Let the journey begin.

Dianne Connelly, M.Ac.(UK), Ph.D., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), has been a practitioner of traditional acupuncture since 1972. Connelly is co-founder of Tai Sophia Institute, where she serves as chancellor and a senior faculty member. In addition to teaching at Tai Sophia, she presents workshops in the U.S. and internationally. Connelly received her master’s qualification from the College of Traditional Acupuncture (UK) in 1979. She obtained a Ph.D. in cross-cultural medicine from Union Graduate School in 1975, and an M.A. from New York University School of Education in 1968. She is the author of Traditional Acupuncture: Law of the Five Elements, All Sickness is Home Sickness, and co-author of Alive & Awake: Wisdom for Kids. Make Contact

Jody Cutler, M.Ac., L.Ac., received her Master of Acupuncture degree at Tai Sophia and is a member of the Institute’s faculty. She is cofounder and co-owner of Roots Market, a natural food store, and three other healthconscious businesses. Dedicated to supporting individuals in improving their health, Cutler brings a compassionate, clear approach to people who are seeking partnership in their healing. Make Contact

Robert M. Duggan, M.Ac.(UK), M.A., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), has been in practice since 1972. Duggan, president and co-founder of Tai Sophia Institute, studied at the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in England. He also received his Master’s in Education from New York University. He participated in the White House Panel on Complementary Medicine during the healthcare debate in 1993, and in the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine strategic planning conference. Duggan served for several years as chairman of the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture, and is author of Common Sense for the Healing Arts. Make Contact

Susan Duggan, B.S., M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), a graduate of Skidmore College with a specialization in Health and Human Services,
has practiced bodywork since 1986 and taught at the Potomac Massage Therapy Institute, Washington, DC. Duggan holds a Master’s degree in Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now Tai Sophia Institute). She teaches classes on the art of living and dying and serves as faculty in the Acupuncture and Applied Health Arts degree programs at the Institute. Make Contact

Deneb A. Falabella, B.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., NADA Certified, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and the Traditional
Acupuncture Institute (now Tai Sophia Institute). Currently serving as the assistant director of the Master of Acupuncture program, she has been a member of the staff and assistant faculty of Tai Sophia since 1999. Falabella holds a certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine, and enjoys complementing acupuncture with herbs to help patients regain their natural state of wellness. Make Contact

Charlotte R. Kerr, R.S.M., R.N., B.S.N., M.P.H., M.Ac.(UK), L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), has more than 30 years’ experience in healthcare as a nurse, assistant professor of nursing, consultant in public health, and practitioner and faculty member at Tai Sophia Institute. She has served on the Governor’s Acupuncture Advisory Council for Maryland, the Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health Alternative Medicine Program, and the White House Commission on Complementary Medicine. She now serves on the advisory board of the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University, and was identified as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. Make Contact

Craig Kerr, B.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., NADA Certified, is a graduate and assistant faculty member of Tai Sophia Institute. An FAA certified flight instructor for over 35 years, he was led to the practice of acupuncture after an aircraft accident that changed his direction in life. Prior to studying acupuncture, he spent over 40 years in business, specializing in support services for individuals with developmental disabilities, business development, human resources and management. Make Contact

Kaiya Larson, B.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., received her Master of Acupuncture degree from Tai Sophia Institute where she is a core faculty member. Prior to studying acupuncture, she graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and worked with underprivileged children and nonprofit institutions, teaching them to make videos to air on cable access channels. A mother of two and an artist, she provides a nurturing presence and a deep passion for the amazing art of acupuncture. Make Contact

Michael Phillips, B.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM), is a graduate of Pomona College and the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now Tai Sophia Institute). Affiliated with the Institute since 1985, he is a distinguished lecturer on the faculty, where he has served as dean of students and faculty chairman. Phillips also teaches workshops using concepts in theater arts and traditional acupuncture to enhance sensory skills and insights into five element philosophy. Make Contact

S. Hunter Thompson, B.A., M.A., M.Ac., L.Ac., NADA Certified, is a graduate of the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (now Tai Sophia Institute). He is on the clinical faculty of Tai Sophia., and is the chief operating officer at Your Prescription for Health. Prior to studying acupuncture, he worked with mentally challenged individuals. Thompson is the author of two books on history and philosophy. He has practiced martial arts since 1985 and holds a third degree black belt. Make Contact

Jade Connelly-Duggan, M.Ac., L.Ac. gladly joins the practitioners at the Natural Care Center. Jade loves both the simplicity and richness available with acupuncture, equally useful for injuries, chronic illness, cyclical or seasonal difficulties, and even relationships. She has three young children and also uses nutrition, homeopathy, and herbs as well as acupressure at home. Growing up in a family environment where medicine meant both laughter and antibiotics, and seeing the glow and gratefulness from her mother’s patients, Jade was inspired to take on the practice of acupuncture. What could be more worth waking up for every morning than to see clearly you are helping people get from birth to death as gracefully and with as much ease as possible? She is passionate about “one needle” treatments — meaning that other people in your life will also receive a treatment from your new sense of well-being. Her mission is to ensure that you are the most effective practitioner for your own life and wellness, and that she become simply a reminder.Make Contact

