Acupuncture

Rebecca Avern

Learning support coordinator
Rebecca has a BA(Hons) in Eastern Religions and Literature from the University of Bristol. She spent four years teaching in Asia and Europe, before embarking on the acupuncture course at the College, graduating in 2001. After graduating, she studied with and worked alongside Giovanni Maciocia for several years. She is a teacher and clinical supervisor here, as well as being in charge of learning support. Rebecca practises in Oxford and is a member of ACT (Acupuncture in Childbirth Team) Oxford.

Pam Batten

Conventional medical sciences coordinator
Pam is the Associate Programme Leader and a lecturer for the conventional medical sciences programme. She has a degree in Education and Chemistry and was, prior to studying at CICM, a teacher of science for many years before specialising in teaching software skills across a wide range of industries. She studied acupuncture and patent herbs at the College and has an acupuncture and reiki practice in Slough. Pam is also IT manager for the college.

Danny Blyth

Danny studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at the College. He is involved in the acupuncture course, teaching, marking home study assignments, and assisting in the clinic. He has a background in horticulture, and grows many Chinese herbs. He has a postgraduate diploma in Chinese language. Danny currently practises in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds where he also teaches tai chi and qi gong.

Janice Booth

Programme leader for Chinese medicine
Janice is programme leader for Chinese medicine. She has a BA in English and French from Lancaster University and a PGCE from Swansea University. After ten years in mainstream education (and working in adult education as a yoga teacher), she graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1988, going on to complete the clinical integration course a few years later. She is past president of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), sits on the Admissions and BAAB committees and is the BAcC's Conference consultant.
Janice has an acupuncture practice in Swindon.

Mark Bovey

Module leader for research and reflective practice, level 3
Mark is module leader for research and reflective practice (level 3). He has an MSc in animal breeding from Edinburgh University, qualified from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1983 and has completed the clinical integration course. He practises in Abingdon and Oxford and also works as coordinator of the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre at Thames Valley University.

Alex Brazkiewicz

Alex’s initial contact with the East came through his contact with the Japanese Martial Arts (including a prolonged stay in Japan) and study of Shiatsu. Alex spent 15 years as a Paramedic in the London Ambulance Service caring for the acute ill and injured patient and is an assessor for the Health Professions Council (HPC). Alex runs his own HSE Approved First Aid Training organisation, Holos Healthcare and Training Limited, and has written the First Aid manual for the British Acupuncture Council. Alex qualified from the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in acupuncture, where he also undertook his postgraduate patent herb course. Alex practices acupuncture from clinics in South London and Cheltenham, undertakes voluntary work at the NHS Gateway clinic and is currently studying Tui Na.

Deirdre Brunton

Deirdre is one of our clinical supervisors. She has a BA from Warwick University. She graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1987, going on to complete the advanced licentiate, the acupuncture skills course, the clinical integration course and the College’s herb course. In 1998 she also completed an advanced clinical training programme in Chinese herbal medicine at Zhejiang College of TCM in China. She practises in Brighton, and is a regional support group tutor for the College.

Kim Chan

Kim is one of our teachers and clinical supervisors. She practises acupuncture, shiatsu and Chinese patent herbal medicine from her clinics in West London. She also runs supervision and mentoring groups for practitioners in Central and West London. She has a MA in English Literature.

Annie Elliot

Annie is the clinical advisor for conventional medical sciences. She is a GP by profession, with 30 years' experience of NHS practice. She was a GP trainer, and is a Life coach and mentor. She has postgraduate qualifications in Sports and Exercise Medicine and Women’s Health and graduated from the College in 2008. She now divides her working time between practising acupuncture, working as a locum in general practice and holding the post of Associate Medical Director for her local PCT.. She assists in the current re-design of the teaching programme and oversees the development of clinical skills for students.

Roz Gibbs

Programme leader for Conventional Medical Sciences
Roz is the Programme Leader for conventional medical sciences. She has a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Protein Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has 17 years experience in Higher Education as a lecturer in Biomedical Science. She also has a strong research interest and is now involved in research evaluating the biomedical basis of complementary and alternative medicines. Roz graduated from the College in 2007 and now divides her working time between research and practice in acupuncture, teaching Biomedical Science at the University of Portsmouth and teaching at the College.

Jill Glover

Jill is a clinical supervisor as well as teaching at the College. She also runs postgraduate fertility seminars and supervision days. Previously a radiographer working in the NHS, she graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1985 and has been in practice since then. She has completed the acupuncture skills course, training in TCM, the clinical integration course and the College's herb course. She has undertaken neuro-linguistic programming training and is also a qualified life and executive coach.

