Faculty

The faculty at the Asian Institute is knowledgeable in the skills required of didactic education and the day-to-day realities of clinical work. Our faculty come from a variety of educational backgrounds and clinical experiences. Many of the faculty have been teaching for more than a decade. In the classroom, this experience allows for an eclectic presentation of the myriad aspects of the many facets of Asian medicines. Many of the didactic faculty also supervise in the school's community clinic, thus allowing for better integration between didactic principles and clinical reality.

Nancy Aton, N.M.D., has been in practice for 18 years. She graduated from National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1981. Nancy has a private practice specializing in Ob/Gyn, Nutrition, Menopause, Preventive Medicine, and life-style counseling.

Jean Carr, M.Ac., L.Ac., graduated from the Asian Institute in 2006 and specializes in Japanese Acupuncture. She is currently is private practice in Tucson.

Dorsett Edmunds, M.A., P.T., graduated from Columbia University in 1970 with a Masters in Education and returned to Hahnemann Medical College to graduate in 1984 with a Post Graduate Certificate in Physical Therapy. She currently works at the University Medical Center in Tucson.

Isaac Hendler, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a graduate from the Asian Institute and currently works in Oregon as an acupuncturist. His specialty is Qigong which he utilizes extensively in his practice.

Sherry Henley, M.S., R.D., graduated from Texas Tech University with a Masters in Nutrition and a minor in Biochemistry in 1983. She has done extensive research in nutrition and is a member of the Arizona Dietetic Association.

Alex Holland, M.Ac., L.Ac., graduated from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in 1985 and did clinical training in Chongqing, China, in 1985. He was the Academic Dean of NIAOM from 1992 to 1996 and is currently the President and co-founder of the Asian Institute. He is a faculty member with Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Alex has taught extensively and is the author of Voices of Qi — An Introductory Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Lilian Jacques, P.T., M.Sc., is a native of Brazil and has degrees in Physical Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has extensive training in Tuina and is a certified Yoga therapist. She was an instructor at the Acupuncture Institute of Rio de Janeiro for many years.

Doug Johnson, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac, (NCCAOM), graduated from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in 1987. Doug has taught 5 Element Acupuncture extensively in both clinical and academic settings, and is also currently in private practice in Tucson.

Karen Johnsrude, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac, (NCCAOM), graduated from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist. She is currently in private practice in Tucson.

Miaochen Lin, M.A.O.M., L.Ac., B.S. Pharm. Miaochen received her M.A.O.M. Degree from the Asian Institute in 2003. She also has a B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.  Miaochen has been a pharmacist for 12 years and is currently in part-time TCM practice in Tucson.

Micha ne Lona, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac, (NCCAOM), is a graduate of the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She is also NADA certified as well a practitioner of Acutonics. She is in private practice in Tucson as well as practicing at Sunstone Cancer Support Center.

Leslie McGee, R.N., M.O.M., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Nursing in 1978. She graduated with a Masters in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in 1993 and has done further specialization in women's health. She is currently in private practice in Tucson and is involved with the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Leslie is the current faculty chair at AIMS and is also the President of the American Association of Oriental Medicine.

Paige Peters, MSAOM, L.Ac., received her degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1997. She is also NADA certified and is currently in private practice in Tucson.

David Price, M.O.M., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), is a graduate of the International Institute of Chinese Medicine with advanced studies at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the PRC. He is the Director of the White Pine Clinic of Classical Chinese Therapeutics in Tucson. He is fluent in Mandarin and Japanese.

Linda Joy Stone, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), co-owner of the Asian Institute, graduated from South Baylo University in 1989 and did post-graduate studies at the Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Linda is in private practice at Ancient Ways Acupuncture Clinic and practices part time at the University of Arizona Campus Health Services and at Canyon Ranch Health Resort.

Cheryl Wright, M.S.N., M.T.O.M., L.Ac., Dipl.OM. (NCCAOM), has been a nurse for 26 years and received her M.S. in nursing from the University of Florida in 1997. She has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 1998. She received her Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor's College in 2003. She is currently in private practice in Tucson, a faculty member and is the Clinic Dean at the Asian Institute.

Keith Zabik, M.Ac., L.Ac., graduated from the Asian Institute in 2006 and currently is in private practice in Tucson as well as practicing at Sunstone Cancer Support Center.