Click on a speaker's name or scroll down to learn more!
| Debra Betts | Jake Fratkin |
| David Bray | Holly Guzman |
| Lillian Bridges | Yair Maimon |
| Ken Cohen | Jason Robertson |
| Peter Firebrace | David Twicken |
Debra Betts, NZRN, BHSc (Acupuncture)
COMS welcomes Debra as a first time speaker at our symposium. As an internationally recognized expert in fertility, Debra is one of our off-continent speakers, traveling great distances to share her knowledge with us.
With a background in nursing Debra graduated with a Diploma in Acupuncture from the London College of Acupuncture in 1989. Returning to New Zealand in 1991 she established a private practice specialising in pregnancy and women’s health care.
As a lecturer at the New Zealand School of Acupuncture she began teaching acupuncture courses to midwives in 1997. This led to her website on using acupressure for pain relief in childbirth and the publication of articles on the use of acupuncture in obstetric practice. Her book "The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth" was published through The Journal of Chinese Medicine in 2006, with a German translation following in 2009. She has since worked with the Journal of Chinese Medicine to present a DVD on the use of acupressure for pain relief in labour for the general public.
She currently and lectures internationally on the use of obstetric acupuncture, acts as a supervisor for the New Zealand School of Acupuncture at a hospital antenatal acupuncture clinic and is undertaking PhD research through the University of Western Sydney examining the effect of acupuncture on threatened miscarriage. She resides in Wellington New Zealand with her family.
Http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz
David A. Bray, CMD, D.Ac., Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)
David Bray trained at and graduated from the Guangzhou University of TCM in 1980. He did his post-graduate studies in TCM Gynecology at Hunan Regional Hospital in Hunan.
David is active in the development of regulatory standards for TCM. He has been a student and instructor of Chinese internal martial arts and therapeutic exercise for over 30 years.
David will teach Friday morning Qi Gong at COMS - a tradition since our first year.
Lillian Bridges
Lillian Pearl Bridges is an internationally renowned author and lecturer whose fresh approach to integrated conscious living has helped thousands of clients unleash their spiritual potential and transform their lives. At the core of Lillian's teachings is the belief that each of us can rediscover who we are through Face Reading; that you can find your soul's purpose through Golden Path workshops; and you can align your life and your surroundings through 5 Element Feng Shui to support your future self. Her latest work involves a reinterpretation of ancient Taoist alchemy that gives insight into rejuvenation and longevity. For the past 25 years, her insights, warmth and humor have captivated audiences worldwide as she has championed for personal and corporate well being using a practical how-to methodology.
A Professor of Oriental Philosophy and Medicine, Lillian learned her skills from a long line of Chinese practitioners in her family. She received her formal education at UCLA, where she earned her degree in psychology. Lillian is considered the leading expert in Face Reading and trains students from around the world and consults with major corporations and has been featured on numerous television and radio stations including NBC, ABC and Lifetime, and in national publications such as Newsweek, Natural Health Magazine, the LA Times and the Irish Times. A contributor to several books on Chinese Medicine, her own book, Face Reading in Chinese Medicine was published by Churchill Livingstone in 2003 and has been translated into German and Italian.
As a previous speaker for COMS, Lillian's delightful and insightful talks are memorable highlights of the weekend. Lillian may also join in with some singing at our COMS reception on Saturday night!
Kenneth Cohen, M.A.
COMS is very excited to welcome Ken who is a renowned health educator and master of qigong and Tai Chi with more than 40 years experience. A former collaborator with Alan Watts and principal apprentice to Taoist Abbot Huang Gengshi, he is the author of The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing (Ballantine Books), Taoism: Essential Teachings (Sounds True), and more than 200 journal articles.
Ken was the first qigong teacher to lecture in North American medical schools and to treat physician-referred patients. His work has been sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, Health Canada, and numerous universities. In 2003, Ken won the leading international award in energy medicine, the Alyce and Elmer Green Award for Innovation and Lifetime Achievement. For more information on Ken see his website at www.kennethcohen.com
Peter Firebrace
COMS welcomes Peter Firebrace to his debut lecture in Canada. Peter is a dynamic speaker who has been on the European lecture circuit for many years. Well loved and recognized as a star of TCM we are very excited to have him share his knowledge and experience with us. Peter studied acupuncture at the International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM) in England (1980-83), the European School of Acupuncture in France and the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chengdu, China. He has also studied Chinese language and philosophy with the Ricci Institute in Paris. Past Principal of ICOM, he was a co-founder of Monkey Press, publishing the Chinese Medicine from the Classics series with Claude Larre and Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée.
Co-author of A Guide to Acupuncture, he has produced a series of educational DVDs on The Roots of Chinese Medicine, The Jingluo Meridian Network and The Circle of Ren and Du Mai. He has also recently made an album of songs and music videos on Daoist and Chinese medical themes entitled Sea Gong. He teaches widely and practises acupuncture in London. Peter will also be performing a selection of songs for us at our COMS reception on Saturday!
Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD, L.Ac.
COMS welcomes Jake back to Vancouver! As a previous speaker for COMS, he was well appreciated for his straight-to-the-goods lecture style. As a seasoned practitioner he offers immediately useful clinical information and practical strategies freely and frequently.
Jake trained in Korean and Japanese acupuncture since 1975, and Chinese herbal medicine since 1982. He spent a year in Beijing hospitals specializing in internal disorders and pediatrics. Dr. Fratkin is the author of Chinese Herbal Patent Medicines, The Clinical Desk Reference, a compendium of 1250 Chinese herbal products available in the United States, and the editor-organizer of Wu and Fischer’s Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Paradigm Publications, 1997.
He is the recipient of ACUPUNCTURIST OF THE YEAR, 1999, by the AAAOM and TEACHER OF THE YEAR, 2006, American Association of Teachers of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AATAOM). Jake lives and practices in Boulder, Colorado.
Holly Guzman, L.Ac.
COMS welcomes back Holly who graces us with her presence every few years. As a highly successful clinician, Holly offers clinically proven strategies and protocols to her students. She is a very popular lecturer known for giving 110% to her classes. Having distilled and taught for many years, practitioners will get hands on training from one of North America’s best.
Holly began her acupuncture studies in 1972 at age 13 in Afghanistan. At age 17, in 1977, she traveled to mainland China to study, observing acupuncture anesthesia, herbal formulas, community health systems, and a deaf mute school daily acupuncture treatment program for student recovery. By her early 20s, she completed clinical apprenticeships under the directions of Ted Kapchuk, Efrem Korngold, Yat Ki Lai, Miriam Lee, and Kiiko Matsumoto. She then completed her doctorate in TCM in China in 1988, and has been teaching at Five Branches University since 1984.
Dr. Yair Maimon OMD, Ph.D., AC. (Ramat Gan/Israel)
COMS welcomes Dr. Maimon, one of three speakers travelling great distances to speak for us this year. Yair is known internationally for his passion and deep knowledge of acupuncture and TCM. His presentation this year will present key information about childhood traumas that impact an individual over a lifetime and as a result will be essential knowledge for practitioners to hear.
Being an eternal student of Chinese medicine over the last 25years Yair was privileged to study with the best teachers all around the world and graduate from schools in England, Holland, USA, China. Studying different approaches of Chinese medicine such as: “5 Elements”, TCM, Stems and Branches, Japanese Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, and studies of ancient texts has given him a very comprehensive understanding of TCM. In addition Yair did postgraduate specialization in: pediatrics, gynecology and oncology. Yair is the head of the Israeli center for Research in Complementary Medicine (NPO), chairman of the International Congress of Chinese Medicine in Israel (ICCM), head of "Refuot" Integrative Medical Center, head of the Integrative Cancer Research - Tal center in Sheba Hospital, lecturer at Medical Psychology at Tel Aviv university, head of the Complementary Medicine Unit at the Sourasky Medical Center (Hospital) Tel Aviv involved in research and the treatments of hospitalized and out-patients. He lectures worldwide, and is devoted to treating patients along with all his other activities.
Jason Robertson, L.Ac.
Jason D. Robertson is a Licensed Acupuncturist and educator in Seattle, WA USA. Mr. Robertson spent 8 years studying Chinese language and medicine in Taiwan and China (B.A. Washington and Lee University, Taiwan National University, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Cui Yue Li Institute Beijing). Mr. Robertson is the author of articles on acupuncture channel theory and palpatory diagnostic techniques. In 2008, along with Professor Wang Ju-Yi (王居易) he co-authored Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine (Eastland Press, Seattle). Besides his work as a clinician and author, Mr. Robertson is a member of the core faculty at the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine and teaches palpation techniques in schools and seminars around the world.
David Twicken, DOM, L.Ac.
COMS welcomes back David as a speaker. His fluid and easy going manner creates an easy to absorb stream of learning. In addition, David's ability to clarify complex topics makes him a sought after lecturer.
A faculty member at Chinese Medical Schools since 1994, Dr. Twicken has taught acupuncture courses, philosophy of oriental medicine, tai chi chuan, medical qi gong, feng shui, I Ching, Chinese astrology and medical history. David specializes in the Daoist Arts and has written a variety of books, including Treasures of Tao, Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Introduction to Qi Men Dun Jia, Chinese Medical Astrology and I Ching Acupuncture, The Balance Method. David teaches Daoist arts and medical qi gong CEU classes to licensed practitioners and the general public and is in private practice in Los Angles, California. He is a columnist for Acupuncture Today.com
David can be reached at: www.healingqi.com
Articles by David Twicken can be found by clicking here.
