Yo San University Seeks Gold Status and Wins Platinum from ACAOM

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, DR. LARRY RYAN

In May of this year, Yo San Universityhosted a team of site visitors from ACAOM, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Our visitors’ mission was to review the integrity of this University and establish our accreditation status for the coming years. We are so very excited to inform you that in a letter dated September 9, 2010, Carla Wilson, Chair of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, announced that Yo San University will be fully re-accredited for a seven year period effective August 19, 2010.
This seven year renewal is the highest accreditation status awarded by the Acupuncture Commission. The announcement from ACAOM culminated a process of more than two years of preparation and institutional self study including intense activity associated with the ACAOM site visit. This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Yo San, with so few universities being able to obtain this "platinum status."

The Yo San Administration is so very grateful to our Board of Trustees, our faculty, our staff, our students and our alumni who participated in the various aspects of the re-accreditation process. Special commendation is extended to our Administration and Lawrence Lau, Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs, who is the YSU Accreditation Liaison Officer.

It is inspiring and motivating to receive this news. Our entire academic and clinical communities should feel affirmed in their efforts to provide quality education at Yo San University. The commitment of all YSU community members to quality TCM education and clinical services have made this success possible.

Our Student Body is Swelling, AND SO IS OUR PRIDE

Everyone who has visited us lately knows that something new is happening at Yo San. But what’s all the buzz about?

Actually, the buzz is about the buzz! With 190 students now actively pursuing their educational goals at Yo San, the level of energy in the class rooms and hallways of our building is something you can feel, hear, and see. We’re busy! We’re buzzing! And it is so exciting to be at this incredible point of growth in Yo San’s history.

Why is our growth so strong? Well, we’d like to think it’s because we deliver the best TCM education in California. And because we have launched our exceptional doctoral program in reproductive medicine. And because we all work so hard! But we also know that our long-standing reputation for excellence and our first-in-the-state pass rate on the CA Licensing Exam are making us the choice of champions. The best and the brightest are choosing Yo San more and more, and this is creating a new awareness of this university and an exciting cycle of growth.

Will we need another building soon? Let’s hope not—we love our building at 13315 W. Washington. But we will need to keep our egos in check and continue to deliver our academic programs with care, integrity, professionalism, and thoughtfulness. We want to be the best and biggest little TCM school in the entire country. We have the knowledge, we have the desire, and we have the people. With your support, we have so much to look forward to!

DAOM Program Receives Scholarship Grant

On Tuesday October 16, 2010 Dessa Schroeder and Howard Wong of California Professional Insurance Services presented to Yo San University DAOM Program Director, Dr. Carola Gehrke, a check for $5000 to be used to support scholarships for students in the Yo San University Doctoral Program. "Cal Pro" as the company is known, is a provider of malpractice insurance for a wide range of health care professionals.

The gift to Yo San, the first of its kind from the Tustin, California based company, was arranged through the company’s subscriber charitable foundation, the Alliance of Healthcare Professionals. Dessa Schroeder explained that the organization "specifically wanted to support the efforts of doctoral level students who have made a special commitment to engage advanced studies to bring them to the highest level of the profession."

The scholarship award check was accepted with great gratitude by YSU President Dr. Larry Ryan, and Dr. Gehrke, who has worked out the application and award criteria for the competitive scholarship awards.

The recipients of the scholarship awards are expected to be announced before the end of December 2010. Both Dr. Ryan and Dr. Gehrke commented on the extraordinary sacrifices in time, income and weekend relaxation that our DAOM candidates make to participate in the YSU doctoral program which is based on an intensive long weekend residency session every month for two years. The opportunity to be considered for this generous scholarship award will be greatly appreciated by all.

The Reflection of the Autumn Tiger

By James Tuggle

Since we are all well within the grasp of the "tiger" right now, we might as well take stock of our situation. Change is the constant of our known universe; with a new trimester underway and fall quickly progressing, now is a good time to reflect on the next 6 months of this year and become aware of all that is happening. Self reflection is the hallmark of the "metal" or fall energy. The first step in actualizing any change is awareness of the problem, disease or obstruction. Self-assessment is key. Once you are aware of a lack of balance or harmony, such as disease, then you have something to work with. Use the metal-mirror of self reflection to see the problem. The next step is to take responsibility for the situation; you have to release all attachments, i.e., mental conditioning which actually begs the question of how to release these attachments.

