All Teaching Faculty

Kristina Hanley is a California-licensed, and NCCAOM-certified acupuncturist. She received her Master’s in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, OR in 1998 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Kristina is an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist, certified by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. She has worked as an acupuncturist in the San Francisco jails. and as an acupuncturist at the Portland Alternative Health Clinic, which is an integrative health clinic that serves homeless people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Kristina has also worked as an acupuncturist at mental health centers and HIV clinics. Since 2003, she has been working as an acupuncturist in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine program at the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center, and is in private practice in Santa Cruz, California. Kristina Hanley teaches in the Department of Complementary Studies.

Wanshan Hao graduated from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Currently Professor Hao holds the positions of professor, chief physician, academic advisor and clinical supervisor for doctoral and master students at Beijing University of TCM. He has worked in the field of Shang Han Lun as a teacher, practitioner and researcher for decades. Professor Hao has been invited to South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, France, and the Czech Republic to give lectures and professional talks. Professor Hao also has extensive clinical experience in treating diseases related to respiratory system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and other difficult and complex diseases using classical formulas.

Frank He obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees’ in Medicine from the Department of Acupuncture at Liaoning University of TCM, in the People’s Republic of China. He won every scholarship available at his medical school and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He currently is a DAOM Fellow at Five Branches University.

Frank was raised in a remote village in northern China. He spent two years in family practice with his grandfather in the early 1980s, then began practicing there as a barefoot doctor in 1986. In the village, Frank treated various conditions not commonly seen in the city. The village offered a family practice setting where he worked as a general practitioner for children and adults.

Frank knows sports and how to treat sports injuries. He was a champion decathlete while in medical school and was an amateur boxer for five years. He has helped thousands of patients return to the sports field, including weekend warriors and Olympic gold medalists. Active in athletic activities in the greater Bay Area, Frank has won medals in track and field, and won the Nankai Cup volleyball tournament.

Frank is a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) appointed by the State of California, one of the few actively practicing Acupuncturist-QMEs among over 10,000 acupuncturists. Frank has earned a reputation for his extensive knowledge, skills and passion. Radiologists often refer to him as “Frank He, MD” because of his superior clinical judgment. Well published and respected in the field, he is an international lecturer traveling around the world to promote acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Frank has appeared in numerous local and national publications – particularly in the areas of sports medicine, anti-aging, stress management, seniors’ health, and women’s health.

Frank has a patent pending approval for a specially engineered acupuncture needle and has developed a unique acupuncture technique called Muscle Channel Technique (MCT)™ which has clinically proven to be effective in pain management and injury healing. Professor He teaches in the Department of TCM Acupuncture and is a faculty member of the DAOM program.

Stephanie He graduated with honors in 1985 from Tianjin University of TCM and earned certification to teach TCM in China at the university level. After graduation, she worked for thirteen years as a physician and instructor at the First Teaching Hospital at the Tianjin University of TCM, which is one of China’s major TCM institutions for treatment, instruction and research. In Tianjin, Stephanie’s supervisor was Professor Shi Xuemin, a famous expert in the acupuncture department in China and abroad.

Stephanie specializes in the treatment of stroke, gastrointestinal disorders, geriatrics, neuropathies and internal medicine disorders. She has published numerous research articles in nationally recognized journals of TCM in China on subjects including high cholesterol, depression, and gout. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking and working out at the gym. Professor He teaches in the Department of TCM Clinical Training. For more information about Dr. He, go to www.stephaniehe.com

Kea Hedberg received her Bachelor of Arts in Women’s studies from Brown University. She then went on to obtain her Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University. During her TCM training, she discovered her chosen specialty in Classical Five Element Acupuncture. She continued with post-graduate and advanced clinical training in Classical Five Element Acupuncture with Khosrow Khalighi. In 2004, Kea studied in one year of silence with Cheri Huber at the Zen Monastery Peace Center. Kea has a passion for learning and growing that emanates as a teacher and practitioner. She brings her whole self to her work and supports her clients to heal on the deepest level.

Kea maintains a private practice in Santa Cruz, California where she lives with her husband Darren and two children. Kea loves to dance, practice yoga and spend quality time with friends & family.

Professor Denise Hsu received her medical degree from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and had been trained in both Chinese medicine and Western Medicine with the specialty of Orthopedics surgeon.  She is a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist with the California Medical Board and a certified Acupuncturist with the NCCAOM in the United States.  She had served as the Examination Committee member of NCCAOM since 1997 and supported the California Acupuncture Board exam for many years since 1986. Also, she had been elected as the Commissioner of NCCAOM for 9 years. She joined Kaiser and has been working in the specialty in Pain Management since 1998. She had been the Chair and professor of the Chinese Medicine Department at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 12 years. She has over 30  years experience of teaching and practice in acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States. Currently, She has been teaching Diagnosis classes in the TCM theory department since 2016.

Lucy Hu comes from a family of healthcare practitioners. Her great grandfather was a doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine and her two older sisters earned Western MD degrees in China. Lucy received her medical degree from Shenyang University in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China, in 1961 and worked as a pediatrician and instructor at the Dalian Children Hospital from 1961 through 1979. Lucy graduated from the Chinese Acupuncture Medical Institute of Hong Kong in 1982, with diplomas in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. In her three decades of medical experience, she has specialized in pediatrics. Lucy became a licensed acupuncturist in California in 1987 and obtained her National Certification (NCCAOM) in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. In 2004, Lucy presented a case study of a child with a severe genetic metabolic disorder at the International Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Diseases by Herbal Therapy and Acupuncture in Hangzhou, China. She treated the child with success unobtainable by Western methods. After 12 months of treatment, the child’s health and quality of life continued to improve significantly. Lucy maintains a private practice for adults and children in Santa Clara, California. Her interests include classical music and cooking, especially the healthy Chinese herbal soups so favored by her students. You can visit her website at http://lucy.hu.googlepages.com/. Professor Hu teaches in the Departments of TCM Clinical Medicine and TCM Clinical Training and is a faculty member of the Five Branches DAOM program.

Darren Huckle holds a B.A. in environmental studies from UCSC, and received his Master’s degree in TCM from Five Branches University. It was while studying with Christopher Hobbs that he became interested in TCM. TCM resonated with his background in ecology and natural history. He believes TCM is a system that empowers people to heal along with natural systems such as Golden Shield Qigong.

Darren has more than 10 years of study and practice in holistic health modalities, including Chinese and Western herbology, nutrition, and organic gardening. He is a practitioner and teacher of Golden Shield Qigong, and has a private practice in Santa Cruz. In addition to teaching at Five Branches, Darren has taught at UCSC’s Holistic Health Department. Darren stewards and teaches at the Living Pharmacy, a medicinal garden visited by Five Branches students. Darren’s areas of specialty include: digestive health, fertility, adrenal fatigue and gynecology. In his free time he enjoys Chien Lung Kungfu, bicycling, hiking, wildcrafting, meditation, and spending time with his family. You can contact him at www.rootsofwellness.net or www.goldenshieldqigong.com. Darren Huckle teaches in the Department of Complementary Studies.

Mary Huse was an ER and critical care nurse for 18 years before finding her way to acupuncture. She graduated from Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Maryland in 1990 and Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine in 1993. Her deep love and knowledge of the Five Elements is expressed through her theory classes, clinical rounds, and internships at Five Branches University. She blends her background of Western medicine, TCM and Five Elements to best support her patients and maintains a full-time practice in Santa Cruz. Professor Huse teaches in the Departments of TCM Theory and TCM Clinical Training.