All Teaching Faculty

Nicholas earned a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University in pursuit of a lifelong passion to study ancient traditions of medicine and natural science.  While a student at Five Branches he developed relationships with senior faculty, working as a teaching assistant and focusing on the interpretation and clinical application of classical texts.  His previous studies focused on the history and philosophy of scientific traditions all over the world, which led him to choose a career path in Chinese medicine.

Nicholas has been in private practice since his licensure in 2017, and contributed to the founding of several clinics and businesses that offer modalities of Chinese medicine.  His specialty is utilizing all five branches in the context of patient centered integrative care.  Currently his efforts are focused on his work treating, teaching and administrating at Five Branches University.  He is also a teacher and practitioner of traditional Chinese martial arts, which informs his approach to Chinese medicine.

He teaches in the Departments of TCM Theory and Teaching Clinics.

Kristina Hanley is a California-licensed, and NCCAOM-certified acupuncturist. She received her Master’s in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, OR in 1998 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Kristina is an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist, certified by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. She has worked as an acupuncturist in the San Francisco jails. and as an acupuncturist at the Portland Alternative Health Clinic, which is an integrative health clinic that serves homeless people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Kristina has also worked as an acupuncturist at mental health centers and HIV clinics. Since 2003, she has been working as an acupuncturist in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine program at the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center, and is in private practice in Santa Cruz, California. Kristina Hanley teaches in the Department of Complementary Studies.

Wanshan Hao graduated from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Currently Professor Hao holds the positions of professor, chief physician, academic advisor and clinical supervisor for doctoral and master students at Beijing University of TCM. He has worked in the field of Shang Han Lun as a teacher, practitioner and researcher for decades. Professor Hao has been invited to South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, France, and the Czech Republic to give lectures and professional talks. Professor Hao also has extensive clinical experience in treating diseases related to respiratory system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and other difficult and complex diseases using classical formulas.

Frank He obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees’ in Medicine from the Department of Acupuncture at Liaoning University of TCM, in the People’s Republic of China. He won every scholarship available at his medical school and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He currently is a DAOM Fellow at Five Branches University.

Frank was raised in a remote village in northern China. He spent two years in family practice with his grandfather in the early 1980s, then began practicing there as a barefoot doctor in 1986. In the village, Frank treated various conditions not commonly seen in the city. The village offered a family practice setting where he worked as a general practitioner for children and adults.

Frank knows sports and how to treat sports injuries. He was a champion decathlete while in medical school and was an amateur boxer for five years. He has helped thousands of patients return to the sports field, including weekend warriors and Olympic gold medalists. Active in athletic activities in the greater Bay Area, Frank has won medals in track and field, and won the Nankai Cup volleyball tournament.

Frank is a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) appointed by the State of California, one of the few actively practicing Acupuncturist-QMEs among over 10,000 acupuncturists. Frank has earned a reputation for his extensive knowledge, skills and passion. Radiologists often refer to him as “Frank He, MD” because of his superior clinical judgment. Well published and respected in the field, he is an international lecturer traveling around the world to promote acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Frank has appeared in numerous local and national publications – particularly in the areas of sports medicine, anti-aging, stress management, seniors’ health, and women’s health.

Frank has a patent pending approval for a specially engineered acupuncture needle and has developed a unique acupuncture technique called Muscle Channel Technique (MCT)™ which has clinically proven to be effective in pain management and injury healing. Professor He teaches in the Department of TCM Acupuncture and is a faculty member of the DAOM program.

Stephanie He graduated with honors in 1985 from Tianjin University of TCM and earned certification to teach TCM in China at the university level. After graduation, she worked for thirteen years as a physician and instructor at the First Teaching Hospital at the Tianjin University of TCM, which is one of China’s major TCM institutions for treatment, instruction and research. In Tianjin, Stephanie’s supervisor was Professor Shi Xuemin, a famous expert in the acupuncture department in China and abroad.

Stephanie specializes in the treatment of stroke, gastrointestinal disorders, geriatrics, neuropathies and internal medicine disorders. She has published numerous research articles in nationally recognized journals of TCM in China on subjects including high cholesterol, depression, and gout. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking and working out at the gym. Professor He teaches in the Department of TCM Clinical Training. For more information about Dr. He, go to www.stephaniehe.com

Jiyoun holds a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic West. Her academic background is rooted in applied biology and enriched by international externship experience at China Medical University in Taiwan.

Her post-graduate development includes advanced training in Zhu's Scalp Acupuncture, Master Tung’s Points, Dr. Tan’s Balance Method, and Applied Channel Theory. Jiyoun brings integrative experience from both Eastern and Western healthcare systems, supported by a solid foundation in tuina, scalp acupuncture, and chiropractic care.

She teaches in the Department of Teaching Clinic.

Professor Denise Hsu received her medical degree from Shanghai university of Traditional Chinese Medicine and had been trained in both Chinese medicine and Western Medicine with the specialty of Orthopedics surgeon.  She is a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with the California Medical Board and certified Acupuncturist with the NCCAOM in the United States.  She had served as the Examination Committee member of NCCAOM since 1997 and supported the California Acupuncture Board exam for many years since 1986. Also she had been elected for the Commissioner in NCCAOM for 9 years. She has joined Kaiser and has been working as the specialty in Pain Management since 1998. She had been the Chair and professor of the Chinese Medicine Department in the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 12 years. She has over 30  years  experience of teaching and practice in acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States. Currently She has been teaching Diagnosis classes in the TCM theory department since 2016.

Lucy Hu comes from a family of healthcare practitioners. Her great grandfather was a doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine and her two older sisters earned Western MD degrees in China. Lucy received her medical degree from Shenyang University in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, in 1961 and worked as a pediatrician and instructor at the Dalian Children Hospital from 1961 through 1979. Lucy graduated from the Chinese Acupuncture Medical Institute of Hong Kong in 1982, with diplomas in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. In her three decades of medical experience, she has specialized in pediatrics. Lucy became a licensed acupuncturist in California in 1987 and obtained her National Certification (NCCAOM) in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. In 2004, Lucy presented a case study of a child with a severe genetic metabolic disorder at the International Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Diseases by Herbal Therapy and Acupuncture in Hangzhou, China. She treated the child with success unobtainable by Western methods. After 12 months of treatment, the child’s health and quality of life continued to improve significantly. Lucy maintains a private practice for adults and children in Santa Clara, California. Her interests include classical music and cooking, especially the healthy Chinese herbal soups so favored by her students. You can visit her website at http://lucy.hu.googlepages.com/. Professor Hu teaches in the Departments of TCM Clinical Medicine and TCM Clinical Training and is a faculty member of the Five Branches DAOM program.