About Pacific Rim College Online
Impacting humanity locally worldwide
PRCOnline was brought into existence to help people from around the world to not just be healthy, but to thrive, in the most sustainable and conscientious manner possible. Using high quality videos, graphics, audio, and learning resources, PRCOnline brings to your screen leading experts in natural medicine, business leadership, human performance, mindfulness and sustainability.
Pacific Rim College Online is the virtual learning platform of Pacific Rim College, a leading institute of Holistic Medicine and Sustainable Living located on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees) and WSÁNEĆ nations (Victoria, BC, Canada). Since 2006 Pacific Rim College has educated thousands of students, forged innovative curricula, and earned a global following with its award-winning services.
Our guiding principles:
Altruistic integrity | We’re credible, traditional, and scientific. We partner with respected, qualified instructors to teach you powerful new skills, and to inspire you to create your impact.
Inspired innovation | We bridge the gap between ancient and contemporary by offering timeless education across modern channels. We believe that knowledge is power, and that lessons from the past can sustain and improve our future.
Global impact | We aim to be a part of the solution and we firmly believe that education inspires positive action. We are conscientious of how our operations impact people and the planet, and we foster inclusivity across our entire organization.
16+ years in business
3,000+ graduates
Expert instructors
Instructors
Dr. Allan Fradsham | DTCM
Dr. Allan Fradsham holds a degree as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine from The Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. He graduated in 2006 and has been working full time as a TCM practitioner ever since.
Dr. Fradsham runs a full general practice treating most disorders but has a special interest in physical injury and pain disorders and stroke recovery. Dr. Fradsham has been teaching since 2009, and was one of the primary instructors at the International Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ottawa Ontario until he moved to Alberta. He is currently instructing at the Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and has supervised acupuncture treatments at the Calgary Drop In Centre for the homeless in Calgary. He is the principal investigator in a current study on the use of acupuncture in stroke recovery.
Dr. Fradsham mainly uses distal needling techniques below the elbow and knee, which allow him to treat painful areas and test range of motion during the treatment.
Dr. Fradsham is in the process of starting a clinic in Nicaragua where he plans to offer community acupuncture to local people in need of treatment. He will use the solace as a teaching centre for practitioners to come and train with him, while they stay on his organic farm and enjoy all the fun Nicaragua has to offer as well.
When not in the clinic, Dr. Fradsham spends his time with his family and dog pursuing his many outdoor hobbies.
Allen M. Schoen | DVM, MS, PhD (hon.)
Dr. Schoen is one of the pioneers in holistic, integrative veterinary medicine. He has been acknowledged by his peers as being one of the fifteen most influential veterinarians in North America as well as worldwide for introducing the concept of an integrative approach to veterinary medicine.
He received his DVM from Cornell U. College of Veterinary Medicine and has a Masters Degree Animal Behaviour from the University of Illinois.
He has been an Assistant Professor at Colorado State & Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine. He published seven books including: “Veterinary Acupuncture: Ancient Art to Modern Medicine”, “Complementary & Alternative Veterinary Medicine”. He is the author of “Love, Miracles, Animal, Kindred Spirits” and “The Compassionate Equestrian”.
He has an honorary Ph.D. from Becker College for his contributions to veterinary medicine and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Veterinary Acupuncture for his groundbreaking contributions to Veterinary Acupuncture.
His new project is “C.A.L.M.” ©, the “Conscious Animal Lovers Movement”. It is his approach to help all animal lovers co-create a healthier, happier, more harmonious world.
He continues to write and teach. His latest course can be seen at Pacific Rim College Online.
Amanda Howe | RHT, Medical Herbalist
Amanda Howe has been a Herbalist for over thirty years. She trained in England in the early ’80s and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She went on to receive her MSc in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales. Amanda worked in England in a multidisciplinary clinic before moving to Vancouver Island twenty-five years ago. Since moving to Canada, Amanda has been active in practice as a herbalist and as a herbal educator. She has served on the board of the provincial Canadian Herbalists Association of BC as well as the national Herbal Practitioners Council – the Canadian Council of Herbalists Associations (CCHA), working to ensure continued access to herbal medicines for Herbalists and the general public. And she also sat on Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Expert Advisory Committee.
