The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 2026 Annual ABORM Board of Directors Meeting
Time: May 29, 2026 03:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
President: Kate Phillippi
Dr. Kate Phillippi is an acupuncturist at Aligned Modern Health and Kindbody in Chicago. Dr. Phillippi completed her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at the Pacific College of Health and Science and has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Otterbein College. She collaborates on research for integrative fertility and is a published author. She is adjunct faculty at The Pacific College of Health and Science and has served on the board for The Illinois Society of Acupuncturists. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, cooking, doing yoga, and reading.
Vice President: Jeiran Lashai
Jeiran Lashai is a Doctor of Acupuncture & TCM with a DAOM in Women’s Health & Reproductive Medicine. She works and lives in Los Angeles. After attending UC Irvine and receiving a Bachelors degree in English, Dr. Jeiran Lashai decided to pursue her interest in culture and medicine by studying abroad in Lyon, France where she received a post-graduate degree from I’Institute Sciences Politiques. Upon completion, she realized her calling and decided to attend Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also completed internships at the ECTOM clinic and the Arthur Ashe Medical Center at UCLA.
Jeiran spent her time focusing on Women’s health issues and in particular, studying the ability to help a woman attain the highest level of health so that conception, pregnancy & labor are experienced in an easy and safe manner – which also helps to make recovery time less stressful and lengthy. She has studied in the U.S. and abroad with some of the top doctors in both Allopathic & Complementary medicine.
Dr. Lashai trained and worked with Ray Rubio and in has been in private practice since 2005.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children & Great Danes and enjoys reading, writing, horse-back riding, hiking, cooking & spending time with family & friends.
Secretary: Diane Cridennda, DOM, L.Ac., FABORM
Diane had a private practice in Colorado as an Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbologist since 1995. She spent 20 years in Western Medicine working as a Radiological Technologist. She had a career change after being treated with Acupuncture to overcome a debilitating illness.
Diane has spent years training in TCM, a brief list follows:
- Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine/NCCAOM certification.
- Graduated from International Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1994
- Studied in China.
- Private practice 15 years.
- Conducting and presenting research on combining acupuncture with high tech fertility. I have over 7 abstracts and presentations in Western scientific meetings both nationally and abroad.
- Founding Board Member of ABORM (Acupuncture Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine)
Published:
Medical Textbook chapter in “Infertility and Assisted Reproduction” by Botros Rizk. It is published by Cambridge University Press. Our Chapter is called “The Revolution of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Impacted Reproductive Outcomes in the Treatment of Infertile Couples,” page 576-603.
Fertility & Sterility Vol. 92, No.6. December 2009 Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment.
She and Dr Magarelli created and published research on the CMAP Protocol.
(Cridennda Magarelli Acupuncture Protocol) which is being used all over the world to help IVF patients have better outcomes.
Treasurer: Andra Thorpe
ABORM Board Members
Board Member: Whitney Fessler
Executive Director
Whitney opened her first acupuncture clinic in Flagstaff, Arizona. After several successful years there, Whitney, a Wyoming native, returned to Jackson Hole to continue her practice, renaming it to Grand Teton Acupuncture. She is pleased to offer traditional Eastern Medicine therapies including acupuncture, herbal remedies, nutritional consultations, and much more to residents and visitors of Jackson Hole. While Whitney enjoys treating all types of conditions, her passion is treating fertility issue. After much studying and researching, she decided to take the Acupuncture & TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) exam in 2018 in order to further her knowledge of both Eastern & Western conditions that often lead to infertility.
Whitney has served as President of the Wyoming Acupuncture Society, as well as several other nonprofit organizations. In early 2017, Whitney spent time working on passing Wyoming's first Acupuncture Practice Act and was appointed by Governor Mead to the Wyoming Acupuncture Board, where she still sits as a board member.
