AWB Executive Director and Member of the Board

Diana Fried, M.Ac., M.A. Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Diana Fried has many years of experience and training in emotional/trauma healing work, along with years of work in international grassroots community development (Oxfam America), including travel and work in Mexico, Central America and Africa. She graduated from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture (1999), had a private practice in Maine, and is a certified Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist trained by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). She was on the staff of Spring Hill in Massachusetts and is trained in Critial Incident Stress Management. She is also a video producer, writer and has worked as a media consultant. Diana received her B.A. from Bowdoin College.

AWB Board of Directors

Cristi Canali DeMarco, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) - Board Chair
Cristi holds a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture with training in Chinese and Japanese styles of Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Massachusetts. She is board certified in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Cristi has also completed a 5-level, 1.5 year certification in Craniosacral Therapy, and has completed post-graduate training with a Chinese medical doctor focusing on Chinese Herbal Medicine. Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, Cristi worked in the mental health field. Her work experience includes children with behavioral and emotional disorders and women with eating disorders. She is a volunteer for the Health Career Opportunities Program at University of Massachusetts, Boston which aims to increase the number of middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for a career in medicine and/or public health.

Maureen Tetelman, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl, Ac. (NCCAOM) - Board Secretary
Maureen Tetelman is a licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate of the NCCAOM, certified Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist and Massage Therapist. She is a member of ASNY and AAS. She earned her Masters Degree in Science of Acupuncture from the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City (2004).
Maureen was the team leader of the NYC Veterans Acupuncture Clinic, which brings the benefits of acupuncture to former war veterans living in Harlem, NY. She is the founder and owner of Acupuncture Bodywork PC, a private practice in NYC, which incorporates various healing modalities in their ongoing patient work. Her unique style of treating physical, emotional and energetic issues has been based upon her accumulation of knowledge from her massage, dietary and acupuncture studies/work.
Maureen traces her love of Asian philosophies from her time as a child living in the Phillippines. She began her journey into the healing arts over eight years ago as a Massage Therapist and continues on her healing path today as an Acupuncturist expanding her understanding of Asian Diet/Nutrition by taking course work at the Kushi Institute. This fall Maureen plans to begin her studies to become a Registered Nurse.

Jeya Aerenson, O.M.D., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Jeya received her Masters in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute in Chinese Medicine in Santa Fe, NM in 1993 and her Oriental Medical Doctorate from the North American Academy of Advanced Asian Medicine in Austin TX in 1996. She has a BA in Social Work from Antioch College. She is certified in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Chi Lel Qi Gong and Alchemical Healing. In her private practice at The Circle of Life Center for Integrative Therapies she incorporates a variety of healing modalities in accordance with each individual’s needs. She teaches classes in acupressure, Alchemical Healing and Qi Gong. Jeya lived and practiced in Arizona for 12 years before moving to Eugene Oregon in 2005. She has lectured at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa, University of Oregon, University of Arizona, and taught classes in Qi Gong and acupressure to acupuncture and shiatsu students, adults and teenagers. With her backround in Social Work, volunteering has been an important element in Jeya’s carreer. She has used her acupuncture skills to donate her services to projects for the homeless, free clinics for low income clients, teen summer camps, and Acupuncturists Without Borders in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.

Stephanie Georgieff, MS, L.Ac.
Stephanie Georgieff resides and practices in Southern California. She received her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. In addition to her Acupuncture Practice, she teaches natural medicine, herbs and nutrition at local community colleges and nursing programs. Active in the Peace, Justice and Environmental movement for years, Stephanie incorporates these concepts into her public speaking and writing endeavours. She hosted a call in radio talk show, entitled Green Medicine, and continues to write in local and national publications, as well as her personal Blog at www.GreenRx.org, on practicing medicine in harmony with nature and with justice to the human community as a whole.

AWB Advisory Board

Nancy Ann Miller, B.S., M.B.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) - Fundraising Chair
Nancy Ann Miller is a Licensed Acupuncturist who practices in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to completing the Masters of Acupuncture program at the Tai Sophia Institute, Nancy earned her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies at Cornell University 1971 and her M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Rochester in 1981. Nancy has served on the Board of the Acupuncture Society of Virginia. She has received special training and certification for using acupuncture to treat addictions. She has over 20 years’ experience in the business and non-profit arenas, including positions in finance at Xerox and Citicorp. She has held senior fundraising positions at Co-op America, The Wilderness Society, The African Wildlife Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Tai Sophia Institute. She studied Zen meditation at the Zen Center of Rochester, NY and awareness meditation at the Springwater Center in Springwater, NY, and currently is studying Tibetan Buddhism and non-violence in action with Pema Chodron.

