Professor Doctor Faculty List

Joe earned his Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the CCMU in 2006. Currently a clinic supervisor and faculty member at CSTCM, Joe is also on faculty at the University of Denver. An internationally recognized expert on healthy aging, Joe has spent over 25 years teaching t’ai chi, qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center, the University of Denver, and Metropolitan State University. Former columnist on healthy aging for the Rocky Mountain News, he has presented at many scientific and medical conferences including at the Harvard Medical School’s Osher Institute on Integrative Medicine and has twice been a featured presenter at the Oxford Roundtable at Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford U.K. He currently runs his own clinic in Denver Colorado.

Dr. Dean S. Cunningham earned his Medical Doctorate in 1985 from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, after having completed Ph.D. studies in Immunology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, in 1979; and his dual-bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology from the University of California Riverside campus in 1976. Dr. Cunningham has facilitated and participated in medicine world wide. Academic and professional appointments have taken him around the the world as Dean of Curriculum (online) and Professor of Medicine at Oceania University of Medicine in Apia, Western Samoa (2010 – 2021), Medical Director of the Free Clinic in Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico (2003-07), Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Howard University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. (1994 – 1997), and onboard U.S. naval craft as a General Medical Officer and Department Head (1986 – 1968) while on tour of duty. Dr. Cunningham has maintained private practice throughout the years, and continues to write and edit medical contributions for various journals and publications.

Chris graduated from Colorado Chinese Medicine University® in 1993 and completed a clinical internship at Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Harbin, China. She is a Nationally Certified Diplomate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology through the NCCAOM and is licensed in Colorado and Hawaii. Since graduation she also was involved in a research study on treating pelvic pain with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Chris has also taught various Traditional Chinese Medicine subjects at other Colorado Oriental medicine schools. She specializes in Chinese herbal medicine, women’s health care and sports medicine.

Dr. Simone Sturm specializes in the holistic treatment of women and children. Her practice includes women’s health, fertility, pregnancy, labor and childbirth, postpartum care and pediatrics. She brings over 16 years of clinical experience to her practice, has worked as a primary care provider under California law, and strongly believes in the integration of Eastern and Western medicine in order to treat disease and maintain well-being. As a passionate practitioner of functional medicine, Dr. Sturm believes in healing and wellness for her patients according to their unique needs. Dr. Sturm has received advanced, post-graduate training in the US and China in reproductive health, obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Dr. Ewa Frankel is an established educator with a diverse background in science and academia.  Early in her career, Dr. Frankel was an architect for the Saudi Royal Family in Rome, Georgia, and a Bioterrorism Scientist for the State of Florida.  Later she served as a Visiting Fellow for Nuffield College in Oxford and a Visiting Scholar for the Institut d’Education at Universite de Paris-Dauphine in France. Dr. Frankel has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the CCNE accreditation for a Master of Integrated and Functional Medicine program, where currently she serves as an Associate Dean and Program Manager. 

Dr. Frankel has a deep passion for Integrative Health and earned a long-standing tenure of nearly 20 years as a Professor of Science in private and state colleges, private universities and former Dean of Academic Affairs for Technological University of America in South Florida.

Parago was the Clinic Director at Colorado Chinese Medicine University® from 2007 to In 2019 he accepted a position as the school’s Academic Dean, and became the Administrative Director in 2023. He graduated from CCMU in 1998, is a nationally certified Diplomate through NCCAOM and a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado. Since graduation, he has gone on to specialize in the neo-classical Japanese Meridian Therapy, moxibustion. He teaches, supervises, and is a member of the both Academic Leadership Team and Administration. He is also a nationally certified instructor and examiner for NCCAOM Clean Needle Technique.

Dr. Paul Magarelli is a highly experienced, double board-certified Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist (REI). He has been in private practice building families through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for more than 25 years. Dr. Magarelli completed his REI fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles/ Cedars-Sinai, his OB/GYN residency at Duke University Medical Center, and his MD at the University of Arizona. While at the University of Arizona, he also completed a PhD as well as a Masters of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry. Considered a pioneer in integrative reproductive medicine, Dr. Magarelli was one of the originators of research to incorporate acupuncture into IVF treatment cycles. The C-MAP (Cridennda Magarelli Acupuncture Protocol) he and his partner developed is used worldwide to help infertility patients. He currently serves as faculty, mentorship program coordinator, and Chairman of the Integrative Reproductive Medicine program at Yo San University in Los Angeles.  He is an ardent supporter of affordable treatment practices and equitable access to fertility care.

