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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.

Charlotte R. Watts earned her Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado Chinese Medicine University® in April of 2009. This 2,800-hour program consists of Biosciences, TCM Theory and Technique, Internship, Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. This includes certification in Clean Needle Technique and Chinese Herbology.  In July of 2011, Charlotte completed an additional 500 hour/three year program, in-depth study of Five-Element Acupuncture, that provided her information and experience to fully understand and embody the Five Element principles in such a way that it can be effectively used with her TCM training and practices. 

Charlotte was also certified in Auriculomedicine through the Institute of Bioenergetic Medicine in October of 2008, and completed 339 hours of study in yoga asana, shat-karma, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, and philosophy with the Denver Institute of Integrated Yoga in January of 2005. Charlotte has also received extensive training in functional blood chemistry and nutrition through Dr. Datis Kharrazian, and has completed a private internship in nutrition and herbology with Dr. Michael Gaeta, sponsored by Standard Process West. 

Charlotte R. Watts is licensed in Acupuncture by the State of Colorado and the NCCAOM. She has been in private practice since June of 2009, currently in Parker Colorado, and specializes in trauma patients. She had privileges at Children’s Hospital Colorado from 2012 to 2017, and worked on a grant in the BMT division of the cancer department with hospice and pain patients. She also worked as a volunteer with elderly home hospice patients in Colorado Springs in 2009-2011. Charlotte also presented to doctors and nurses, teaching them about acupuncture and how it can be utilized with Western medicine for better patient outcomes. Charlotte has also taught in the student clinic at the Colorado Chinese Medicine University®, and in January 2022, she started her first online course for personal mentorship and Five Element Acupuncture training for health care providers. 

Previous to finishing acupuncture school, she was a career firefighter/paramedic for 14 years and retired from Castle Rock Fire Department after seven years of service in Colorado. She also spent seven years in Tucson Arizona working for Mount Lemon Fire Department, Rural Metro Fire Department, and also worked at Northwest Hospital in the Emergency Room. Charlotte spent her summers in Arizona working for the United States Forest Service as a wildland firefighter and a tree feller on hand crews.

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.

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.