About ITEA:
ITEA Faculty
The Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture is proud to offer an outstanding qualified international faculty. The core Classical Five-Element faculty have been awarded teaching certification through study with Professor J.R. Worsley and J.B. Worsley, and/or Hilary Skellon, daughter of Professor Worsley, in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.
Our curriculum is structured so that all faculty will teach each group of students at some point during the program, when possible, as faculty are recruited on the basis of availability for each Intensive or Weekend.
Mary Able
Mary Able Lic.Ac. (US), B.A., M.Ac., D.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM),CMT, NCTMB Primary Acupuncture Faculty, Supervisor, Guest Faculty - Skin Palpation, Chair of the Board
Mary earned her Licentiate of Acupuncture in 2006, and her Masters of Acupuncture in 2007 from ITEA. She earned her Doctorate in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Health and Science in 2020. She practices Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Lakewood, Colorado. She has had a practice in massage therapy, movement education and related bodywork emphasizing wellness in body, mind and spirit since 1996. Mary also holds degrees and certifications from Colorado College, Colorado School of Healing Arts, The Trager Institute and The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.Allison Dodge
Allison Dodge Lic.Ac., B.A., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty
Allie Dodge has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Masters Degree in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (ITEA) in Louisville, CO. She has had a private acupuncture practice since 2008, and currently sees clients at Pachamama Farm & Wellness in Longmont, CO. Allie is a clinic supervisor, and faculty member. She is also certified in Mind-Body Medicine and has been leading and facilitating Mind-Body Skills Groups since 2011.Melissa Durgin
Melissa Durgin Lic.Ac., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guest Faculty
Melissa received a Master's Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver in 2011. In 2013, she also completed a three year Five Element certification program with Judi Terrill. Being somewhat familiar with Classical Five-Element Acupuncture is helpful when it comes to helping students prepare for their NCCAOM board exams. Melissa maintains a private practice in Denver where she specializes in women's health and emotional wellness. She has been blessed to teach at ITEA since 2013.Erin Hesby
Amy Houlihan
Amy Houlihan Lic. Ac., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Acupuncture Faculty
Amy graduated from ITEA in the summer of 2019, with a Master’s in Five -Element Acupuncture and is now practicing in Old Town Lafayette, CO. Her practice is located in an old stone home she renovated which houses 6 treatment rooms and many alternative healing practitioners, named Stone House Health. Amy is currently a teaching faculty member at ITEA where she is also a Board member. She is very passionate about Five Element Acupuncture and continues to be amazed by its affects on people’s health.Beth Kearns
Beth Kearns Lic.Ac., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), Certified Advanced Neuro-Structural Integration Technique Primary Acupuncture Faculty
Beth received her Licentiate in Acupuncture from ITEA in 2005. She began practicing bodywork in 2001 when she received her advanced certification in Neuro-Structural Integration Technique. She joined the ITEA faculty in 2011 and supervises in the student clinic. Her acupuncture practice is in Boulder, CO.Tom Kirby
Tom Kirby Adv.Lic.Ac. (UK), Lic.Ac., B.A., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty, Clinical Supervisor
Tom graduated from the Worsley Institute of Classical Acupuncture in Miami and the College of Traditional Acupuncture in England. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College in 1989. He has been practicing since 1993, and now has a private practice in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He continues his acupuncture study through Continuing Education fro Judy Worsley and Hilary Skellon. Tom has been teaching and supervising at ITEA since 1999. Prior to that he had four years teaching experience in the sports field.Kathy Knaus
Josh Marrow
Joshua Marrow Lic.Ac., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty
Josh received his Masters in Acupuncture form ITEA in 2006 and has been in private practice continuously since graduation. He currently practices Classical Five Element Acupuncture in Minneapolis, MN, previously practicing in Boulder, CO and New York, NY. Josh attended The University of California, Berkeley and The University of Wisconsin, Madison graduating with an Honors BA in Philosophy. He was also a founding board member of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities at Bard College.Jim McCormick
Jim McCormick B.Ac., M.Ac. (UK); Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM); B.A. Guest Faculty – Zero Balancing
In private practice since 1973, Jim received his Master of Acupuncture qualification from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in England, and his B.A. from Dartmouth College. He was the first person to be certified to teach Zero Balancing by its founder, Dr. Fritz Smith. Jim teaches the Zero Balancing Core I curriculum. Jim taught CF-EA for 25 years before coming to teach at ITEA in 2000. He has also taught Zero Balancing since 1979.Mary Ellen Metke
Mary Ellen Metke M.Ac. (US), D.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty, Clinical Director
Mary Ellen graduated from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Maryland, in 1989, and studied with J.R. Worsley from 1988 until his death. Since 1990 she has been in private practice in Boulder, Colorado. She has also been employed by Longmont United Hospital in the Health Center for Integrated Therapies program, which offered acupuncture care. She continues her acupuncture study with Judy Worsley and Hilary Skellon. Mary Ellen has studied Tai Chi for many years and has taught Tai Chi since 1988. She has taught and mentored local CF-EA students since 1990, and began teaching at ITEA in 2001.Jennifer Nuncio
Jennifer Nuncio Lic. Ac., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), LPC Acupuncture Faculty
Jennifer graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in 1997 and then her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado - Denver in 2003. After fifteen years working as a Licensed Professional Counselor, she graduated with her second Master’s degree in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (ITEA) in Louisville, Colorado in 2018. Jennifer has been in private practice since then offering a variety of modalities that work with the varied and complex levels of the whole person. Her work with clients includes acupuncture, counseling, and energy and spiritual healing from Indigenous medicine practices. She is currently on faculty at ITEA and will begin a new role of teaching assistant at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado this spring teaching Classical Five-Element Acupuncture at both institutions. She is passionate about supporting the return to health in mind, body, and spirit for individuals to live in accordance with their true nature and finding their bliss.
