As a training clinic for future licensed acupuncturists, as well as postgraduate specialty interns, we offer special pricing that make acupuncture treatments affordable and accessible to our community. In addition, we also provide acupuncture / TCM services by experience faculty-practitioners and licensed clinical fellows.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, both the practitioner and patient participate in the care process. The practitioner contributes his/her experience and clinical skills, and the patient attends to day-to-day aspects of living a healthy lifestyle. This proactive and collaborative approach is the essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It demands that practitioners assess the complexities of each patient’s case and recommend personalized treatment plans that address both the manifestations as well as the root causes of illness.

Recommended care plans may include a combination of additional acupuncture treatments, herbal supplements, dietary and nutritional recommendations, qigong (breathing and movement exercise), and other Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities. 

The treatment philosophy at the Yo San University Blount Community Clinic is to provide integrated care by treating the whole person – mind, body and spirit, not just the disease.

Private Faculty-Practitioners

The Yo San University Blount Community Clinic serves as the practice site for several private practitioners. Enjoy the experience and expertise in the specialties that each of our private practitioners has to offer. Each practitioner has over 15 years of clinical experience in the acupuncture/TCM profession.

Yu-Hong Chen, B Med (China), MSOM, L.Ac.

A seasoned acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner trained in China and in the US, Dr. Chen received her Bachelor of Medicine (B Med) in Chinese Medicine from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and her Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from Samra University in Los Angeles. Dr. Chen has over 30 years’ experience providing excellent patient care in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Chen’s clinical specialties include Women’s Health, Dermatology, Pain Management and General Internal Medicine, to name a few. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Chen is also a clinical faculty at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she teaches and supervises final-year clinical interns. She believes that TCM is both a science and art, and a philosophy dealing with human health and loves to see people benefit from TCM.

Robert Hoffman, DAOM, Lac

Robert Hoffman holds a Master’s degree from Yo San University, and his doctorate from Five Branches University. Currently, he is also a PhD candidate at Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University in Hangzhou, China. His current research is in the use of mushrooms as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment, and the role of Chinese herbs in T cell regulation. Dr. Hoffman is the Chief Academic and Clinical Affairs Officer at YSU where he also serves on both the master’s and doctoral faculties. In addition to his work at the university, Dr. Hoffman serves on the board of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), and is an ordained 23rd generation Daoist Priest in the Quanzhen, Longmen tradition.

Lawrence Lau, MD (Singapore), MSOM, L.Ac.

Lawrence holds a (western allopathic) medical degree from the National University of Singapore in Singapore, as well as a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from Samra University in Los Angeles. With over 20 years’ experience in integrative care, his clinical specialties include internal medicine, oncology, and TCM health cultivation and longevity medicine.

Cynthia Wang, DAOM, L.Ac.

Dong Wang, or Cynthia, is a graduate of both YSU’s Master’s program and the Doctoral program with a specialty in Women’s Health and Fertility. She frequently treats patients with headaches including migraines, cluster and hormonal headaches, and gastrointestinal disorders. Dr. Wang also teaches in the master’s department focusing on Chinese medical terminology and herbal medicine, and is a Chinese astrologist helping people resolve issues surrounding their birth chart. In her free time she enjoys hot yoga, hiking and traveling.

Leah Eradat, L.Ac.

Leah Eradat, L.Ac. is a California Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist
specializing in Women’s Reproductive Health and Fertility.

She is in the process of completing her Doctorate in Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine with an emphasis in Women’s Health and Integrative
Reproductive Medicine, focusing on acupuncture treatment in women undergoing IVF.

Leah is passionate about fertility acupuncture and supporting women and couples
undergoing assisted reproductive treatments with acupuncture, herbs, and nutritional
guidance. She has qualified experience in the treatment of menstrual issues, optimizing
fertility, preparing women and couples for egg retrieval and embryo transfers, and
coaching women through egg freezing.

Clinical Fellows

Our Clinical Fellows are recent graduates of Yo San University, who are fully licensed and provide acupuncture and TCM care for a full spectrum of general health care needs.

Chauchabar Bruhwilier, MATCM, LAc.
Chauchabar Bruhwiler is a graduate of the Yo San University master’s program with an extensive background in massage therapy and Thai massage. Her specialty is in the treatment of pain (e.g. neck, shoulder, hip knee, and back pain), and in making patients feel comfortable with every visit. She believes it is important to make each patient feel cared for on a personal level, and to work with allied health professionals to ensure the best in clinical outcomes.

Kristina Elminoufi, PhD, LAc.
Kristina Elminoufi has her masters in both psychology and Traditional Chinese medicine, as well as her PhD in Sociology. She uses a holistic approach to inform her care of patients with chronic health conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), immune system disorders as well as psycho-emotional distress conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and ADHD/ADD, OCD spectrum disorders in adults, adolescents, and children. As an advocate for women’s health, she is passionate about not only helping women maintain and improve their health through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum care, postpartum depression, peri-and menopause, but also educating patients in TCM methods and holistic philosophy. She also has experience treating conditions such as sleep disorders and migraine headaches. She is a firm believer in integrative medicine and works closely in conjunction with fellow health care providers.

Jeramy Shirley, MATCM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac.
Jeramy holds a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San
University. She has been practicing since 2016. She uses a highly
developed system of palpation to discover areas of energetic blockage and
the specific points that can produce instant relief. In this way she helps
her patients restore balance and harmony in their bodies so that they can
be healthy and free of pain. She has successfully treated many types of
pain, digestive problems, and internal medicine disorders.

Ali Hakimi, DAOM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac.
Dr. Hakimi holds an entry level doctorate from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, a second Doctorate from Five Branches University, and is graduate of the Yo San University Doctoral program with a specialty in Women’s Health & Reproductive Medicine. Currently he is also a Ph.D candidate at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in China pursuing research in the treatment of Post- Stroke Spasticity with acupuncture.

His clinical focus is on the treatment of subfertility/nfertility and related issues including menstrual disorders, diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS, improving IVF and frozen embryo transfer outcomes, miscarriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Dr. Hakimi also has experience treating chronic conditions including arthritis, diabetes, psycho-emotional issues, cardiovascular diseases, and long-COVID Symptoms.

If you’re new to the Community Clinic, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to fill out the necessary new patient forms below.

Your first appointment with a Master’s Intern will be for 2 hours. Appointments for any of the Specialty Clinics and private practitioners will be for 1 hour. The initial consultation includes a thorough medical intake that covers all aspects of your health. Some questions may seem unrelated to your current medical condition, but remember that our treatment philosophy is designed to treat you as a whole person – body, mind and spirit. Interns will use acupuncture during the treatment and may recommend an herbal prescription and/or lifestyle recommendation for diet and exercise.

Please fill out the following forms and bring along the completed forms to your appointment:

• • Patient Medical History
  • YSU Teaching Clinic Office Policy
  • YSU Clinic Payment Policy
  • Patient Personal Data
  • Notice of Privacy Practice
  • Notice of Privacy Practices Patient Acknowledgement
  • Authorization to Treat A Minor (if applicable)*
  • Informed Consent to Treat

*For the treatment of minors, the parent or guardian must be present in the treatment room with the minor and practitioner at all times during the appointment.