~ Chief Operating Officer ~

Sara Ward, B.A., R.Ac., has been practicing acupuncture since 2010 and is the Owner and Founder of The Village Acupuncture in East Vancouver. She graduated from ICTCMV in 2010, where her practice was forged under Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan. Sara has practiced exclusively with Balance Method Acupuncture and is a Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner (Cohort 1), with advanced training in the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and Complementary Channels for psycho-emotional pain (Cohort 2), both with the Tan Academy of Balance.

Sara’s connection to the Tan Academy of Balance dates back to its earliest beginnings. Early in her career, she joined a small group of practitioners led by Shifu Dr. Sonia F. Tan, meeting in rented rooms about Balance Method refinement. These early enlightenments laid the groundwork for what would become the Tan Academy of Balance, and Sara remains proud to be part of its origin story and deeply grateful for Shifu Sonia Tan’s mentorship, which continues to shape her medicine and leadership.

Sara holds a Pediatric Essentials & ADHD Certificate and is certified in the NADA protocol for trauma, substance misuse, abuse, and supporting people navigating mental health challenges. She is also the co-author of Yin Yang Reset, a guide rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition and food-as-medicine practices.

Taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer of the Tan Academy of Balance feels like a natural homecoming — an opportunity to honour lineage, pursue excellence, and support the continued evolution of Balance System Acupuncture.

Away from her practice, Sara is a proud hockey mom, cookbook collector who rarely follows recipes, beachgoer, forest wanderer, SUP enthusiast, writer, glimmer seeker, and an unapologetic fan of early nights and quiet mornings.

~ Lead Grand Rounds Instructor (Certificate Program) & Certified Balance System Acupuncture Teacher ~

Howard Chen, MD, FAAMA, ABOIM, is a semi-retired Physician, Board Certified in Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Chen was the founder and director of The Chen Center for Integrative Medicine in Reno, NV, where he treated patients in a membership model using a blended approach of Western and Eastern principles.

Dr. Chen was also the founding Medical Director of Renown Health’s Medical Acupuncture Clinic and their subsequent Integrative Primary Care Clinic.

A devout apprentice and assistant of Dr. Richard Tan from 2010 to 2013, he was the last and only Physician Apprentice 关门弟子 (闗門弟子) of Richard Tan, OMD. Dr. Chen is a Certified BaZi Consultant and one of the “First 16” of Da Shi 大师 (大師) Richard Tan’s BaZi program. Dr. Chen’s primary Chinese Medicine techniques include Balance Method Acupuncture and BaZi Birth Chart Analysis. Dr. Howard Chen is the originator of Chen’s Distance Acupuncture Technique (C-DAT). He additionally incorporates YiJing analysis, Muscle Channel Technique, Worsley Five Element, and Chinese Scalp Acupuncture in his diagnosis and treatments.

Dr. Chen is a Board-Certified Family Physician, Board Certified and Fellow of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture, the American Board of Integrative Medicine, and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno, and has lectured internationally on Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine.

~ Certified Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) Teacher, Lead BSA Instructor (Mentorship division) & Head Teaching Assistant ~

Suzanne Williams, BA, MBA, RAc, is a Registered Acupuncturist, Registered TCM Practitioner, Certified Tui Na practitioner, a Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner, and a graduate of the first cohort! She is a Certified BSA Teacher with the Tan Academy of Balance, is the Head Teaching Assistant, and the Lead BSA Instuctor for the BSAP mentorshp program. Balance Acupuncture has changed the way she practices and she looks forward to passing the knowledge on!

In her youth, Suzanne was drawn to healing professions, yet her passion for languages, culture and travel led her over 12 years of study and work in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China.  While living there, she was exposed to Traditional Chinese Medicine formally, as a patient receiving Tui Na, cupping and Acupuncture, and informally as a recipient of OTC herbal at-home remedies.  Suzanne ultimately cultivated a career in research and consulting in China and Canada, and finds that her ability to solve problems for businesses in need of “therapy” translates well into healthcare. The holistic approach of TCM suits her love of thorough investigation, communication and resolution of health issues.

Suzanne studied external martial arts while living in Asia, and has long since been a student of Qi Gong, Tai Ji and other internal martial arts. She is fluent in English, Mandarin and conversational French. Suzanne now spends much of her time volunteering with community organizations, and can often be found enjoying Vancouver’s water in all its forms, whether racing dragon boats in False Creek, or teaching adaptive skiing on the North Shore mountains!

~ Eight Extraordinary Vessels & Complementary Channels Teacher ~

Dr. Farrell has been involved in helping others to restore balance in their lives for over 30 years. In 1996, she graduated from Emperor’s College with a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine. She has been in private practice since 1997. She was a faculty member and clinical supervisor at Emperor’s College for 13 years. In 2007 Yvonne received her Doctoral Degree (DAOM) from Emperor’s College. Dr. Farrell has been teaching CEU courses for several years and is a student of Jeffrey Yuen, who has given his blessings to continue to teach the practice of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels and Channels (8EVC). Her courses are lively, informative and clinically relevant. She is very passionate about the medicine and enjoys sharing this through her teaching. Her first book, Psycho-emotional Pain and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, was published in 2016 and her second book Acupuncture for Surviving Adversity was published in 2021.