Amanda spent several years teaching at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC. as a teacher in the excellent School of Western Herbal Medicine at Pacific Rim College and was involved in funded research projects with the Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology at Royal Roads University.
Amanda is passionate about herbs and herbal medicine and about sharing the connection to the natural world that can be found through connecting with and learning about the healing power of plants. Amanda loves to teach and is happiest when she is in the garden teaching people how to grow, harvest, use and listen to the magic of the plants that are thriving there.
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs:
Course 2 | Wild Medicinals
Course 3 | Materia Medica Introduction
Course 4 | Materia Medica
Course 6 | The Art of Herbal Medicine Making, External Preparations
Course 14 | Herbal First Aid
Angela (Schaerer) Rennie | RYT, CBE, Reiki Master, Registered Midwife
Angela is the founder of It Starts With Birth, an online lifestyle and education community aimed at encompassing the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
Before creating It Starts With Birth, Angela worked for 9 years as a Registered Midwife and primary care provider to over 550 women and their families. While each of these women’s experiences in preparing for labour and the transition to motherhood was unique, Angela came to identify a pattern in the needs that they expressed along their journey and created this online program in response!
Angela studied in the US and graduated from the Seattle Midwifery School (Bastyr University). She spent her early years studying in both Canada and the Caribbean, before settling once again in Victoria, BC to practice as a Registered Midwife.
Angela’s passion for supporting women on their journey toward motherhood began many years before midwifery school. In the years prior, Angela studied and taught childbirth education, offered breastfeeding support, and worked as a postpartum and birth doula. Her interests and passion have also led Angela to study homeopathy, holistic nutrition, yoga teacher training, Reiki and spiritual healing (wherein she received mentorship from spiritual healers including a First Nations Haida Shaman).
Angela is a lover of the outdoors; sitting atop her favourite mountain to work, hiking its trails, and sitting with a hot tea and her dogs in the early morning light are amongst her greatest pleasures. Her goal for working with women runs parallel to the desire she has for herself and the women in her own life: to inspire women’s evolution toward the amazing lives they deserve!
Dr. Angeli Chitale | BSc (Hons), ND, Registered Herbalist
Dr. Angeli Chitale is a Queen’s University Graduate in Molecular Biology and Genetics. In her final year of post-graduate studies, Angeli treated her chronic knee injury with natural medicine, and the trajectory of her life was forever changed, inspiring her to pursue formal studies and training in Naturopathic Medicine.
While a student at The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), Angeli pursued further hands-on training in Botanical Medicine with the Ontario Herbalists Association. Angeli has served as Executive on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and as Chair of several committees, including her term as Medical Editor for the OAND’s quarterly publication. Dr. Angeli has a successful long-term private practice focused on teaching patients food-based therapies for the treatment and prevention of chronic disease. Currently, in addition to teaching with PRCO, Angeli is a faculty member of the School of Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program:
Course 1 | World History of Nutrition
Course 4 | Food Ecology & Sustainability
Course 6 | Materia Medica of Food
Bev Maya | Medical Herbalist, Honours BSc Chemistry
Bev is a practicing Medical Herbalist who also speaks internationally and locally at conferences and colleges. She worked in the fields of medical research, sales and marketing for 15 years after graduation with an Honours BSc in Chemistry. Bev then completed studies in medical sciences and clinical training in the UK to become a Medical Herbalist. As a tenacious inquisitive, Bev focuses on demystifying menopause for those who do not respond to traditional approaches. At her solo clinic in North Vancouver, BC, Bev’s unique blend of education and experience has provided her with a rare ability to blend the intricacies of nervous, endocrine and digestive system physiology with emotional and spiritual root causes to create a comprehensive treatment plan for those with significant hormonal challenges
Bev previously worked for 15 years with a group of Physicians at the West Coast Women’s Clinic for Hormonal Health and continues to interface with physicians in Vancouver, BC that share her interest in the treatment of whole body hormonal health. Bev is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and a professional member of American Herbalists Guild. Bev is one of 20 professionally trained Medical Herbalists in Canada.
Bryce Ehrecke | Natural Building Expert
Bryce Ehrecke comes from a line of weavers, builders, and explorers. His ancestors created textiles in Ireland, farmed in Normandie, and constructed in Germany, before coming to Canada to lead a different life. From his mother’s side he has gained creativity and ingenuity, and from his father’s side, he has gained craftsmanship and skill. He now weaves his heritage with place, and natural buildings with natural landscapes, honouring the relationship between human beings and all other beings.