Board Member: Julie Booker (she/her) – DATCM, Dipl. OM, Dipl.Ac, Dipl.CH, FABORM
Dr. Julie Booker has practicing acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine since 2003. Her specialties include reproductive health and fertility, pre-conception care, and pregnancy related issues. In addition, she is certified in sports acupuncture and pain management. In December 2021 she received a doctorate in TCM, focusing on integrative medicine. Integration and collaboration of TCM and biomedicine is patient centered, evidence based, and highlights a medicine that is stronger together. Combining knowledge of reproductive health, evidence based medicine, anatomy and physiology, she is confident in treating a variety of clinical presentations. She is a firm believer that strength lies in an integrative approach and collaborative care.
Over the past 20 years Dr. Julie Booker has enjoyed the opportunity to study and gain
expertise in reproductive health and fertility from leading practitioners in the field. Her goal is to help patients create a family and stay well long after they leave the clinical setting. She is a fellow of the ABORM - The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine, and has served on the Executive Board since 2015. Using acupuncture and herbal medicine, supplements, and lifestyle counseling in combination with a deep understanding of western medical conditions and protocols, she helps patients struggling with fertility by creating personalized treatment plans. Dr. Booker treats patients both individually, or in collaboration with assisted reproductive technologies. Conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, hormonal regulation, recurrent pregnancy loss, irregular menses, egg quality and sperm parameters are areas of interest.
Dr. Booker is certified in sports acupuncture and pain management. For athletes, overtraining can impair performance and set one up for overuse injuries. The goal is to determine the location and severity of the injury, focus on restoring function, reducing pain, and enhancing performance. Decreasing pain and inflammation, increasing range of motion, activating and strengthening muscles, and releasing muscle spasms can manage pain for all patients and athletes alike. Acupuncture can effectively treat acute and chronic pain of all types from migraines to neck and back pain.
Board Member: Coleen Smith, RN, DAOM, L.Ac., Dip.OM (NCCAOM), FABORM
Coleen Smith is the President of ABORM and a Board-Certified Fellow since 2008. With nearly four decades of experience in healthcare—as both a Registered Nurse and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine—she specializes in women’s health and integrative reproductive medicine.
Coleen is the co-founder of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Special Interest Group (CIM SIG) within ASRM and has presented extensively at ASRM’s national meetings. She recently represented ABORM on the international stage as a featured speaker at the World TCM Congress in Rothenburg, Germany.
She is the founder and clinical director of a thriving women’s health clinic, where she leads a team of three practitioners offering compassionate, evidence-based fertility and hormonal care.
Board Member: Sadhna Singh (she/her) – D.A.O.M., L.Ac, MSOM, Dipl OM, FABORM
Dr. Sadhna Singh (she/her) has been a fellow and board member since 2008. She graduated from medical college in India, 1983. She has practiced medicine for over 10 years in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology and internal medicine. She completed her Masters in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Houston.
Dr. Singh holds a Doctorate with an emphasis in Women’s health & Gynecology from American College of Traditional Chinese medicine (ACTCM), San Francisco.
With her vast background in both western and eastern medicine and her compassion and concern for patients, she is dedicated to providing effective, comprehensive and exceptional care.
Dr. Singh is a founding member, on the governing board and a Fellow of ABORM: The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine. She is a professional member of Resolve-The National Infertility Association & The American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Sadhna is also past President Emeritus of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Special Interest Group – CIM SIG for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). She was instrumental and played a key role in getting this bridge established connecting Western medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Dr Singh continues to teach doctoral students at the DAOM program in San Francisco, gives talks for attendees at the Integrative Fertility Symposium (IFS) in Vancouver and participates actively at ASRM’s conference presenting in scientific and interactive sessions for Reproductive Endocrinologists and nurses. She has lectured extensively in the past 15 years for acupuncture practitioners at continuing education seminars and annual symposiums.
