President – Laura E. Ocker, LAc

Laura is an Oregon acupuncturist with a private practice in Milwaukie (near Clackamas). She has worked extensively in non-profit integrated primary care centers, both as a practitioner of Chinese medicine and in program management. Laura earned a B.S. in Biology from Florida State University in 1993 and an MAcOM from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2003. Prior to beginning studies in Chinese medicine in 1998, Laura’s professional background was in ecology and conservation biology. Laura has been an OAAOM member since 2009, serving on the Board and Legislative Committee since 2010, and as president since 2011.  www.cascadefamilyacupuncture.com

Vice President – Beth Howlett, LAc

Treasurer – Bijana Kadakia, ND, LAc

Dr. Bijana Devo Kadakia was raised in the mid-West, where her love of the biological sciences developed through close association with nature. Focused throughout her schooling on the sciences, she expanded her experience to include psychology, graduating Cum laude in Biology and Psychology from Kalamazoo College. After a brief internship with Pharmacia, Dr. Devo developed a strong interest in natural healing methods and moved to Portland to pursue further studies. She has since received her masters in Acupuncture and a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Devo practices acupuncture and naturopathic medicine at True Health Medicine in Tualatin, OR. For more information, please visit: www.TrueHealthMedicine.com

Secretary – Wendy Childs, LAc

Wendy has been a Licensed Acupuncturist for over 13 years in Maryland, New York State, and now Oregon. She is a graduate and former teacher and supervisor at The Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts in Maryland. She is committed to helping people move toward wellness in all aspects of their lives. She can be found at two locations.
Indigo Wellness - 2673 12th St SE - Salem, OR 97302 - www.indigowellnesscenter.com
Sunnyside Holistic Group - 2450 SE Belmont St. - Portland, OR 97214 - www.sunnysideholisticgroup.com

Legislative Chair -Al Thieme, LAc

Al Thieme is the Director and Acupuncturist at Portland Acupuncture providing acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition in Portland, Oregon. Al Thieme studied Chinese Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. He was one of two recipients of the 2006 national American Specialty Health Scholarship for Acupuncture. He has a strong connection the natural world through his 10 years as a naturalist educator teaching youth and adults about animal tracking, wilderness survival skills, the language of the birds, and edible/medicinal plants. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors of a number of non-profit organizations. http://portland-acupuncture.com/

Board Member – Brian Baker, LAc
Committee Chair – Lab Testing Task Force 

Brian operates the clinic and is a licensed acupuncturist utilizing Oriental medicine, including herbal formula medicine, and functional medicine in the care of patients to alleviate chronic conditions that are difficult to treat by Western medicine or to reduce the need for pharmaceutical drugs. His interests are in recognizing and treating neurological, gastrointestinal, immune, and endocrine imbalances and disorders to address the root cause of disease often overlooked or not understood in Western medicine practice.  http://www.orencoacupuncture.com/

Board Member – Tooba Durrani, ND, LAc

Dr. Tooba Durrani is a licensed Naturopathic Physician, Acupuncturist, Reiki Master and Chinese Herbalist who helps her patients achieve optimal health through the wisdom of Nature. She graduated from the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and Masters in Oriental Medicine.   She has continued her training in Chinese Medicine by studying with teachers who are Classical Chinese Medicine scholars and physicians. She is also a certified Qi Gong instructor, having studied and trained in both the Taoist shamanic style from the Er Mai Lineage and the more martial arts style from the Jin Jing Gong lineage at NCNM and with Master Zhong Xian Wu.  http://www.sophianaturalhealth.net/

Board Member -Sariantra Kali, LAc
Legislative Committee Co-Chair

Sariantra Kali, LAc studied acupuncture and Chinese medicine at The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM). She graduated in 2006 and completed an internship at Portland Alternative Health Center and at The Ananda Nagar Hospital in West Bengal, India.She is currently in private practice in Eugene, Oregon and specializes in pain syndromes,
neuropathy and trauma. She is currently admitted to the Doctoral program at OCOM and is the recipient of the 2012 Golden Flower
Scholarship. Sariantra is committed to making positive change for practitioners and patients alike and looks forward to serving the
acupuncture community.  http://www.ancientrivers.org/index.html

Board Member – Joanna Flores, LAc

Joanna Flores, L.Ac. graduated from OCOM in 2001 and did a special shiatsu externship with Lindy Ferrigno, CI (AOBTA), ABT (NCCAOM), LMT.  She is an active member for the AOBTA (Association of Bodywork Therapies of Asia).  She is now studying visceral manipulation with the Barral institute and hopes to expand our scope of practice for more bodywork techniques, lab test privileges, an acupuncture assistant certification, personal injury coverage without a referral from MD’s or DC’s.  Joanna served on the OAAOM board for the last 3 years with hopes to further our profession legislatively so we can continue to practice our medicine safely and effectively.   http://www.groundspring.net

OCOM Student Representative – Sarah Hammer

Sarah is a current student at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Prior to enrolling at OCOM in the fall of 2011, Sarah’s life-long interest in health and wellness allowed her to work for a variety of healthcare and non-profit organization as a public relations and communications specialist. Sarah’s innovative ideas on how to use web-based outlets including social networking services for direct marketing have been recognized nationally in the Wall Street Journal. Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhammer