The ABORM Governing Board

Ray Rubio, D.A.O.M., L. Ac., (FABORM), is President of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM), and Chair of the Reproductive Medicine Department at the Yo San University DAOM Program in Los Angeles.

Dr. Rubio has been in practice for more than a decade, and his practice focuses exclusively on the treatment of Male and Female Reproductive Disorders/Infertility.

Dr. Rubio is a member in good standing of ASRM, PCRS, ESHRE, and Resolve, and he lectures frequently to Acupuncturists on the topic of Infertility and TCM. Dr. Rubio is also President of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Special Interest Group for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Dr. Rubio has also presented to the REI Fellows Program UCLA/Cedars Sinai Medical School program, and he lectures on the subject of Male and Female Infertility for the Lotus Institute, Health Stream/TCM TV, and for both the AAAOM Expo and the Southwest Symposium. He also mentors other Acupuncturists who wish to study Reproductive Medicine.

Sadhna Singh , M.B.B.S(India), MSOM, LAc, FABORM

Sadhna Singh graduated from medical college, India in 1983. She has practiced medicine for over 10 years in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology and internal medicine. Then, as a Chief Medical Officer at a hospital, she further gained invaluable clinical experience. During her tenure in Singapore she explored various therapeutic modalities under the umbrella of complimentary medicine. She was a consultant for developing an anti-aging medicine program and Kneipp Medical Spa therapies. At the Asia Emergency Assistance alarm center in Singapore, she planned, supervised and participated in medical rescue operations in the South East Asian region.
In her pursuit for integrative medicine, she completed her Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Houston. She is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and also a diplomat with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

She has a vast background in both western and eastern medicine. With her compassion and concern for patients, she is dedicated to providing effective and exceptional care.

Diane K. Cridennda, L.Ac., DOM, FABORM

At East Winds Acupuncture, Diane Cridennda, L.Ac. has dedicated a significant amount of her practice to treating infertility. She has teamed with Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Conceptions, Fertility Center of Colorado and RMFC @ NM to assist in the treatment of In Vitro Fertilization patients and provides acupuncture services to patients struggling with infertility.

Diane continues her research projects with Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center ™ adding acupuncture to high tech fertility treatments, IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Her research with IVF demonstrated a higher percent chance of pregnancy, and more importantly, more take home babies, fewer ectopic pregnancies and fewer miscarriages to those women who had acupuncture.

Diane’s research on Poor Prognosis IVF Patients is published in the supplement of Fertility and Sterility Vol. 81 Sup 3 April 2004. It won the Private Practice Physician’s award for Research. She presented her work to the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS) in 2005 on Improvement of IVF Outcomes by Acupuncture. She has also presented her work on Good Prognosis IVF patients to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual meeting in Philadelphia as well as reporting to The World Congress For Human Reproduction in Venice Italy on Acupuncture: Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes in IVF Patients.

Diane is currently investigating the role of the stress hormone Cortisol on the impact of acupuncture in IVF outcomes. Acupuncture is an option for infertility whether you are using high tech fertility treatments or if you want to take a more natural approach. Diane believes “We must take advantage of the breakthroughs in modern technology, but we can’t lose touch with the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine”.

Gerald Williams, LAc (CA), DA (RI), MSTOM, FABORM

Gerald Williams was born in London, England and has lived in America for over 20 years; he and his wife have two beautiful girls and one new infant son. It was during the early years of marriage struggling with their own pains of reproductive issues that he began to explore the causes and alternate treatments for infertility.

Gerald holds a Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego California. He is board certified in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine to practice in California as well as nationally. During his extensive world travels in Europe, Africa and Asia, Gerald has explored and studied with numerous nature based medical experts.

While attending the Xiamen University in Fujian China, Gerald was able to study hundreds of patients, participated in clinical rounds and practice first hand with some of the leading TCM specialists. Gerald’s clinical teaching involved patient treatment of conditions including, infertility, oncology, autoimmune and endocrine disorders.

Gerald is also certified by Harvard Medical School’s, Mind-Body Medical Institute in Mind-Body Medicine, having trained personally with the institute’s director Dr. Herbert Benson, M.D. Gerald has also worked with the Scripps hospital executive health center in La Jolla California as a specialist mind-body consultant. He has been featured on numerous national and local television and radio programs.

Gerald is a clinical director at the Reproductive Wellness clinic in San Diego. The fruition of his efforts is the offering of comprehensive integrated mind-body treatment and training programs specializing in women’s reproductive health.

Denise Noyer, L.Ac., FABORM

Denise A. Noyer, L.Ac., board certified licensed acupuncturist, completed her Oriental Medical degree and clinical internship at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica. She received further training in acupuncture at the International Acupuncture Academy in Beijing, China.

Denise A. Noyer has a private practice in Westlake Village and works closely with obstetrician/gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists. She specializes in fertility and women’s health, and is committed to approaching each patient individually and compassionately. Her constant interest in Western medicine as well as Oriental Medicine makes Denise A. Noyer a special healthcare practitioner with a holistic approach to medicine.

Susan Fox, MS, LAc, Dipl. Ac., Cipl CH FABORM

Susan Fox founded Balance Restored - Center for Integrative Medicine with the vision that a round-table of healing professionals in collaborative setting can best manage patient care. A graduate of Meiji College of Oriental Medicine, Susan has continued her education in the areas of functional medicine, with a focus on functional endocrinology. In addition, Susan is a member of The Fertile Soul's Clinical Excellence in Fertility program, an international professional community who implement Dr. Randine Lewis' The Fertile Soul Program in their patient care, She is also in mentorship training with Lorie Eve Dechar, L.Ac., author of The Five Spirits, in the study of 5-Element Alchemical acupuncture.

Susan's focus on reproductive health and fertility enables her to work directly with local Reproductive Endocrinologists in the Bay Area. She is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, The Pacific Coast Reproductive Society, RESOLVE, Fertile Hope, INCIID, OpenPath. She has served on the Board of Directors of the California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA) and is a member of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM).

Deborah Warshauer-Snyder, L.Ac, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), FABORM

Deborah Snyder Warshauer is a licensed Acupuncturist, board certified both nationally and in California. Involved in the integrative medical field since 1981, she completed her studies and clinical internship in Oriental Medicine at California Acupuncture College in 1986. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA. Women’s reproductive health, particularly menopause, fertility, pregnancy, and labor, is of special interest and the focus of her practice. Deborah is a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine and currently serves on the governing board as Vice-President.

In addition to private practice, Deborah is a clinical supervisor in the Fertility Clinic at Yo San University. She mentors doctoral candidates in reproductive acupuncture and delights in imparting
this knowledge to others.

Deborah has always had a passion for health and wellness lifestyles and conveying that to her patients in a gentle and caring way is her primary goal. She has recently started Healthy Planet Kitchen, an organization that teaches nutrition, cooking classes and menu planning to the public looking to manage or prevent chronic illness, maintain optimal health and bring awareness to healing our environment. When not at the office, Deborah, a native Angeleno and mother of 3 boys, loves practicing yoga, cooking, and traveling with her husband.

Marc B. Sklar, LAc (CA), DA (RI), MSTOM, FABORM (Alternate)

Marc Sklar is a Doctor of Acupuncture (RI), Licensed Acupuncturist, Board Certified Herbalist, Oriental Medicine Practitioner, and Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (FABORM). As a Clinical Director of the Reproductive Wellness Clinic in San Diego, California, Sklar specializes in treating reproductive health disorders such as infertility, and strives to integrate traditional and complementary care through a multi-disciplinary approach which includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle guidance.

While attending the University of Florida, where he obtained his undergraduate degree in Comparative Religion, Sklar was introduced to Oriental Medicine after searching for the most effective way to recover from an illness. This experience was a catalyst to expand his studies of Asian religions to include Oriental Medicine. To pursue his interest, he explored the Middle East, India, and Nepal. Upon returning to the United States, he moved to San Diego to complete his Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

Sklar has been trained and certified in the treatment of infertility and women’s health, and has studied with prominent figures in the field of Oriental Medicine, including nationally renowned Dr. Randine Lewis, and fertility specialist Donna Keefe, his mentor. He trained at the Harvard Medical School, Mind/Body Medical Institute under Dr. Herbert Benson, M.D., and Peg Baim, M.S., N.P., where he became certified in Mind/Body Medicine.

To help further the profession of Oriental Medicine, Sklar has been involved on a state level with the California State Oriental Medical Association. Sklar served for three years on the board with his last year serving on the executive board as their secretary. His passion for the profession has caused him to volunteer his free time towards its advancement in the west.

Having studied world religions, ancient healing techniques, and the Western medical world at large, Sklar has developed a deep understanding of the human body and spirit, and approaches his patients with an open mind, compassion, and a collaborative, medically integrative perspective.

Chris Axelrad, L.Ac., FABORM

Chris Axelrad is a specialist in fertility, hormonal, and women's health issues using acupuncture, herbal medicine, therapeutic nutrition, and mind-body lifestyle coaching. Originally educated as a jazz musician at the University of North Texas, he had a 10-year career as a software developer before embarking on his journey as an Acupuncturist.

Mr. Axelrad is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Chinese Bodywork. He is a member of the inaugural group of fellows of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). He has completed extensive studies not only in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but also Western endocrinology, psychoneuroimmunology, neuroendocrinology, nutrition, mind-body disciplines, and interpretation of lab results. His father and brother are both Urologists (MDs), and he takes pride in being from a family steeped in medical tradition.

Chris’ philosophy is that the modern age is calling all of us to integrate and cross-pollinate medical traditions to create a new, more advanced form of medicine for the next generation. To support this vision, he is constantly working to understand the parallels between TCM and Western biological models, to discover new ways to apply Western nutritional concepts to TCM and vice versa, and novel ways to communicate holistic medical concepts to a Western-minded public.Chris sees himself primarily as a coach and teacher, with the goal of helping his patients to rediscover and awaken the natural healing intelligence that often lies dormant or obstructed within.

Mr. Axelrad maintains a busy full-time practice in Houston, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, and continues to play club dates and private parties with several local jazz and pop groups.

Paula D. Kunkel, L.Ac., MTCM, MT(ASCP), FABORM

Ms. Kunkel graduated from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in June of 2000 with a Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine Degree. She is currently pursuing a Clinical Doctorate in Reproductive Medicine at Yo San University in Los Angeles, California while maintaining her full time private practice in Fairbanks, Alaska. Previous to her acupuncture training, Ms. Kunkel was a microbiologist for the State Virology Laboratory in Alaska, and a medical technologist.

Prior education includes:

1985 AB Psychobiology Minor: Asian Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California
1987 AAS Medical Laboratory Technology from Anchorage Community College in Anchorage, Alaska
2000 MTCM from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seattle Washington

Other Training/Interests:

Certification in Integrating Shiatsu Massage Therapy

Medical Intuition/Hands on Energy techniques

Meditation

Ms. Kunkel enjoys hiking, creative cooking, trail running, berry picking, playing with her two sled dogs, and travels of all sorts in her free time.

ABORM Governing Board Members-At-Large

Ray Rubio, D.A.O.M., L.Ac., FABORM