Our academic department strives to provide high-level educational training. We regularly interface with local and national colleges and universities, as well as the clinical community to find the most qualified and exciting instructors. EWC faculty members come from a diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. For example, the core of the Chinese medicine department is composed of instructors from China. The traditional Chinese acupuncture curriculum is enhanced with courses in Japanese acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and Korean hand acupuncture. Biomedicine courses are taught by doctors of Oriental medicine (DOM/OMD), medical doctors (MD), osteopaths (DO), naturopathic physicians (ND/NMD), chiropractors (DC), and researchers (PhD). Homeopathy, clinical nutrition, and integrative medicine courses are taught by experts in their fields of study. See our catalog for detailed faculty information.
EWCNM FACULTY
Cynthia O’Donnell, MA, A.P.
is the founder and CEO of East West College of Natural Medicine. She received an M.A. in Holistic Health from Heartwood College of Natural Healing Arts and her degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Trained as a massage therapist and an Acupuncture Physician, she has founded natural health centers integrating combinations of therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, western medicine, massage, and skin therapy, to include L'Estetica spa therapies, with several locations and The Healing Center, an Integrated East West Medicine clinic. She has trained extensively in homeopathic medicine completing certification in the Master's Homeopathic Clinician Program. She has taught courses and seminars, and published articles on holistic medicine and traditional Chinese Medicine for over 20 years. Having served as a director on the board of the American Association of Oriental Medicine for several years, she has served to better the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Dr. Ellen Catherine Cover, Ph.D. - Dean of Western Sciences
Dr. Cover received her Ph.D. in Zoology in 1980 from Oklahoma State University and a Masters of Science (biology) and two Bachelors of Science (Chemistry and Biology) from Lamar University in Beaumont Texas. She brings extensive experience in college education to EWCNM, with over 25 years of experience both in administration and teaching. She returns to EWCNM from Lamar University in Beaumont Texas, where she had just completed grant-sponsored research concerning incidence of the fecal indicator species Enterococcus in marine waters along McFaddin Beach, and water quality and benthic community structure of the tidal Neches River of Texas. She had been nominated and elected to vice presidency of the Lamar University Chapter of the science honor society, Sigma Xi . Previously she was Department Chair of Natural Sciences at Manatee Community College, and was President of their Faculty Senate. Her honors include a National award for Teaching Excellence conferred by the National Institute of Staff and Organizations Development. Additionally Dr Cover has been nominated by her peers for Marquis Who's Who and Madison's Who's Who in 2008.
Jonathan D. Wald, AP- Assistant Dean
Graduated from Bastyr University in 2001 and holds a Bachelors Degree in Natural Health Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture. He has completed two Doctoral Residency Training programs in Seoul, South Korea, has Healing with Whole Foods Certification and is licensed to practice Acupuncture in Florida, New York and Washington States. He specializes in rehabilitation and pain management. Jonathan worked as a director for the AAOM in 2005 and was co-founder of the Institute of New Medicine in Seattle, Washington. In addition to his knowledge of Oriental Medicine, Jonathan brings over 15 years of business management and development experience to EWCNM. Jonathan’s diverse background coupled with his passion for OM will strengthen the core model of EWCNM and assist in the development and implementation of the Doctoral and other programs at the college.
Dr Zhaolan Cao graduated from Hangzhou College of Medicine and Pharmacy in 1988 and gained the diploma of herbal pharmacy. Since then she had worked as a licensed herbal pharmacist in Hubin Hospital of Hangzhou for almost 10 years. She graduated and gained a diploma of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1996. she worked as a physician and herbal pharmacist in Shang-chen-qu People's Hospital of Hangzhou from 1996 to 2006. She has many clinical experiences on the application of Chinese herbs and techniques of herbal processing and is currently the herbal pharmacist at EWCNM.
Hui Luo, Ph.D., A.P.
graduated from Guang Zhou University of TCM in 1983 and continued studies in Western medicine with a specialty in otorhinolaryngology. She also completed four years of post-graduate studies at the Nanjing College of TCM. She earned her doctoral degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from American Liberty University. Professor Luo has co-authored numerous medical textbooks in China. 
Erqiang Li, Ph.D., A.P.
serves as Associate Dean of Clinical Sciences and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He holds a Master's Degree and Doctorate of Medicine in Acupuncture from Heilongjiang University of TCM in Harbin, China. Professor Li has published 19 papers on various topics in TCM and is the co-author of a textbook on needle manipulation.
Dr. Zhu DOM
received his bachelors degree in TCM from Shanghai TCM University and his Masters degree at Zhejiang TCM College in Hong Zhou, China. He worked as a physician and instructor at Hong Zhou TCM Teaching Hospital and while there participated in research involving stroke sequela and dizziness due to cervical stenosis. He has published over 20 acupuncture articles in China.