Board Member: Dr. Joel de Vera Moncada
Joel practiced acupuncture in a diverse range of settings, including inpatient at the California Pacific Medical Center Acute Rehabilitation unit as well as outpatient settings and private clinics. He currently is affiliated with Ole Health, a federally qualified health center, providing acupuncture services to marginalized communities in Solano county. He spearheaded acupuncture services to those with Medi-Cal or Partnership Healthplan/ In addition, he has spent over 6 years as an allied health practitioner, learning alongside the pioneers and nation’s experts on spine surgery and conventional approaches to spine care at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center’s departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology. His experiences has inspired Joel to approach spine care integratively by combining Neuropuncture and shiatsu/yoga therapy for patients along the continuum: from acute pain, pre-surgical physio/emotional readiness, to post-surgical rehabilitation and chronic pain management. Dr. Joel is currently undergoing the Neuropuncture Certification program, a 20-week extensive neuroscience acupuncture training.
Joel has had the honor of training at Dr. Lifang Liang’s Fertility and Women’s Health clinic where he witnessed and learned the modalities to treat infertility and an array of gynecological disorders. He adamantly attends international fertility symposiums around the world and routinely collaborates with reproductive endocrinologists, fertility acupuncturists, naturopaths, and medical doctors to advance the care for those challenged with infertility. As a Fellow of ABORM, Joel is a member of an elite group of practitioners within the United States who seek to bridge Chinese and Western Medicine approaches to infertility.
His other clinical areas of focus are integrative oncology care – where he has earned distinction as a Specialist in Oncology Acupuncture, neurodegenerative diseases, and sports and orthopedic acupuncture. He remains active with his local yoga, tennis, and cross-fit communities.
Board Member: Jeffrey Kehoe, ND, MAcCHM, L.Ac, BCB, FABORM
Dr. Kehoe’s journey to medicine has been anything but straightforward. Moments of synchronicity, or catalysts, led to the pursuit of acupuncture training while also studying naturopathic medicine. As a new graduate looking to see more patients, his persuasiveness led to a position with an acupuncture clinic specializing in fertility and pregnancy care. After moving back to Seattle and opening his own practice, he realized many of his patients were not getting the menopause care they deserved during such a significant transition. While women’s health was not originally part of the plan, he believes his desire to provide compassionate care and ability to listen without judgment is indispensable in the field. The humbling rewards of this focus include the wide smiles of a growing family and hearing someone say “I finally feel like myself again.”
In 2024, Dr. Kehoe opened Catalyst Integrative Health outside of Seattle in Kirkland, WA. He is passionate about working with the nervous system and its role in mental, cardiovascular, digestive, and reproductive health. As the practice continues to grow, he looks to build a team alongside him in order to focus primarily on reproductive health from fertility to menopause.
Dr. Kehoe completed his medical training at Bastyr University in the greater Seattle area where he earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) and Master of Science in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MAcCHM). He is an ABORM fellow, board-certified in Biofeedback, and completed additional training in TCM Psychiatry with the American Institute of Mental Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He holds a B.A. in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University. He is also a certified Yin Yoga instructor.
Board Member: Dr. Stephanie Pina ND, L.Ac, MSOM, FABORM, CLT
Stephanie has served on the Acupuncture Board of Virginia for four years, serving as President, Vice President, and Membership Coordinator. As the ASVA unofficial event planner, she organized biannual event including Lobby Days, in-person Grand Round Case Review sessions, and biannual seminars, including ABORM CEU-approved lectures. She is also a member of the Virginia Naturopathic Association, helping to make Virginia a licensed naturopathic state. When not in practice, Stephanie likes to travel, often meeting with practitioners in their offices around the world.
Board Member: Libby Horesh
Administrative Assistant: Pam Warren
Pam was an accountant in the film industry early in her career and then decided to become a stay-at-home mom when her son was born. Eighteen years later, she began working for Dr. Ray Rubio, the founder of ABORM, as his office manager and stayed with him until he passed away in 2017. She works and resides in beautiful Camarillo, California, where she was raised. She is happy to be part of ABORM and continuing the work that Ray started is very rewarding to her.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The ABORM Board of Directors and Executive Director are committed to strengthening our foundational values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Board member selection prioritizes lived experience regarding nationality, ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.