Board of Directors
Director - President
Gene Bruno, OMD, LAc, FABAA
In 1971, Gene accepted an appointment as one of the Directors of the Veterinary Acupuncture Research Project of the National Acupuncture Association (NAA), which introduced Animal Acupuncture into the United States for the first time. During this time he worked directly with Veterinarians, teaching them the basics of acupuncture and how it could be used to treat small and large animals. This lead to the establishment of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Association (IVAS) in 1974. As an NAA acupuncturist he participated in the Acupuncture Pain Clinic at UCLA medical school from 1972 until 1974. Dr. Bruno was a co-founder of the first two schools of Acupuncture in the United States, and the co-founder of the Oregon Acupuncture Association in 1978. He is the past president of the AAOM, the national association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. From 2007 until 2011, he was a member of the Executive Counsel of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, representing the largest organization in the US, the AAAOM. 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 has done research at Harvard Medical School and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, looking into the practical applications of acupuncture for the treatment of pain. Dr. Bruno has also developed a treatment protocol for using micro-current stimulation to treat macular degeneration.
Gene Bruno, OMD, LAc, FABAA
In 1971, Gene accepted an appointment as one of the Directors of the Veterinary Acupuncture Research Project of the National Acupuncture Association (NAA), which introduced Animal Acupuncture into the United States for the first time. During this time he worked directly with Veterinarians, teaching them the basics of acupuncture and how it could be used to treat small and large animals. This lead to the establishment of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Association (IVAS) in 1974. As an NAA acupuncturist he participated in the Acupuncture Pain Clinic at UCLA medical school from 1972 until 1974. Dr. Bruno was a co-founder of the first two schools of Acupuncture in the United States, and the co-founder of the Oregon Acupuncture Association in 1978. He is the past president of the AAOM, the national association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. From 2007 until 2011, he was a member of the Executive Counsel of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, representing the largest organization in the US, the AAAOM. 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 has done research at Harvard Medical School and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, looking into the practical applications of acupuncture for the treatment of pain. Dr. Bruno has also developed a treatment protocol for using micro-current stimulation to treat macular degeneration.
Director - Treasurer
Travis Lee Buckmaster MSOM, LAc, FABAA
Travis attended Montana State University before undertaking his initial studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Kibbutz Gadot, Israel. Upon his return to the United States he attended and received his masters degree in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine. He also did residencies in Beijing, China and Chengdu, China. Travis is a graduate of the International Academy of Animal Acupuncture, a graduate of the International Academy of Animal Acupuncture and nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture for small and large animals He is a past Board member of the AAAOM. He currently the owner and lead acupuncnturist of the Acupuncture Center in Salem, Oregon.
Travis Lee Buckmaster MSOM, LAc, FABAA
Travis attended Montana State University before undertaking his initial studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Kibbutz Gadot, Israel. Upon his return to the United States he attended and received his masters degree in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine. He also did residencies in Beijing, China and Chengdu, China. Travis is a graduate of the International Academy of Animal Acupuncture, a graduate of the International Academy of Animal Acupuncture and nationally certified in Animal Acupuncture for small and large animals He is a past Board member of the AAAOM. He currently the owner and lead acupuncnturist of the Acupuncture Center in Salem, Oregon.
Christina is a graduate of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and the International Academy of Acupuncture. She is certified in animal acupuncture from the ABAA. She practiced in Arizona for seven years before moving back to Oregon in 2012. She currently practices acupuncture at Balance Health and Injury Clinic in Gresham, Oregon.
Director - Veterinarian Board Member
Claire Peterson, DVM
Claire graduated from Oregon State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her bachelor of science from the University of Redlands with honors in biology. In college she also attended the Johnston Center of Integrative Studies, graduating with the major entitled "Foundations for Avian Veterinary Medicine and Artistic License in Martial and Expressive Arts." She has done research in both New Zealand and Ethiopia, and also interned for several months at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates. She grew up in the Portland area and currently lives there with two cats and her falconry red-tailed hawk, Atticus. She volunteers with the Portland Audubon Society, is a volunteer surgeon for the Pixie Project, helps give educational programs to children and adults about raptors with Close Encounters, and also supports the American Wildlife Foundation in Mollala. She is currently practicing veterinary medicine at Frontier Veterinary Hospital in Hillsboro, with special interests in surgery and avian medicine. Her photo was taken while she was living in Corvallis where she spent much of her time caring for several education birds at the Chintimini Wildlife Center, including "Morgan" the sparred owl (a naturally occuring barred and spotted owl hybrid), as shown.
Claire Peterson, DVM
Claire graduated from Oregon State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her bachelor of science from the University of Redlands with honors in biology. In college she also attended the Johnston Center of Integrative Studies, graduating with the major entitled "Foundations for Avian Veterinary Medicine and Artistic License in Martial and Expressive Arts." She has done research in both New Zealand and Ethiopia, and also interned for several months at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates. She grew up in the Portland area and currently lives there with two cats and her falconry red-tailed hawk, Atticus. She volunteers with the Portland Audubon Society, is a volunteer surgeon for the Pixie Project, helps give educational programs to children and adults about raptors with Close Encounters, and also supports the American Wildlife Foundation in Mollala. She is currently practicing veterinary medicine at Frontier Veterinary Hospital in Hillsboro, with special interests in surgery and avian medicine. Her photo was taken while she was living in Corvallis where she spent much of her time caring for several education birds at the Chintimini Wildlife Center, including "Morgan" the sparred owl (a naturally occuring barred and spotted owl hybrid), as shown.
Director - Public Member
Angie Steagall, Veterinary Assistant
Angie has over 16 years experience as an animal care technician and instructor in animal care and behavior. She has trained 4th year veterinary students and Oregon Humane Society employess in safe and advanced animal handling skills. Through years of experience in a variety of settings, Angie has mastered animal care and behavior, and a unique ability to pass these skills on to others. She is currently working as a veterinary assistant. Angie is a Public Member of the Board.
Angie Steagall, Veterinary Assistant
Angie has over 16 years experience as an animal care technician and instructor in animal care and behavior. She has trained 4th year veterinary students and Oregon Humane Society employess in safe and advanced animal handling skills. Through years of experience in a variety of settings, Angie has mastered animal care and behavior, and a unique ability to pass these skills on to others. She is currently working as a veterinary assistant. Angie is a Public Member of the Board.
Director
Katrina Haskell, MS, CAc, 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 for small and large animals. 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.
Katrina Haskell, MS, CAc, 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 for small and large animals. 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.
Director - Public Member
Kit Vandenbroucke
Kit is an experienced equestrian and horse trainer with over 20 years experience.
Kit Vandenbroucke
Kit is an experienced equestrian and horse trainer with over 20 years experience.
advisory Council
Becca Seitz, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl. OM, FABAA
Becca graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Biology and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. She received her Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Becca has a private acupuncture and Chinese herbal practice in Portland, Oregon, where she treats both people and pets. She is the author of Small Animal Acupuncture Point Locations.
Becca graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Biology and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. She received her Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Becca has a private acupuncture and Chinese herbal practice in Portland, Oregon, where she treats both people and pets. She is the author of Small Animal Acupuncture Point Locations.
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.
