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Bolstering Professional Practice and Trauma Informed Patient Care

April 23-24, 2022       

 Denver Marriott Westminster

7000 Church Ranch Boulevard

Westminster, CO 80021

Direct: 720.550.4856 | Fax: 720.887.1199

Our world is very different than it was 2 years ago and because of that, we are practicing and treating patients differently.  Our clinics look different, and our patients need us in a different way.  With that, we have to treat our patients and our clinic in a different way.

Join us for the 37th AAC Conference where we, too, are operating differently with 4 speakers over 2 days in person or with a LiveStream option.  

The conference is available via LiveStream and will be recorded.  All registered participants will receive a link to the recorded sessions within 5 days after the live event and the recordings will be available to view for up to a month after the conference.

If you're unable to travel or are needing CEU's the LiveStream option is a great way to get those CEU's!

About Conference Teachers

Dr. Yvonne Farrell

Dr. Farrell has been practicing and teaching Chinese Medicine and Channel Theory since 1996.  Her focus is on empowerment of students and patients so that they will embody the spiritual aspects of Chinese Medicine and make them their own.  She believes that self cultivation, self knowledge and critical thinking are essential in developing capacity as a practitioner of Chinese Medicine.

Dr. Steven Wong

Dr. Steven Wong returned from an 11-year stay in Beijing in 2019, where he received both his Master's and PhD in Acupuncture & Tuina from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.  He worked in the nationally recognized Guoyitang clinic in Beijing for over seven years.  The tuina lineage of his graduate advisor for these degrees, Prof. Yu Tianyuan,  primarily stems from the Imperial School of Tuina, but also pulls from other traditions and schools.  The acupuncture lineage he studied for over four years was that of Dr. Guo Tingying, a recognized Shanxi master of acupuncture and lineage holder for the Guo family technique.  The herbal lineage he studied for over six years was from Prof. Li Xingguang, a disciple of the National Master Yan Zhenghua.  He has published numerous articles in Chinese, as well as both dissertations.  He specializes in orthopedic, dermatological, gynecological and organ disharmony diseases.  In 2015, he also became a formal disciple of Baguazhang Master Gao Jiwu, the lineage holder of the Gao Branch of Liang Style Baguazhang.   He currently treats in the Denver/Boulder area and is a professor at SWAC and CSTCM, as well as teaching a number of classes and workshops outside of the schools

Dr. Steve Shomo

Steve Shomo is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM board certified and is licensed in multiple states. He is an international leader and educator in the field of Integrative Acupuncture and Wellness with over 30 years of clinical and academic experience.  He has completed postgraduate studies in Japan and the United States with specializations in; performance and movement therapy, sports medicine, nutrition, public health, disaster mental health (traumatic stress & PTSD), Xing Nao Kai Qiao (XNKQ) Stroke protocol developed by Dr. Shi Xue Min (9000 needles), and motion induced somatic response (the Mukaino method).  He has extensive experience in functional movement, auricular acupuncture, oncology, pain management, injection therapy, dry needling, laser bio-stimulation, emergency and disaster response.  Dr. Shomo is a wilderness first responder and instructor, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and is an experienced registered yoga teacher and trainer. He is faculty for several DAOM and Master programs, a continuing education provider, and serves on various acupuncture and global health boards.

Dr. Andrew Miles

Dr. Andrew Miles is the author of “Enlightenweight” and host of the Botanical Biohacking podcast. In his spare time he mentors acupuncturists and helps them add a zero to their annual net income by applying business concepts he learned from billionaires in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Geneva.

Cerise McCaston, LAc

Cerise McCaston is a Denver native who began her study of martial arts at the age of 9 while participating in the Children’s Rights of Passage (C.R.O.P.®) program facilitated by Moyo Nguvu Cultural Arts Center Inc. under the instruction of Stephen Abayomi Obadele Meeks. In 2001, she dedicated herself to training in the martial style of Kupigana Ngumi (pronounced: coop -E- Ga Na; N-goo Me). The following year, she added training in Tai Qi Chuan.  Cerise received her black belt in Kupigana Ngumi in 2005.  She was certified to teach Tai Qi Chuan in 2009, and then received her 2nd degree black belt in Kupigana Ngumi in 2010, from Moyo Nguvu Cultural Arts Center Inc.  During her time at Moyo Nguvu, Cerise was a peer leader, youth mentor, and served on Moyo Nguvu’s board of directors as Treasurer.  In addition, she was employed as a health educator for Moyo Nguvu’s Healthy Youth Healthy Futures (H.Y.H.F) program funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) via the office of Health Disparities from 2008-2010. Cerise has also facilitated a Tai Qi workshop for Colorado Acupuncture Association’s Summer Meet and Greet in 2021.  On December 19, 2021, she completed her Master’s of Science in Acupuncture from Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. And is currently certified as a Tai Qi instructor by the American Sports and Fitness Association (ASFA).

