Faculty

Claire Davison-Williams, ID, M.A. (Applied Communications), Instructor
Claire has over twenty years experience in the education and social service fields as a coordinator of public legal education programs; an HIV/AIDS coordinator and trainer; an instructor of employability skills; and as the former Associate Dean and Registrar of ACOS. Claire also has training in adult education/instruction, curriculum design and a background in health-care studies. Claire’s MA work was concentrated in online communications and cultural studies, with a specific thesis focus on post-modern identity and online spiritual communities. She loves writing, teaching…and ACOS students.

Mary DeVan, M.A., Instructor
Mary received her Masters of Arts degree from UBC in 1989, and her Masters in Counseling from Gonzaga University in 2008. Currently also working as a therapist in private practice and a clinical supervisor of a multi-service agency, Mary has 20 years experience working with people healing from trauma. Mary has facilitated several groups and presented at conferences and numerous workshops both locally and in Vancouver. She has experience with various therapeutic modalities and is a Somatic Experiencing practitioner.

Jennifer Dunn, R.TCMP, Instructor
Jennifer received her diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in 2004. Since, she has been practicing in Nelson at her home clinic, at the ACOS outpatient clinic, performing home visits and at Kootenay Lake hospital. With a background in therapeutic massage, clinical aromatherapy, youth counseling, and nutritional health and cooking, Jennifer feels that Chinese Medicine is a wonderful way of pulling all of these healing modalities together, and combining treatments as a way of looking at and treating the whole patient. She started teaching at the Academy in 2005, and has become quite dedicated to the field of education. She is continuing education in the fields of Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychology, and Spiritual Healing. She also assists in the organization of promoting and producing continuing education opportunities in the arena of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Kootenay region.

Warren Fischer, B.Sc., M.D. (China), Dr. TCM, Dean, Instructor
See Founder’s Biography

Ed Feuz, Certified CHEK Coach, Instructor
Ed Feuz is co-owner of Summit Fitness and movement educator at the Academy of Oriental Sciences. Ed has studied the CHEK program for the past 10 years, and holds a degree in biochemistry. Ed has a lifelong understanding of how the human body should work when trained correctly and his understanding of optimal body functioning, gait patterning and rehabilitation is stunningly comprehensive. At sixty years old, Ed looks forty-ish and is in superb athletic condition. His enthusiasm for health and customized understanding of personal fitness is addictive and contagious. When all else fails, and your body feels broken, you can’t shed the pounds or get that peak athletic edge, come see Ed Feuz and if you really want to “fix” things and are committed to the ride, he’ll help you be your best and you will never look back.

Jennifer Gawne, ACOS Administrator, R.TCM.H, Dip. (TCM), Instructor
Jennifer is a proud ACOS alumnus and pleased to be the Administrator of the Academy. Jennifer enjoys wearing many hats around the school, overseeing the administration of the Academy, running the Campus Bookstore and Herbal Dispensary and teaching. Jennifer’s desire to provide service to others has been deepened by her study and practice of Chinese Medicine. A favorite aspect of Jennifer’s work is the time spent with students who are observing in the herbal dispensary. Jennifer is honored to take on the role of administrator and, as with her predecessor, Jennifer is dedicated to fostering a positive and respectful learning environment at the Academy.

Nina-Lynn Hamilton, B.Sc., CLSp (MB), Instructor
Nina is a new instructor at the Academy in the Western Medicine department. Nina received her B.Sc. from the University of Calgary in cellular, molecular and microbial biology in 1997, and received her post-graduate diploma in Molecular Diagnostics from the University of Connecticut in 1999.

Nina worked for six years with Calgary Laboratory Services as a Laboratory Scientist in the Molecular Microbiology Department in the area of Research and Development. In 2006 Nina and her family moved to the Kootenays to enjoy the lifestyle and slower pace, but quickly took on a new challenge as a Coroner’s agent here in Nelson. Nina is excited to meet and work with the staff and students of ACOS during the next year and she wanted to be sure and add … P.S. Microbiology is interesting!

Kirsty Holt, B.Sc.Kin., R.M.T, Instructor
Kirsty received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, from the University of Victoria in 1998. After working for three years in the field of exercise rehabilitation, Kirsty returned to school to complete her massage therapy diploma in 2004. Currently Kirsty has built a private practice integrating therapeutic massage, movement education, and personalized fitness training. With her thorough knowledge of anatomy, Kirsty’s special interests include myofascial release techniques, trigger point release methods and core stabilization exercise. She values empowering her patients to take an active role in their health, and continues to teach a variety of health and fitness related workshops in the community.

