Practitioner, Bastyr Center for Natural Health, Seattle, WA
Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer, Northwestern Health Sciences University,
Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine,
Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine,
Clinic Supervisor, Bastyr University
Graduate student, Asian Languages and Literature, Univ of WA
The Office of Dr. John Aguilar, Jr.
General Practice Information
Curriculum Vitae, Summary, June, 2016
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-john-aguilar-jr-18711a17
Work Experience
East Asian Medical Practitioner, Denver, Seattle, Washington 2003 - Present
Reporter, Workshop on the Translation and Dissemination of Chinese Medicine 2011
Hosted by the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine and theConfucius Institute
Co-founder and Chief Herbal Pharmacist, Rising Sun Oriental Medicine Pharmacy 2007 - 2013
Editor-in-Chief, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 2005 - 2006
Assistant Clinic Director, Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2004 - 2005
Assistant Clinic Supervisor, Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2004 - 2005
Herbal Pharmacist, Lifegate Holistic Pharmacy 2004 - 2005
Assistant, Yan Jing Supply, Herbal Pharmacy and Supply Store 2001 - 2003
Licensed Massage Therapist, Acupressure (private practice) 1999 - 2001
Volunteer, Dragon's Light Herb Company 1999 - 2000
US Air Force, Security Police 1993 - 1997
Licensure
Washington: East Asian Medicine Practitioner, license #AC60267827
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), #23534
Diplomat in Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology, Acupuncture
Certified Practitioner (Acupressure)
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
Certified Yoga Therapist
Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), Yoga Alliance
Education and Training
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine:
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 2014 - Present
Chinese Medical History 2014
with Stephen Boyanton, PhD, LAc
Shānghán Lùn傷寒論 Studies 2014
with Stephen Boyanton, PhD, LAc
Huángdì Nèijīng黃帝內經 Studies 2013
with Edward Neal, MD, LAc
Canonical Chinese Medicine Training – Shānghán Lùn傷寒論 Sequence 2012
with Arnaud Versluys, PhD, MD (China), LAc
Canonical Chinese Medicine Training – Jīnguì Yàolüè 金匱要略 Sequence 2013
with Arnaud Versluys, PhD, MD (China), LAc
University of Colorado, Denver and Boulder, Colorado 2012 - 2013
Chinese studies, Language and Literature track
Medical Chinese Language Studies 2012 - 2015
with Nicolaas Herman Oving, practitioner and sinologist¬
Study with Dr. Lee Chen-Yu, Taipei, Taiwan 2012
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland, Oregon 2011 - 2013
Received Degree: DAOM
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, California Spring 2010
Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Denver, Colorado 2000 - 2003
Received Degree: MSTCM
Five-Element Acupuncture apprenticeship program 2001 - 2002
with Warren Bellows, LAc
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 2001-2003
Psychology/Philosophy
Jin Shin Jyutsu, Los Angeles, California and Boulder, Colorado 1999
Multiple five-day practitioner-training seminars in Japanese style of acupressure
Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture, Lafayette, Colorado 1999 - 2000
Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing, Los Angeles, California 1999
Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Santa Monica, California 1998 - 1999
Yoga:
PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala, Denver, Colorado 2011 - 2012
Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda, Boulder, Colorado 2011
PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala, Denver, Colorado 2010
Other:
University of Maryland, University College, European Division 1997
Received Degree: Associates of Applied Sciences (General Studies)
Continuing Education
Drug-Herb Interactions: An Evidence Based Medical Approach
Thirteen-hour lecture Series – Dr. Greg Sperber, BMBS, DAOM, LAc 2011
The Basics of Western Medicine Series: Neurology for the TCM Practitioner
Seventeen-hour lecture series – Dr. Bruce Robinson, MD 2011
The Basics of Western Medicine Series: Musculoskeletal Diseases
Fifteen-hour lecture series – Dr. Bruce Robinson, MD 2011
Cakra, Tantra, and Esoteric Anatomy
140-hour advanced Yoga Teacher Training with Hansa Knox, ERYT 500 2011
Advanced Pulse Diagnosis
Training and multiple seminars with Dr. Jim Ramholz, LAc, OMD 2001 - 2004
Advanced Needling Techniques
Dr. Lixin Zhang, MD (China), LAc 2002
Advanced Tongue Diagnosis in Clinical Practice
Dr. Phil Reynes, LAc, OMD (NM), DiplAc (NCCAOM) 2002
Chinese Classics and Medical Philosophy, Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee, PhD 2002
Learning to Learn Chinese, Dr. Phil Reynes, LAc, OMD (NM), DiplAc (NCCAOM) 2002
PulSynergy Pulse Diagnosis, Training and seminar with Dr. Marcus Brinkman, LAc, OMD 2002
The Five Souls of TCM, Dr. Phil Reynes, LAc, OMD (NM), DiplAc (NCCAOM) 2002
TCM Diet and Nutrition, Dr. Phil Reynes, LAc, OMD (NM), DiplAc (NCCAOM) 2001
I Ching, Dr. Phil Reynes, LAc, OMD (NM), DiplAc (NCCAOM) 2001
Publications
“Back to the Basics – Zangfu Patterns”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine January 2006
“Chinese Medical Classics in English”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine January 2006
“Winter – Words from Past Masters”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine January 2006
“In the Clinic – Referring Out”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine October 2005
