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The ABAA Board

President

Gene Bruno

OMD, LAc, FABAA

Trained in acupuncture and classical Chinese medicine, Dr. Bruno is one of the pioneers in the profession who has dedicated his career to the advancement of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the US. He was a co-director, with John Ottaviano, of the initial research done by the National Acupuncture Association (NAA) that introduced Veterinary acupuncture into the US in 1972. In 1973 and 1974 he worked with the NAA team of acupuncturists who established the Acupuncture Pain Clinic at UCLA medical school, and in 1974 and 1975 he worked with the same group of acupuncturists who helped to establish the first two colleges of acupuncture in the US. He participated as an acupuncturist in research that was conducted by Gene Smith, PhD, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in 1975. As a research assistant to Werner Nobel, MD, at Amherst University, Dr. Bruno developed protocols and techniques for applying acupuncture analgesia on animals.

Gene Bruno is the past president of the American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. From 2007 until 2011, he was a member of the Executive Council 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.

Dr. Bruno also served on the Acupuncture Boards of the Boards of Medical Examiners in Oregon and Washington, and wrote the scopes of practice in these states. He has been licensed in acupuncture in Oregon, California, Washington and Alaska, and is the past president of the Oregon Acupuncture Association. He is the current president of the American Board of Animal Acupuncture (ABAA). Dr. Bruno has published several books on animal acupuncture, entitled "Acupuncture Points on the Horse", "Acupuncture Points on the Dog", "Equine Conditions & Treatment Protocols" and "Canine Conditions & Treatment Protocols."

Treasurer

Jay Giles Clements

MS, EST

Jay has worked in the horse industry as a professional her entire life. Her experience with horses is extremely vast; from managing large ranches, packing in the mountains, training colts, working/riding 5000 miles on a wagon train, training mustangs with at risk youth, coaching college rodeo, competing at the Pro Rodeo (PRCA) & (WPRA) level in barrel racing, Equine Sports Therapist, riding instructor of both English and Western disciplines, just to name a few...

Jay holds a Master of Science degree in Animal Science/Equine Science from Murray State University in Kentucky. She coached the Women's College Rodeo Team there and developed the Reproduction Manual used in the Veterinary Technology program. Jay received her Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Science from Sul Ross State University in Texas. Jay has been a member of the Equine Science Society for many years.

Jay has owned her own business "Equi-Sports" (sports therapy for horses) for over 28 years and keeps her business going part time working as an Equine Consultant and Equine Sports Therapist when she isn't in the classroom. Jay serves on the board of the American Board of Animal Acupuncture and is an instructor for the Animal Acupuncture/Equine portion alongside Dr. Gene Bruno.

Jay started teaching at the collegiate level in 2009, she served as the Equine Faculty and developed the Racehorse Trainers Equine Studies degree program at Bluegrass Community Technical College in Kentucky. Jay was the Director of the Equine Science program at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Colorado for two years where she designed and implemented three Equine degree programs and started the first college rodeo team there. She served as the Director of the Equine and Agriculture degree programs at Cochise College in Arizona for five years where she redesigned the Agriculture degree program and created and implemented the first Equine Science degree there. Jay has been the Director of the Equine Science program at Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona since the Fall of 2017.

Advisory

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 VMAA, the Veterinary Medical Aromatherapy Association.

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.

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