Eduardo Alvarez, PhD., is a graduate of the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. He has led the conservation of the Harpy Eagle and directed several environmental and wildlife projects in the western hemisphere. He has been teaching the Western Environmental Medicine class at Dragon Rises since 2008 and previously worked at City College and Alachua County schools.
David Bibbey, MSOM, Dipl.Ac., LAc, graduated from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine in 2011. Mr. Bibbey is a longtime volunteer advocate for the acupuncture profession and is President Emeritus of the Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA). He has extensive experience teaching and consulting in the areas of health care practice and risk management, Florida acupuncture laws and rules, and HIPAA compliance.
Joseph Clarke, DACM, has provided over 30,000 acupuncture treatments in his clinics in Santa Monica, CA, and Venice, FL. Joe holds four medical board certifications (CA, FL, NCCAOM, ABORM), has taught and supervised at three Colleges, and is also a Graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business program. He has collaborated in the development of nutraceutical formulas with two nationwide brands (Pure Health Research and Synvite) and has spoken at conferences on the differences in perspective and approaches to care between conventional and integrative medicine and how they might best complement each other.
Hayley Gardner, MSOM, AP, Dipl, earned her Doctorate is the founder and clinical herbalist at Estuary Herbs, a Chinese Herbal Medicinary and Consultancy practice in Central Florida. Her Chinese Medicine journey began with a decade-long internship with master Shang Han Lun Physician, Dr. Ni Hai-Sha at the Chinese Traditional Medicine Association. She received her Masters in Chinese Medicine at the Florida College of Integrative Medicine. Hayley participates in ongoing Classical herbal postgraduate studies with Dr. Arnaud Versluys of the Institute of Classics in East Asian Medicine, and holds a Diplomate of Canonical Chinese Medicine (DCCM) through this organization.
Dr. John Gorsuch, DACM, earned his doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and specializes in clinical neuroscience with a focus on neurorehabilitation using electro-acupuncture with Functional Neurology. He is the only acupuncturist in the state of Florida to complete the post-graduate Clinical Neuroscience Program from the renowned Carrick Institute.
Shelby Havens, ADNP, PMHNP-BC, earned her Master degree in Nursing from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL. in 1995. She continued her education earning a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the American Sentinel University in Denver, CO. in 2014. She has been a teacher for over 25 years at various colleges and is a western medicine teacher at Dragon Rises.
Noell Hickey, MSOM, RN, earned her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from East West College of Natural Medicine. She also earned her Bachelors of Science from Eastern Michigan University, where she studied cytogenetics, prior to joining the US Navy, focusing on Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Ms. Hickey earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Remington College School of Nursing. As a Registered Nurse, she has worked in acute outpatient Oncology clinics.
Angel Horner, DACM, MAOM, Lac, earned her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and her Master’s degree in Acupuncture from Dragon Rises College in Gainesville (FL). She has completed an exhaustive internship at Kunming Provincial TCM Hospital in Kunming, China and is currently studying Inner Tradition Of Chinese Medicine: 2 Year Clinical Integration-Lonny Jarrett. Dr. Horner is a graduate of the Baltimore School of Massage.
Sifu Des Jackson, BFA, is a graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Graphic Design and Illustration. He has trained under Sifu Xiang in Shaolin Arts and Sifu Fei Xue in Internal Chinese Martial Arts and Qi Kung, and is currently the Head Instructor at Shian Feng Hu Chinese Martial Arts, Taiji and Qi Kung and has been since 1995.
Howard Kim, MSOM, AP, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where, post-graduation, he spent fifteen years as a professional chef in New York City, Baltimore, and Orlando. Dr. Kim is a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (Florida College of Integrative Medicine), as well as concurrently training in Classical Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, both Chinese and Japanese styles, Chinese medicine psychology, and Contemporary Chinese Pulse Diagnosis under Brandt Stickley, L.Ac. & Leon Hammer, MD. He has also had training in Classical Homeopathy, Homotoxicology, Biopuncture, Active Release Technique, Activator Method, and sports medicine-based assessments.
Melissa Lahmeyer, MSW, LCSW, AP earned her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2017, and formal acupuncture training from The Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ms. Lahmeyer currently operates Community Acupuncture clinics, offering full body/mind healing counseling services.
Brian Lau, AP, C.SMA, is a Master in Oriental Medicine and Professional Health Sciences. He is a Licensed Massage Therapist, graduating from Bhakti Academe in Clearwater, FL. His emphasis has been on Sports Medicine Acupuncture and has been teaching for 25 years.
Drew Peterson, DC, MD, AP, earned his Doctorate in Chiropractics from the University Of Western States Chiropractic University in 1980, and studied under Dr. Hai Sha Ni, where he graduated from the Han Tang School of Acupuncture in 2000. Dr. Peterson has extensive experience in physiology and biochemistry, working in professional and amateur athletics as well as advising for Hollywood productions, and is a FL-state-certified Marine Archeologist.
Galina V. Roofener, AP, is NCCAOM board-certified and licensed in Ohio and Florida to practice Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. She has over 35 years of experience in health care, including 8 years as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist at the Cleveland Clinic. Work at the Cleveland Clinic has provided valuable insight into the internal audit process. Galina is a President Emeritus of the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA) and serves on the herbal committee at the American Society of Acupuncture (ASA).
Scott Shulz, DACM, AP, earned a Master’s and a Doctorate in Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. His undergraduate and graduate education was in the field of Biology from Southern and Western Illinois University. He has been in practice for over 10 years with a specialty in orthopedic acupuncture.
Kassandra Sorokach, DAcCHM, MAOM, AP, earned her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences, and is a graduate of Dragon Rises. As a Board-Certified Acupuncture Physician and Integrative Health Practitioner, Dr. Sorokach, incorporates functional medicine, lab testing, acu-point injection therapy, and integrative health with Chinese medicine to provide comprehensive, root-cause-based care. Dr. Kassie was recognized as Best of the Best Acupuncturist in Lake and Sumter Counties (FL) In 2024.
Christopher Whyrick, DACM, AP, earned his Master degree in Oriental Medicine from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2018. He continued his education earning a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, CA. in 2020. He is new to the Gainesville area, having recently moved from Santa Fe, NM, where he was a faculty member and Clinic Supervisor at Southwest Acupuncture College.
Other current Faculty: Dr. De’Nicea Hilton Harper, Dr. Brandt Stickley, Dr. Maria Sgambati, Dr. Scotty Hudson, Dr. Newton Gallant, Dr. Gene Healey, Wyatt Jenkins, Cody Kost
Clinical Supervisors
Stacey Liu, MAHM, Ap
Marcella Wilson, MAHM, Ap
Danielle Saint-Cyr, DOM, LAc, AP
Faith McCarthy
Angela Middleton, MAHM, Ap
Newton Gallant, MAOM, AP