“Ever Closer to Fulfilling the Potential of Chinese Herbal Medicine”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine October 2005
“In the Clinic – Pulse Diagnosis”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine April 2005
“Dosing”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine April 2005
“Back to the Basics – Needling”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine April 2005
“Point Functions Integrated”, Colorado Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine April 2005
“In the Clinic”, Colorado Acupuncturist, Journal of the Acupuncture Association
of Colorado Winter 2004
“On Science and Chinese Medicine”, Colorado Acupuncturist, Journal of the
Acupuncture Association of Colorado Winter 2004
“Proving Chinese Medicine”, Colorado Acupuncturist, Journal of the Acupuncture
Association of Colorado Winter 2004
“Models vs. Reality: On the Foundation of Integration”, The Colorado Acupuncturist July 2004
“Physics for the Physician: What Every Chinese Medical Physician Needs to Know
About Quantum Physics”, The Colorado Acupuncturist July 2004
“On Chinese Medical Herbalism”, The Colorado Acupuncturist July 2004
“Needling – More Than Just a Tap and a Twist”. Colorado School of Traditional Chinese
Medicine 2001
“Insomnia – Theory and Patterns Via a Chinese Medical Paradigm”. Colorado School of
Traditional Chinese Medicine 2002
“Aggregations, Nodes, Rocks, Chestnuts, and Phlegm – Pathological Lumps of the
Breast”. Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2002
“Knee Pain – Beyond Blood and Bi”. Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2002
“Die Da Ke – Chinese Medical 'Hit Medicine'”. Colorado School of Traditional Chinese
Medicine 2002
Lectures & Seminars
Adjunct Professor 2014
Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, Seattle, WA
Chinese Language and Shānghán Lùn 傷寒論 Language Studies 2012 - 2013
Multiple peer presentations, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
program, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Yoga, Tàijí Quán, Meditation, Foundations of Health, Qìgōng, Acupressure 2006 - Present
On-going workshops, created and led for general public
University of Colorado, Center for Pre-Collegiate and Academic Outreach Programs,
Pre-collegiate Health Careers Program, Denver, Colorado 2011
Guest Lecturer – discussing the nature of AOM, with emphasis on AOM
as a possible healthcare career, 'Colorado Youth at Risk’, Denver, CO 2009
Designed specialized qìgōng seminars for organization for teenagers at risk
Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse organization, Arvada, Colorado 2007
Guest Lecturer, General lecture and presentation on AOM
Chinese Medical Herbology: Introduction to Formulas, Denver, Colorado 2005
Skyland Community High School, Denver, Colorado 2005
Guest Lecturer – Basic talk on AOM to high school students
University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado 2005
Guest Lecturer – Lecture and hands-on training with Nurse Practitioner students
University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 2003
Guest Lecturer – AOM overview lecture to medical students, with demonstration 2003
University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado
Guest Lecturer – Detailed lecture covering – an introduction to AOM, AOM
history, compare/contrast with biomedicine, training, licensing, and credentialing
of LAcs, clinical practice of AOM, scope of practice, communication and referral
Professional Memberships
Washington East Asian Medicine Association
American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Society for Acupuncture Research
International Society for the Study of Classical Acupuncture
International Association of Yoga Therapists
National Qigong Association
Hobbies
Daoism, martial arts, lay study of physics and quantum mechanics (writings of Heisenberg, Bohm, Bohr, Schrödinger, Einstein), nature photography
Personal Cultivation
Longstanding daily practice of Tàijí quán, yoga, qìgōng, and meditation understanding that such personal cultivation is the foundation of clinical skills, such as needling techniques, as well as critical thinking and analysis in diagnosis and treatment planning
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Style of Practice
My practice of Chinese medicine is a direct reflection and extension of my life. It is informed by seventeen years of study of the medical and philosophical classics and my years of personal training and cultivation.
The medicine I offer is comprehensive in that it honors the many aspects of a patient's life, physical to cognitive and spiritual, and can aid in the alleviation of suffering on many levels. It acknowledges the myriad variations of illness, allowing me to effectively treat a wide range of disorders, while never losing sight of the sole key to real health. It can, thus, relieve symptoms, while empowering the patient to uncover higher levels of living.
My medicine is heart-centered in that compassion and sincerity are the foundation, and it is powerful as a keen intellect continually hones clinical practice.
Ultimately, my practice is about service of all I have to whomever seeks it.
What Makes This Approach to Medicine Different?
I practice a uniquely comprehensive system of medicine. My approach addresses each aspect of the patient, to assess and treat the root of the patient’s suffering, including the patient’s:
Form – the physical body; its organs, tissues, and material structures
Function – all the various physiological processes of the patient, and
Spirit – the innate, guiding intelligence of the body that ultimately drives healing, as well as all aspects of the psyche, from superficial consciousness (active thoughts and feelings), to subconscious, and all layers of awareness.