Sylvia Gulbenkian

Sylvia qualified and worked as a veterinary surgeon, until her growing interest in Chinese Medicine led her to study acupuncture, qualifying from the college in 2002. She now practices acupuncture in West Sussex, primarily on people, but also spending some time treating pets with acupuncture. She teaches conventional medical sciences and is a practical skills tutor at the college.

Graham Kennedy

Module leader for anatomy
Graham is the module leader for anatomy. Over the past 30 years, he has studied a variety of mind-body disciplines. He has a background in the Chinese internal arts and teaches regular qi gong classes at the college. He is also a teacher and practitioner of craniosacral therapy, and in his clinical practice specialises in working with the effects of early traumatic experiences that have their origins in the prenatal period, the birth process and during the vital first few years of childhood.

Sandra King

Sandra graduated from the College in 1997 and has completed our patents course. She has been a practical skills tutor since 1999, and is a clinical supervisor. Sandra practises in High Wycombe.

Stella King

Stella has taught at the College since 1994, and is a regional support group tutor. She has been in practice in Todmorden, Lancashire since 1984. Her work at College includes reviewing and developing specific areas of the course, and staff training and support on various aspects of the curriculum. She graduated from Oxford University in 1975 with a BA in history and worked as a nursing auxiliary before turning down a place at medical school in favour of studying acupuncture. She graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1984, and returned there as a postgraduate to gain a BAc. Stella has completed the clinical integration course, the acupuncture skills course and the College's patents course. She practises qi gong and meditation, enjoys wild walking and kayaking, and is a singer.

Magda Koc

Magda graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1982 returning there for postgraduate studies and obtaining a BAc. She went on to study TCM, completing the integration course in 1994. She has a diploma from the University of Westminster in Qi Gong Tui Na, which she combines with acupuncture in her practice in Reading. As well as teaching on the acupuncture course, Magda is a regional support group tutor and clinical supervisor. She is also a member of one of the Ethics committees of the British Acupuncture Council.

Greg Lampert

Greg has been involved with the college since its inception in 1993. He is a clinical supervisor and also teaches on the acupuncture course. He trained at the College of Traditional Acupuncture, then undertook the clinical integration course whilst also undergoing a training in herbs at the London Academy of Oriental Medicine. In 1998 and 2000 he traveled to Hangzhou for clinical training in herbal medicine. Greg uses herbs and acupuncture in his practice at the College clinic, and in Oxford.

Peter Linthwaite

Programme leader for research and reflective practice
Peteris programme leader for research and reflective practice. He studied psychology at the London School of Economics before working in research at the Health Education Authority and the Economic and Social Research Council. He trained at the College and currently practises acupuncture at the College clinic in Reading and in Henley-on-Thames.

Gio Maschio

Module leader for qi gong
Gio is module leader for qi gong. He designed and teaches the module to bring the awareness and energy techniques of the Taoist energy arts directly into the practice of acupuncture. Gio has been teaching Taoist energy arts for over ten years, and practising them for nearly 20. He is one of Master BK Frantzis' most experienced instructors in Europe, trained and certified by him to teach t'ai chi, qi gong, nei gong and taoist breathing techniques. He is director of Oxford Internal Arts, teaching and practising full-time in Oxford, has conducted seminars for the BAcC, has a masters degree in philosophy, and also studies buddhism, dzogchen, and the Taoist traditions of meditation. Gio is also a tutor to the Oxford School of Massage and enjoys music and travel.

Jacqui McCann

Programme leader for skills and techniques
Jacqui is programme leader for skills and techniques. She had extensive experience in the commercial and business world, before training as an acupuncturist. She graduated from this College in 1997 and has also completed the College's patents course and the Shen-Hammer pulse workshop. She worked at the London College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as director of studies, where she headed the team responsible for curriculum development, evaluation and quality assurance, Jacqui has practices in Liss and Alton and works in a multi-disciplinary clinic within the NHS in Midhurst.

Michael Ng

Michael is programme leader for point location, a regional support group tutor as well as a teacher at the College. He worked as a qualified accountant in commerce for 25 years before graduating from the College in 1998, and is a member of the College’s Finance Committee. He has also completed the College's patents course, and an advanced clinical training programme in acupuncture at Zhejiang College of TCM in China. He practises in Farnham, Surrey. Michael also teaches tai chi.

