Board of Directors
Director - President
Gene Bruno, OMD, LAc, FABAA In 1972, Gene accepted an appointment as one of the acupuncturists of the Veterinary Acupuncture Research Project of the National Acupuncture Association (NAA), and along with John Ottaviano, they introduced Animal Acupuncture into the United States for the first time. During this time, he and John worked directly with Veterinarians, teaching them the basics of acupuncture and how it could be used to treat small and large animals. This led to the establishment of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Association (IVAS) in 1974. Dr. Bruno was part of the group of acupuncturists who established the first two schools of Acupuncture in the United States. He was the president of the AAOM, and the past president of the Oregon Acupuncture Association. From 2007 until 2011, he was a member of the Executive Council of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. In 2007 he founded the Trudy McAlister Foundation, a non-profit, charitable, scholarship foundation for AOM students. In addition to the extensive research on developing animal acupuncture, Dr. Bruno participated as an acupuncturist in research at Harvard Medical School and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, looking into the practical applications of acupuncture for the treatment of pain. In 2013, along with Joel Rossen, DVM, he established the American Board of Animal Acupuncture. Currently, he is one of the instructors of animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture. |
Director - Secretary
Liz Appel, L.Ac, MSTCM, FABAA Liz Appel received her B.A. in Community Health and Ethnic Studies from Brown University and studied Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Health Sciences (formerly PCOM) in Chicago. She was a founding member of the Sage Community Health Collective, a trauma informed, sliding scale practice in Chicago. For several years, she facilitated numerous free community health and education workshops with Spanish speaking immigrant community members through the Centro Autonomo. She was a recipient of both the Schweitzer community health award and Golden Flower community service award for this work. She was previously on staff at the Pacific College of Health Sciences, supervising the student community clinic. Liz is a graduate of the Animal Acupuncture course at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA). She is nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture with the American Board of Animal Acupuncture (ABAA). Currently, she is one of the instructors of animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture. |

Director - Treasurer
Jay Giles Clements, B.S., M.S.
Jay has worked in the horse industry as a professional her entire life. Jay has a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and holds a Master of Science in Agriculture - Animal Science/Equine Science. She was the Director of the Equine Science program at Colorado Northwestern College in Colorado, and the director of the Equine and Agriculture degree programs at Cochise College in Arizona. She is currently the Director of Equine Science position at Scottsdale Community College. She trains outside horses, works as a consultant and equine sports therapist. She has been teaching at the collegiate level for over 12 years. Currently, she is an instructor of equine science in the animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture.
Jay Giles Clements, B.S., M.S.
Jay has worked in the horse industry as a professional her entire life. Jay has a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and holds a Master of Science in Agriculture - Animal Science/Equine Science. She was the Director of the Equine Science program at Colorado Northwestern College in Colorado, and the director of the Equine and Agriculture degree programs at Cochise College in Arizona. She is currently the Director of Equine Science position at Scottsdale Community College. She trains outside horses, works as a consultant and equine sports therapist. She has been teaching at the collegiate level for over 12 years. Currently, she is an instructor of equine science in the animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture.

Director - Vice President
Katrina Haskell, MS, LAc, FABAA
Katrina is a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York and is currently licensed to practice acupuncture in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. She is a graduate of the International Academy of Animal Acupuncture and nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture by the ABAA. She has a full time practice in New Jersey where she treats humans, and an
additional practice in a veterinary clinic where she treats small animals.
Chair of Legislative Committee
Ingrid Keating, L.Ac., OTR/L, MSOM, B.S., FABBA Ingrid is a graduate of Alvernia University with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and holds a combined Masters Science in Oriental Medicine and a B.S. in Nutrition from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) through the Pacific College of Health and Sciences. With two horses that are show jumpers, she has a passion for treating performance and sport horses and riders within the Hunter/Jumper, Dressage and Fox Hunting arenas. She has a private Integrative Medicine practice in Ohio and is licensed in Occupational therapy and Acupuncture treating both humans and animals. Ingrid is a graduate of the Animal Acupuncture course at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA). She is nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture by the ABAA. |
Instructors and Advisors

