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Our Board of Directors

(Listed alphabetically)

Curtis Eschels, MAC, EAMP

Curt Eschels has been a member of WEAMA (and its predecessor name sakes) since he was a student at NIAOM. After graduating in 2000, he began a practice in Olympia, WA, the state capital. In an earlier career, he worked for legislators and the governor's office on energy policy, and he has put his knowledge of that process to work by interacting with legislators, policy makers, and state regulators to advance the East Asian medicine profession. Curt is also a member of the AAAOM and the South Sound Acupuncture Association. His goals for WEAMA are to offer more services, raise member involvement, and promote the profession. Curt is WEAMA’s president.

Derek Kirkham, DAOM, MS, EAMP

Dr. Derek Kirkham is an East Asian medicine practitioner with a particular focus in treating acute and chronic pain, headaches, respiratory issues, and giving supportive care to cancer patients. Derek received his Master's degree in Traditional East Asian Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California, and his doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine (DAOM) from Bastyr University, where he received advanced training in oncology and pain management. He is certified in acupuncture and herbal medicine by the NCCAOM and is a Diplomate in East Asian medicine.

In practice Derek uses a blend of acupuncture, traditional herbal remedies, and dietary adjustment to help his patients live healthier, more active lives. Derek runs a private practice in Seattle, WA, and firmly believes that traditional Asian medicine can work hand in hand with Western methods and cures. Derek serves on WEAMA's legislative committee.

Fujio McPherson, DAOM, EAMP, ARNP

Dr. Fujio McPherson, Lieutenant Colonel (retired), has served in numerous positions during a 28 year career in the U.S. Army starting as private in the 82nd Airborne Division, a 2nd Lieutenant at Letterman Army Medical Center, S.F. and retiring as a LTC/Nurse Practitioner, in the Internal Medicine Clinic (IMC), Madigan Army Center, Ft. Lewis. WA, where he continues to work as a civilian provider today. He has Bachelors degree in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters degree in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. A Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, and a Clinical Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

He has been a consulting provider for patients with chronic pain within the IMC for several years providing an alternative to patients who are seeking an option to therapy beyond traditional modalities and narcotic therapy and has successfully helped improve pain symptoms and reduce narcotic dependency in more than 60-70% of his narcotic dependent patients, which he has supported through research. He has been the Primary Investigator in several clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of using an integrative approach to chronic diseases like pain and anxiety. He has been published in Military Medicine Journal regarding his examination of the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among active duty Soldiers, retirees and their dependents. And is currently concluding a study to evaluate an integrative approach for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder which has shown significant statistical improvement in anxiety symptoms and scores and continues to demonstrate the value of using an integrative approach to disease management.

J Miranda Taylor, MTCM, EAMP

Miranda Taylor graduated with a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in 2003 with the assistance of the Bastyr Teach-out program after NIAOM closed. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science in biology. A full-time acupuncturist and herbalist in West Seattle, she is aware of the strains put on our profession. She is concerned about acupuncturists practicing in vacuums, so as membership coordinator Miranda is looking forward to helping increase membership and participation in WEAMA. She feels a more involved membership can accomplish many things such as the increased scope of practice accomplished by WEAMA in 2010.

In addition to a full time practice and serving on WEAMA’s board, Miranda is working with community groups and urban farmers to bring a non-profit organic grocery store on wheels, “The Good Food Truck,” to the Delridge community in Seattle and to food deserts across the country. She is on the High Point Neighborhood Association board, chairing the Healthy Living & Orchard Committee. She enjoys cross-country skiing, walking, and eating beans and raspberries from her garden. She is a person of ideas, but feels a smart team of volunteers is needed to see them through. Miranda is chair of WEAMA's membership committee and invites colleagues to get involved.

Morgan Tougas, MA, EAMP

Morgan Tougas first developed an interest in East Asian Medicine in 1990 while studying Chinese language at Beijing Normal University, in Beijing, China. In 2003 he received a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, and in 2004 he opened an East Asian medicine clinic in Monterey, California. Morgan returned to Washington State in 2007 to work for a private Institutional Review Board, and in 2011 opened a new clinical practice – Olympia East Asian Medicine - in Olympia, WA. Morgan's clinical focus is on the combined use of acupuncture, tuina, and Chinese herbs; and incorporates both Chinese (TCM) and Japanese (Meridian Therapy) acupuncture techniques. Morgan is WEAMA’s treasurer.

