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Left to right: Gregory Lewerenz, Michael Luong, Wei "Leo" Lok, Jessica Timins, Rosanna Marshall, Lyle Pannell, Masha Portnaya

It was that time again, and this year we graduated seven hardworking graduates that are ready to go out and make a difference in the health care field.  The graduation featured speeches from two faculty members selected by the graduating students.  Sachiko Nakano, L.Ac. spoke about the reality that schooling was the “appetizer” for the “main course” of their practice in the field in the future, and the need to prepare well for and enjoy that experience.  Marcie Hamrick, M.D. spoke to the graduates on the need for presence and sincere listening to their patients, and how this spirit was important, regardless of the form of medicine practiced.The graduates for 2009 are Greg Lewerenz, Leo Lok, Michael Luong, Rosanna Marshall, Lyle Pannell, Masha Portnaya, and Jessica Timins.

What will they do next?

Shortly after graduation Greg Lewerenz will be heading to High Falls Garden in upstate New York for an herbal internship.  Following that, he will return to northern Idaho to bike through the mountains with his parents before heading off to Paris for a month, with the sole aim of eating as much cheese as possible.  Once settled back in Seattle, Greg will open a practice near the Ballard Locks (www.fosterwellness.com), from where he will be able to take runs through Discovery Park without toting along a deck of flashcards.  He would like to thank David, his extended family, and all the patients who offered themselves as teachers.

Leo Lok will return to the San Francisco Bay Area upon graduation. In addition to treating patients, he plans to educate various communities about the power of food therapy.

After graduation, Michael Luong will take a short break, travel, and spend some quality time with friends and family.  When he is fully recharged, he hopes to continue to learn, be inspired, and improve himself to effectively help as many people as he can.

After catching up on sleep, movies and fiction for a handful of weeks, Rosanna Marshall will wander across the globe for half a year in an effort to recharge, reintegrate, reflect, recreate (as in recreation), and finally, return.  She plans on spending time with her former loves: yoga, art and journaling.  The highlight of her travels will be living in Kathmandu, Nepal where she will be a volunteer acupuncturist at a free integrative healthcare clinic that operates next to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery.  She thanks all of her teachers, family, friends and patients, past and future, for their support, guidance and instruction.

After three years of annoying several of her classmates and professors with her tardiness (just a few minutes here and there- really!), Lyle Pannell will travel to a place that operates on Lyle-time (a.k.a Latin time).  Lyle and her husband, Sam (a massage therapist), will land in Panama in October and will start putting their healing skills into practice.  They will begin their adventure in Pamana City by taking Spanish classes and setting up a “clinic” in a local hostel managed by friends.  After replenishing their yang qi stores depleted by Seattle winters, they hope to start a community healthcare center providing care to underserved populations.

Since Masha Portnaya moved to Seattle five years ago, the Pike Place Market inspired her with its vibrancy, energy and diversity. In two months she will begin her practice at Ageless Acupuncture in the Market. She is excited to join a successful practice, take on a new challenge and apply the skills she learned at SIOM. Masha wants to thank her family for their support and love during these last three years.

Jessica Timins plans to specialize in women's healthcare and the treatment of spiritual and emotional imbalances using an interdisciplinary approach in order to better serve her patients. She is very grateful for all the love and support of her family and friends and sends special thanks to those who could not attend the graduation ceremony, including her grandmothers and son.