Our Instructors

I began my career in medicine as a young combat medic providing direct care to soldiers in the field. I soon realized that my passion for helping others and serving my country would go further as an officer. I completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Pennsylvania, which provided an opportunity to enjoy an extended career providing patient care and educating soldiers in emergency medicine. After several years at that level, I decided to take on a new challenge of medical management and treatment. To do this, I completed a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at the University of South Carolina and began a career as a Nurse Practitioner.

Although the practice of medicine provided me the ability to diagnose and treat diseases, my nursing orientation gave me a keen awareness that treatment alone does not guarantee that the patient heals internally or returns to a state of health. This ultimately lead me to look into other forms of medicine.

In addition to completing a certificate program in Ayurvedic Medicine, I eventually completed a Master of Acupuncture (M.Ac) from Bastyr University and later, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. As a result of merging these medical practices that combine treatment with healing, I find that not only is my personal satisfaction in clinical practice higher, but more importantly that a majority of my patients heal, making them less dependent on treatment. AIM institute was developed just for this reason. We want to provide practitioners with the skills and confidence to combine their knowledge of medicine with the tenants of healing found in Chinese Medicine and Nursing, resulting in improved outcomes for their patients.

Dan has been an acupuncturist for over 27 years and was licensed in Washington in 1993. He received his master’s degree in Acupuncture from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Bastyr University. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Washington, Jackson School of International Studies, where he received a B.A. in Asian Studies.

Dan has been an acupuncturist in a variety of settings, including Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, King County Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center; various integrated health clinics, and now Acacia Acupuncture in Olympia, since 2007. He believes in a collaborative approach to healthcare, and to that end he was a key founder of the University of Washington's Organization of Nurses for Integrative Care. He was also an executive board member of The Integrating CAM program of the UW School of Nursing.

His cultural and intellectual interests have taken him twice to India and also to Papua New Guinea for a medical relief mission that lasted over two months. When not in the clinic, he can be found biking, hiking, or climbing.

Acacia Acupuncture, LLC, Olympia, WA
Source3@comcast.net
360-539-5222

Daniel is a nationally board-certified acupuncturist and after spending 10 yrs. in the U.S. Army, continued to pursue his love of ancient medical practices. He has an extensive background in therapeutic touch with formal training in both Eastern and Western massage, and many years teaching bodywork at institutions across the state of Washington.

Daniel currently owns the Seattle Asian Medicine and Martial Arts (SAMMA) - a health clinic specializing in the treatment of patients using the art of Tuina massage, martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

• Sifu/Instructor of Chun Kuo Kung Fu and Yang-style Taiji
• Specializing in Tuina and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

Marina Ponton has been a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine in private practice since 1998. Her practice focuses on helping others achieve and maintain their optimal health through acupuncture, herbs, diet, supplements and nutrition. Dr. Marina’s belief in healing the body through natural methods has led her to practice and lecture in the United States, Sweden and Holland. She has studied at the American University of Paris, FAMU University in Prague, University of Miami, Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine and Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Marina has a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with a specialization in women’s health and longevity medicine.

Dr. Marina is an exceptionally talented natural health practitioner and well recognized lecturer who is passionate about educating patients on the importance of incorporating natural health modalities into their everyday life. Some of her specialties include pain management, women’s health and fertility, emotional disorders, digestive disorders, chronic fatigue (ME), and environmental sensitivities. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Yvonne is a graduate of Bastyr University, Seattle, WA and was also trained in Chengdu, China. Yvonne has been in private practice for over 15 years and often applies multiple healing modalities and traditional therapies to address the needs of her patients. Currently, Yvonne is focused on the care of her children, but nevertheless continues to be involved in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Dr. Kleronomos has held numerous positions in integrative medicine to include: Medical Director of the Fibromyalgia and Neuromuscular Pain Center of Oregon, LLC., and Clinical Director of the Multi-Disciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program, for Salem Hospital’s Comprehensive Pain Program. His clinical focus is the diagnosis and treatment of “Global Pain syndromes” i.e. fibromyalgia, myofascial, and neuropathic pain. He is one of the leading experts on the application and administration of Bee Venom Therapy and publishes and lectures on the subject around the country.