Juan Huang, B.Sc. (TCM), M.D. (China), Ph.D., R.TCM.P, Instructor
Juan Huang received her Ph.D. in internal medicine at the Beijing University of TCM and Pharmacology, Beijing, China. Dr. Huang has been involved in several research projects both experimental and clinical at the municipal and national level in China. She has over 10 years of clinical experience practicing both at the Donzhimen Hospital (Beijing) and the GuiXi Municipal Hospital (JiangXi Province). Dr. Huang was also a highly esteemed lecturer at the Capital Medical University (Beijing) and has numerous articles published in academic Chinese medicine journals. Dr. Huang has a private practice in the ACOS Out-Patient Clinic located on campus.

Kenneth Kunz M.D., Ph.D., Instructor
Dr. Kunz received his Bachelor of Science degree, as well as the university gold medal for chemistry in 1982 from the University of Winnipeg. Thereafter, he completed his medical degree and clinical internship at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center in 1987. He then received a Medical Research Council grant for studies leading to a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, which he completed at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson.

Following his clinical and research training, he served as a medical director for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, IN. During this time he participated in cancer drug research which involved the design of clinical trials that led to the international development of several exciting new anticancer drugs. After working as a medical oncology consultant in private practice in Arizona and North Carolina, he moved to Nelson with his two children in 2003.

Currently, he serves as a consultant to the medical and scientific communities of BC and gives medical lectures province-wide on cancer-related diseases and diseases of the blood and lymphatics systems. He has two young children, Elizabeth and Michael, and enjoys reading, traveling, long distance and competitive running, as well as playing electric guitar.

Dr. Kunz is thrilled to join the faculty of the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences and looks forward to sharing his accumulated experiences and knowledge of medicine with students at the Academy to improve health care delivery to patients throughout the region.

Regula Langenegger, Registrar
Born and raised in Switzerland, Regula’s professional background has been in administration for over 14 years. Her personal interest in alternative health medicine and her understanding of what it means to be a post-secondary student makes her the perfect fit for the position of Registrar. Always interested in expanding her knowledge and education, Regula has studied Swiss Law at University of Fribourg and as well as Ayurvedic massage and has taught yoga and breathing techniques. Regula has traveled all over the world and is fluent in 3 languages. Regula’s calm and friendly communication style and her commitment to first-class education is a tremendous benefit to the Academy and its students.

Hal Mitchel, B.A. (Anthropology), RN, Instructor
Hal graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1974 then pursued a variety of careers ranging from teaching ESL to immigrants in Northern Ontario lumber camps, through to fishing off the West Coast and laying tracks in Northern BC before entering Nursing. Since graduation, he has worked in diverse settings starting in a NWT Nursing Outpost Station and ending in the Emergency room of Kootenay Lake Hospital.

In between he has worked in a Neurosurgical ICU and in ICU’s and ER’s in Victoria and here in Nelson. He has always had an interest in alternative medicine whether it is TCM, herbology or homeopathy. He believes in using all the resources at one’s disposal for the attainment and keeping of good health.

Christy Nichol, B.Sc., Cert. Athletic Therapist, Instructor
Christy received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Carleton University in 1999. She then went on to complete her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Therapy and Exercise Science (2003). Christy combines her passion for the physical sciences with a love of the movement and health sciences in her clinical practice as a Certified Athletic Therapist at Kootenay Athletic Therapy. Through education, soft tissue release, application of therapeutic modalities and exercise prescription, she strives to help each of her patients build a sustainable body and works holistically honoring the mind body spirit connection. She is inspired to share this passion with her students and is committed to providing an interactive learning environment.

Jo-ann Van Allen, R.TCMP, Instructor
Jo-ann’s over ten years experience in bio-dynamic farming, general and medicinal gardening and her formal training in environmental studies provides a valuable dimension to her instruction in the Academy’s acupuncture, TCM and clinical departments. She is a committed practitioner and instructor who recognizes the connection between one’s environment and personal health. Other areas of interest for her include the classics of Chinese medicine and Chinese astrology. Jo-ann has a growing practice in the ACOS Out-patient Clinic on campus.

Kevin Wallbridge, B.A., Instructor
Kevin earned his degree in Medical Anthropology and Asian Studies. He is a highly experienced teacher of the esoteric concepts of the body and health that are found in Chinese physical culture. From a year-long residency in China, Kevin has first hand experience of the People’s Republic. He was trained as a cross-cultural facilitator by the founder of the Canadian Association of Applied Anthropologists. He offers his twelve years of experience in the Asian martial arts to the benefit of the students and the community alike. Kevin is bilingual in English and Mandarin.

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