Kathleen Robinson
Kathleen Robinson Weston Lic. Ac., B.Ac., B.A. Acupuncture Faculty
Kathleen has devoted her adult life to the practice of Classical Five Element Acupuncture while raising two boys, now remarkable young men. She has served both as a clinical supervisor and a primary faculty member at ITEA since 1996. Following graduation for Berea College in Berea, Kentucky (BA, Religion), she soon was called to the medicine and began to study with JR Worsley in Leamington Spa, England. Kathleen earned her BA in Acupuncture in the first class from the Worsley Institute of Classical Acupuncture (WICA I) in 1990, and continued study with JR until his death in 2003. She established her own private practice and treated patients until its sale in 2019. Kathleen was employed at the Center for Integrated Therapies (Longmont United Hospital), 1996 - 2007. Although retired from full time practice, Kathleen’s devotion to education and learning continues.Élisabeth Rochat
Elisabeth Rochat Guest Faculty - Chinese History and Philosophy
Elisabeth, scholar and teacher of ancient Chinese history and philosophy since 1982, was the primary lecturer and General Secretary of the Ricci Institute for many years, and is the senior lecturer for the European School of Acupuncture. She is a sinologist specializing in Classical Chinese language, Chinese classics, Chinese medicine and Taoism. She holds degrees in Philosophy and the Classics, and in Chinese Studies. She is co-author of many exquisite books on Chinese philosophy. She lectures internationally, enlightening students through explanation of the meanings of Chinese characters and their evolution through history. She began teaching at ITEA at its inception in 1996.Brittany Sanelli
Randi Savage
Randi Savage Lic. Ac., B.S., M.S., M. Ac., DAOM, R.N., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty, Dean of Students and Director of Western Science
Randi earned her Masters in Classical Five Element Acupuncture and her Licentiate of Acupuncture from the Institute of Taoist Education & Acupuncture in 2006. She received her Doctorate in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Acupuncture in 2018. She teaches and supervises at ITEA. She received a Bachelors in Nursing in 1987, and a Masters in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Randi is NADA certified, has studied functional medicine, and created the first Medical Reserve Corp for acupuncture as a national model.Hilary Skellon
Hilary Skellon Lic. Ac. (UK), B. Ac. (UK), M.Ac. (UK), Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Primary Acupuncture Faculty, Academic Dean and Dean of Faculty
As the Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty and previous President of ITEA, Hilary trains teachers to teach at ITEA. She earned her acupuncture degrees from the College of Traditional Acupuncture in England. She has been in private practice since 1981, and has been teaching Classical Five-Element Acupuncture since 1982. At the College of Traditional Acupuncture in England she worked as a senior teacher and clinical supervisor. From 1990-1994 she was also Vice-Principal of the college. She was on the faculty of the Worsley Institute of Classical Acupuncture in Miami, and until her move to the US in 1999, a faculty member of the School of Five Element Acupuncture in London. Hilary is J. R. Worsley's daughter. She is also Visionary on the Board of ITEA.Delores Stephens
Terry Treece
Terry Treece Lic.Ac., B.S., M.S., M.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Guest Clinical Supervisor and Faculty Grader
Terry earned her Masters in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture and her Licentiate of Acupuncture from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture in 2014. She taught at ITEA from 2018-2023. She received a Bachelors in Special Education/ Emotionally Disturbed in 1976 from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, and a Masters in Special Education/ Learning Disabilities from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado in 1980. Terry taught Special Education for 15 years and Regular Education 4th and 5th grades for 18 years. Terry is a retired public school teacher who has had a private acupuncture practice since February of 2016. She works to support people’s body, mind and spirit on their journey to manifest their best life. Terry provides coverage in the Clinic when needed and is the lead Year 1 homework grader. Terry practices in Denver, Louisville and Silverthorne CO.John Winternitz