Academics :: Faculty :: Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine of NYCC

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Faculty

Arar, Ilija Associate Professor Basic Sciences Phone: 315-568-3082 Email: iarar@nycc.edu - D.C., New York Chiropractic College, 2000 - M.Ed., Syracuse University, 2006 - B.S., McMaster University, 1994
Biosketch: Dr. Ilija Arar graduated from McMaster University in 1994 with a degree in Honors Biology. He worked as an analytical chemist for Fine Analysis Laboratories in Hamilton, Ontario where he was responsible for monitoring oil and water soluble vitamin concentrations in most commercially available neutraceutical preparations on the market today. Dr. Arar matriculated at New York Chiropractic College in 1997, and was hired by the college immediately following graduation in 2001. In 2006 he received a Master’s of Science in College Education from Syracuse University. He is currently employed full time as an assistant professor instructing classes in human gross anatomy as well as physiopathology for both the D.C. and AOM programs. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he has also conducted research in the area of musculoskeletal physiology, with an emphasis on elucidating models of inflammation as well as physiological effects of manual therapy on skeletal muscle.

Barr, Deborah A. Professor Basic Sciences Phone: 315-568-3217 Email: dbarr@nycc.edu - Sc.D., Boston University, 1988 - M.S., Texas A & M University, 1982 - B.S., Colorado State University, 1979
Biosketch: Dr. Barr is a Professor in the Department of Basic Sciences at New York Chiropractic College, providing instruction to the professional degree programs of New Your Chiropractic College and the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Her doctorate is in Applied Anatomy and Physiology from Boston University, and earned a Master’s of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Bachelors of Science from Colorado State University. Dr. Barr has been a full time faculty member at NYCC since 1991, was the Departmental Chair for seven years, and has teaching responsibilities in neuroanatomy laboratories, musculoskeletal physiopathology and the physiology course series in the AOM program. Dr. Barr is a member of the American Physiological Society and professionally has been very active in medical education as she is a charter member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators, served two terms as Secretary and as a member of the Board of Directors of IAMSE. Faculty CV

Easton, Darlene Associate Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3107 Email: deaston@nycc.edu - BPS/ MS, New York College of Health Professions, 2002 - BPS/ MS, New York College of Health Professions, 2000 - M.S., New York Chiropractic College, 2011 - B.A., SUNY Stony Brook, 1989 - A.A., SUNY Farmingdale, 1987
Biosketch: Darlene Easton M.S., L.Ac, NCCAOM Diplomate Oriental Medicine, Assistant Professor and Practitioner of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has been teaching and in practice since 1998. Ms. Easton received her undergraduate degree from Stoneybrook University in 1992 and her Master’s in Oriental Medicine from the New York College of Health Professions in 1998. As part of her undergraduate education, Ms. Easton spent over one year studying Chinese Language at Nankai University, Tianjin, and People’s Republic of China. Since earning her Master’s degree, she visits China yearly, leading student educational programs and taking time to further her own studies in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Ms. Easton has earned multiple post-graduate and advanced training certificates in Oriental Medicine from the prestigious Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and from Zhejiang University’s Provincial Hospital in Hangzhou. She brings this knowledge and experience to the classroom and to her patients, furthering both the education and practice of OM in the United States. Ms. Easton is a full-time faculty at the New York Chiropractic College’s, School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She teaches courses in basic and advanced Oriental Medicine Theory, Clinical Skills, Eastern Diet and Nutrition and has served as a supervisor of student interns in the College’s integrative and hospital clinics. She has a well established private practice at the Seneca Falls Integrative Health Center.