Carol Parker

Carol lived in Africa until she was twelve. She has a degree in Modern Languages from Bradford University and an MA in Hispanic Literature (Alberta).Before becoming an acupuncturist she worked as a language teacher, translator, interpreter and trainer. She has been a complementary therapist for 18 years and is a qualified massage and Shiatsu practitioner. At CICM she is part of the Chinese Medicine team and will be taking on the role of Clinical Supervisor in March 2011. She runs the Southampton Regional Support Group and lives on the Isle of Wight.

Karen Proudfoot

Karen has a BSc in pharmacology from Aberdeen University and a PhD in biochemistry. She spent 15 years in biochemical research, then went on to study acupuncture at the College, graduating in 2001. Since then she has also completed the College patents course. She practises in Reading.

Clare Sargent

Claire graduated as a Doctor of Western medicine from Charing Cross Medical School in 1984, with an intercalated BSc in physiology. After practising as a general physician and pathologist she was forced into retirement due to illness. Acupuncture, Qi Gong and Chinese Herbal medicine were instrumental in a return to better health, which prompted an interest in Chinese Medicine. She graduated from CICM in 2009. During her degree course she served on the BAcC Student Services Committee. She teaches conventional medical sciences at the college. Her practise is in Glossop, Derbyshire, with additional voluntary sessions at The Christie cancer hospital.

Jackie Shaw

Module leader for research and reflective practice, level 2
Jackieis module leader for the research and reflective practice programme (level 2) and has a BSc in biophysics from the University of Sussex. She taught English in China, then studied at the College of Traditional Acupuncture, graduating in 1989. She has practised in Reading since then. In 1984 she co-founded an educational charity specialising in the use of video as a tool for group development and is author of Participatory Video. She completed the clinical integration course and joined the College staff in 1995. Jackie has a long-standing interest in acupuncture research. She coordinated a pilot national outcomes study funded by the BAcC and conducted a research project looking at patients’ progress in the College student clinic funded by the College and the Oriental Medicine Research Trust, published in 2007.

Yvonne Sommer

Yvonne qualified as a veterinary surgeon in her home country, Germany in 1990. She moved to England in 1992, and graduated from the College in 2002. She has been practising acupuncture since then at her clinic in Nottingham, as well being a veterinary acupuncturist. Yvonne teaches conventional medical sciences at the College and enjoys practising qi gong and tai chi.

Billie Wray

Billie has been a qualified teacher since 1972 and is one of several staff members who have been teaching at the College since its inception. She graduated from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in 1988 and has been in practice since then. She completed the acupuncture skills course, training in TCM and the clinical integration course.
She has completed supervision training and runs postgraduate supervision groups. She has undergone training in NLP and focusing. She also is a qualified life coach.

Kevin Young

Kevin teaches anatomy, structural diagnosis and tui na. He graduated from University of Westminster with a BSc (Hons) TCM: Acupuncture and a Diploma in Tui-Na. He is also a state registered and chartered physiotherapist, qualified in sports therapy and sports massage specialising in the treatment of sports injuries. He works with sports teams, professional boxers and practitioners of various martial arts. He is currently the principle physiotherapist of the Arthritic Association and sits on the BAcC investigating Committee.

Practical skills tutors
Charlotte Brydon-Smith
Jason Davies
Sylvia Gulbenkian
Sandra King
Tamara Kircher
Michael Phoenix
Peter Salt-Berrymen
Sandy Steele
Sue Taplin
James Unsworth
Kevin Young

Qi gong teachers
Ben Cox
Damian Lowe
Emily Lowe

In order to bring you high standards of teaching the College has a teaching staff with a huge range of expertise and knowledge. Students often comment on the community spirit and enthusiasm of the teaching staff and notice their desire to get the best out of the students. The teaching staff meet regularly in order to enhance their clinical and teaching skills.

Terms used in the biographies

The clinical integration course is a two-year postgraduate study which includes the theoretical study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, and the clinical integration of Five Element and TCM practice.

The acupuncture skills course is a training which focuses on the practical diagnostic skills of Five Element diagnosis.

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) draws on a variety of disciplines and offers a method for and an understanding of how people achieve consistently outstanding results, particularly in the areas of communication, teaching, learning, memory, personal change and creativity.

Qi gong is a Chinese practice which includes various internal exercises which are designed to balance and amplify the practitioner’s intrinsic energy. Qi gong practice can emphasise internal development, energy for the martial arts, energy for healing, or personal health.