It’s actually very simple if you understand that the lungs are the seat or center of our metal energy and our breath is the force that can cut through all attachments. So...take it easy, breathe naturally, take a deep breath and exhale. Take another deep breath. And another. This relaxed breathing gives your liver, seat of wood, a new awareness of patience, kindness and appreciation of the natural bounty or harvest of your life. This process of self release gives your heart an ample supply of joy heading into the winter months.

The vernal or autumn equinox has passed and November is already here. Just as nature gives us a change of colors, fall colors, you can also display the change of summer giving rise to the harvest of the fall. You don’t need to travel back east to see the change of colors in the foliage of the trees, just take a trip into your inner landscape and enjoy the true change of colors.

NEW LUMINARY AMBASSADOR Eileen Awe Hupp

We are delighted to welcome Eileen Awe Hupp to the Yo San University administrative team in the role of Development Coordinator and Luminary Ambassador. Eileen replaces Julie Leman, who has moved to a full time fundraising position at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Eileen brings many years of both management and not-for-profit fund raising experience to Yo San. Her background includes progressively responsible positions with organizations such as Marshall Field and Company (Chicago), ExecuNet (Los Angeles), the National Charity League (Palos Verdes Peninsula Chapter) and the Junior League of Los Angeles.

Eileen earned her BA and MA degrees from Johns Hopkins University. She also earned an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from The University of Chicago. At Yo San University, Eileen will work closely with President Larry Ryan to plan and actualize all development efforts including the cultivation of relationships with the members of the University’s Board of Luminaries.

Welcome Eileen!

A NEW GRANT FROM THE GUENTHER FOUNDA TION

In late July 2010, Yo San University was notified that the Henry L. Guenther Foundation has made a Grant to the University to support our partnership activities at the Pediatric Pain Unit at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

The Guenther Foundation is a Century City based private foundation that focuses on organizations that provide health care services. The grant will help cover YSU’s 2010 expenses at CHLA and will assure that the services at CHLA, which have been recently expanded to a second shift, will continue uninterrupted.The Pediatric Pain unit at CHLA, headed by clinical psychologist, Jeffrey Gold, Ph.D., serves primarily underprivileged children who suffer from a wide range of pain symptoms including those arising from conditions such as cancer, fibromyalgia, headaches,musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid conditions and Sickle Cell disease.

Through this program YSU interns at both the master’s and doctoral degree levels gain valuable supervised experience in the use of acupuncture for the treatment of a wide range of pain conditions.Intern supervision at the CHLA site is conducted by YSU Clinical Faculty members Brandon Horn, L.Ac. and Monika Kobylecka, L.Ac.

YSU is forever grateful to the Guenther Foundation for its foresight and generosity in designating the University for this important grant.

THANK YOU to all our fabulous donors!

$10,000
Kelly and George Davis
Mary and Jay Flaherty
Henry L. Guenther Foundation

$5,000 to $9,999
Abdelwahab Boughanmi

Candy and Freddy DeMann

Hong and Mick Heyman

Michael Nadel

Dominic Ng (East West Bank)

Lawrence and Sharon Ryan

Dessa Schroeder (Alliance of Healthcare Professional)