Randi Sobel, MAc, LAc, FT, earned a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture in 1998 after three years of intensive training from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (TAI) in Columbia, Maryland. Upon graduating, Randi taught at TAI for five years in all levels of classes and as a clinic supervisor. She earned a post-graduate Certification in Animal Acupuncture in 2001 from the State of Maryland. She worked as a faculty member for over 15 years in the animal acupuncture program directly with Noreen Javornik. She then became the director for the Maryland State Certification Course that was required for acupuncturists to become licensed to treat animals. Randi brings over two decades of experience treating small animals and horses. She is nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture by the ABAA. She is currently one of the instructors of the animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture.

Jodie Gruenstern, DVM, CVA
Jodie Gruenstern, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and food therapist. She is the former Vice-president of the Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy Association (VMAA). She is also a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (AzVMA). She participated in the first International Traditional Veterinary Medical Symposium in China. Dr. Jodie is a nationally renowned speaker, writer, and pet product formulator. As a holistic veterinary care provider, she has made it her mission to provide education on the integration of natural health principles, natural foods and remedies for pet health care. She participated in the first International Traditional Veterinary Medical Symposium in China. Dr. Jodie’s Integrative Consulting office is in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Currently, she is one of the instructors of animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture.
Jodie Gruenstern, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and food therapist. She is the former Vice-president of the Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy Association (VMAA). She is also a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association (AzVMA). She participated in the first International Traditional Veterinary Medical Symposium in China. Dr. Jodie is a nationally renowned speaker, writer, and pet product formulator. As a holistic veterinary care provider, she has made it her mission to provide education on the integration of natural health principles, natural foods and remedies for pet health care. She participated in the first International Traditional Veterinary Medical Symposium in China. Dr. Jodie’s Integrative Consulting office is in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Currently, she is one of the instructors of animal acupuncture program at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture.
Sarah MacKeigan, BRMH, MBA, MScPT, Dipl. Canine Rehabilitation
In 2013, one of Sarah’s beloved dogs suffered cruciate tears. Through this experience she discovered her true passion: helping dogs recover from injuries and restore their mobility so that they can return to the activities they love. Pursuing her passion, she completing a Master of Science in Physiotherapy, becoming a licensed physiotherapist; and then earned her Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation through the Animal Rehab Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. She went on to open Upward Dog Rehab & Wellness, the first clinic space owned by a physiotherapist in Nova Scotia providing canine rehabilitation and fitness services. She created Living with Dogs with Disabilities on Facebook, hosting 100+ educational livestreams and professional interviews. She hosts online educational events and guest teaches on several platforms globally. Her efforts have reached 1000s online and earned her a nomination for Veterinary Rehab Therapist of the Year 2021 through the International Association of Vet Rehab & Physical Therapy (IAVRPT). Currently Sarah is an instructor for the ABAA on canine anatomy and physiology. |

Noreen Javornik, M.S., M.Ac., L.Ac., FABAA has a M.S. degree from Ohio State University and a M.Ac. from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute. She worked at both the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and at the Scheie Eye Institute at University of Pennsylvania. Noreen was instrumental in establishing the Animal Acupuncture programs at Tai Sophia and the Maryland University of Integrative Health since 1997. Noreen maintains a people and animal acupuncture practice in Laurel, Maryland. She is nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture by the ABAA.
Marilyn Allen is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on the subject of alternative healthcare professions and serves as the Editor of Acupuncture Today. Ms. Allen regularly speaks at associations, schools, and regulatory boards on the topics of practice management, risk management and ethics. Ms. Allen is currently serving as the liaison to the World Health Organization for the International Classification of Traditional Medicine Committee and is a U.S. delegate to the International Standards Organization’s technical advisory group.
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