Star Ferguson, M.Ac., L.Ac., began her acupuncture studies in 2004 at Tai Sophia Institute. She began receiving acupuncture herself years before for allergy symptoms and found relief there and also on other levels. She says, “I was surprised to not only physically better, but mentally and emotionally better—I felt happier and calmer and was able to sustain it.” Star is known for her deep listening and empathy in the treatment room, and she loves the connection she has with her patients while she supports their journey to better health. Star became assistant faculty in the Institute’s Acupuncture program in January 2008 and continues to teach a variety of courses. She also is the Institute’s Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator. Make Contact

Cathy Miller, L.M.T., is a licensed massage therapist with additional diplomas and certifications in Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM), Process Acupressure, and Clinical Acupressure (Soul Lightening International). Cathy offers a “whole-being” approach to bodywork, and tailors each session to the specific needs of each client. She offers Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage (traditional massage therapy), Asian Bodywork Therapy (including shiatsu—gentle or deep compressions and/or stretching along meridian pathways), Clinical Acupressure (accessing specific acupoint combinations with a special style of touch, and in a particular order to facilitate balance and healing), and Process Acupressure (facilitating awareness in the body/mind/spirit as issues naturally arise and unfold during bodywork). Make Contact

Jenna Sommers, B.M., NCTMB, L.M.T., creates an integrative approach to therapeutic massage and bodywork, incorporating Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy (including Trigger Point), Pre-natal, Acupressure, Shiatsu, and Reflexology. A strong interest in the wisdom of natural healing led her to study at the Center for Massage and Natural Health in Asheville, N.C., and to be awarded National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB). Jenna believes that the body is wise, with a great capacity to heal itself through attention, care, and heightened body awareness. She treats massage as a vehicle to access these gifts. As a practitioner, her vision is to provide nurturing and attentive bodywork that encourages self-healing. She enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge of natural health care with her clients. Jenna is continuing to cultivate her healing arts practice by pursuing a Master’s degree in Acupuncture at the Tai Sophia Institute. Make Contact

Liz Brinson, L.M.T., NCTMB, is an advanced practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle manual therapy that encourages health in the central nervous system. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the Baltimore School of Massage, a licensed massage therapist who is nationally certified in therapeutic massage. She also has received training in myofascial work and pregnancy/postpartum massage. Liz employs a practical, comfortable approach, some humor and a good dose of compassion in her work. In response to subtle movements and physiological rhythms, CST facilitates clients’ connection with their non-conscious impulse toward balance and health, and uses this innate drive to guide the release of primary restrictions. CST is often relaxing, and gracefully promotes cognitive, emotional and spiritual integration through structural bodywork. Make Contact

Bevin Clare, B.S., R.H. (AHG), is a clinical herbalist, nutritionist, ethnobotanist, and faculty member at Tai Sophia Institute. Clare has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies. Before coming to Tai Sophia, Clare practiced in Maine and Boston where for seven years she worked to bring the art and science of herbal medicine into modern medical practice working with primary medical providers. She holds a degree in Ethnobotany, lectures widely at many schools and conferences, and serves on the board of the American Herbalists Guild. Make Contact

Georgeanne "Geo" Derick, B.A., M.S., received her Master of Science in Herbal Medicine from Tai Sophia Institute, where she serves as the outreach coordinator for the Herbal Medicine program. Through her practice as a clinical herbalist, nutrition and wellness counselor, she brings her passion for plants and people to clients, students, and associates nationwide. She also is president of Merchandising East, an interior architecture and design firm specializing in healing spaces; in that role she is a national speaker, educator, and widely published writer. At her farm in Berryville, VA, she enjoys wildcrafting and gardening. Derick holds a B.A. degree in Cultural Anthropology and English Literature. Make Contact

Camille Freeman, M.S., C.N.S., L.D.N., R.H. (AHG), is an herbalist and nutritionist with a specialty in women’s health. In practice since 2003, she works with women of all ages, focusing on issues related to a healthy menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy and lactation. She received her Master’s in Herbal Medicine from the Tai Sophia Institute, and is now a core faculty member in the Herbal Medicine program. Camille is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and is certified as a Nutrition Specialist through the American College of Nutrition as well as a licensed nutritionist in the state of Maryland. Make Contact

Rebecca Snow, M.S., R.H. (AHG), C.N.S., is a clinical herbalist and licensed nutritionist. Her passion for using herbs and foods to support health was sparked in 1998, leading her to study at the Dreamtime Center for Herbal Studies and later at the Tai Sophia Institute. After acquiring her Master of Science Degree in Herbal Medicine, Rebecca practiced for 4 1/2 years in an integrative medical office in Rockville, Maryland where she gained a wealth of clinical experience with complex health concerns. Her journey brings her back to Tai Sophia to share the gifts of the herbs, healing foods and compassionate guidance. Make Contact

