Faculty

Dr. Sturm received her DACM from Five Branches University in San Jose, CA with a specialization in Reproductive Women’s Health and Pain Management. Dr. Sturm is also a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). Fellows have demonstrated competency and advanced knowledge in the field of both Western and Oriental Reproductive Medicine by passing an advanced board certification examination. Additionally, Dr. Sturm has received certification in Functional Medicine from the Functional Medicine University.

She also holds Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She has also been trained by CAPPA (the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) as a childbirth educator and labor doula, and she believes strongly in holistic pregnancy practices. Dr. Sturm is also a graduate of the University of Southern California.

Devoted to her passion for teaching, Dr. Sturm has served as a clinic supervisor and instructor at both the Colorado School of Chinese Medicine (CSTCM) in Denver and at Southwest Acupuncture College (SWAC) in Boulder. She is a former member of the SWAC Research Committee and ASRM, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Dr. Michael Kowalski is an Acupuncture Physician and founder of the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center. After earning his B.A. at Yale University, he studied 5 Element Acupuncture for seven years with the eminent Professor J. R. Worsley at the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in Leamington Spa, England, where he received two post-graduate degrees. He graduated acupuncture school in 1984 and has been practicing 5 Element Acupuncture ever since, making him the most experienced full-time acupuncture physician in Jacksonville. He is Florida Board certified (A.P.) and National Board certified (Dipl. Ac., NCCAOM). Since founding the Acupuncture and Holistic Health Center in Jacksonville in 1988, Dr. Kowalski has completed further training in other holistic medicine modalities including homeopathy, herbal medicine, natural hormone balancing, functional nutritional medicine, Wilson’s temperature syndrome, auricular acupuncture, detoxification, and plant spirit medicine. Most recently, Dr. Kowalski completed his Professional Doctorate in Acupuncture from the Colorado Chinese Medicine University® (2024).

Dr. Kowalski practiced acupuncture and served on the faculty of the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in England from 1984-1988. Since then, he has been in private practice in Jacksonville. Dr. Kowalski has been a leader in acupuncture education since beginning his teaching career in 1985. He taught acupuncture and served as Dean and President of the Classical Acupuncture Institute in Jacksonville for seven years.

Dr. Kowalski currently teaches acupuncture as Director of the 5 Element Institute in Jacksonville, a Florida Board of Acupuncture licensed provider of continuing education courses he founded in 2010. He founded the 5 Element Institute to build bridges between the acupuncture profession and the conventional medical community by educating them about acupuncture.

Dr. Elizabeth Lovefury has had a dedicated career bridging Eastern and Western approaches to health. After studying Asian Studies at Vassar College, Dr. Lovefury pursued her passion for Oriental medicine, eventually earning her Master’s degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine from Meiji College of Oriental Medicine (now known as Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley) in 2000 and doctorate from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2014.

In 2001, Liz opened Vigor, LLC, where she continues to practice acupuncture and herbal medicine. Her skills caught the eye of Centura Health, and she now leads their acupuncture program for the Mountains North Denver Operating Group, bringing complementary therapies into mainstream healthcare settings.

Always eager to learn, Liz has expanded her expertise with certifications like Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell. She’s also taken on leadership roles in her field, including past positions as President and Vice President of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado; along with her current appointment as Vice President at the American Institute of Integrative Herbalism since 2017.

Anne Devereux graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She earned her Master’s of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest 

Acupuncture College in 2012, and a Doctorate of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences in 2024. 

While right handed with acupuncture needles, she leads with her left when using knitting needles.

Anne entered the medical field in 2003 and experienced the transformational abilities of acupuncture first-hand, and managed her private practice in Boulder since 2012. Some areas of focus in her clinical practice include Sports Acupuncture, Women’s Health, and Stress Relief. An avid outdoors adventurer, Dr. Devereux spends personal time skiing, running, climbing, and camping – kept company by her puppy!

Dr. Caitlin R. Dilli is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a licensed and board-certified acupuncturist, and clinical herbalist. Caitlin is trained in Cosmetic Acupuncture and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, and she regularly helps patients with headaches and migraines, women’s health concerns, fertility, stress and anxiety, altered sleep, and digestive disturbances.  Her patient focus is on children, teenagers, adults, and elders. Caitlin holds a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the Pacific College of Health and Science, a Master’s of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado Chinese Medicine University®, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Willamette University. She has published research on Parkinson’s disease and acupuncture through the University of Colorado. As a Colorado native, Caitlin yearns to be situated deep in God’s country and is miserably happy with a fly rod and a mountain stream. Her happy hour is practicing Qi Gong or teaching Spanish commands to her rescue pup Lola.

