Academic Leadership

Program Director, Department of Research Director

Prior to beginning his career in integrative medicine, Dr. Finnell completed a Master’s of Science in environmental engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.  He subsequently earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and a Master’s of Science in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine from Bastyr University in addition to a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington.  Dr. Finnell has completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and served as the acting Director of Research for the True North Health Foundation. He has lead and...

Program Director, Director of Clinical Education, Academic Advisor

Lesley is the program director for the Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree program, as well as the Director of Clinical Education. Lesley maintains a clinical practice at AOMA's Professional Clinic South in addition to teaching Chinese materia medica, Chinese herbal treatment of disease, and ethics and legal issues courses and supervising in the student clinics at AOMA.  Her mission in life is to provide support and opportunities for others to excel - patients, students, colleagues, friends, and family. Lesley is actively pursuing the doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine degree at AOMA and expects to graduate in 2016. Lesley's...

Assistant Director of Clinics and Programs

Blake earned a Bachelor & Master degrees in biology from Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, TX. She later obtained a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM), in Tempe, AZ. Blake fell in love with acupuncture while at SCNM, and after graduation, continued her education at AOMA and earned a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree. She enjoys incorporating a variety of natural therapies like: acupuncture, cupping, food therapy, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and supplementation to equip each patient with the tools they need to achieve their level of wellness.

Dean of Academics

Dr. Yuxin He’s expertise as a teacher and practitioner enriches the learning experience of AOMA students and his contributions to both community and to the larger profession embody the institution’s commitment to excellence.  In addition to his considerable interaction with the larger profession at the national level, Dr. He serves AOMA as Dean of Academics and as a senior faculty member in the Herbal Studies Department.  Dr. He is an award-winning researcher whose contributions to the profession are numerous and substantive.  He is the author of eight books on Chinese medicine and has published a number of scholarly articles in respected...

Director, Department of Herbal Studies

Dongxin Ma’s scholarly preparation for his entry into the profession is noteworthy.  Ma studied under Professor Mianzhi Wang, a renowned 19th generation Chinese medicine expert who specialized in Chinese herbal formulas. As an educator and clinical expert in both acupuncture and Chinese herbology, Ma has published numerous research papers and books, and he has participated as a presenter in several international conferences in the field. Ma practiced Oriental medicine and taught foreign students in China and Sweden for more than eight years before coming to the United States.  He has been an AOMA faculty member since 1999.

Director, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Raja Mandyam obtained membership of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1974 and held a consultant post at Medway Hospital in Kent, England, where he specialized in intensive care. He has worked worldwide and has held consultant physician positions in England, India, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia. He taught for more than 10 years at a medical school in Bangalore, India. Dr. Mandyam is interested in the adaptation of modern medicine for trans-cultural settings and in extending healthcare teaching at all levels. In 1998, he was elected to the fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of London. He has been an AOMA faculty member since 2000.

Vice President of Faculty

Qianzhi Wu began his acupuncture studies as the apprentice of a veteran “barefoot doctor” in China, later enrolling for seven years of systematic training within the state hospital system. Dr. Wu’s experience, as an educator and in service to the profession, is considerable. Over a ten-year period, he taught acupuncture, Chinese bodywork, foundations of Chinese medicine, and Chinese medical qigong as an associate professor at one of the three oldest and most prestigious TCM universities in China, the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).. He was also a chief acupuncturist at Chengdu University’s teaching hospital. From 1987...

Director, Department of Acupuncture

Zheng Zeng practiced at the Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University where she taught both Chinese and foreign students for more than eight years. She also taught in Tel-Aviv, Israel. She is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a clinical specialty in women’s health (including fertility problems, menstrual disorders, and menopausal issues). Zeng, whose research activity is extensive and substantive, participated in clinical research on the treatment of diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis with herbs and acupuncture. She has also investigated and published papers and books on subjects such as the treatment of psycho-emotional diseases with acupuncture and the...