Dr. Kleronomos became interested in medicine as a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy, where he served with the Marine Corps elite Special Operations Teams; Force Reconnaissance. Afterwards he studied for a master’s degree in Oriental Medicine, at the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine, and completed a doctoral program focusing on oncology, chronic disease and pain management at Bastyr University. Due to his strong belief in Integrated Medicine, he continued his education to become an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner at Seattle University, as well as a Master of Science in Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition at the University of Western States. He is triple board certified in Family Practice, Pain Management and Acupuncture, as well as a Professionally Registered Herbalist. He has been featured several times, on the television show “The Doctors”, and on “National Geographic Wild”. He has been published in the Pain Practitioner, Journal of the American Academy of Pain Management, and was a featured interview in Life Extension Magazine.

Professor Li is the AIM Inst TCM consultant and guest lecturer. His lineage in TCM extend 4 generations and can be traced to the Tang Dynasty.

His father Dr. Ding is one of the major founders of Modern China Acupuncture Education developed in 1950’s. Dr. Li currently teaches at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is the author of Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine 1974, and has served in numerous positions to include Chief Editor of China National Medical Textbook Science of Meridians 1982, 1992, Chief Reviewer of ‘Acupuncture Bible’ Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion 1987, The Constitutor of China National Standard of Acu-points and Meridians 1990

Dr. Li is the Holder of the Special Allowance by the China State Council since 1992, Distinguished Professor’ Bestowed by Shanghai University of TCM, Distinguished Shanghai TCM Doctor’ Bestowed by Shanghai Municipal Government and National Distinguished Senior TCM Doctor’ Bestowed by China Central Government.

Dr. Li will be the instructor for our Shanghai Study Abroad Program.

Richelle is a new member to our team and will be joining us for guest lectures as her schedule allows. She is a graduate of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, CA and has trained at Zhejiang Medical University in Hangzhou China. Additionally, she interned at the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm in Petaluma, CA studying organic farming methods, and brings a wealth of knowledge with a BA in South Asian and Religious studies (Buddhism) from the University of VA. She currently has a private practice: Red Door Acupuncture in Flagstaff, AZ., where she specializes in pain management.

https://www.reddooracupuncture.com/

Rokhsareh Mohammadi MD (Iran) EAMP, Dipl, Ac, has been a Medical Doctor, trained in Iran since 1994 with a residency in Pediatrics (1994-1997) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Dr. Mohammadi received her master’s degree in Acupuncture from Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington in 2003 and is board certified by the National Committee for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) in the State of Washington. Her primary clinical focus continues to be in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric disorders and the treatment of pediatric patients from an integrative perspective combining western and eastern medicine to improve care. Dr. Mohammadi has also served on the faculty of Bastyr University instructing student in the practice of Pediatric Acupuncture.

Karen Sova, MSN, ANP-BC COHN-S, began her career as a diploma Registered Nurse through the State University of New York at Buffalo and Millard Fillmore School of Nursing. She completed her undergraduate degree from Washington Adventist University.  She received her certification as an Occupational Health Nurse Specialist in 1999. She obtained her Master’s degree as an Adult Nurse Practitioner from the University of Maryland – Baltimore in 2001. As a nurse practitioner she has worked in an internal medicine practice specializing in Occupational Medicine. She has consulted on OSHA mandated policy and procedures for area Montgomery County hospitals as well as with research companies in Maryland’s I-270 corridor. She currently works at the National Institutes of Health in Occupational Medicine where in 2008 she became particularly interested in serving the health and safety needs of people working and doing research in high level bio-containment labs (BSL-3 and BSL-4). At NIH she is also involved in managing the health and safety of individuals in the United States Public Health Service. These individuals are frequently deployed to areas of the world to give medical aid to populations where there are infectious disease outbreaks. In 2011 she graduated from the Helm’s Medical Institute with a certificate in medical acupuncture. In 2016 she completed a national certification in Auriculotherapy/ Auricular Acupuncture.

ELENA SEGEN MEJIA, MSN, ARNP, LAc,

Is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, family nurse practitioner and certified lactation consultant with a current focus on women's health, and working with the LGBTQ community in the Portland area.

Her professional career began in 1991, graduating from Yale University as a family nurse practitioner and then subsequently moving to Oregon in 1993 to work as a Public Health Service nurse practitioner at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. Which eventually lead to a master’s degree from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in acupuncture and herbal medicine.

By combining a background in Eastern and Western medicine, Elena has created a platform from which to grow personally and professionally. Her view of the western and eastern medicine is as compliments that enhance one another, creating a holistic approach to well-being. Time and again, being inspired and impressed by the beauty of eastern medicine to heal both physical and emotional wounds and help us live a more balanced and spiritually connected life. 

Elena currently has a private practice in Portland, Oregon: Portland Women's Acupuncture. 

portlandwomensacupuncture.com