Amy holds a Colorado state license as both an acupuncturist and a registered nurse. She received her BSN from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her MSTCM from the Colorado Chinese Medicine University®. She is nationally certified by the NCCAOM as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. While looking for answers to her own health issues, she discovered the power of acupuncture and herbal medicine and set out to share the amazing benefits of TCM. She has a clinical focus in women’s health, mental wellness, and digestive disorders. She uses her experience as a registered nurse in addition to her training in Chinese medicine to help facilitate healing, with a special interest in helping other health care providers. She has a private practice in Lakewood, Colorado.

Kailey Brennan received her Master’s degree from the Colorado Chinese Medicine University® (CSTCM) in Denver (2015). Kailey has studied closely with the developers of Engaging Vitality, an approach that incorporates palpation methods and insights from the osteopathic tradition into the practice of acupuncture and East Asian medicine. She provides teaching assistance for in-person Engaging Vitality seminars as a Continuing Education course for practitioners, as well as clinic supervision and teaching instruction for students at CSTCM. Kailey is in private practice in the Fort Collins area and provides acupuncture and CranioSacral Therapy for veterans and their families through the non-profit Healing Warriors Program.

Rui Nan, a third-generation practitioner of Chinese Medicine, earned her Bachelor of Medicine from Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine in 1998 and her Master of Medicine from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 2002. With several published texts, Rui Nan is a highly qualified practitioner. She holds a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification in acupuncture and is a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado. She currently runs a private practice on the CCMU campus. Rui Nan has dedicated recent years to a careful and thorough study of classical Chinese Medicine texts, gaining insights beyond what is typically found in textbooks. She has achieved excellent treatment results for a variety of diseases.

Dr. Timothy Ross has broad experience in the domain of Chinese medicine as a teacher, experimental researcher, clinical practitioner and expert in herb cultivation and quality assessment.

Dr. Ross’ research experience began at UCSD as an extension of his premed studies in Neuroscience and Mammalian Physiology. During his final internship in Dr. Ethan Bier’s developmental neurobiology lab, he created genetically recombinant model organisms in an attempt to understand factors effecting neuronal patterning. Between 2003 and 2010 he was the Senior Researcher in the Mind Body Lab of Dr. Shin Lin at UCI, where they studied the physiologic correlates of the “Qi” phenomenon in human subjects, many of whom were high level masters of the internal arts, using primarily electrophysiological methods such as EKG, EEG, LDF and a Bio-photon meter. During his Doctoral studies at Bastyr University, he worked with various chromatographic and cell culture methods to assess the constituent concentrations and biological activities of domestically grown Chinese herbs. During his post-doctoral studies at the University of Washington, he worked with epidemiological and statistical methods to study Chinese medicine interventions in the public health setting.

Dr. Ross’ interest in Chinese herb cultivation began during his Master’s degree studies while working at The Learning Garden under the tutelage of Robert Newman, former head of the Botanical Garden in Nanjing and clinic director at Emperor’s College. This work at TLG culminated in a series of Adopt-A-Plant events designed to foster the development of a network of local small-scale medicinal herb gardens. His doctoral research incorporated cultivation, harvest, processing and quality assessment studies as part of an attempt to assess the viability of domestically cultivating Chinese herbs. After graduation, he was able to continue this work at Heron Botanicals, where in his QA/QC role he was able to assess the quality of an even larger sample of domestically cultivated Chinese herbs. Most recently Dr. Ross has been living in the mountains of Southern California exploring the potential applicability of native analogs as potential substitutes for related Chinese herb species.

Dr. Ross has spent a lifetime studying Chinese martial arts and developing a mature skill set which incorporates the internal arts and ultimately merges with his study of Chinese medicine.

An early interest in the Shaolin style led to repeated trips to China to study at Shaolin temple and a fortuitous meeting with his sifu, Tak Wah Eng, a famous master of the Fu Jow Pai. During his time at UCI, he became a student of Chen Zheng Lei, one of the four tigers of Chen Village. During his time at Emperor’s he became a student of Liu Dong and eventually his sister Liu He of the the Ling Gui School of Qi Gong. At this point Dr. Ross teaches a comprehensive system incorporating Tak Wah Gong Fu, Chen Style Tai Ji Chuan and Ling Gui Qi Gong.

Dr. Ross’ clinical focus is in the field of oncology. Oncology was the focus of Bastyr’s doctoral program and included years of internships at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, in the Oncology department at Providence-Everett hospital, during Bastyr clinic’s integrative oncology shifts and culminated with observations in the Oncology wards at Shanghai Longhua and Cheng Du TCM University Hospital. Dr. Ross also independently pursued internships at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital in the Oncology ward before and after his time at Bastyr. Upon completion of his Doctoral degree, he began his time working with Dr. Su at Bellevue Acupuncture Clinic. Eventually he moved onto an integrative setting at Medella Optimal Health where he worked alongside Dr. Eric Yarnall ND and Karen James LMP. For the last 5 years, Dr. Ross has been offering patients consultation and instruction in herbal medicine, nutrition, self-massage, qigong, meditation and taiji via his virtual practice while also teaching classes in Integrative Oncology and Herbal Pharmacognosy at Yo San and Five Branches Universities.