13 NCCAOM PDA's (2 in Ethics)

The conference will be held at:

Marriott Westminster

7000 Church Ranch Blvd., Westminster, CO 80021

The AAC has arranged room rates of $119/night. Please make your reservations before Monday, April 1st, 2022 to guarantee a room and at this rate.

Click here to book your room.

The Conference Schedule

Saturday, April 23rd, 2022

7:15AM – 8:15AM         Tai Qi warm up with Cerise McCaston 
7:30AM – 8:30AM         Sign in at AAC Registration Table

8:30AM – 10:00AM       Dr. Yvonne Farrell: The 8 Extraordinary Vessels: Resources in Times of Evolutionary Stress. Introduction of concepts, evolutionary stress, 3 levels of Qi and the triune brain. Overview of the 8EV, functions and indications related to adversity. Chong Mai: pathways, functions and impact on evolutionary stress. Du, Ren, and Wei mai: Pathways, functions and impact on Evolutionary stress.

10:00AM – 10:30AM     Break

10:30AM – 12:00PM     Dr. Yvonne Farrell cont’d: Qiao and Dai mai. Pathways, functions and impact on evolutionary stress.  Pre and post-natal Dai Mai and trauma. Conclusion, Q&A

12:00PM – 1:30PM       Complimentary Lunch / AAC Annual Meeting

1:30PM – 3:00PM        Dr. Steven Wong: Clinical Approach to Treating Patients with Tuina. General introduction, cover the function, essentials, variations, features, and application areas of bō fǎ/strumming method and gǔn fǎ/rolling.

3:00PM – 3:30PM         Break

3:30PM – 5:00PM       Dr Steven Wong:  Cover the function, essentials, variations, features and application areas of lǖfǎ/gliding method, ná fǎ/grasping method, diǎn àn fǎ/point pressing method.

5:00PM – 7:00PM         Membership Mixer- Complimentary Beer & Wine Evening

Reception (non-members welcome too)

Sunday, April 24th, 2022

7:15AM – 8:15AM         Yoga with Dr. Steve Shomo

8:30AM – 10:30AM       Trauma Informed Care with Dr. Steve Shomo: Psycho-emotional and behavioral health screening. This 90-minute session will provide a basic behavioral health screening toolkit for licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac). Screenings will focus on anxiety, depression, traumatic Stress/PTSD, and suicide. As a provider you will gain an understanding of informed consent, the power differential (patient/provider), applied screening tools, mind/body treatment, and referrals.

10:30AM – 11:00AM     Break

11:00AM – 12:30PM    Dr. Yvonne Farrell: Treatment Approaches for Evolutionary Stress. This 90-minute lecture is designed as a follow-up for the previous lecture. It will cover the information needed to create simple but effective 8EV treatments for patients struggling to adapt in the face of adversity. Including: Master and Couple points, Essential Points, and Resonant Points; Creating a treatment: techniques, timing and treatment plans; 8EV Pulses.

12:30PM – 1:30PM       Complimentary Lunch / Legislation Overview

1:30PM – 3:00PM        Dao of Practice Management with Andrew Miles

3:00PM – 3:30PM        Break

3:30PM – 5:30PM        Dr Andrew Miles: Tao of Practice Management. This portion  covers how to use Taoist Principles and Strategies to get an overflowing clinic as well as to understand the blessing and hardships that come with being busy.

Please click "Register" bottom, left-hand column

THE FINE PRINT: All requests for cancellation must be received  in writing (may be via fax or e-mail) at the AAC office no later than March 1st, 2022 to be eligible for a refund.  There will be a $25.00 processing fee deducted from your refund and all refunds will be issued after the event.  Cancellation requests between March 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2022 will receive a 50% refund or the remainder after a $75.00 processing fee.  All cancellations received after April 1st, 2022 will not be eligible for a refund.