His education in natural building began by connecting and paying attention to the world around him and expanded while apprenticing with Pat Hennebery of CobWorks. He has spent the past decade working, living, learning, teaching and exploring with many different natural builders and natural structures. He now runs a Natural Building and renovation company called CRÉ. He specializes in rock work, earthen and lime plasters, roundwood, and using whatever design and materials best suit the environment and whom the structure is for. Bryce is a faculty member of the School of Permaculture Design at Pacific Rim College.
CRÉ Natural Building
Featured in: Martha Stewart | Woven Magazine
Dr. Carrie Watkins | ND
Dr. Carrie Watkins has been a licensed and registered Naturopathic Doctor for more than 15 years. She is a passionate educator and has extensive experience in both teaching and clinical practice. Dr. Watkins has spent many years leading health education and wellness programs in hospital, community, and corporate settings. She holds a faculty position at Pacific Rim College teaching biomedical sciences, anatomy, and nutrition as well as being an experienced movement and yoga instructor in Victoria, British Columbia.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program:
Course 7 | Nutritional Therapeutics
Course 9 | Nutrition Through the Lifespan
Cordelia McFadyen | Holistic Nutritionist, Gut Expert
Cordelia McFadyen, a.k.a. your nutritional translator, is owner and Board-Certified Holistic Nutritionist at Inspired Living Nutrition Inc. After suffering for years from unknown food sensitivities and actively working her way back to strong health through proper nutrition, she was inspired and determined to take her education further so that she could help empower others back to great health. Cordelia believes there is more than enough food information “out there” for people to learn from; however the key is not in the information available, but how to apply it to your unique nutritional needs. This is where she applies some of her favorite goal crushing techniques to help you learn the new healthy habits that will reveal the best you. Cordelia also loves to talk so you can find her spreading her love of all things delicious and nutritious online and at special events throughout Canada.
A strong advocate for the holistic nutrition industry she currently serves as Dean for the School of Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College, as a proud Board Member for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board (HNCB) and as the Western Canadian representative for the Canadian Action for Nutrition (CAN) which is facilitated by the Canadian professional organization Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners (CANNP).
Apart from touting the benefits of kale and lemon water to anyone who will listen, she is an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys long hikes, canoeing, crabbing, reading, dancing with friends and tending to her garden. In her free time, she can be found walking her awesome Chihuahua Juno and writing about herself in the third person.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 59: Cordelia McFadyen on Holistic Nutrition, Building a Personal Healthcare Team, and Empowerment
Courses
Community Herbalist Program: Course 15 | Holistic Nutrition
Holistic Nutrition 101
CT Holman | LAc, MS
CT Holman brings East Asian Medicine to patients in Salem, Oregon through Redwood Spring PC, and to the world through his international teachings.
Licensed in Acupuncture and Certified in East Asian Herbal medicine, CT treats people of all ages and various conditions through telemedicine and at his practice in Salem, Oregon. CT studied in China three times (1999, 2001, and 2003) and integrates the specialties of facial diagnosis, channel palpation, five element diagnosis, and diagnosing and treating trauma.
With over 20 years of experience, CT teaches several subjects on East Asian Medicine internationally and mentors students in his clinic and virtually. He is a graduate of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, has extensive post-graduate education with several leading teachers in the field studying directly under Lillian Pearl Bridges, and he is the Director of Development for the Lotus Institute.
He has been a drummer for over 35 years and released several records with various bands. CT treats with and teaches shamanic drumming and teaches and practices qigong. CT wrote the textbooks, Treating Emotional Trauma with Chinese Medicine and Shamanism in Chinese Medicine.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 25: CT Holman on Shamanism, Facial Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, and Punk Rock
David Caudwell | BSc, Medical Herbalist
David Caudwell completed his studies in Herbal Medicine at the College of Phytotherapy in South East England and was awarded a BSc (Honours) from the University of Wales. After graduating David settled in Sussex, dividing his time between practice, clinic management and teaching responsibilities at the college where he trained. He has taught for the Universities of Wales and East London, and for the “Discovering Herbal Medicine” program run by Dr. Anne Walker. David is a member of The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy, a professional body of herbalists established to champion the role and development of traditional herbal medicine in the modern world. He is a faculty member of the School of Western Herbal Medicine at Pacific Rim College.
