Traditional Chinese Medicine
Faculty
Paul Gaucher, R. TCM. P, R. Ac.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Program Manager
Paul earned a diploma in the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (DTCM) program in 2006 from the former Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences (ACOS).
This 4-year full-time program involved intensive studying of acupuncture, herbalism, diet, nutrition, and emotional health.
He’s been an instructor for 4 years (at ACOS and KCC) and Paul is now in his 16th year of private family practice at his clinic in Creston, BC.
At a young age, Paul had a fascination with nature and biology. This innate curiosity about life inspired him to study the patterns of the natural world, and ultimately to embrace TCM.
Paul has a passion for bringing people to their full health potential and seeks to bridge the roots of the guiding principles of TCM with modern health challenges. He’s genuinely motivated to help individuals with a wide range of health issues.
Paul is an instructor, clinic supervisor, and our Program Manager within the TCM program at KCC. His primary responsibilities include ensuring program alignment with CTCMA and Canadian healthcare standards, contributing to the development and management of course curriculum, and overseeing instruction to meet the objectives of the TCM Program. Paul is the main point of contact for clinic supervisors, instructors, dispensary, and clinic coordinators.
Kevin Wallbridge, TCM. P.
Instructor
Kevin earned his degree in Medical Anthropology and Asian Studies. He is a highly experienced teacher of the esoteric concepts of the body and health that are found in Chinese physical culture. From a year-long residency in China, Kevin has first-hand experience of the People’s Republic. He was trained as a cross-cultural facilitator by the founder of the Canadian Association of Applied Anthropologists. He offers his twelve years of experience in Asian martial arts to the benefit of the students and the community alike. Kevin is bilingual in English and Mandarin.
Ellissa Crête, Dr. TCM, B.A.
Instructor
Ellissa Crête is a BC registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) and Certified Bodyworker. In 2014, Ellissa graduated from the five-year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Program at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences (ACOS) in Nelson, BC. She participated in additional TCM clinical internships in Kunming, China. Ellissa is continuing studies in gynecology, mental health, sound healing, and Western herbology. She is an Ohm Therapeutics™ practitioner in sound healing with tuning forks. Ellissa has a private practice in Nelson offering services in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Tuning Forks, Massage, and Yoga.
Since 2019, Ellissa has been an instructor in the TCM program; she teaches Chinese Herbology and Herbal Therapeutics classes. Ellissa is honored to support students on their journey of self-reflection, theoretical understanding, and practical clinical application.
Nina-Lynn Hamilton, B.Sc., CLSp
Instructor
Nina is an instructor at the Academy in the Western Medicine department. Nina received her B.Sc. from the University of Calgary in cellular, molecular, and microbial biology in 1997, and received her post-graduate diploma in Molecular Diagnostics from the University of Connecticut in 1999. Nina worked for six years with Calgary Laboratory Services as a Laboratory Scientist in the Molecular Microbiology Department in the area of Research and Development. In 2006 Nina and her family moved to the Kootenay’s to enjoy the lifestyle and slower pace, but quickly took on a new challenge as a Coroner’s agent here in Nelson. Nina is excited to meet and work with the staff and students of KCC during the next year and she wanted to be sure and add … P.S. Microbiology is interesting!
Chris Holland, B.A.
Instructor
Chris Holland is a Communications Specialist with a diverse work history and a grounded understanding of the needs of businesses. With a degree in Communication from Simon Fraser University, Chris launched his career by creating a one-person traveling promotional show for the opening of Science World. Moving into the raucous world of hospitality promotions Chris spent the next decade pioneering new ways to promote, market, and advertise using guerrilla tactics fusion campaigns, and hosting the grandest events on the most impoverished of budgets.
The adventure continued as Chris spent the next six years in the corporate world developing sales strategies, resource/account management, professional training, development, human resource consultation, and advertising/marketing analysis skills. For the past 12 years, Chris has been working with entrepreneurs, social enterprises, community organizations, education institutions, and national corporations providing a unique mix of inspiration, education, and action. Residing in the Kootenay’s Chris Holland has cultivated his knowledge and experience to a new plateau through Juggernaut Marketing and Communications. The motivation behind this company is the passion Chris has to truly live the fusion life.
