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.

EWC FACULTY

Cynthia O’Donnel, 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.

David Merson, Ph.D.
is the Dean of EWCNM. He did his doctoral work in medical sociology specializing in Combat and Disaster medical delivery systems at Michigan State University with additional work in Health Gerontology at the University of Michigan . He has been an adjunct professor of Sociology at several Eastern universities and served in a full-time teaching capacity at East Stroudsburg University in PA. His areas of expertise include War and Terrorism, Complex Organizations, Medical System Development, Methodology and Teaching Modalities. He has served as a consultant in medical systems and academic development throughout the Middle East and Great Britain . He was the CEO of a private company called “Vector” that developed the field of remote diagnostics and put it into practice delivering emergency medical care modules to the world's most remote locations. In that capacity, he led trauma teams to areas of war and disaster events where they provided trauma and emergency care to victims on an apolitical basis. David looks forward to expanding the student body and faculty at EW College to make it the premiere center for training in TCM. He is also looking toward bringing OM into Western Environment through the development of outcome-based research into the efficacy and methodology of OM.

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.

Ye Debao, Ph.D.
Professor Ye is the Academic Dean, and received his training in acupuncture and tuina from the Shanghai University of TCM. In addition, he received his Doctorate in Acupuncture from Zhejiang College of TCM in Hongzhou, China, where he was director of the clinical acupuncture department. He brings a wealth of international experience including having lectured at the Curitaba Biological Science and Health College in Brazil. He is an accomplished teacher and has published numerous academic papers on clinical acupuncture.

Dr. Zhu DOM
received his bacherlors 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 of Florida 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).

Weih Mei, A.P.
received his Bachelor of TCM at the Guang Zhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1983; completed a fellowship in Western medicine at the First People's Hospital of Guangton in 1985; and a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at the Tianjin Orthopedics Hospital in Tianjin, China in 1986. He served as a doctor at the Foshan Hospital of TCM where he lectured students on the integration of Chinese and Western medicine.

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 audiology. She has held upper management positions in several rehabilitation companies and has extensive experience within the rehabilitation clinical model integrating all disciplines. She sits on the Advisory Board of EWC.

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 Acupuncture
works 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.

James E. Haley, D.C.
teaches orthopedic assessment and radiology, and is the director of EWC sports medicine program. He earned his doctor of chiropractic medicine from New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, NY and has a B.S. from State University of New York, Courtland, N.Y.

Gregory G. Kotlarczyk, D.C.
has a bachelor's in human biology and earned his doctor of chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic. He teaches radiology and orthopedic assessment.

Deanine Lynn Picciano, A.P., L.M.T.
is an instructor in anatomy and physiology lab. She has a Master's in Oriental Medicine from the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, St. Petersburg and graduated from the Florida College of Natural Health.

Drew St. Martin, A.P.
teaches Oriental medicine theory, and anatomy and physiology. He has a background in laboratory science and earned his Master's in Oriental Medicine from East West College of Natural Medicine.

Peggy De Lara, A.P., Dipl. Ac.,
earned her Master's in Oriental Medicine from Southeast Institute of Oriental Medicine in Miami Florida. She has a background in physical therapy and teaches acupuncture documentation skills.

David G. Zietz, A.P.
is an East West College of Natural Medicine graduate with a Master's in Oriental Medicine. Before coming to Eastern medicine, he obtained a bachelor's degree in nutrition and was a paramedic. He teaches the treatment of substance abuse with acupuncture.

Ng Takcheung, A.P., Diplomate of Tung Acupuncture (WATA)
received his Masters in Oriental Medicine from East West College of Natural Medicine. He is also certified in the Tung Acupuncture system by the World Association of Tung's Acupuncture (WATA), and in Chinese Herbology by the China Academy of TCM in Beijing, China. He was trained in kung fu, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi in China, and has been practicing and teaching both in China and in the United States for over 30 years. He holds bachelor degrees in Systems Analysis, Mathematics, and Computer Science from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the State University of New York at Binghamton. He also attended the MBA program in Finance at Marymount University and the MS program in Engineering Administration (Artificial Intelligence) at George Washington University. He teaches kung fu and Qi Gong.

Kalina Demich, A.P.,
holds bachelor degrees in zoology and psychology, and a Master's in Acupuncture from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.

Alan J. Sault, M.D.
received his Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Rome, Italy. He is a distinguished visiting professor in integrative medicine topics and supervises rotating clinical externships.