$1,000 to $4,999
Terrie Darafshian and Kambiz Agahnia

Pam and Alan Bergman

Deborah and Jeffrey Chertow

Edith Dume
Mariya Kaznachey

Daoshing and Sum-Yee Wang Ni

Mao Shing and Yan-Yee Wang Ni

David Peskin

Art Repola

Laurie Dolphin and Stuart Shapiro

Tao of Wellness

J. Charles and Anita Theisen

$500 to $999
Reuben and Phyllis Aarongon

John Avildsen

Peter Care

California Bank and Trust
Julie Leman

Neil and Karen Malley

Wei Pang

Donald and Andrea Primack

James Tuggle

$100 to $499
Patrice and John Barber

Tony Best

Steven Carter

Jessica Chen

Margo DeLeaver

Matt and Terry Fowler

Marc Gomez
Gloria Borders and Karen Harding

David Heilig

Ellena Ho

Michelle Ingels

Kesanee Krasaeyan

Tracy Lincenberg

Judy Marlane

Ed Mervine

Sherri Michaels

Ketty Neculescu

Elizabeth Ohm

Mary Phillips (Medical Books for China International)
Paxton Quigley

Ted Amondsen and Adriana Rivera

Barbara Rothman
Sadhna Singh

Coleen Smith

Lauren and Paulina Stomel

Edsel Tan

Steven and Ilyse Teller

James Hankin and Andrea Thorpe

Ilene Weingarten

Up tp $100
Gus Adam

Gayla Gabriel

Monica Gonzalez

Joyce Grim

Monica Hilton

Gabriella Olko

DON FELDER, Legendary Guitarist, Rocks the Grammy Museum

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Don Felder lit up the stage Saturday night, June 5th in a benefit concert for Yo San University School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The four-time Grammy Award winner Felder, best known for the mega-hit song “Hotel California” took the stage for over an hour, serenading the audience with some of The Eagles’ most memorable music, including “Best of My Love”, “Take it Easy”, and, of course,“Hotel California”.

After glowing introductions from Yo San University co-founders Dr. Daoshing Ni and Dr. Mao Shing Ni, and Yo San University President, Dr. Larry Ryan, Don Felder shared personal stories with the audience, talking about his travels from a poor town in Florida where he was born to his years with The Eagles in the bright lights of the global stage.

Then the music started—one hit song after the next—and Felder had the entire audience on their feet, practically drowning him out with their appreciative applause. It was a priceless evening for every guest whose life has been touched by thirty-plus years of Felder’s extraordinary music.

Felder’s down-to-earth charm made every moment precious. Adding to an unforgettable evening of food, drink and brilliant music, Felder donated two guitars from his own personal collection to an end-of-the-evening auction.

All of the proceeds from the auction and the concert will subsidize Yo San University acupuncture outreach programs for their clinical interns. These acupuncture programs are currently taking place at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Being Alive West Hollywood, Premiere Oncology of Santa Monica and the Venice Family Clinic.

Special thanks must go to the Yo San University volunteers who labored to make the evening perfect: Julianne Gardner, Heather Grant, Lae Krasaeyan, Tobe Stacey, Diane Weiss, Ashley Wren, and Bita Yadidi.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Yo San truly rocks!!!

Dr. Mao Shing Ni, Dr. Daoshing Ni, Don Felder and Dominic Ng.

THANK YOU to all our Fabulous Donors for Making our June Event a Smashing Success!

Priceless!

TWO autographed Fender Stratocaster guitars donated by Don Felder

$5,000 to $9,999

Abdelwahab Boughanmi

Michael Nadel

Dominic Ng - East West Bank

Lawrence and Sharon Ryan

$1,000 to $4,999

Terrie Darafshian and Kambiz Agahnia

Pam and Alan Bergman

Deborah and Jeffrey Chertow

Mariya Kaznachey

Daoshing and Sum-Yee Wang Ni

Mao Shing and Yan-Yee Wang Ni

David Peskin

Art Repola

Laurie Dolphin and Stuart Shapiro

Tao of Wellness

J. Charles and Anita Theisen

$500 to $999

Reuben and Phyllis Aarongon

John Avildsen

Peter Care

Julie Leman

Neil and Karen Malley

Wei Pang

Donald and Andrea Primack

James and Pon Tuggle

Lotay Yang

$100 to $499

Tony Best

Steven Carter

Jessica Chen

Margo DeLeaver

Matt and Terry Fowler

Marc Gomez

Gloria Borders and Karen Harding

David Heilig

Michelle Ingels

Kesanee Krasaeyan

Tracy Lincenberg

Judy Marlane

Ed Mervine

Sherri Michaels

Ketty Neculescu

Elizabeth Ohm

Mary Phillips

Paxton Quigley

Ted Amondsen and Adriana Rivera

Barbara Rothman

Sadhna Singh

Coleen Smith

Lauren and Paulina Stomel

Edsel Tan

Steven and Ilyse Teller

James Hankin and Andrea Thorpe

Ilene Weingarten

Proud successful auction bidders of Don Felder's autographed guitar, Abdelwahab Boughanmi and Michael Nadel.