Liz Brinson, L.M.T., NCTMB, as an affiliate practitioner at the Natural Care Center. Liz is an advanced practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle manual therapy that encourages health in the central nervous system. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the Baltimore School of Massage, a licensed massage therapist who is nationally certified in therapeutic massage. She also has received training in myofascial work and pregnancy/postpartum massage. Liz employs a practical, comfortable approach, some humor and a good dose of compassion in her work. In response to subtle movements and physiological rhythms, CST facilitates clients’ connection with their non-conscious impulse toward balance and health, and uses this innate drive to guide the release of primary restrictions. CST is often relaxing, and gracefully promotes cognitive, emotional and spiritual integration through structural bodywork. Make Contact

Kristen LaSor, L.M.T., is a graduate of the Baltimore School of Massage, and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Kristen, a Licensed Massage Therapist, came to Massage Therapy to obtain a solid understanding of the human body. She believes wholeheartedly in the healing power of massage. Her goal as a massage therapist is to dedicate herself to the health and well-being of her clients through professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and respect. She provides her clients with nurturing sessions to promote relaxation and self-healing. She hopes through continued sessions, her clients will achieve a better body awareness and sense of peace in their lives. Make Contact

Cathy Miller, L.M.T., is a licensed massage therapist with additional diplomas and certifications in Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM), Process Acupressure, and Clinical Acupressure (Soul Lightening International). Cathy offers a “whole-being” approach to bodywork, and tailors each session to the specific needs of each client. She offers Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage (traditional massage therapy), Asian Bodywork Therapy (including shiatsu—gentle or deep compressions and/or stretching along meridian pathways), Clinical Acupressure (accessing specific acupoint combinations with a special style of touch, and in a particular order to facilitate balance and healing), and Process Acupressure (facilitating awareness in the body/mind/spirit as issues naturally arise and unfold during bodywork). Make Contact

Jenna Sommers, B.M., NCTMB, L.M.T., creates an integrative approach to therapeutic massage and bodywork, incorporating Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy (including Trigger Point), Pre-natal, Acupressure, Shiatsu, and Reflexology. A strong interest in the wisdom of natural healing led her to study at the Center for Massage and Natural Health in Asheville, N.C., and to be awarded National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB). Jenna believes that the body is wise, with a great capacity to heal itself through attention, care, and heightened body awareness. She treats massage as a vehicle to access these gifts. As a practitioner, her vision is to provide nurturing and attentive bodywork that encourages self-healing. She enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge of natural health care with her clients. Jenna is continuing to cultivate her healing arts practice by pursuing a Master’s degree in Acupuncture at the Tai Sophia Institute. Make Contact

Bevin Clare, B.S., R.H. (AHG), is a clinical herbalist, nutritionist, ethnobotanist, and faculty member at Tai Sophia Institute. Clare has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies. Before coming to Tai Sophia, Clare practiced in Maine and Boston where for seven years she worked to bring the art and science of herbal medicine into modern medical practice working with primary medical providers. She holds a degree in Ethnobotany, lectures widely at many schools and conferences, and serves on the board of the American Herbalists Guild. Make Contact

Camille Freeman, M.S., C.N.S., L.D.N., R.H. (AHG), is an herbalist and nutritionist with a specialty in women’s health. In practice since 2003, she works with women of all ages, focusing on issues related to a healthy menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy and lactation. She received her Master’s in Herbal Medicine from the Tai Sophia Institute, and is now a core faculty member in the Herbal Medicine program. Camille is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and is certified as a Nutrition Specialist through the American College of Nutrition as well as a licensed nutritionist in the state of Maryland. Make Contact

Rebecca Snow, M.S., R.H. (AHG), C.N.S., is a clinical herbalist and licensed nutritionist. Her passion for using herbs and foods to support health was sparked in 1998, leading her to study at the Dreamtime Center for Herbal Studies and later at the Tai Sophia Institute. After acquiring her Master of Science Degree in Herbal Medicine, Rebecca practiced for 4 1/2 years in an integrative medical office in Rockville, Maryland where she gained a wealth of clinical experience with complex health concerns. Her journey brings her back to Tai Sophia to share the gifts of the herbs, healing foods and compassionate guidance. Make Contact

Cathy Miller, L.M.T., is a licensed massage therapist with additional diplomas and certifications in Asian Bodywork Therapy (NCCAOM), Process Acupressure, and Clinical Acupressure (Soul Lightening International). Cathy offers a “whole-being” approach to bodywork, and tailors each session to the specific needs of each client. She offers Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage (traditional massage therapy), Asian Bodywork Therapy (including shiatsu—gentle or deep compressions and/or stretching along meridian pathways), Clinical Acupressure (accessing specific acupoint combinations with a special style of touch, and in a particular order to facilitate balance and healing), and Process Acupressure (facilitating awareness in the body/mind/spirit as issues naturally arise and unfold during bodywork). Make Contact