Ergil, Kevin V. Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3211 Email: kergil@nycc.edu - M.A., University of Washington, 1986 - M.S., American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1989 - B.A., University of California, 1983
Biosketch: Mr. Kevin V. Ergil is an Associate Professor at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine of NYCC. He has been a practicing acupuncturist (licensed in New York and California), and herbalist since 1990. His research and clinical interests have extended into the areas of chronic immunodeficiency disorders, women’s health, and harm reduction acupuncture. He was co-chair of the Overview Panel for the Workshop on Acupuncture sponsored by NIH in 1994 and presented on Acupuncture Licensure, Training, and Certification in the United States at the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture in 1997. He has served as a director of the Society for Acupuncture Research. His current interests include safety and efficacy issues related to single substance phytopharmacy, drug-herb interaction and toxicity issues in Chinese herbal medicine, and the assessment of clinical outcomes in complementary and alternative therapies. Mr. Ergil is a past president of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, San Francisco (1990-1992) and the founding Dean of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York Campus (1992-1998). He was Director of Research and Chair of the Department of Acupuncture at the New York College for Health Professions. From 2000 – 2006 he was the Director of the Graduate Program in Oriental Medicine in the School of Health Sciences at Touro College (2000-2006). He was awarded the title Founding Director of the Touro College GPOM in 2006. As a representative to the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from 1991 to 2000 he chaired the Research Information Committee and the Core Curriculum Committee. At the FLSAOM Mr. Ergil teaches courses in Oriental Medicine Theory & Diagnosis, Acupuncture Techniques, Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Prepared Medicines, Medical Research and Botanical Medicine & Chinese Medicine Pharmacognosy & Toxicology. Mr. Ergil has published extensively in a variety of areas. Most recently he has completed 3 chapters, for the 4th Edition of Fundamentals of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He has recently completed, with his wife, the Pocket Atlas of Chinese Medicine (2009), and he and his wife are currently working on a textbook titled Classical Acupuncture Therapeutics.

Ergil, Marnae C. Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3685 Email: mergil@nycc.edu - M.A., University of Washington, 1988 - M.S., Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 1999 - B.A., Middlebury College, 1985
Biosketch: Marnae C. Ergil is a Professor at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Her interest in China dates to 1981 when she began studying Chinese language at Middlebury College, where she received her BA in East Asian Studies. Ms. Ergil received her Master’s degree in Anthropology in 1989 and was funded by the National Academy of Sciences to study the education of practitioners of Chinese medicine in China. From 1991 – 92 she lived and studied in Tianjin, China where she attended the 1st year of Chinese medical school, completing her coursework in Chinese. She received her Master’s in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. While a student at PCOM, Professor Ergil translated Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, published by Churchill Livingstone. She is also the co-author of the Pocket Atlas of Chinese Medicine, published by Thieme Publications, and the co-translator of Jiao Shu-De’s Ten Lectures on the Use of Chinese Medicinals published by Paradigm Publications. She has also published in numerous journals. She has been teaching at schools of Chinese medicine in the United States since 1989. Professor Ergil has taught courses in Chinese Medical Classics (On Cold Disease Shang Han Lun; Warm Disease Theory Wen Bing; Classic on the Spleen & Stomach Pi Wei Lun), Fundamental Theory, Diagnostic Methods, Pattern Identification, Channels & Points, Channel Theory, Case Studies, Disease Patterns and Materia Medica. At the Finger Lakes School of Oriental Medicine, she teaches in all areas of the program. Professor Ergil was the Chair of the Dept. of Oriental Medicine and the Clinic Director at the New York College of Health Sciences and the Chair of the Acupuncture Dept. at Touro College. At the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine she served as the Academic Coordinator. Professor Ergil has had an active private practice in New York since 1997. She has received advanced clinical training in Chinese medicine dermatology, acupuncture in labor and delivery and the treatment of infertility. At the FLSAOM she practices in the Seneca Falls Health Center. While her practice is a general practice, she specializes in the treatment of children, gynecological conditions and skin conditions. Faculty CV

Isacks, Bryan L. Instructor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3113 Email: bisacks@nycc.edu - M.S., New York Chiropractic College, 2007 - B.A., North Carolina School of Arts, 1998
Biosketch: Mr. Bryan Isacks, L.Ac. graduated from NYCC’s School of AOM with an M.S. in Acupuncture in 2007, and completed his M.S. in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2008. He was the recipient of the Golden Needle Award, as well as the Award for Clinical Excellence in the M.S.A. program. Mr. Isacks has been in private practice outside of Ithaca, NY since the summer of 2007, and currently maintains a forty patient per week caseload. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine of NYCC where he teaches Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong and assists in Channels & Points and Acupuncture Techniques. Mr. Isacks lives in Ovid, NY with his wife Andrea, his daughter Sophie, his son Ryder and too many dogs.

