Faculty & Staff
Who We AreTeachers make the school. AIH works hard to find the best faculty so that we can deliver the best programming.
Only the Best
Combining theory and experience in every class
A school is only as good as its teachers. So we put significant time and attention to finding truly excellent teachers. In East Asian medicine, some people are great practitioners but not great teachers; others are great teachers but not great practitioners. AIH gathers those rare individuals who are both.
Meet the team
Autumn Faculty & Staff
AIH draws on some of the most talented and experienced practitioners around. Read about the people who will compose our core faculty, guest professors, and administrators.
Henry Claflin, R.Ac
Director, Instructor, Clinical Supervisor
Henry is a registered acupuncturist, teacher, and martial artist. He takes a patient-centred and trauma-informed approach, with treatments that are gentle, dynamic, and effective for both adults and children. When he is not teaching, Henry sees patients in AIH’s professional clinic, the Autumn Health Clinic. Henry’s professional continuing education has focused on Qigong practices, classical Chinese language, Japanese and Korean acupuncture methods, and clinical skills to apply traditional teachings to contemporary health care practice.
Ali Jopp, Dip.DTCM, R.TCMP, R.Ac
Instructor, Clinical Supervisor
Ali Jopp (she/her) is a Registered Acupuncturist with NSAA. In her practice, she focuses on mental health, insomnia, auto-immune conditions, digestive issues, and gynaecology. Early experiences inform her understanding of epigenetic trauma, poverty, and intersectionality, and shape her perspective of how to offer accessible clinical care.
Christian Saint-Pierre, R.Ac
Instructor, Clinical Supervisor
Christian Saint-Pierre is a registered acupuncturist with a deep commitment to both classical and contemporary concepts of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. After earning his acupuncturist certification in 2005, he started practicing privately in Ottawa, Ontario. There, he pursued post-graduate studies in pre-Maoist medicine, Daoist medicine, Ba Zi, and Yi Jing. He is among the few practitioners in Canada to hold the highest level of certification in The Balance Method and is also a certified Ba Zi consultant and Yi Jing practitioner.
Sunny (Chun Lan) Song, Dip.DTCM, R.Ac
Teacher
Dr. Sunny Song has a lifelong connection to medicine and healing. Her love of Chinese medicine started when she was young, growing up in China and interested in Daoist philosophy, Qigong and Taiji. Her passion lead her to learn tuina and qigong with the Daoist master Zhang Zhi Shun. Sunny completed formal studies at the Xi’an Massage Hospital. After many years as a massage therapist in China and then Canada, Sunny pursued her lifelong dream of studying Chinese medicine, completing a Doctor of TCM from Vancouver’s PCU College.
Derek Laventure
Taijiquan Instructor
Derek Laventure (he/him) has practised Yang family Taijiquan for over 15 years under the teaching of Sifu Paul McCaughey. He and Henry completed their Taiji instructor apprenticeship together in Toronto before moving to Halifax to be closer to family. Derek brings a balance of lightheartedness, clarity, and simplicity to teaching this rich tradition, making his classes enjoyable and beneficial for people of all ages and skill levels.
Julie Saint-Pierre
Instructor
Alicia Fordham, R.Ac
Clinical Supervisor
Alicia Fordham is a Registered Acupuncturist and member of the Nova Scotia Acupuncture Association. After completing her Diploma of Acupuncture at Eight Branches Academy of Eastern Medicine, the Pan-Canadian exams, and a clinical internship in Toronto, Alicia has worked in community acupuncture, as well as her own private practice, recently opening a multidisciplinary treatment space in the North End of Kjipuktuk/Halifax: sunmoon room.
Renée Sharpe
Instructor
From welding to community work, teaching self-defense for women & marginalized genders, running for mayor of St. John’s, punk, and taking care of her mom — Renée knew there was something missing. Acupuncture. Life is softer now, and Renée works to offer the same ease and access to care we all deserve. Renée offers acupuncture & somatic experiencing in community, based in Kjipuktuk / Halifax, NS.
Calvin Crichton, R.Ac, D.TCM
Instructor
Calvin first became involved in Traditional Asian medicine through his lifelong study of Japanese and Chinese martial arts. He holds one tuina diploma, two acupuncture diplomas and two Doctor of TCM diplomas, from three different schools across Canada. Calvin received a Traditional Japanese medicine Menkyo Kaiden (PHD equivalent in Japan) diploma from the Nippon Isshinho Nokkan Igakube in Toyama, Japan after several years of undertaking a mentorship (which he continues today).