David has a lifelong passion for wildlife, the outdoors and the world’s indigenous medicine systems, which has led to travel on five continents. In his practice, David takes a particular interest in Women’s Health, Fertility Issues and Cancer Care.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 14: David Caudwell on Herbal Medicine
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs: Course 5 | Herbal Therapeutics
Erynne Gilpin | PhD
Erynne Gilpin Ph.D is a mixed (Michif and Filipina/Celtic) community wellness researcher, educator and film-maker. Her Doctoral work, “Land as Body: Indigenous Women’s Leadership, Wellness and Embodied Governance,” focused on the intersections of personal and collective wellness as it relates to land-relations.
Currently, Erynne is an Assistant Professor at Royal Roads University in the school of Communications and Culture and Co-Director of the film-based production company UATÊ STORIED LEARNING. Her research and teaching commitments engage with land-based learning pedagogues, storied film-based education across cross-cultural and international settings.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 18: Erynne Gilpin on Indigenous Medicinal Harvesting Protocol, Doula Birthwork, and Rock Climbing
G. Elijah Dann | PhD, ThD
G. Elijah Dann has doctorates in philosophy and theology. For a number of years, he taught health care ethics in Ontario, including at the University of Waterloo and the University of Western Ontario. He also taught various courses in philosophy and religion at the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University. For eight years he was the clinical ethicist for the Kitchener/Waterloo regional hospital. Professor Dann has published books on philosophy, ethical theory, and religion. He currently is adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University and Quest University in British Columbia.
Hilary Brent | Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Chef
Hilary Brent is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Chef, and Food Stylist. She launched her business, The Rooted Table, upon graduation from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and has since been busy as a bee preparing food for her clients on a weekly basis, catering private events, cooking for retreats and community long table dinners, teaching cooking classes, and working as a food stylist and recipe developer for brands. She has long been passionate about food and loves witnessing the direct impact her cooking has on her clients’ health and wellbeing. Her work is inspired by pops of colour, the beauty of the natural world, and the multitudinous stories behind the people and places in food.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 8 | Holistic Nutrition Cooking
Hillary Krupa | Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Hillary Krupa is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who has been practicing holistic nutrition since 2004. Her career has led her through many clinical settings including private practice and supportive cancer care, post-secondary education, professional writing, and nutrition program development for various organizations. A large part of her career has revolved around not-for-profit and social justice applications of food security and nutrition. She has been a faculty member in the School of Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College since 2018 where she plays an active role as a nutrition clinic supervisor. Her passion lies in clinical practice where the application of nutritional knowledge combined with communication and interpersonal dynamics meet.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 10 | Nutrition Consulting
Jennifer Brott | Holistic Nutritionist
Jennifer is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and founder of Vancouver based nutritional consulting firm, My Edible Advice. Her expertise and private practice are rooted in an unwavering commitment: to empower individuals to reach their health and wellness goals by providing them with the tools to thrive. Fuelled by this conviction, My Edible Advice has sparked an appetite for optimal health and wellness that extends far beyond its Vancouver base. Today, Jennifer and her team provide nutritional consultation, cooking classes, and meal planning sessions to a worldwide set of individual and organizational clients in pursuit of the knowledge to nourish and map to optimal health. Jennifer has developed a keen interest in gastrointestinal, prenatal, and oncology nutrition and her breadth and depth of knowledge in these areas are reflected in her private practice. She uses herbs in every single one of her dietary protocols and is continually amazed by the healing powers in food.
A Maritime girl at heart and west coaster in-home, Jennifer seeks solace where the mountains meet the ocean and finds bliss in the bounty and buzz of local farmer’s markets. She believes that health is happiness, and that to engage, enable, and empower her clients to live their best life is to do the very same for her. Jennifer proves that healthful choices can be as easy as pie
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs: Course 9 | The Medicinal Kitchen
Kayla Moberg | DTCM, Dip.Phyt
Kayla’s dream of finding a comprehensive herbal medicine program came true in 2009 when she discovered the Diploma of Phytotherapy program at Pacific Rim College. While completing this program, she quickly and passionately fell in love with traditional Chinese medicine, which inspired her to continue her studies. She went on to graduate as a Medical Herbalist, Acupuncturist, TCM herbalist, and finally a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Prior to her education at Pacific Rim College, she completed various trainings in herbal medicine, aromatherapy, birth and postpartum doula work, energy medicine, massage, and reiki.