Li, Aizhong Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3177 Email: ali@nycc.edu - Ph.D., Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008 - M.Sc., Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1984 - B.Sc., Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1978
Biosketch: Dr. Aizhong Li is currently a Professor and a fulltime faculty member at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine of New York Chiropractic College. Dr. Li received her Chinese medicine education from the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine (HLJUCM) in China from 1976 – 1984. After that, she was appointed as a full time faculty in HLJUCM, engaged in research, teaching and practice. As a key research member for the project of “Liver Qi Stagnation and Its Biomedicine Substance”, she participated in many group projects and completed the final write up. In 1989, the project received the Highest Prize from the Chinese Medicine Bureau of Heilongjiang Province. In 1992, she was a visiting scholar at Brown University. From 1993 to 1996, she was a senior postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School. In 1997, Aizhong worked in The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine of Canada and Shiatsu School of Canada in Toronto as an adjunctive faculty to teach TCM, meanwhile she had private practice as a TCM holistic practitioner in Toronto; from 1998 to 2004, she worked as a full time faculty member in the 4-year acupuncture diplomate program of The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences (TMI) and also served as an acupuncture clinic supervisor in the Wasser Pain Management Center of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Canada. In 2004 she was appointed to the faculty of New York Chiropractic College teaching many TCM courses. Additionally, she has served as a faculty clinician at the college’s outpatient health center acupuncture clinic in Rochester at the Lifetime Care facility. She has published more than 30 papers and books in both Chinese and English and presented in many national and international conferences. Dr. Li has also given television presentations about Acupuncture and chronic pain in Toronto Canada. Dr. Li has pursued her TCM career for her whole life. She earned her Ph.D. from HLJUCM in 2008 as an international student. She enjoys teaching and practicing TCM. Her goal is to introduce Chinese medicine to the whole world to benefit people’s health and wellbeing. Faculty CV

LoFaro-O'Neill, Colleen E. Assistant Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: (716) 685-9631 Email: coneill@nycc.edu - M.Ac., New England School of Acupuncture, 2000 - B.A., SUNY Buffalo, 1993 - B.S., SUNY Buffalo, 1993
Biosketch: Ms. Colleen LoFaro-O’Neill, Assistant Professor at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine of NYCC, is an experienced acupuncture practitioner. She has studied Traditional Chinese and Japanese styles including traditional meridian therapy, Kiiko style, non-insertive styles of Hari and Shakuju, and shonishin a non-insertive pediatric acupuncture therapy. Ms. LoFaro-O’Neill received her Master of Acupuncture degree from the New England School of Acupuncture. Upon graduation she was the recipient of the Tsay Fellowship, a distinguished award for Excellence in Acupuncture. Following graduation, Ms. Lo-Faro-O’Neill served as a Teaching Assistant and the Student Affairs Coordinator at the New England School of Acupuncture. Ms. LoFaro-O’Neill has continued to study under various masters of acupuncture both in the United States and in Japan. Additionally, she has completed clinical training at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the People’s Republic of China. As a full-time clinical faculty member at NYCC, Ms. LoFaro-O’Neill serves as a supervising clinician and teaches classes in Integrative Medical Practices, Meridians and Points, Advanced Clinical Skills, and Physics. Faculty CV