Specific advantages of this complex approach to medical care include:
A) Alleviation of symptoms associated with the chief complaint for a longer period of time – not just a quick, a temporary fix
B) The ability to simultaneously address other symptoms, perhaps subclinical, and challenges in the patient’s health and life – not isolating and reducing suffering to a single part of the patient, and
C) Creating a fundamental shift in the patient’s experience of life – Pain or suffering is not simply erased, the body, mind, and spirit otherwise unchanged. Here, the patient is fundamentally transformed. Disease is turned into a vehicle for transforming life, not merely something to be fixed or eradicated.
What makes this approach to medicine unique? Why is it not the default standard with all practitioners? Two reasons:
A) Doctors and patients alike often get caught up in one aspect of illness. For instance, they may ignore or miss the physical aspects of suffering. They may downplay the psychological component. Alternately, they may be unaware of or simply fail to acknowledge the deeper wisdom of the body, its innate know-how and strive for well-being.
B) Practicing this type of medicine is hard. The practitioner must find and then study a system of medicine that allows for such comprehensive understanding of the human being. Modern biomedicine tends to emphasize the concrete, tangible aspects of the patient. It often struggles with the intricate functioning and processes of the body, for stance, when no problems are “found” on an x-ray or CT scan. It tends to minimize the psychological aspects of suffering or refer those patients out to a different form of medicine, i.e., psychotherapy. Lastly, the system of biomedicine all but completely ignores the spirit of the patient.
The practitioner must study his or her system well and then actually bring to bear the full capabilities of the medicine. This takes time and energy. There are quicker and easier ways to practice medicine, but they all sacrifice the great possibilities listed above.
Lastly, more is required of the patient. The patient does not simply receive medical care; they are active, essential participants. They have to be. The highest medicine cannot be done to a patient. Ultimately, a good doctor acts as a guide for the patient, both to the subconscious aspects of the patient, leading and simulating self-healing mechanism, as well as the conscious, decision-making level of the psyche. Here, the doctor shares his or her insights, makes suggestions for changes in diet and lifestyle, and assists the patient in discovering of higher states of health.
I practice professional Chinese medicine, to include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, exercise therapy (qigong, Taiji Quan, yoga), diet therapy, and meditation and lifestyle instruction.
My approach to medicine is distinguishable by an insistence on proper, professional, quality care. For example, I always seek a comprehensive understanding of the patient, including their physical state, mental/emotional aspects, as well as deeper patterns that lead to general habits and mindsets.
I avoid quick-fix, symptomatic approaches to care. Generally, only when the symptoms are severe will I simply focus on making them go away. The highest level of care seeks the root of disorders. Once that root is addressed, symptoms go away on their own, as there is no longer a need for them.
I strive to employ only diagnostic techniques and therapies that are solidly rooted in evidence. I do not use gimmicks, fads, or the latest machine or technique. This is a key hallmark of professional medicine. The information I learn about you and your condition needs to be accurate. The therapies I employ need to have reliably predictable outcomes. As the practice of medicine is continually evolving, there may be times when I choose to do things that are relatively unproven. In these cases, I state very clearly what is quasi-experimental and what is not.
Lastly, as a doctor of Chinese medicine, I stick to my area of expertise and do not perform biomedical assessments or interventions. My diagnoses will be based on Chinese medicine. My treatments are rooted in Chinese medicine. Western medical MDs have years of education and training in their style of medicine. I leave to them the diagnosing of diseases as understood in modern medicine. Further, if you want labs or x-rays, again, go to the experts of that style of medicine.
In the modern US Chinese medicine field there is a strong desire on the part of practitioners to be as similar to Western medicine as possible, to make Western medical diagnoses, to use Western medical terms and therapies. Though understandable, the professional practice of medicine requires the practitioner to work based on their expertise and evidence base. Similarly, many US “acupuncturists” employ therapies, often having nothing to do with Chinese medicine, which have little to no evidence of effectiveness behind them. In this clinic, I stick to Chinese medicine and its attendant evidence base. This makes for professional, safe, and effective medicine.
Summary
-- Over twenty years in the field
-- Advanced post-graduate clinical doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine (DAOM)
-- Graduate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM)
-- Ongoing studies in Chinese language and the medical classics
-- Licensed East Asian Medical Practitioner (EAMP), nationally board
certified in Oriental medicine (NCCAOM), certified yoga
therapist, certified acupressure practitioner (AOBTA), registered
yoga teacher, and Taiji/qi gong instructor
-- Clinical and adjunct faculty at Bastyr University, adjunct at the
Northwestern Health Sciences University, former Assistant Clinic
Director and Assistant Clinic Supervisor at the Colorado School of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, guest lecturer at the University of
Colorado Health Sciences Center, with many papers published in
the journal of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado.
For a complete, detailed list of all training and education, please view my professional CV below:
Professional Curriculum Vitae (CV) last updated January 2020 (PDF - Download size 532 KB)
Doctoral Capstone, "On the Value of Chinese Language Skills for Practitioners of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine" (PDF - Download size 1.1 MB)