A dedicated yoga practice over the past decade led her to India twice to immerse herself in this spiritual tradition. On her first trip, she completed a yoga teacher training and returned a year later to teach yoga and provide volunteer acupuncture at a charitable hospital through the ashram she was living at.
The profound effects that herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and
yoga have had on her life are what inspired her to study these ancient healing traditions. She is deeply passionate about helping people connect to their innate healing potential. She is currently registered with the CTCMA as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and focuses her practice on women and children’s health.
Along with her practice, she is a clinical supervisor and instructor at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, B.C. where she supervises acupuncture and herbal medicine clinics, and teaches gynecology, pediatrics, advanced herbal formulas, and a class she created called ‘Integrative Materia Medica – Western Herbs Through the Lens of TCM’ that teaches the therapeutic application of western herbs using TCM energetic diagnostic principles.
The Healing Hearth
Kenton Sefcik | Dip.Ac, Dip.TCM, RAc
Kenton’s passion for Chinese culture began at age of 14 when he began training in Kung-Fu – martial arts still being a sincere interest to this day. In 2007, he graduated from the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a diploma in Acupuncture and diploma in TCM. Kenton holds the license of Registered Acupuncturist in both Alberta and Nova Scotia, Canada. He serves on the board of the Nova Scotia Association of Acupuncturists as president and digital communications liaison.
Kenton has taught for two Chinese medicine colleges, was a guest lecturer at Acadia University, and has been requested for seminars by acupuncture associations and Naturopathic Doctor conferences across Canada. Through social media, podcasts, and online courses, Kenton has reached students and practitioners from around the world – helping them prepare for provincial or state examinations, and gain more confidence in the skills they went to school for.
He believes everyone should feel confident in their knowledge of the foundations of Chinese medicine.
Krista Dawn Poulton | Medical Herbalist, Dip.Phyt, RHT
Krista Dawn Poulton is a Medical Herbalist in Victoria, BC. She balances her private practice as a faculty member in the School of Western Herbal Medicine at Pacific Rim College, teaching courses in herbal medicine and medicine making, along with supervising clinical training. Her mission with her practice is to teach women to love and adore their bodies, address societal norms of body awareness, and educate ways to shift reproductive issues with the use of herbs, diet and supplements. Krista’s clinical practice focuses primarily on reproductive health from post-birth control care, fertility planning to infertility, endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS.
Kylie Rodger | RTCMP
In her early twenties, Kylie immersed herself in a lineage of medical qigong where she trained with her teacher at her home or in the woods, and offered by-donation clinics and meditations around the city of Vancouver. During this time, she was managing a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic. Every day she saw patients come into the clinic, receive an acupuncture treatment, then leave with a renewed vigour of body and spirit. She began to fall in love with Chinese medicine while watching the physical, mental, and emotional changes that the medicine had on patients of the clinic. This experience stoked a burning desire to continue her studies of medical qigong by pursuing formal training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She graduated with summa cum laude honours from the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine diploma program at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC. Today she is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, located in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
Lindsay Hounslow | Medical Herbalist, Naturalist Guide
Lindsay’s interest in plants was cultivated in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. During 10 years of work as a naturalist guide, Lindsay gained a deep appreciation for ecology and her clinical practice integrates her respect for the profound nature of connection within our web of life. She has a deep love for plants and a passion to increase the availability of safe, effective medicines in a form that nurtures our shared spiritual and ecological health. After studies in geography, nutrition, and yoga, and mentorship in energy work, shamanism, organic gardening, and herbal wildcrafting, she dedicated herself to herbal studies and was one of Pacific Rim College’s first Diploma of Phytotherapy graduates. She is a professional member of the British Columbia Herbalists Association and is the past vice-president of the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations. She practices herbalism in her home community of Fernwood, Victoria and is a happy gardener, yogi, and mother.