Monica Ander, R. TCM. P.
Instructor and Supervisor
Monica began her journey in the healing arts as a personal trainer in 1998. She completed the Thai Massage Practitioner Program and Therapeutic Touch Training, which made her hungry for more knowledge in different modalities such as Trigger Point Therapy, Raindrop Therapy, and Thai Herbal Compress Massage.
After years of practicing massage, Monica began working with Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is currently registered as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Chinese Herbalist, and Acupuncturist through the CTCMA. Monica also received her Diploma in Manual Osteopathic Practice and has been practicing these life-changing techniques, focusing on acute and chronic pain management in her treatments, with great success and results. She takes pride in her intent listening skills and focused treatments, sure to provide results. We are delighted to have her on our team in the TCM program.
Stephanie Moss, BNSc, BA
Instructor
Stephanie has a BA from Guleph University, a BNSc from Queen’s University and has worked for over 15 years as a Registered Nurse and Health Advocate in different provinces and countries in a variety of different hospitals and clinical settings. Stephanie recently retrained and took the Holistic Nutrition program offered through KCC and graduated with a diploma in Holistic Nutrition in 2021. She has since started her own Holistic Nutrition consultancy, LifeFlow Holistic Nutrition, where she consults and provides her clients with individualized holistic nutrition care plans. Stephanie is passionate and dedicated to lifelong learning and continues to take courses, and workshops and explore the ever-evolving field of health and nutrition to support her clients and offer her students best practices. Stephanie is excited to have the opportunity to bring her clinical experience and knowledge of health care to the classroom.
Thomas Heikes, R. Ac
Instructor and Student Clinic Supervisor
In 2020, Thomas graduated Magna Cum Laude from a three-year TCM program at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC. Plant medicine is a true passion for Thomas. One of the unique elements that Thomas brings to our department is the ability to bridge traditional Chinese medicine with Western herbalism. You can find him growing herbs and preparing herbal medicines in his private time. In his private practice, Thomas blends acupuncture, herbal medicine, sound healing, and bodywork with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Kevin Bendig, Dr. TCM
Instructor
A graduate of KCC, Kevin Bendig is a licensed Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) in British Columbia. He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and immersed himself in various meditative and yogic practices, studying under some of the most renowned teachers. His deep-rooted passion for learning and a genuine desire to help others have led to a unique teaching approach that he utilizes both in his work as a practitioner and instructor. Beyond his professional pursuits, Kevin is a devoted father to an 11-year-old son. In his spare time, he finds solace and inspiration in woodworking, where he channels his creative energy into crafting intricate sculptures.
Page Allison, R. Ac
Instructor
Page earned a Diploma in Acupuncture from Pacific Rim College in 2019 and a Bachelor of Exercise and Athletic Therapy from Camosun College. Aside from her instructor position with KCC, she works as an Athletic Therapist and Acupuncturist in Nelson, BC. Page is excited to bring her experience and knowledge of anatomy and the musculoskeletal system to the classroom.
Kate Butt, R.TCMP
Instructor
Kate Butt earned an Honors degree in the Health Sciences from Queen’s University and a diploma degree as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences graduating in 2006. She travelled to China to further her studies undertaking internships in two hospitals in Beijing as well as one in Xi’an. From 2007 to present she has been in private practice and has spearheaded the opening of a collaborative healthcare centre called the Heritage Health Centre.
She holds a special interest in perinatal health, women’s health, palliative care, and trauma relief. Until 2012 she helped to run a volunteer Acupuncture for Addictions community program at Nelson Mental Health & Addictions Services at which she also taught students acupuncture for treatment of addictions and addiction-related symptoms for the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. She currently teaches community acupuncture for KCCIHS where she is honored to work both with the community and with KCCIHS students.
