A MIDSUMMER TCM JOURNEY
Speakers Biographies
Dr. John McDonald PhD (Australia) Live Panelist *
Dr. John McDonald has dedicated his career to advancing acupuncture through clinical practice, teaching, and scientific research. He holds a PhD from Griffith University, where his groundbreaking research focused on the effects of acupuncture on mucosal immunity in the upper respiratory tract.
His contributions to acupuncture education have been immense, including his work as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Griffith University and as Vice President for Research at the Acupuncture Now Foundation.
Beyond academia, Dr. McDonald has co-authored influential books such as Zang Fu Syndromes: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment and Acupuncture Point Dynamics, and he continues to shape the field through his ongoing research and publications.
Dr. James Flowers PhD (South Korea) Live Panelist *
Dr. James Flowers is a distinguished historian of medicine in East Asia and a Chinese medicine practitioner. He is a Research Fellow in the "Brain Pool Program" at Kyung Hee University of Korean Medicine in South Korea, focusing on the history of traditional medicine, particularly in Korea. He earned his PhD in the History of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has an extensive background in international studies and Chinese medicine.
His research explores the development of traditional Korean medicine, its role in East Asian history, and its continued relevance today. Dr. Flowers has published widely in academic journals such as Asian Medicine: Tradition and Modernity, Social History of Medicine, and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Previously, he served as the President of the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (2000–2009) and taught Chinese medicine at the University of Western Sydney and the Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With years of both academic and clinical experience, Dr. Flowers brings invaluable insights into the historical and contemporary landscape of traditional East Asian medicine.
Dr. Volker Scheid PhD (UK/Germany/Spain) Live Panelist *
Dr. Volker Scheid is a leading scholar, clinician, and educator in East Asian medicine with nearly 40 years of experience. Raised in rural Germany in a family of medicinal herb cultivators, he trained in phytotherapy and Chinese medicine in England before completing postgraduate studies at Beijing and Shanghai Universities of Chinese Medicine. He later pursued academic research at Cambridge, SOAS, and the University of Westminster, where he was Professor of East Asian Medicines and Director of EAST medicine.
Dr. Scheid has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers and authored influential books, including Chinese Medicine in Contemporary China and Currents of Tradition in Chinese Medicine, 1624-2000. He also co-authored Formulas & Strategies, 2nd edition. His work bridges history, anthropology, and clinical practice, with a focus on integrating diverse medical traditions. Committed to both research and practice, he teaches a "meta-practice" approach, helping students develop adaptable, well-rounded skills. Through his work, Dr. Scheid continues to shape the understanding and application of East Asian medicine in the modern world.
Dr. Robyn Sodders EdD DAOM (United States of America) Live Panelist *
Dr. Robyn Sodders, is an academic leader, educator, and speaker specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine, leadership, and distance education. She serves as Dean of Doctoral Programs at Five Branches University, where she oversees doctoral education, accreditation, and international partnerships.
With advanced training from St. Thomas University, Harvard University, and Pacific College of Oriental Medicine,
Dr. Sodders integrates research, pedagogy, and clinical insight to support the evolution of TCM education.
Her work focuses on innovative, student-centered learning, with particular interest in trauma, neuroscience, and practitioner development.
An experienced professor and international speaker, she is dedicated to advancing TCM globally through education, leadership, and the integration of modern tools such as AI and digital platforms.
Prof. Dr. Mei Wang (The Netherlands) Live Panelist *
Prof. Dr. Mei Wang is the founder and Director of SU BioMedicine BV and a senior researcher in traditional medicine at the Naturalist Biodiversity Center in Leiden, The Netherlands and professor at Zhejiang TCM University (China). She represents the Netherlands in the European Pharmacopoeia and serves as an expert at the EDQM’s working party on Chinese herbal medicine.
Prof. Dr. Wang and her team contributed to the successful registration of Diao Xin Xue Kang capsules (RVG 102142, 2012) and Xiao Yao tablets (RVG 126209, 2021) as traditional herbal medicinal products in The Netherlands under Directive 2004/24/EC. She has published over 170 papers in peer-reviewed journals, reviews manuscripts for more than 15 international journals, and serves on the editorial board of three of those. She has served as co-promoter of 16 PhD students at Leiden University (1994–2024).
Her research focuses on providing scientific evidence for Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine using systems biology, quality control and EU regulatory aspects. She has served on the board of the NVF (until 2024), is president of the GP-TCM Research Association, and chairs the Dutch NEN-ISO TC249 commission on TCM standards.
Dr. Qihe Xu MD PhD (United Kingdom) Live Panelist *
Dr. Qihe Xu is a Senior Lecturer in Renal Medicine & Pharmacology and Director of the King’s Centre for Integrative Chinese Medicine at King’s College London. He was the Principal Investigator of GP-TCM, the EU’s first major coordination project dedicated to Traditional Chinese Medicine research, which led to the establishment of GP-TCM RA—an international society and UK-based charity promoting high standards in TCM research.