Taromina, Katherine M. Associate Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3318 Email: ktaromina@nycc.edu - M.S., Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 1999 - B.A., New York University, 1991
Biosketch: Ms. Taromina is an Associate Professor and full-time faculty member with the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Ms. Taromina has over 10 years of clinical and teaching experience. She previously served with Touro College’s School of Health Sciences (2001-2010) as Academic Coordinator, full-time faculty and subsequently as Program Director for the Graduate Program in Oriental Medicine. Most recently, she was appointed and served as Associate Dean. Ms. Taromina has served as a faculty member and Department Chair of Clinical Practice at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, NY (1999-2001). She received her Bachelor degree from New York University and her Master’s in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, NY. Ms. Taromina maintains an affiliation as an acupuncturist for the Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer at Columbia University Medical Center, NY. She is a co-author of various publications and is actively engaged in clinical research activities relating to the use of acupuncture with pediatric oncology patients. Ms. Taromina serves as President for the New York Acupuncture Coalition, Inc.(NYSAC), an Advisory Board member to the Acupuncture Society of New York (ASNY) and as a member of the Clinical Working Group of the Academic Consortium for Complementary & Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC).

Thomadaki, Maria Assistant Professor Basic Sciences Phone: 315-568-3236 Email: mthomadaki@nycc.edu - D.C., New York Chiropractic College, 1994 - B.S., Regents College, 1994
Biosketch: Dr. Thomadaki earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at New York Chiropractic College in 1994. She attended graduate courses in Neuroscience at the Health Science Centre at SUNY Syracuse. She then practiced in Greece before coming back to NYCC. Since 1999 she has been the lead of the Neuroscience I and II courses for the Chiropractic program and the Neuroanatomy course for the Acupuncture program. She served as the Dean of Basic Sciences from 2008 to 2011. Faculty CV

Wright, Jason A. Dean of the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine/Associate Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3268 Email: jwright@nycc.edu - M.S., Bastyr University, 1996 - B.S., Bastyr University, 1995
Biosketch: Mr. Wright is an Associate Professor & the Dean of the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine of New York Chiropractic College. He has served as a faculty member in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs at Bastyr University and the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine. He earned his B.S. in Natural Health Sciences, with an Oriental Medicine major (1994), and his Master of Science in Acupuncture degree (1996) from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. Following graduation, Mr. Wright served as the first AOM Clinical Resident at the Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic, as well as serving as their AOM Clinical Coordinator and Herb Dispensary Manager. He has established and maintained acupuncture practices in Seattle, Wa, Cortland, NY, Carbondale, CO and Seneca Falls, NY. As a full-time faculty member at the Finger Lakes School, he has taught in both the classroom and in the clinic. He is an experienced clinical supervisor, point location and herb teacher and has developed lab courses on Chinese herbs, including preparation of tinctures, ointments, washes, and medicinal foods. Additionally, he has designed and developed the Chinese medicinal herb garden on the Seneca Falls campus. As Dean, he currently oversees administration of the School and its clinical engagements. On a national level, Mr. Wright is the chair of the Herbal Committee for the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and serves as an at-large member of the Council's Executive Committee. He is a member of the Clinical Working Group of the Academic Consortium for Complementary & Alternative Health Care whose mission is to promote mutual understanding, collaborative activities and interdisciplinary health care education. He is an active member of the American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine and the Acupuncture Society of New York. Faculty CV