Courses
Community Herbalist Program:
Course 10 | Botany & Plant Identification
Course 12 | Backyard Gardening & Cultivation
Course 13 | Seed Saving
Dr. Martha Lucas | PhD, LAc
Dr. Lucas holds a PhD in Research Psychology as well as her degree in Chinese Medicine. Lucas has more than 20 years of teaching and speaking experience and is described as “a dynamic speaker who keeps her classes engaged and who can explain complex information in an understandable way.” She teaches Pulse Diagnosis and Biofeedback System to medical doctors and Practitioners of TCM who want to be better diagnosticians. She also teaches the Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture System that includes a section on treating obesity and fertility challenges in men and women, an acupuncture point course where she shares functions as well as unique point prescriptions, and a course on treating autoimmune disorders. Her private practice is based in Denver, Colorado where she specializes in internal medicine and she also sees patients at Littleton Internal Medicine Associates in Littleton, Colorado.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 2: Dr. Martha Lucas on Cosmetic Acupuncture and Chinese Pulse Diagnosis
Dr. Marisa Marciano | ND, RH (AHG)
Dr. Marisa Marciano is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor & Registered Herbalist (AHG) with expertise in both the education and clinical applications of phytotherapy. As an herbal practitioner and educator for nearly a decade, she strives to empower both her patients and her students to take a “hands-on-herbal approach” to learn the arts & science of herbal medicine and is considered a passionate educator who believes in the body’s innate capacity to heal when provided with the ancient knowledge & foundational therapeutic potential of plant medicine in all its forms.
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs: Course 8 | Herbal Body Products & Gift Making
Books
Botanical Medicine
Dr. Mercy Southam | DTCM
Mercy Southam is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Founder and Owner of Eir Mobile Medicine, Canada’s first mobile acupuncture and natural medicine studio. In addition to her private practice, Mercy teaches the Business Development course at Pacific Rim College and has mentored over 50 students through their own business ideation process.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 11 | Business of Nutrition
Michael Isted | Phytotherapist (BSc Hons), Aromatherapist, Nutritionist
Michael Isted is a trained phytotherapist (BSc Hons), aromatherapist and nutritionist who started up his company The Herball in 2013. Michael is a practising phytotherapist with nearly a decade of experience his passion is to promote and celebrate the many ways in which we can integrate plants into everyday lives in dynamic ways.
Michael combines cutting edge technology with more traditional methods, to extract and distil plant compounds, he also works closely with a number of small independent organic growers and plant workers in the UK, Europe & India to source and produce artisanal plant-based products, such as skin care, drinks, perfumes, infusions, hydrosols, spices, extracts, and oils. Michael frequently runs workshops across the globe teaching plant therapeutics while also consulting, creating and formulating botanical drinks, skin care, medicines & perfumes for brands, cafes, bars, restaurants and spas.
Michael is also a published author with his book ‘The Herball’s Guide to Botanical Drinks’ being published in four different languages. The book reflects Michaels philosophy; a very modern take on an ancient practice, revealing the history and processes of making botanical drinks with herbs & plant extracts.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 37: Michael Isted on Capturing the Scent of Time and Place, Crafting Herbal Products, and the Lore of Plants
Nicolina Kolster | Licensed Esthetician, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Professional Formulator
Nicolina, a visionary entrepreneur in the world of holistic skincare, embarked on a remarkable journey that took her from a small hobby farm in Finland to becoming the founder of a successful natural skincare company in Canada.
Drawn by Canada’s captivating landscapes and bountiful medicinal nature, Nicolina decided to settle down on beautiful Vancouver Island, eager to contribute her knowledge and experiences to the skincare world. Embracing her love for holistic wellness, she pursued formal training in skincare formulating and holistic nutrition.
Nicolina’s unwavering dedication to the principles of natural beauty and wellness led her to establish her own natural skincare company. Armed with her knowledge of traditional herbalism and modern formulating, she crafted a range of products that quickly attracted a devoted clientele.
Beyond building a thriving business, Nicolina has become an educator and social figure, empowering people to embrace natural skincare practices that resonate with their individual needs. Through online courses, 1:1 consultations, and insightful content, she is guiding others on the path of holistic self-care and the art of nurturing their skin and bodies with the gifts of nature.
