Who I am
I developed an interest in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) when I was twelve years old and a little old Chinese man who didn’t speak a word of English used acupuncture and herbs to cure me of an ailment that two surgeries and physicians at the Mayo Clinic were not able to diagnose or treat.
Throughout grade school and high school, science was my favorite subject and I particularly loved subjects like anatomy and physiology. Both my parents are health care providers and I knew from an early age that I would choose a healthcare or science-related career for myself.
I went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition and a master’s degree in applied physiology. During college and graduate school I spent innumerable hours at the medical school library studying scientific journals. For two years I directed a university laboratory where I collected data on the effect of diet and physical fitness on cardiovascular disease risk factors and taught undergraduate students. Eventually, data from my master’s thesis was published in The Journal of Applied Physiology.
But throughout this time, I maintained my interest in Chinese medicine. I knew from personal experience that acupuncture and herbal medicine works, sometimes even when conventional means have failed. TCM is a pre-scientific method that operates according to logic that is foreign to the Western mind. In many cases it defies analysis under the scientific method. But I began to wonder – with my background, might I serve as a bridge between these two very different worlds?
I spent the years of 1999 – 2003 studying at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where I completed over 2800 hours of training and earned my second master’s degree (Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine). Many of my professors were doctors from China; some of them the eighth or tenth generation acupuncturist in their families.
Over the nine years I have been in full-time practice, my confidence in and fascination with TCM has grown. I have seen patients relieved of chronic pain that had plagued them for years. I have seen couples who were told that they were infertile conceive naturally and give birth to healthy babies. I have seen people recover their ability to sleep restfully after years of crushing insomnia. I have seen scores of Central Texans give up their allergy medication and make it through cedar season without their annual Christmas-season sinus infection. I have seen my own kids and others recover in days instead of weeks from colds, ear infections, and bronchitis.
I know first hand the challenge of chronic pain, but my own experience and that of many of my patients has convinced me that acupuncture and herbal medicine can make a life-changing difference. I feel so privileged to get to know each one of my patients and be a part of their health care team. I love the work that I do!
People who are new to “alternative medicine” are comfortable as patients in my practice for a few reasons. I have a high regard for physicians and whole-heartedly encourage my patients to remain under the care of their primary care and specialist doctors. My office is located in a professional building less than a block from Providence Health Center. I am open to questions – even skeptical and challenging ones (I am a skeptic at heart myself!)
I have been told by many patients that they appreciate my ability to explain their diagnosis and treatment plan in simple, common sense language. As a native English speaker, you won’t have to struggle to understand me. Because I have a scientific and medical background, I will be able to work alongside and communicate with your other health care providers (if you wish). I go out of my way to make sure that all your questions are thoroughly answered during your office visits and am available via telephone or email for questions between appointments. I will carefully listen to you and will give you plenty of time to explain your concerns. I look forward to getting to know you and your family and becoming your friend!
I also offer an on-site pharmacy of over 250 super-premium Chinese herbal formulas and Standard Process dietary supplements. If appropriate, one of these formulas can be custom-prescribed for your condition. (Please note that the pharmacy is not open to the public. Herbs and supplements are available by prescription only for existing patients.)
Please feel free to contact me via email or telephone if I can answer any questions or help you determine if acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine is right for you.
My Credentials and Degrees
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
Licensed Acupuncturist (#AC00703).
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Diplomate of Acupuncture, and Diplomate of Chinese Herbology.
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM)
Clean Needle Technique Certification.
Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (2800 hour professional program, including 1080 hours of supervised clinical practice).
University of Missouri-Columbia
Master of Arts in Applied Physiology (thesis research co-published in the Journal of Applied Physiology).
Master of Science in Human Nutrition (graduated Summa Cum Laude).
Experience
Private Practice (2003 – present)
Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and Nutritionist.
Specialist in family medicine.
Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic (1999 – 2003)
Intern
American Health Science University (1999 – 2007)
Academic Director (1999-2001) & Consultant (2001-2007)
Developed curriculum for two accredited distance education programs in human nutrition (certificate and M.S. degree program). Taught and mentored students enrolled in the Certified Nutritionist program.
University of Missouri-Columbia Applied Physiology Laboratory (1997 – 1999)
Senior Research & Teaching Assistant
Coordinated data collection and analysis for two major research projects and taught undergraduate students. Responsibilities included: literature review; subject recruitment; subject interviews; body composition estimation by underwater weighing (residual volume measured by helium dilution spirometry); maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) testing; venapuncture; laboratory analysis of plasma triglycerides, total HDL-cholesterol and HDL-C subfractions, total LDL-cholesterol, and Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) concentration; and coordination of statistical analysis (4-way ANOVA with repeated measures).
Publications
THOMAS, T.R., HORNER, K.E., LANGDON, M.H., ZHANG, J.Q., KRUL, E.S., SUN, G.Y., COX, R.H. Effect of exercise and medium chain fatty acids on postprandial lipemia. Journal of Applied Physiology. 90:1239-1246, 2001.
KIST, W.B., THOMAS, T.R., HORNER, K.E., LAUGHLIN, M.H. Effects of aerobic training and gender on HDL-C and LDL-C subfractions in Yucatan miniature swine. Journal of Exercise Physiology. 2:7-15, 1999.
THOMAS, T.R., FISCHER, B.A., KIST, W.B., HORNER, K.E., COX, R.H. Effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on postprandial lipemia. Journal of Applied Physiology. 88:2199-2204, 2000.