Dr. Xu serves on the boards of GP-TCM RA and the International Society of Chinese Medicine (Macao), and contributes to multiple committees within the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. He is also the UK Regional Representative for the Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine and holds editorial roles in several international journals.
With over 30 years of laboratory research experience across China, the USA, and the UK, and clinical experience in China, his work focuses on kidney defense mechanisms in acute and chronic kidney disease. Supported by major international funding bodies, he has published more than 100 scientific papers. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious Qihuang International Prize.
Prof. Dr. Henrique Edgar Sidi MD (Brazil)
A medical doctor and ophthalmologist by training, Dr. Sidi has dedicated over two decades to the study and teaching of Traditional Chinese Medicine. With advanced training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas, he brings deep clinical and academic experience to the field.
He teaches at leading institutions including UNIFESP, AMBA, the Medical College of Goiás, and the CAM – Center for Medical Acupuncture, and is a direct disciple of Prof. Tran Viet Dzung. As one of the few practitioners authorized to teach these clinical acupuncture techniques, his contribution is both rare and highly valuable.
Prof. Dr. Rafael Astini MD (Brazil)
Dr. Zhang Hui PhD (Denmark)
TCM Practitioner, Educator, Researcher. Dr. Zhang Hui is a highly respected Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, educator, and researcher with over a decade of academic and clinical training at Chengdu University of TCM, where he studied under renowned professors and masters. Prior to relocating to Denmark in 2017, he worked as a TCM doctor, lecturer, and researcher at the university.
Currently, Dr. Zhang is the President of the European University of Chinese Medicine (EUCM) and runs a thriving clinical practice in Denmark. He teaches extensively across Europe—including in Denmark, Germany, and beyond—sharing his deep knowledge of both classical and modern Chinese medicine.
He has authored over 50 articles and books and continues to research the clinical application of classical TCM thought in contemporary settings. His practice incorporates a wide range of methods, including TCM Acupuncture, Arm Acupressure Points (AAP), Master Tung’s Acupuncture, Military Pingheng Acupuncture, Taoist Pestle Needles, Moxibustion, Guasha, Cupping, Electro-Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Chinese Medicine Psychology. Dr. Zhang is also committed to evidence-based approaches within TCM, bridging tradition with modern integrative care.
Prof. Rafael Astini, is a physician, general surgeon, and acupuncturist with extensive experience in integrative medicine. He holds a Master of Science from the University of São Paulo and has dedicated his career to bridging conventional medicine with acupuncture.
He serves as Director of the Medical Acupuncture Center (CAM) and Director of the Medical College of Acupuncture of São Paulo (CMAeSP), where he plays a key role in advancing medical acupuncture education and clinical practice. In addition, he is Professor of Medicine at the University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP).
Prof. Astini combines surgical expertise with acupuncture to develop effective treatment strategies, particularly in musculoskeletal conditions such as hip osteoarthritis. His work reflects a strong commitment to integrating evidence-based medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine in modern healthcare.
Prof. Dr. Alexandre Yoshizumi MD (Brazil)
Prof. Alexandre Yoshizumi, MD is a physician specializing in integrative medicine, with a strong focus on pain management and acupuncture. He holds a Master’s degree from the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo and practices at the renowned Albert Einstein Hospital in Brazil.
He is an active educator in postgraduate programs in Pain and Integrative Medicine, as well as at the CAM – Center for Medical Acupuncture, where he contributes to the training of medical professionals in acupuncture and integrative care.
Prof. Yoshizumi is also the author of YNSA – Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture, reflecting his expertise in advanced acupuncture techniques and their clinical application.
Through his clinical work, teaching, and publications, he continues to play an important role in advancing integrative medicine in Brazil and internationally.
Dr. Claudia Ximena Gómez Marmolejo MD (Colombia)
Dr. Claudia Ximena Gómez Marmolejo is an integrative physician based in Bogotá, Colombia, with nearly 30 years of clinical experience. She obtained her medical degree from the National University of Colombia and completed postgraduate training in integrative and complementary medicine at Universidad Manuela Beltrán.
Her work focuses on bridging Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern bioregulatory and functional approaches, integrating acupuncture, neural therapy, ozone therapy, and homeopathy in the treatment of complex and chronic conditions.
She has extensive experience in the management of pain, neurological disorders, and facial aesthetics, approaching each patient as a dynamic interplay between body, mind, and internal balance. Her clinical approach emphasizes not only symptom resolution, but also the restoration of physiological harmony, emotional regulation, and long-term health through a root-centered perspective.