Anna Less, Ph.D, A.P.
performed an internship at Shangdong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's hospital in Jinan, China and received her acupuncture diploma in 1996. She earned her Ph.D. in acupuncture in 2005 from Zhe Jiang College of TCM in Hongzhou, China.
Cyndi Beale A.P.
received her degree from the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been practicing since 1999. Her expertise is in treating pain related syndromes, stress & anxiety and women's health during which time she also worked as the office manager for the Sarasota Center for Natural Medicine integrally involved in the set up of an integrated medical clinic. She worked with University 
ofFlorida College of Medicine in a pain management study of fibromyalgia.
William A. Berno, M.F.A., A.P.
comes to acupuncture medicine from a distinguished career in the arts with Masters in Fine Arts form the University of California, San Diego. He is a Diplomate of the National Board of Homeopathic Examiners and has taught Japanese acupuncture and homeopathy since 1999.
Dr. Barat A.P. (MD China)
obtained an M.D. degree in China at Xinjiang Medical University which included Traditional Chinese Medicine training. She worked in the Urumchi Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital acupuncture clinic in China then practiced and ran her private clinic in Instanbul, Turkey. She received her masters of Science degree at University of Bridgeport in the U.S. She was televised in Turkey introducing acupuncture anesthesia.
Martin P. Keane, A.P., C.C.H.
is a Board Certified Classical Homeopath (C.C.H.) and was awarded by the Council for Homeopathic Certification. He has published case studies in "Simillium" and "Homeopathy Today," and lectures at national conferences for the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM) and the National Center for Homeopathy (NCH).
Ricardo Morales A.P.
currently resides as Clinic Director of Med Florida Health Service overseeing the coordination of integrative CAM therapies for patients as well as treating patients. He received his Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from East West College of Natural Medicine. Ricardo specializes in teaching herbal medicine.
Dr. Ortiz A.P. (MD Columbia)
graduated from New England School of Acupuncture. Dr. Ortiz received his medical degree from University of Bogota in Bogota, Columbia, and went on to practice emergency medicine in the Bogota hospital.
Limin Song, A.P.
received her diploma in TCM from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Heilongjiang University of TCM in Harbin China in 1980, and professional training in ophthalmology at the Harbin Ophthalmologic Institute.
Vanessa Wu, M.Sc.
has two bachelor's degrees and a Master's in computer science from National Central University of Taiwan. She studied Tai Qi under Master Chan Ming Shu since 1990 among other well-known teachers and is proficient in form, sword, and fan. She holds a teaching certification from the Chinese Taipei Tai Qi Chuan Association, was the Tai Qi 24-Form champion in Taipei in 2004, and is a member of the Chinese Taipei Tai Qi Chuan Association.
Christina A. Captain, M.A., M.S.O.M., A.P., S.L.P.
graduated from the University of Central Florida where she completed both a clinical and research track in speech pathology. She has held upper management positions in several rehabilitation centers and has extensive experience within the rehabilitation clinical model integrating all disciplines. She is the current Chairman of the EWCNM Advisory Board and is a Member of the EWCNM Governing Board.
Ruan Jin Zhao, Ph.D., A.P.
was an Associate Professor in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cellular Biology and Pharmacology in Beijing. He served as a visiting scientist of the Tampa Bay Research Institute and Selby Gardens. In 1990-91, He received three awards for scientific achievement from Beijing University.
Bruce Benner, A.P.
earned his Bachelor's of Arts from the University of Maryland and his Master's in Oriental medicine from the Academy of Chinese Healing Arts. Dr. Benner is the director of EWC's externship at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota. He is a member of the American Academy of Pain Management and specializes in rehabilitation and stroke recovery.
Kim Craig, M.A.
teaches human service skills and psychology. He earned his Master's in counseling psychology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA, and has taken specialty studies in education at the University of California, Irvine.
Donna Thorsen, A.P.
Diplomate of Chinese Herbology and Acupunctureworks as a clinic supervisor. She is a certified massage therapist and earned her Diploma in traditional Chinese medicine from the Academy of Chinese Healing Arts.
Partha Banerjee, M.D.
teaches clinical skills and physical examination courses. He earned his medical degree from Calcutta Medical College, Calcutta, India. Dr. Banerjee is board certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, and geriatrics, and was a clinical professor of medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Dongming Cui, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H.
teaches public health and clinical nutrition. He earned his medical degree from Sun Yetsen University of Medical Science in Guangzhou, China; and his M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. from The University of Alabama, Birmingham. He currently is a research assistant professor at the Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa.
holds bachelor degrees in zoology and psychology, and a Master's in Acupuncture from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.