Our Students The students in the CCM programs arrive as a diverse collection of individuals who are inquisitive, intelligent, motivated, and drawn to a higher calling with classical roots. Characterized by their passion to learn, as well as their wide-ranging interests and backgrounds, they include dancers, photographers, engineers and hospital lab technicians. They’ve worked in the financial industry, managed restaurants, taught language arts, mastered martial arts and lived abroad. Above all, they are excited to be embraced by a community committed to the core values of compassion, sacred connection, integrity, wisdom and selfless service. Passionate about personal cultivation, they have chosen a program and a profession offering unlimited opportunity for transformation. Wanting more than a trade, they have embarked upon a path of lifelong learning that will provide them with an ever-deepening base of knowledge, skills and awareness from which to contribute to the health and harmony of humanity.
“I considered a few colleges, but NCNM resonated most for me. This education is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the most rewarding.” ~Sunjae Lee, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program and Naturopathic Medicine Program
“...when I spent some time in Hong Kong I became interested in Chinese medicine. Then I moved to Portland and realized there was this phenomenal school that addressed everything I wanted to do, including Chinese medicine.” ~Megan Choy, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program, Naturopathic Medicine Program and Integrative Medicine Research Program
“Classical Chinese medicine is taught by very few colleges and the faculty here is incredible. The program is set up around the ideal of doctors as scholars.” ~Kelly Shaw, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program
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Sunjae Lee, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program and Naturopathic Medicine Program “I first learned about natural medicine after I finished my degree in chemistry and had some treatments with my mother’s acupuncturist. I was searching for a new direction and with natural medicine I found something that connected with my music, martial arts and meditation interests. “I considered a few colleges, but NCNM resonated most for me. This education is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the most rewarding. Although it’s the oldest naturopathic school, it has a very dynamic atmosphere. On the Chinese medicine side, we get a real diversity of philosophies and techniques to choose from. It’s been really valuable to study the ancient texts with Dr. Lee, an incredible scholar; and my calligraphy class with Dr. Zhou led to my having an art studio, a side income and a website (www.fermatawellness.com). “Eventually I want to move back to Boston and open an integrative clinic with an art and community space. Part of my goal is to use music and art to facilitate people’s understanding of health. In observing my own journey and my family members’ journeys with health, I’ve seen a lot of unnecessary suffering and misinformation.”
Megan Choy, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program, Naturopathic Medicine Program and Integrative Medicine Research Program “As a classical ballet dancer, I was always very concerned about nutrition: not just for good health, but also maximum energy and body performance. I’d also had a little acupuncture, and when I spent some time in Hong Kong I became interested in Chinese medicine. Then I moved to Portland and realized there was this phenomenal school that addressed everything I wanted to do, including Chinese medicine. I intended to do the ND/Classical Chinese Medicine program, and I really love it—but when the research program became accredited, I couldn’t pass it up! “I’m very involved with applied kinesiology—which ties together my Chinese and naturopathic medicine education—and for my master’s research, I’m looking at a whole systems research approach to the field, seeing what’s out there and what’s needed to establish its efficacy. Eventually clinical studies will be needed, but right now we need a game plan. That’s what I hope to provide, and I hope to do some of the research, too!”
Kelly Shaw, NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Program “I grew up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where I was around herbs and natural medicine used by local tribes, but it wasn’t until after I finished college and had been working in archeology that I thought about a career in medicine. I wanted to be of service. A chance meeting with a naturopath led me to NCNM and when I read about the CCM program and Heiner Fruehauf, I decided on Chinese medicine. “Classical Chinese medicine is taught by very few colleges and the faculty here is incredible. The program is set up around the ideal of doctors as scholars. It gives students an exceptional grasp of what’s possible with Chinese medicine. It prepares us to learn from our patients and learn more options for using our tools. Students willing to take initiative do best here. I led a research project on Chinese herbal formulas at Helfgott. “I’m passionate about the classical texts in Chinese medicine and about herbal medicine. I hope to have a private practice and use Bazi—medical astrology—there and in consulting work. I’m especially interested in working with veterans and Native Americans, and in men’s health.”
NCNM Classical Chinese Medicine Viewbook
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