~ Tan Balance Hub (TBH) Group Leader & Certified BSA Teacher ~

French-speaking ambassador of Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) based in Montreal, and Certified BSA Practitioner & Certified BSA Teacher of Dr. Sonia Tan and the Tan Academy of Balance, Julie takes great pleasure in introducing people to acupuncture and its many benefits. It was initially out of curiosity that she began to study acupuncture in her late twenties. It was to better understand what “Qi” is, this sensation of tingling and circulation in the fingertips that she feels while practicing Qigong and martial arts.

Then, over the years, she began to change her lifestyle, transform her vision of the world and found her vocation — That of promoting with acupuncture, a safe space to connect to our inner Self and activate our body’s capacities to self-heal. She had the opportunity to live in Asia and completed her first clinical acupuncture internship in Vietnam. Then, she offered her acupuncture services for 6 months in a French medical office in Cambodia to the expatriate community. Based in Montreal for over 10 years, she discovered Balance Method Acupuncture in 2017. It was like a revelation. This brought her answers to many unanswered questions. She is now very grateful to be part of the Tan Academy of Balance as an BSA assistant teacher-in-training. One of her dreams is to pass the knowledge on by travelling and spending time with local communities. Some of her hobbies is Essentrics, a full body movement workout inspired by ballet, fitness and taiji, as well as hikes in nature and discovering new places in the world!

~ Tan Balance Hub (TBH) Group Leader  ~

Laurel is a Registered Acupuncturist, Western Herbalist, Certified Balance System Acupuncture Practitioner, and keen scholar of Chinese Medicine and Metaphysics. After graduating the DTCM Diploma program in 2004, she continued to study various schools of thought and styles of East Asian Medicine, which ultimately led her to Tan Academy of Balance. She joined Cohort 3 of the Balance System Acupuncture mentorship, and after graduation enrolled in the first cohort of the Certified Chinese Astrology Consultant mentorship. Laurel is now excited to continue her journey with Tan Academy by supporting new students embarking on theirs!

Laurel is motivated by the inquisitive and investigative aspects of Chinese Medicine. She loves both the subtle elegance and the immediate effectiveness (wow! factor) of Balance System Acupuncture. Helping people achieve their health and wellness goals brings her inspiration and joy.

Laurel’s practice is in the South Okanagan / Similkameen region of BC, where she enjoys the sunshine, the rugged beauty of the desert mountains, and the organic farms and orchards. Laurel also works around the province with organizations and First Nations communities.

~ Administrator & Registrar ~

Proudly supporting Tan Academy of Balance behind the scenes, Martina is a skilled administrative professional, collaborative problem solver, and positive communicator who is consistent in her readiness to help others alleviate their worries, woes, and ‘to-do’ lists.

Martina is currently studying at Rhodes Wellness College, working towards becoming a professional counsellor. With a passion for understanding the origins of feelings and patterns, she is dedicated to helping people navigate their journeys with compassion and insight. Known for her positive personality and building meaningful connections with others. She strives to support and empower individuals in their personal growth and well-being.

~ Administrator & Registrar ~

With over five years of experience as an administrator in a busy acupuncture clinic, Sheralyn brings a strong background in clinic operations, student support, and patient-centered care to her roles as Assistant Administrator and Registrar. She is also a trained acupuncturist, giving her a unique understanding of both the academic and clinical sides of acupuncture education.

Sheralyn is excited to join the acupuncture community in an administrative and support-focused role. She has completed Levels 1-6 of Dr. Richard Teh-fu Tan’s Balance Method when Red Tree Wellness brought him and subsequent Senior Students to Vancouver in 2015. This provided her with a foundation in the techniques and concepts students will be learning throughout their training at the Tan Academy of Balance Inc.

Known for her strong communication skills, organization, and problem-solving abilities, Sheralyn is deeply committed to supporting students throughout their educational journey. She takes pride in being behind-the-scenes support for both the school and its students, helping ease concerns, navigate administrative processes, and ensure students feel confident and supported every step of the way.

She is passionate about student success and looks forward to being a steady, encouraging presence as students work toward their goals in the field of acupuncture.

~ Project Manager ~

Rick has been working in operations and project management for over 30 years and has a Leadership Associate Certificate from BCIT. Accustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and resolving issues with favorable outcomes, Rick is also a lean process facilitator and IT specialist. His experience with working with multiple process owners, ensures fair collaboration amongst the group to reach a common goal.

Rick has personally experienced how Balance Acupuncture and Chinese medicine has positively impacted health and is an enormous advocate. He is pleased to help support the continued journey of educating practitioners, which in turn helps improve the health of patients.
In his leisure time, Rick enjoys cycling, baseball, and pickleball.