Master’s Degree Program Faculty:
Core Faculty:
Nancy Bierma: MSOM, L.Ac. (Minnesota) is the clinic Director of the American Academy of Health and Wellness. She attended the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in Bloomington, MN, and earned her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine in 2001. Ms. Bierma has maintained a private acupuncture practice since 2001. She served as a clinic supervisor for NWHSU for twenty years, and has also served as a faculty clinician for NWHSU students at Woodwinds Natural Cure Center in Woodbury, MN and HIghland Natural Care Center in St. Paul, MN.
Wei Cheng: Ph.D. (China), M.D. (China), MBA (Thailand), L.Ac. (Minnesota) is the Director of AAHW’s Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program, and is an instructor for AAHW’s master’s degree programs. He graduated from Gansu College of Traditional Chinese Medicine with an MD degree in traditional Chinese medicine, then worked for ten years at Gansu College’s affiliated teaching hospital as a registered doctor, specializing in traditional Chinese medicine practice. Dr. Cheng left hospital work to pursue an MBA degree at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, with a special focus on the management of health care facilities. Dr. Cheng returned to his primary field of Chinese medicine to receive a Ph.D. degree from Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in the area of classical Chinese medicine. Since 2013, Dr. Cheng has worked in the U.S. as an instructor of traditional Chinese medicine and as a licensed acupuncture practitioner.
Yubin Lu: Ph.D. (China), M.D. (China), L.Ac. (Minnesota) is the Academic Dean of the American Academy of Health and Wellness. He received his medical training at the Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, earning a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Ph.D. degree in traditional Chinese medicine. He has served as an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the U.S., Dr. Lu served as the Academic Dean at the American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for fifteen years, and as a professor at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Lu’s academic specialties include Chinese medicine theory, Chinese herbal medicine, classical Chinese medicine texts, and pulse diagnosis. In addition to being a gifted instructor, Dr. Lu pursues research on the application of acupuncture and Chinese medicine to the most commonly-seen health conditions, and he is the author of more than seventy books in this field. Dr. Lu’s flair for teaching and comprehensive knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine attracts many acupuncture and TCM graduate students to his courses and seminars.
Xiping Zhou: M.D. (China), L.Ac. (Wisconsin) is the President of the American Academy of Health and Wellness. He received his baccalaureate and master’s degrees in acupuncture from Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Harbin, China. As an acupuncture practitioner for over 25 years, Dr. Zhou has helped thousands of people through his comprehensive healing program which incorporates acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and therapeutic Chinese massage. Dr. Zhou also has extensive experience as an educator. He founded East West Healing Arts Institute in 2000, serving as its President and faculty member for over 20 years.
Faculty:
Matthew Dorfman: MSAOM, L.Ac. (Minnesota) received a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Racine, WI. He is a practicing acupuncturist in Minnesota, and is currently completing a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree at the American Academy of Health and Wellness.
Thomas Finnegan: D.C., M.B.A., M.S.M. earned his Doctor in Chiropractic from Northwestern Chiropractic College in 1989 and went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Administration in 2010, and a Master of Science of Management in Healthcare Management in 2013. Additional education and honors include: Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress; Diplomate, American Association of Integrative Medicine; and Fellow, American Board of Disability Analysts. He has also served in the United States Air Force as a medical laboratory technician. Dr. Finnegan has been a local and national guest lecturer on the topics of insurance fraud and educational success. Dr. Finnegan practiced chiropractic medicine on Long Island, New York for 16 years while also investigating medical insurance fraud. In 2004 he returned to Minnesota as a full-time educator. Dr. Finnegan maintains a small active chiropractic practice.
Jun Xiao: M.D. (China), MSAOM, L.Ac. (Minnesota) has a distinguished 30-year career in integrative medicine, with an extensive background in cancer research. She received an M.D. degree and a Master of Science, Microbiology & Immunology from Shandong University in Jinan, China. Between 1994 and 2010 Dr. Xiao worked as a research associate or staff scientist at the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and Parker Hughes Institute and Cancer Center. In 2018, Dr. Xiao earned a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from the American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She currently practices as a licensed acupuncturist at her clinic in St. Paul, MN.
Siming Yang: M.D. (China), L.Ac. (Minnesota) graduated from the Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine with an M.D. degree in traditional Chinese Medicine in 1982. In 1988, Dr. Yang received his Master’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine under the guidance of Professor Xiao Zuotao, a recognized expert in traditional Chinese medicine. Dr. Yang also served as Chief Director and Associate Professor at the Hunan University of TCM. He has contributed extensive publications to journals of Chinese medicine in the areas of clinical observations, experimental research, and the theory of Chinese medicine. Dr. Yang has co-authored several textbooks which are used in Chinese medical schools in China. In the U.S., Dr. Yang has more than twenty years’ experience as a researcher, TCM instructor, clinic supervisor, and acupuncture practitioner.