Cynthia Neipris, L.Ac - Clinical Policy Advisor
Cynthia Neipris is licensed as an acupuncturist in New York and California, with certification from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association as an Acu-Detox Specialist. She is the Director of Community Education and Outreach for the New York campus of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, one of the largest and most well respected Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Colleges in the nation. She previously served as Assistant Academic Dean at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ms. Neipris has also managed educational programs at University of Washington and at Boston University. Prior to her work in Traditional Chinese Medicine education, Ms. Neipris worked in film and theatre in Boston, Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles, with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, and Home Box Office, among others.

Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans Project Advisory Board

Daniel Bruce
Daniel Bruce is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. He graduated from SAMRA University of Oriental Medicine in 1982 and became a Charter member of the New Mexico Acupuncture Association. For the past 25 years he has participated in promoting the profession by serving as a board member from 1990 – 1998 and eventually as the association president. From 1990 - `93 he served as a faculty member at the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In April of 1999 he was part of the Acupuncture Brigade that traveled to Honduras to work with survivors of Hurricane Mitch. Due to that life changing experience he decided to seek out opportunities to serve in under served and post disaster settings. In January of 2000, he and fellow acupuncturist Michael Zucker began training Traditional Medicine practitioners as part of the MettaDana project in Burma, returning again in 1/02 and 1/03. His work abroad has taken him to Tanzania in 4/04, to southern Thailand, India and Indonesia in the aftermath of the Tsunami in 2005 - 06. As a Vietnam combat veteran, serving in the Marine Corps from 1966 - 69, Daniel can well appreciate the challenges returning veterans face. As a trauma survivor he understands the need for early intervention that acupuncture and related therapies can offer returning veterans and their families.

Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. He graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College in 2001 and gained his license in New Mexico in 2003. He works in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Santa Fe Recovery Center as an Addiction’s Counselor and also uses acupuncture with patients in the 28-day residential program. He uses the 5-Needle Ear Protocol regularly with patients in the program. He also has a private practice in Santa Fe. Daniel is a 12-year veteran serving in the Regular Army for 7 years both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer. He served in the New Mexico National Guard and as an ROTC Cadet at New Mexico State University while attaining his B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Daniel fought in the 1991 Gulf War as a Lieutenant of Field Artillery with the 1st Infantry Division. He is a member of Veterans For Peace since 2003 and is currently serving as the Chapter President. Daniel is also a native New Mexican born and raised in Springer, New Mexico.

Megan Kingsley Gale, L.Ac. (MSAOM), Dipl. OM (NCCAOM), L/CMT (NCBTMB)
Megan Kingsley Gale graduated with a Master’s of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM) from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, in 2006 and holds a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM. She received her undergraduate degrees in Biology (B.S., premed) and English (B.A.) from the University of Minnesota.

She is licensed to practice Acupuncture (L.Ac.) and Massage Therapy (L/CMT) in the state of Washington and the Commonwealth of Virginia. From Brenneke School of Massage, she was trained in Western bodywork. She received extra training in Asian bodywork, Chinese herbal medicine, Acutonics, and integrated medicine through Bastyr University. She completed clinic shifts in the Seattle metro area at the integrated medicine school clinic (Bastyr Center for Natural Health), Harborview Hospital, Puget Sound neighborhood clinics, and Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.

A proud Navy wife and Army sister, she is currently stationed in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Her passion is to help bring acupuncture and oriental medicine to all members of military service and their families. She sees a great need for it in this population, especially recently with Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF and OIF). Even without war, deployments are a unique challenge for active duty, reservists, national guard, and their families. Acupuncture is a great complement to the standard available resources for service-members and their families to help ease these transitions and emotional roller coasters (deployments, work-ups, field trainings, etc).

Currently working as a full-time instructor at a local college teaching in the massage and medical assisting programs, she volunteers her acupuncture skills part-time.