YO SAN UNIVERSITY ENTERS THE FIELD OF RESEARCH

By Larry Ryan Ph.D.

Yo San University currently has two exciting research projects underway. One project has been undertaken with the cooperation of our externship site, Premiere Oncology, in Santa Monica, and the other with our externship site, Being Alive, in West Hollywood.

The projects are designed to assess the impact of acupuncture services in our work with oncology and with HIV positive patients. The proposals for both projects were reviewed and approved by the Yo San University Institutional Review Board to assure that the procedures involved engaged appropriate human subjects ethical consideration. While each project is distinct, the method and procedures for each are similar in that the research data collection will be engaged entirely from the review of existing clinical files. For each project a research protocol/ data entry sheet was designed that includes basic demographic data as well as reported symptoms, number of treatments, acupuncture points used in each treatment and a rating regarding the patient’s self reported status subsequent to the treatment.

Yo San University students have been engaged to complete data collection through a thorough review of the file charts. Standard statistical procedures will be used to analyze the resulting data. Both projects are considered “preliminary” research and do not atempt to incorporate the rigorous controls that are necessary in clinical trials research models.
Nonetheless the findings of these two important research endeavors can pave the way for further, more focused research activities.

YSU EXPANDS ACUPUNCTURE SERVICES AT CHILDRENS HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES

In response to overwhelming requests from patients and physicians, the CHLA-YSU Pediatric Acupuncture Program collaboration has increased its acupuncture services from one half day clinic (4 hours) to two half day clinics twice a week.

Beginning January 2010, one year from its inception, faculty and student interns from YSU have been providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) consultations and acupuncture treatments to patients at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles on Wednesdays and Fridays.

There are also ongoing discussions about opening up a third day/clinic in Fall 2010 if the demand for TCM/acupuncture continues to increase. In addition to clinical services, Program Director Dr. Jeffrey Gold and YSU clinical faculty Dr. Brandon Horn have been invited to present pediatric grand rounds at LA County-USC Medical Center in October 2010.

Yo San University would like to thank all donors and well-wishes for their support for the CHLA-YSU Pediatric Acupuncture Program.

THE WELLNESS STORE

Traditions of Tao is proud to announce the opening of the fabulous new Wellness Store on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. In the stunning new space, visitors will be able to peruse the entire selection of educational courses, including Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Chinese nutrition, herbs, and acupuncture, while sipping a cup of tea in the expansive, sky-lit art gallery.

The first exhibit features the exuberant paintings of local scratch artist Kevin Yborra.

Visitors will also have opportunities to improve their health and well-being by taking Tai Chi and Chi Gong classes with fully certified instructors, as well as attend public lectures on Chinese medicine and related meetings in the large open central atrium.

Visit the Wellness Store at 1412 Fourteenth Street, Santa Monica.

Telephone number: 310-260-0013

SWISS SUMMER INTERNS AT YSU

A group of clinical interns from Tao Chi Schulungszentrum für Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin in Zürich, Switzerland will be in YSU for their summer clinical internship. The group of five students will each spend 4 to 6 weeks this summer at the YSU clinic and offsite training locations to observe the practice of TCM/ Acupuncture; they will also be scheduled to attend select didactic courses and clinical case study sessions to enhance their knowledge of the medicine.

DR. DAOSHING NI AS SPECIALTY CHAIR DAOM

We are extremely excited to announce that Dr. Daoshing Ni has acceptedthe position of Specialty Chair for our new DAOM program in Reproductive Medicine. Given Dr. Dao’s worldwide recognition in the field of TCM Reproductive Medicine we feel that his position will give the Yo San University Doctoral Program extraordinary visibility and support. More news will follow…

THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE TAO

Mao Shing Ni, D.O.M., Ph.D, L.Ac.

As students of Traditional Chinese Medicine we learn that illness is theresult of pathogenic energy from the outside and negative energy from the inside. These two forces are the natural enemies of health and wellness. As healers, it is so important that we seek to cultivate positive emotional-spiritual energy within and strong protective energy without in order to achieve health, well being and harmony. We must also share what we know with those we are caring for. This is a fundamental Taoist concept, looking at both the ‘within’ and the ‘without.’