thrive.

The tips on how to read a research article class will be focusing on biomedical science articles, the type of research that biomedicine considers to be most powerful. There are many scientific questions that can be asked and many ways of answering. Biomedical science, like any discipline, has a set of rules and terminology that is applied to support the most relevant type of information content for them.

These rules lead to a certain format and control what type of information makes it into the article, and what types of information are left out. Because it is considered the highest form of evidence, this is the type of research we should know how to read so that we can be in conversations with legislators and allied health care providers. We hope the skills presented in this class help you to become more confident when you communicate about research and evidence.

Lisa Ann Conboy, MA, MS, ScD has 30 years of experience in health research and is published in the areas of women’s health, complementary and alternative medicine, qualitative research methodologies, and complexity science. She has taught research methodology to integrative health students for over 25 years.

Lisa is a social epidemiologist and a sociologist with an interest in the associations between social factors and health. She is published in the areas of women’s health, complementary and alternative medicine, qualitative research methodology, placebo and health, and complexity science. She is an Instructor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and the Director of Academic Research at Maryland University of Integrative Health. Dr. Conboy is the chair of the Research Committee of the American Society of Acupuncturists, and has been a member of the Society for Acupuncture Research for over 20 years.

Medicaid and Acupuncture and Why it Matters
Tuesday Wasserman, DACM, LAc

This talk will introduce the audience to current acupuncture coverage in the states as well as explore how states have been working to gain and expand acupuncture services.

We will dive into the legislative process with a focus on implementation strategy, hurdles, and future goals.

By the end of this course, participants will be familiar with Medicaid coverage of acupuncture services, pathways to gain coverage, and key concepts related to Medicaid and the United States healthcare system.

Tuesday Wasserman, DACM, LAc, is the Chair of the ASA Medicaid Committee. She serves as Program Director of the doctoral completion program at Pacific College. Previously, she was a faculty member at the Southwest Acupuncture College, where she supervised clinical treatment and taught Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. She has maintained a private practice specializing in Women’s Health since graduating from the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine in 2010. She obtained her DACM from the Pacific College of Health Sciences in 2017. In addition to working with patients in an outpatient setting, she worked with the Acupuncture Team at NYU Langone Hospital (formerly Lutheran Medical Center) treating patients in the Neurology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Labor and Delivery wards from 2015-2017.

National Regulations for Herbal or Supplement Practice: Herbal Dispensing and Compounding Guidelines
Amy J. Sear, A.P., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)

There are national FDA regulations regarding methods & procedures that all professionals that recommend, prescribe, buy, sell, dispense, compound, or mix herbs, or supplements, must know and adhere to. They are known as ‘Herbal Dispensing and Compounding Guidelines’ (part of FDA “cGMP”), and this course gives simple straight forward explanation of the history, rationale, definitions, and main categories of the guidelines. It provides how they actually benefit your practice, as they are based on safety, but they also provide patient satisfaction and compliance.

Objectives:

Know the history and foundation of the development of Herbal Dispensing and Compounding Guidelines in the United States, and how this has improved the safety of utilization of herbal supplements by clinicians
Know important terms and phrases of Herbal Dispensing and Compounding Guidelines Know the major headings within proper application of Herbal Dispensing and Compounding Guidelines

Amy J. Sear, A.P., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) is an experienced speaker and is valued for her organized, practical, and information filled presentations. She served as President of FSOMA from 2004 to 2010, and currently teaches at two schools in Florida. She has taught Herbal Dispensary and Compounding Guidelines since 2010, and is considered an expert in this topic, along with laws, safety, ethics, integration and documentation. She brings her years of respected teaching experience to this topic in order to help others. She has numerous PDA and CEU courses available on this and an array of topics: www.sear-enity-seminars.com

40 Years of US Acupuncture Accreditation & Certification: ACAHM, CCAHM, & NCCAOM
Thomas Kouo, DAOM, L.Ac, Dipl. OM
Mina Larson, MS, MBA, CAE
Mark McKenzie, Ph.D (China), MSOM, L.Ac

Over forty years ago, the organizational structure of the acupuncture profession was started with the creation of ACAHM (formerly ACAOM, NACSCAOM), CCAHM (formerly CCAOM, NCASC), and the NCCAOM (formerly NCCA). Leaders from these founding organizations of the acupuncture profession in the United States will share important information about their groups’ roles in the US acupuncture profession. Participants will learn about accreditations and certifications, as we examine the past 40 years in our profession.

Mark McKenzie, Ph.D (China), MSOM, L.Ac, is the Executive Director of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Prior to his ten-year service on ACAHM, he was the Dean of the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University for ten years. Overlapping with his time as Dean, he was also a member of the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), including serving a year as its Vice-President and was active with the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association of Minnesota serving as its President for three years. He has his Doctor or TCM Internal Medicine degree from the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and his Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Thomas Kouo, DAOM, L.Ac, Dipl. OM serves as the Vice-President for the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM). He currently serves as both Academic and Clinical Dean at The Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine (ESATM) in Bloomfield, NJ. Under his leadership, the Eastern School developed and implemented the first Master’s degree in Acupuncture in the state of New Jersey in 2016. He also serves as the current Chair of the CCAHM School Clinic Committee and is the immediate past chair for the council’s Herb Committee. He is a long-time accreditation site visitor for (ACAHM).

Prior to arriving at ESATM, Thomas served at Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM) as the Academic Dean and Chair of the Herbology department. Prior to VUIM, Thomas worked at Pacific College of Health Sciences San Diego, where he was the chair of the Herbal Department and taught in both the Master’s and Doctoral programs while also serving as a Clinical Supervisor. A graduate of the Master’s and Doctoral programs at Pacific College, he founded and was the clinical director of Elemental Harmony Acupuncture in San Diego.

Mina Larson, MS, MBA, CAE is Chief Executive Officer of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She has devoted the past 20 years to the NCCAOM

overseeing various aspects of the organization, such as operations, development, regulatory affairs, advocacy, media relations, communications, and marketing in a variety of roles including CEO, Deputy Executive Director, and Director of Public, Professional, and Regulatory Affairs.

Previous to working for NCCAOM, Mina worked in the State of California Office of the Governor.

She holds dual Bachelors’ degrees in Journalism and Government from California State University, Sacramento, a Master of Science in Non-Profit Association Management from University of Maryland University College and an MBA from University of Maryland. She has taught various training workshops throughout the country on improving media relations, marketing and advocacy and authored numerous articles on association management topics such as ethics, advocacy, and public relations.

3 Techniques To a Successful Practice
Jeffrey Grossman, EAMP

How do you bring in a steady flow of new patients? In this class, participants will learn about how to bring in new patients, retention of patients, and reactivation of past patients. Patient communication is most important along with the core messages of problem, solution, and outcome. We will discuss the ways to keep patient flow with appreciation, events, email marketing, and social media. You will also learn about retention methods through proper patient communication, and ways to reactivate patients when a patients fall out of care.

Jeffrey Grossman, EAMP, graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1997 and is the founder of Acupuncture Media Works and AcuPerfect Websites. Since 2002, he has been creating and sharing patient education materials, marketing tools, practice building materials and websites for the acupuncture profession. Jeffrey is an expert-authority on business and marketing strategies, and currently teaches the practice management class at Middleway Acupuncture Institute in Washington state. He is a member of the ASA Membership Benefits Committee.