Sarwat Rumi, DACM, MSAOM, is a licensed acupuncturist and NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She began caring for people professionally in 2000, providing trauma-informed care as an advocate for individuals and families seeking lives free from violence; then expanding her work to facilitate healing and community engagement as an educator and teaching artist to marginalized communities, social service organizations, and law enforcement. Dr. Rumi’s transformative personal experience of receiving acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy led her to further her education at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at NYCC, where she earned her master’s degree in 2014. In 2020, as the world paused for a global pandemic, Dr. Rumi completed her doctorate at the Pacific College of Health and Science.

Dr. Rumi’s passion for integrative medicine was born at FLSAOM, and became central to her private practice and work at a comprehensive cancer center in Western NY State, where she has been developing integrative care and research for oncology patients in outpatient and inpatient settings since 2018. To all her dearly loved patients, Dr. Rumi emphasizes lifestyle shifts through Eastern dietary therapy and qi gong as much as she utilizes acupuncture, herbs, and other modalities. Dr. Rumi advances East Asian Medicine in the burgeoning field of integrative medicine through workshops, presentations, clinical rotations for conventional medicine providers, and research collaborations.

Dr. Rumi’s love for East Asian Medicine is woven through her personal and professional lives, embracing nature, contemplation, a high regard for tradition and lineage, and respect for all beings.

Chris has a degree in chemistry from Rutgers Newark College of Arts and Sciences, and worked as a chemist subcontracting for the United States Environmental Protection Agency for eight years.  She owned a health food store for fifteen years. Chris graduated from Colorado Chinese Medicine University® with her Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine in December 2018, and is presently the Registrar of CSTCM.

Stephanie is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Colorado. She earned her DACM from Pacific College of Health and Science, San Diego in 2016 and her MSTOM from Pacific College of Health and Science, New York in 2005. Additionally, she is nationally certified through the NCCAOM. She was a board member of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado from 2020-2024, serving as Secretary and President. She has been treating patients in her community style clinic practice since February 2012 in Northglenn, CO.

As a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dr. Tzeching Wang has devoted her career to harmonizing the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the innovative principles of modern functional medicine. Her primary focus is on providing personalized, holistic care that truly addresses the unique needs of each patient. She founded Eastern Wellness Acupuncture with a vision of creating a nurturing space where patients receive comprehensive, tailored treatments that make them feel both valued and understood.

Dr. Wang holds a Ph.D. in Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine from Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as a Master’s in Oriental Medicine from the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. As a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado, she is also pursuing certification in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Her clinical practice centers on several specialized areas, including TCM neurology, autoimmune disease support, women’s health, cancer support, and hormonal disorder management. Dr. Wang believes deeply in the power of personalized care, working closely with each patient to create customized acupuncture treatments and herbal formulas that effectively address their specific health concerns. A key aspect of her work is to bridge the gap between Traditional Chinese Medicine and conventional medicine, fostering a more integrative approach to healthcare that benefits patients on multiple levels.

Education is more than a career for Dr. Wang; it’s a passion. She has had the honor of sharing her expertise as an adjunct professor at the Colorado Chinese Medicine University® and as a faculty member at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In these roles, she has taught acupuncture and Chinese herbology, supervised student clinics, and contributed to clinical research. Today, she continues to mentor interns at her clinic, guiding and inspiring the next generation of holistic healthcare practitioners.

Beyond her clinical and teaching responsibilities, Dr. Wang has spoken at numerous conferences, where she explores the integration of TCM and functional medicine in treating complex conditions. Additionally, she contributes to the academic community as an editor and contributor to the Journal of Chinese Medical Acupuncture Science, where she has published work on clinical treatment strategies for PCOS, cancer support, and neurological disorders.

Daniel is a world-renowned expert on Botanical medicine and Integrative Oncology. Daniel has written many books, articles and databases on complimentary oncology and botanical chemotherapy support. Daniel’s intimate understanding of how the body works from a molecular level through to systems, together with his immense knowledge of botanical medicine makes him sought after internationally by practitioner and patients alike, both as a lecturer and a clinician. Daniel’s wisdom from 40 years as a Naturopath and practitioner of Chinese Medicine is evident.