About the Columnist

JoAnn Tall has been studying traditional Chinese medicine since 1972. She received her California acupuncture license in 1979 and her Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree in 1983. She was the director of the Santa Barbara branch campus of the California Acupuncture College from 1981 to 1986, and co-founded the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine in 1986, where she has served as president since the schoolÕs inception. She also co-founded Healing Opportunities, a non-profit organization that promotes research, treatment and education in the field of integrative medicine. She maintains a private practice in Santa Barbara, and is involved in research concerning hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.