Lisa vanHaagen, MS, EAMP, LMP

Lisa vanHaagen is a 2002 Bastyr University graduate with an MS in acupuncture. She has a BA/BS in pre-med, health education, and botanical medicine from The Evergreen State College, and is also an LMP and doula. Her business, Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, is based in Skagit county with two locations: Anacortes and Sedro-Woolley. Lisa utilizes East Asian medicine, massage therapy, health education, and therapeutic nutrition to optimize patient health. Prior to attending Bastyr University Lisa's work experience includes being a licensed clinical assistant, a health assistant for Head Start/ECEAP, and legislative assistant for the Office of Program Research at the WA State House of Representatives. While at Bastyr Lisa interned at Evergreen Treatment Services in Seattle where she received her NADA certification, which she keeps active. Lisa's hobbies include raising a back yard flock of chickens, gardening, hiking, biking, fiber arts, reading, and boating with her husband and two dogs.

Currently Lisa is WEAMA’s vice-president, co-chair of the legislative committee, and chair of WEAMA’s insurance committee. She brings to the board the benefit of her past legislative assistant experience, community involvement, and ongoing clinical experience. Issues she looks forward to continue working on while on the board include gaining L&I coverage for acupuncture/East Asian medicine treatment, maintaining/increasing insurance coverage for acupuncture and East Asian medicine, and supporting colleagues and members through WEAMA. Lisa takes a collaborative approach to problem solving and appreciates hearing from members, colleagues, and the public.

Melissa Yaden, EAMP, LMP, AWC

After completing her formal training in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Herbology) from Bastyr University in 2010, Melissa furthered her understanding of East Asian medicine by studying Ayurveda, massage, traditional Nepalese sound healing techniques, and Acutonics®. Melissa's passion resides in empowering clients to accept and embellish their own innate healing capability for health and spiritual growth.

Melissa says she was first drawn to Chinese medicine because it reminded her to live a more fluid and dynamic life, one that harmonizes body, mind, and spirit with nature and with an individual’s unique environment. She is passionate about sharing this wisdom in both intimate and community settings, working with individuals and groups to achieve greater understanding and cohesiveness within all forms of medicine and alternative health care. It is with this expanded perspective on health and life that she is able inspire and empower her patients to take control of their own health, healing, and well-being. When designing personalized treatment plans Melissa utilizes her comprehensive understanding of East Asian medicine and how it correlates to Western medicine.

In addition to serving on WEAMA’s board as secretary, Melissa is a volunteer groomer at PAWS, and has studied/volunteered in a variety of specialized clinics.

Our Advisors

Lobbyist Leslie Emerick, MPA

My name is Leslie Emerick, MPA, and I have been working in the legislative arena for 14 years. I have represented WEAMA (formerly WAOMA) since 2007. I have been tracking legislation and agency rulemaking associated with the practice of acupuncture and have testified at numerous hearings on behalf of acupuncturists, preventing any infringement on their current scope of practice and protecting the “Every Category Provider” clause in state insurance statutes. I have been very proactive in assisting WEAMA in setting up meetings with DOH to discuss disciplinary issues as well as issues regarding our recent Sunrise Review and upcoming legislation.

During the summer of 2008 we began working on legislation for updating the scope of practice for acupuncturists. There were six stakeholder meetings around Washington State and four membership meetings that I assisted with by facilitating the event and preparing notes from these meetings. During the fall of 2008, we worked with stakeholders to incorporate their feedback and refine the bill draft for introduction during the 2009 Legislative Session. WEAMA did an outstanding job representing their constituents in this process. The bill evolved to changing the name for the profession, establishing an Acupuncture Advisory Committee and updating referral references in statute. The bill passed both the House and Senate Health Care Committees, but did not make it to the floor of the House for a final vote due to the concerns around the term Oriental, which has been banned from statute in Washington State when referring to individuals by a prior bill.

During the past year, we requested that an Acupuncture Sunrise Review be done by DOH to update the current scope of practice to reflect current education and training. I gained sponsorship by Senator Karen Keiser to request the Sunrise Review and the process began in the summer of 2009. It was an extensive review of additional techniques to be added to the scope of practice for acupuncturists. This fall we received a very positive response from DOH for the Acupuncture Sunrise Review and have integrated those recommendations into a bill draft that will be submitted for the 2010 Legislative Session. If the bill passes, we will be working on agency rulemaking to further define the scope of practice throughout the summer of 2010.