Xiaorong received her BM from Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, P.R. China. She received her MS and her PhD from the Department of Acupuncture, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her postdoctoral work was research on the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing. She specializes in treatment of Wind stroke, Dementia, Women’s Medicine and joint pain at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin TCM University in Tianjin. Xiaorong taught

foreign students in China from the US, Canada, Holland and Brazil. She moved from Beijing to Denver to join the faculty of Colorado Chinese Medicine University®.

Justin DiPhillippo is a licensed Chiropractor (DC) and a Board-Certified Functional Neurologist. He earned his doctorate from Palmer College in 2015, studied Functional Neurology at Carrick Institute of Neurology, and received his Diplomate from the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB) in 2017. He also attended West Chester University where he graduated with a Master of Science in Biology.
Justin has been treating patients in Pennsylvania since 2015. He works in an integrated clinical office in Southeastern PA alongside multiple disciplines that align their specialties to provide patients with optimal care. His goal and primary focus is to provide each patient with an individualized treatment plan combining structural, nutritional, and neurological rehabilitation.

Dr. Daisy Dong is a distinguished practitioner and scholar in the field of traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) and integrative health, with extensive training and experience
across China and the United States.

Dr. Dong began her academic journey at the Beijing College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, where she earned a BS/MD in Chinese Medicine in 1985. Her studies
encompassed acupuncture, herbal medicine, and various holistic therapies in addition
to biomedical education. She completed her residency at Er Long Lu Hospital and
pursued a one-year acupuncture fellowship at Dongzhimen Hospital in Beijing, China.

After practicing and teaching TCM theory for several years, Dr. Dong pursued further
education in the United States to broaden her expertise to include modern health
sciences and healthcare administration. From 1994 to 1997, she earned a Master of
Arts in International Health (MA) and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the
University of Ohio in Athens, OH. Concurrently, she earned a Certificate in Modern
Health Library Science, enhancing her ability to access and utilize medical literature and
research, and completed a Certificate in Gerontology to better understand the health
needs of the aging population.

To further specialize in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, Dr. Dong attended the
Southwest College of Acupuncture in Boulder, CO, where she earned an MSOM.
Additionally, she engaged in advanced oncological training and research at the China-
Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing from 2004 to 2012. This training underscored her
expertise in integrating herbal therapies with conventional cancer treatments to support
patients' overall well-being. Furthermore, she completed rigorous training in research
methodology for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at the University of
Maryland School of Medicine, receiving certificates in 2012.

Dr. Dong has a prolific teaching career, having taught at her medical school in Beijing
for seven years, at the Southwest Acupuncture College for 15 years, and at the School
of Medicine, University of Colorado, for 22 years. She played a pivotal role in opening
the Center for Integrative Medicine at UCHealth in 2001 and served as the senior
Chinese medical practitioner and acupuncturist there for 22 years. She also owned and
operated her clinic in Denver, Colorado.

With a career that bridges Eastern and Western medical traditions through teaching,
clinical practice, and research, Dr. Dong is committed to advancing integrative health
practices. Her extensive education and diverse certifications reflect a deep dedication to
holistic patient care, evidence-based practice, and healthcare leadership.

Dr. Dong is renowned for her tongue diagnostic skills and her compassionate approach,
combining the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine with the latest biomedical

advancements in health science. She has contributed to numerous research projects
and publications, and her work in classroom and online education has promoted the
understanding and acceptance of integrative medicine in mainstream healthcare. Her
clinical specialties include CAM oncology, pain management, post-trauma care,
digestive illnesses, and women’s health.

Melissa is a Colorado native. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from CU Boulder in 2003 and a Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine from CCMU in 2011. She is a Nationally Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine through the NCCAOM. She has been in private practice in Denver since 2011 where she specializes in women’s and children’s health. She lives in Englewood, Colorado with her husband, two children, three cats, and many chickens.

Dr. Ergil is an anthropologist and a clinical acupuncturist since 1990. He has served as President of the American College of TCM in San Francisco, Founding Dean and Director of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in NY, and as Director of Research for the NY College of Health Professions. He was a Professor at NYCC from 2006 to 2019 and served as Acupuncture Clinical Lead at the Canandaigua VA from 2008 to 2019. He was recently the Director Health Sciences at Wells College, where he also served as Director of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. Dr. Ergil is Chair of the New York State Education Department Acupuncture Board. Over the years Dr. Ergil has worked to develop and practice acupuncture in several integrative programs at hospitals and outpatient facilities. Presently he teaches at several schools and maintains a consultancy (Ambit Informatics Ltd.) which provides guidance and support to clients in the areas of education, health and technology.

Dr. Ergil’s research interests include Tibetan medicine, safety and efficacy issues related to single substance phytopharmacy, drug-herb interaction and toxicity issues in herbal medicine, the assessment of clinical outcomes in complementary and alternative therapies, and the clinical management of chronic pain. He has been an invited teacher in Australia, Germany, and the Republic of China and has numerous publications, including two textbooks.