Zhang, Qunce Assistant Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3172 Email: qzhang@nycc.edu - M.S., Charles Sturt University, 2008 - B.Sc., Beijing University of Chinese Medicine & Pharmacology, 1985
Biosketch: Ms. Qunce Zhang (Queenie) has been at NYCC since 2006. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience working in the field of TCM Education. Ms. Zhang graduated in 1985 from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology, a top TCM University in China, where she studied Chinese herbal medicine for five years. She then spent the following year training in advanced acupuncture at the Shaanxi TCM College. She received her Master’s Degree in Research Methodology of Complementary Medicine from The Charles Sturt University, Australia. She is currently pursuing her PhD study on the Standardization of TCM diagnosis with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology. She has worked as an attending physician in the acupuncture department of a teaching hospital affiliated with the Provincial TCM and Pharmacology Institute. During that time, she also had the pleasure of training Japanese students for five years, as chief instructor and translator, at the International Acupuncture Training Center. In 1996, Ms. Zhang moved to U.S. and obtained her national certificates in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. In 1999, she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she taught and supervised at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences, the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, and the Toronto School of TCM. Ms. Zhang has been involved in many seminars and national/international TCM conferences. She has several well respected publications in the area of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Currently, Ms. Zhang is a board member of the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Society (ATCMS). As a full-time faculty member at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Ms. Zhang teaches Chinese Materia Medica, Formulas, Acupuncture Techniques, Disease Patterns, Clinical Chinese Herbology, Chinese Herbal Medicine Case Studies and Advanced TCM Diagnosis. She also supervises student interns at the Campus Health Center. She specializes in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases with both acupuncture and herbal medicine. Her students’ hunger for TCM feeds her passion for teaching and knowledge sharing.

McDaniel, Douglas C. Acupunture and Oriental Medicine Clinic Director/Adjunct Assistant Professor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3212 Email: dmcdaniel@nycc.edu - M.S., Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 1993 - B.A., Fordham University, 1981
Biosketch: Mr. McDaniel has been teaching and practicing Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine since 1994. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, College at Lincoln Center and a Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MTOM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego and is licensed to practice acupuncture in NY and CA. Upon graduation from PCOM, Mr. McDaniel joined the faculty of PCOM’s Manhattan campus teaching courses across the curriculum and serving as Director of Health Services. In 1996, Mr. McDaniel joined the founding faculty of the Mercy College Graduate Program in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, where he served as Associate Program Director and Acting Program Director until 2003. While at Mercy College, Mr. McDaniel collaborated on the development and implementation of clinical training programs at Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle, NY and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY and served as a member of the college’s Institutional Review Board for human subject research. In 2007, Mr. McDaniel joined the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as an adjunct assistant professor and supervising clinician helping to establish the school’s current clinical training program at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Canandaigua, NY. Currently at FLSAOM, he is the AOM Clinic Director and is engaged in teaching courses focusing on pain management, point location and usage, and materia medica. Mr. McDaniel is the author and co-author of various publications and maintains a private practice in New York City.

Migliore, Michael J. Adjunct Instructor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3205 Email: mmigliore@nycc.edu - BPS, Tri-State College of Acupuncture, 1999 - M.S., Tri-State College of Acupuncture, 1999 - B.S., St. John's University, 1983 -


Murante, Julie R. Adjunct Instructor Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: Email: jmurante@nycc.edu - M.S., New York Chiropractic College, 2006 - B.S., Castleton State College, 1994
Biosketch: Julie Murante has been a practicing Acupuncturist (licensed in NY) since 2006. Ms. Murante earned her undergraduate degree from Castleton State College in 1994. She earned her Master’s in Acupuncture in 2006, and her Master’s in Oriental Medicine in 2007 from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Upon graduating, Ms. Murante joined the FLSAOM’s faculty as an Instructor. She currently manages the Chinese Herbal Dispensary, assists as a Clinical Supervisor, teaches Points and Meridians, and assists in Clinical Skills and Oriental Medicine Theory. Ms Murante also maintains a private practice at the Seneca Falls Integrative Health Center. She has done trainings in Detox at the Lincoln Hill Hospital in the Bronx, NY and has worked at the Finger Lakes Addiction Crisis Referral Agency in Clifton Springs, NY and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Canandaigua, NY. She is also one of the Co-founders of Rochester Community Acupuncture in Rochester, NY. In 2007, she completed an internship at the Zhejiang University’s Provincial Hospital in Hangzhou, China. In addition to acupuncture, Ms. Murante is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a raw food nutrition specialist.

Ruf, Matthew T. Graduate Associate Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Phone: 315-568-3205 Email: mruf@nycc.edu - M.S.A., New York Chiropractic College, 2011 - M.S., New York Chiropractic College, 2011 - B.A., State University of New York at Geneseo, 2007