Dr. Thomas Kouo, DAOM, L.Ac. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor Dr. Thomas Kouo is an accomplished leader in the field of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, currently serving as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, his second tenure with the University. He is the first to hold this position in the university's two-decade history, following time as Academic and Clinical Dean at The Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine (ESATM) in Bloomfield, NJ. Before joining ESATM, Dr. Kouo held the position of Academic Dean and Chair of the Herbology Department at VUIM. His leadership was crucial in guiding VUIM through the ACAHM accreditation process, resulting in the university receiving its initial institutional accreditation in March 2015. Prior to his time at VUIM, Dr. Kouo was the Chair of the Herbal Department at Pacific College of Health Sciences in San Diego, where he taught in both the Master’s and Doctoral programs and supervised clinical training. In addition to his role at VUIM, Dr. Kouo serves as the Vice President for the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM). In this capacity, he has represented the Council at the annual Academy for Integrative Health & Medicine conference in San Diego and worked closely with the Council’s Executive Committee to advance the interests of acupuncture medicine schools and the broader field of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine. He also chairs the CCAHM School Clinic Committee and is the immediate past chair of the Council’s Herb Committee. As a long-standing accreditation site visitor for ACAHM, Dr. Kouo continues to contribute to the field's educational standards. As a professional practitioner of Acupuncture, Dr. Kouo previously founded a successful private practice in the San Diego, CA known for its specialization in pediatrics, orthopedics, and women’s health. He developed a unique facial rejuvenation protocol, “Age-Reversal Therapy” (ART), featured at medical spas in the region. He has also served as the Director of Wellness for a Fortune 500 company in Los Angeles, CA region. His extensive experience includes providing acupuncture care to professional athletes from teams such as the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the US Winter Olympic Training Team. He served as the Acupuncturist for the La Jolla Open Tennis Tournament and was among the first Acupuncturists involved in the UCSD Center for Integrative Medicine, collaborating with top physicians in family medicine. Dr. Kouo also contributed to the oncology department at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where he developed a compassionate approach to pediatric care. Dr. Kouo is a respected lecturer on a wide range of topics, including Chinese Medicine and HIV/AIDS, Fatty Liver Disease, healthy pregnancy, pediatric care, sports injury care, and integrative medicine. Before pursuing a career in Acupuncture and Integrative medicine, Dr. Kouo studied Psychology as an undergraduate at Cornell University. However, he left his academic training behind to pursue a career in the performing arts. He made his Broadway debut playing the role of Thuy in "Miss Saigon" and participated in the pre-Broadway run of the new "Flower Drum Song." Additionally, he toured around the country in various shows, showcasing his versatility and passion for the arts. Dr. Thomas Kouo holds a Master and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from the Pacific College of Health and Science.