WEAMA met with DOH staff in December to discuss educational opportunities for practitioners regarding disciplinary actions, providing education to department staff on the appropriate standards of care for acupuncturists and adding additional review by licensed acupuncturists when a case involving an acupuncturist comes up for investigation to assure that the profession has better representation.

Prior to working with WEAMA, I was an elected County Commissioner in Douglas County for four years from 1997-2000. As a county commissioner, the three person board was in charge of the overall administration of the Douglas County $23 million budget. I worked cooperatively with cities, other county governments, and state and federal agencies on a broad range of issues such as land use under the Growth Management Act, salmon habitat, solid waste facilities, water quality, inert landfills and more. During this time I was also on the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health, Link Transit System Board, Area Agency on Aging, Behavioral Health Board and others.

I was a legislative liaison for the Washington State Department of Agriculture for five years and worked on environmental, food safety, agricultural marketing, animal disease related issues such as avian influenza and “Mad Cow” disease and other agriculture related issues. I worked for the Department of Health for a little less than one year as the Assistant Director of Legislative and Constituent Relations. At DOH I worked on environmental health issues for the agency such as the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the radiation program, toxins in the environment, waste water and sewage, shellfish monitoring, state drinking water supplies, pesticides and many more issues related to the environment.

I started my own business as a lobbyist in the fall of 2006 based on my extensive working experience with the legislature and the political connections gained while I was a publicly-elected official. I have five health care related clients. I enjoy representing acupuncturists and believe in the benefits of Acupuncture and/or East Asian medicine. I have been personally receiving acupuncture treatments by licensed practitioners for over 12 years and have found it to be successful for a number of health related issues. For more information on my business, please go to my website at http://www.lesemerick.com.

I have a Master of Public Administration degree from The Evergreen State College (2007), a BA in Speech Communication and a second BA in Secondary Education and a minor in Political Science from Western Washington University (1981). In my years as a county commissioner, as an agency legislative liaison and as a lobbyist, I have learned that there are two sides to every story and that working in a cooperative and respectful manner is the most successful way to problem solve and building alliances. I will continue to work hard for your profession and assist legislators and agency staff in understanding the unique service that you provide.

Attorney John Conniff

For the past four years, John Conniff has been advising WEAMA on revisions to the state law governing East Asian medicine. He has helped guide WEAMA through the state review process and brings his deep experience in legislative and regulatory matters to the Association as it moves toward an historic modernization of laws governing East Asian medicine.

John Conniff is a practicing attorney and owner of John S Conniff, PLLC a law firm located in Tacoma, Washington. He is also an owner/partner in the health care and regulatory compliance firm of Compliance Solutions, LLC specializing in advice, training, and development of strategies to respond to health care reform.

He graduated from Seattle University in 1978 with a B.A. in political science and with a law degree from Seattle University Law School in 1986.

He is admitted to practice in Oregon and Washington and is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association and the American Society of Media Photographers.

From 1986 until 1993, he served as attorney to the Washington State House of Representatives advising on Insurance, Banking, and Health Care.

In 1993, he was appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Health Care. During his seven years with the Office of Insurance Commissioner, he worked extensively on managed health care issues, insurance regulatory compliance, and health care policy.

From 1994 - 1998, he served as chairman of various committees for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners developing new model laws on managed care, health care reform and privacy. He has served on national task forces developing laws for managed health care and health insurance reform. He has written extensively on privacy, insurance and managed health care issues.

John provides consulting and legal services to employers, insurers, health care practitioners, trade associations and health plans. His company, Compliance Solutions, develops and creates online learning solutions for businesses and health care practitioners and through a partnership with the Arista Point Institute in Kirkland, Washington provides live training and professional education.

Attorney John C. Peick

John C. Peick is a principal in the firm of Peick|Conniff, P.S. He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. Political Science in 1972. He attended the University of Iowa School of Law in Iowa City, Iowa, transferred to the UW Law School in 1973, and graduated in 1975. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association (1975), U.S. District Court, Western District, Washington (1975), U.S. Tax Court (1976) and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1998). He is a member of the American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, Washington State Attorneys for Justice (1984-Present), American Association for Justice, and National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys. He served for many years on the Board of Governors for the Washington State Association for Justice. He has been Legal Counsel to the Washington State Chiropractic Association since 1991 and has worked on joint projects with other healthcare provider groups. He is an author, taught law courses on the community college level, and been a frequent speaker at various healthcare provider seminars and meetings.