DAN SACHS - STATEMENT OF INTEREST

Statement of Interest for AFEA Board - Faculty Seat

I am a 1983 Graduate of TAI and have been in practice in Massachusetts ever since. I have also practiced in Vermont and for several years was on the State Board there. I worked in Portland Oregon for 2 years. While in Oregon I was a faculty member at NUNM. After graduating from TAI, I went to Leamington Spa in England for many years to study further with the Worsleys and received a B.Ac. there. Later, I received a B.Ac. and M.Ac. from TAI. In addition I learned Chinese herbs with Ted Kaptchuk at TAI. I have also attended numerous trainings with Jeffrey Yuen, Leon Hammer, Hamid Montalban, and many others. I also learned Zero Balancing with Jim McCormick and one session with our dear Fritz Smith.

I have been associated with Academy since before it was the Academy. I first taught at WICCA when the Worsleys withdrew and then over many years did trips to first Hallandale and then Gainesville as guest faculty. I also trained students in my clinic for TAI, WICCA, the Academy, New England School of Acupuncture, ITEA in Colorado. For several years I acted as the registrar for the Worsley Institute and helped plan and run Master Apprentice Programs (MAP).

Currently I work at home half time and see retirement in a crystal ball whenever I look at one. I have a long time partner who is an herbalist. I have two sons who live nearby and four step children. Last weekend we had 6 grandchildren at the house. I also studied tai chi for years. I practice awareness meditation (Vipassana) daily and find the receptive and aware mind states essential for my acupuncture work.

Five Element acupuncture has been my primary work for over 40 years. I have explored herbalism and TCM as well and always found my way back to 5E. In the past few years I have expanded my view of the work to include some of my other studies but more from what I have observed in my practice about the limits of 5E as taught by the Worsleys. My view of the nature and diagnosis of CF has changed from what I was taught. I have also softened and widened my views of how to teach 5E to help individuals find their own way with this great form of medicine.

I see the great strength of the Academy in the supportive and loving way of nurturing students as well as imparting the knowledge set of 5E and Chinese herbalism. I also see there is a dynamic interplay to keeping the essential spirit of 5E work without being dogmatic or so loose that the spirit gets clouded in lots of techniques. I want to help support that process.

In addition, I see a need for graduate courses. For myself, I would like to pass on what I have learned to faculty and graduates. For the Academy, I see continuing ed as an important part of the long process of becoming a highly effective 5E practitioner. I would like to assist in creating a good graduate program. In this time of failing acupuncture schools, it should be a source for more income and more students as well. Besides, I always have a good time at the Academy and look forward to seeing old and new friends who share the journey.