Elise Arnaudin, RAc
Instructor
Elise was introduced to acupuncture in her late teens when, as a competitive swimmer racing at the national level, she sought relief for an injured shoulder. Her first acupuncture session left her feeling more clear, centred and present, and Elise realized that the effect of this modality extends far beyond the physical. She started her studies at College Rosemont in Montreal, and completed her degree at the Academy of Classical Studies in Nelson, BC, where she graduated with top marks in 2013. Elise furthered her studies through a practicum at the acupuncture department at Yunnan Provincial hospital in Kunming, China. Elise is the co-founder of the Kaslo Community Acupuncture Society, a non-profit whose mandate is to remove any barriers towards accessing acupuncture care in the North Kootenay Lake region.
Janna Clark, RMT
Instructor
Janna Clark has been in Nelson for 25 years and has two grown children. Previously she worked as an educational assistant for the Kootenay Lake district for over a decade ranging from kindergarten to grade 12 and all types of abilities and challenges. She opened an outdoor store in Salmo, The Hemlock Hub, and worked as a volunteer ski patrol at the hill before deciding to begin the journey to become a Registered Massage Therapist. After graduating in Nelson in 2021 she began to work for herself out of the Savoy Hotel and continued at the Aura Spa part-time, as well as a stint at a heli ski lodge. Between work, trail running, and family she helped out as a TA for the KCCIHS a handful of times last year. She is happy to be teaching and helping to find the best ways for students to connect to the material.
Jessica Whitley, R.TCMP
Instructor
Jessica Graduated from the four-year R.TCM.P program at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in Nelson, B.C., in 2014.
Prior to her TCM studies, she completed the RMT program in Vernon, at the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy in 2003, practicing as an RMT for a number of years before pursuing a career in Chinese medicine. This former RMT career has provided an additional diagnostic approach when looking at the body. As well as integrating Tui Na massage into her treatments, she utilizes these skills in her TCM clinic when treating pain syndromes, providing a deeper understanding of the musculoskeletal structures’ form and function, trigger point release, and therapeutic exercise.
Jessica works and focuses primarily on her TCM career and clinic now and has hung up her RMT hat. She has been practicing TCM for seven years and has taken extra classes to better her understanding of women’s health and TCM herbology, fang ji fang methods, the balance method, western herbology, wildcraft medicine making, and more.
Jennifer Dunn Moynes, R.TCMP
Instructor
Jennifer received her diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in 2004. Since, she has been a member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia, and has been practicing in Nelson BC. Her clinical practice and experience include her home practice, supervision of the KCCIHS student clinic, tuina clinic, and classroom clinic, in-hospital treatments and visits to a local psycho-social rehab facility.
Jennifer loves to integrate her clinical experience into her teaching. She has been lecturing at KCCIHS, formerly ACOS, since 2006, and strives to help students embody Chinese Medicine through a combination of theoretical understanding and practical application. Over the past 12 years, she has enhanced both her practice and teaching with advanced studies in Gynaecology, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Neurology, Cardiology, Sports Medicine, Chinese Herbology and Psychotherapy. She believes that continued advancement in all fields of medicine require a dedication to education, both of self and other.
Mary Devan, M.A.
Counselling and Communication
Mary received her Masters of Arts degree from UBC in 1989, and her Masters in Counseling from Gonzaga University in 2008. Currently also working as a therapist in private practice and a clinical supervisor of a multi-service agency, Mary has 20 years experience working with people healing from trauma. Mary has facilitated several groups and presented at conferences and numerous workshops both locally and in Vancouver. She has experience with various therapeutic modalities and is a Somatic Experiencing practitioner.
Dr. Sara Smith, chiropractor and educator
Instructor
Dr. Sara Smith is a mom, chiropractor and educator. She has practiced a family wellness practice with a focus on prenatal, pediatric and functional neurology for 20 years. She is passionate about educating patients and students about health and well being. Dr. Smith completed a Masters in Medical Education and has taught anatomy at Mount Royal University for Kinesiology and Massage Therapy Students. Having moved to Nelson in 2020 following 3years in London, UK, Sara is excited to return to teaching and learn more about TCM/acupuncture at KCC.
