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Degrees and Certificates

Licensed acupuncturist in North Carolina License Number 36
Diplomate of Traditional Chinese Medicine Australia
Diploma of Remedial Massage Australia
Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine China
Diplomate of Traditional Chinese Medicine National Commission for the
Certification of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine
Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist and
Registered Trainer 		National Acupuncture
Detoxification Association
Certificate of Classical Chinese Acupuncture Wellspring Seminars
Associate of Arts degree Ohio University
Member of NCAAOM North Carolina Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

Teachers and Training

Karen Vaughn is a graduate of the Sydney College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Sydney Australia, where she spent five years studying acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage therapy, and Chinese Language. Some of her teachers included Steve Clavey, Kerry Carmody, Jane Lyttleton, Alan Bensousson, David Legge, and Will Maclean, all of whom have published textbooks on Chinese herbs and/or acupuncture. She also completed two internships at the Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital at the Zhejiang Provence Hospital in Hangzhou, China.

Since returning to the U.S., she has studied Classical Chinese Acupuncture with Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, M.D. "father of acupuncture" in the western world and his protege of 37 years, Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, M.D. Also their student Bonnie Walker, DC, L.Ac. Karen was the student clinic supervisor at the Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Acupuncture located just outside of Boone, N.C. The Jung Tao school was opened in honor of Dr. Van Nghi to continue his teachings.

Before studying Chinese medicine, Karen taught Chinese martial arts for several years and has a 2nd degree black belt. She was one of less than a handful of women to own a martial art school and teach full time. She studied with may of the most famous Chinese martial artists worldwide. She was a top rated teacher and competitor nationally and internationally and is a 3rd generation disciple of Tian Shan Pai kung fu.

Member of

  • National Acupuncture Detoxification Association
  • Acupuncturists Without Borders
  • Red Cross Disaster Response Team Volunteer
  • Volunteer acupuncture for the Wounded Warriors in Camp LeJune, N.C.
  • Wilmington Chinese School