Paul Bergner | Medical Herbalist
Paul Bergner has studied and practiced natural medicine, medical herbalism, and nutrition since 1973. He is the Director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Portland, OR, and has supervised residents in teaching clinics for medical herbalism and clinical nutrition continuously since 1996. Mentoring more than 250 clinical graduates, he has published and edited the Medical Herbalism journal since 1989. Paul has authored seven books on medical herbalism, clinical nutrition, ethnobotany, and naturopathic medicine. Combining information from both nutritional anthropology and biomedicine, he developed a successful protocol for treating insulin resistance between 1997 and 1999, and has been utilizing and teaching the protocol to residents in his teaching clinics since that time. He has lectured on this topic at professional conferences nationally and internationally since 2000.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 24: Paul Bergner on Herbalism and Vitalism, Following His Calling, and Overcoming Demons
Peter Conway | Medical Herbalist, Aromatic Medicine Specialist
Peter Conway trained as a Medical Herbalist in the UK where he ran a clinical practice for over 20 years. In addition to seeing patients, Peter has taught herbal courses at several UK universities and other academic institutions, been involved in herbal politics as a committee member of the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, and written several books about herbalism. He was involved in writing the National Professional Standards in Herbal Medicine in the UK and worked with the UK Department of Health in developing professional regulatory standards for herbal practice. Peter was the President of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy for 12 years. In recognition of his services to the herbal profession, Peter was made a Fellow of both the College of Practitioners of phytotherapy and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Peter now lives on the west coast of Canada and he is a member of the Canadian Herbalists Association of British Columbia. He is currently teaching at Pacific Rim College, working on the revised second edition of his textbook, ‘The Consultation in Phytotherapy’, and developing an online project that aims to share his herbal insights more widely.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 15: Peter Conway on Plant-Spirit Medicine, Love in the Time of a Pandemic, and the Punk Rocker Ethos
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs:
Course 1 | Introduction to Herbal Medicine
Course 16 | Aromatic Medicine
Course 18 | Developing Therapeutic Relationships & Case Taking
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 2 | Evolution of Diet Culture & Body Ideals
Phil Hurrle | Holistic Coach
Phil Hurrle is a Holistic Coach who has studied throughout the world with many distinguished teachers, doctors, and therapists in order to assemble methods and techniques that have the greatest impact on his clients’ health and happiness.
He was fortunate enough to train and teach at a highly successful alternative medical clinic in India that specializes in the holistic treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. He has also trained in many practices including Hatha, Iyengar, and Ashtanga yoga, myofascial and psoas release, lymphatic drainage, and various meditation and breathwork techniques.
After teaching throughout the United States and in locations around the world including Costa Rica, Mexico, India, he now resides and teaches at a retreat centre in Bali. His passion is supporting people who suffer from chronic pain, systemic tension, and stress, as well as assisting athletes of all kinds optimize their performance.
Through consistent application of direct and effective practices, he helps people realign, rebalance, and restore their mobility, alignment, energy, confidence, and overall foundational health in order to help them harness the energy that is already inside of them in order to live a more enjoyable and healthier life.
Robert Rogers | Botanist, Clinical Herbalist, Mushroom Expert
Robert Rogers has been an herbalist for over 48 years and is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, where he is presently an assistant clinical professor in Family Medicine. He is also an adjunct professor in Graduate Studies at York University in Toronto.
He presently teaches plant and mushroom medicine, aromatherapy and flower essences in the Earth Spirit Medicine faculty at the Northern Star College in Edmonton, Alberta.
Robert is also a faculty member of the School of Western Herbal Medicine at Pacific Rim College.
The author of 52 books on medicinal plants and fungi of the boreal forest, Robert authored The Fungal Pharmacy, A Cree Healer and His Medicine Bundle, Mushroom Essences, and Herbal Allies that documents his journey with plant medicine. His latest book, Psilocybin Mushrooms: The Magic, Science and Research was published in October 2021.
Robert is one of 9 renowned instructors in Pacific Rim College’s online herbal medicine programs, the Home Herbalist Program and the Community Herbalist Certificate. Launching to the public in 2020, they might just be the best online herbal medicine programs available anywhere. Studio filmed, professionally edited, and expert curated, the programs lead students into the incredible and seemingly magical world of herbal medicine, just as Robert does in his books, interviews, and talks.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 4: Robert Rogers on Mushrooms
Courses
Community Herbalist Program: Course 17 | Medicinal Mushrooms
RoseMarie Pierce | BSc.Pharm
RoseMarie Pierce has over 45 years of extensive experience as a pharmacist and natural health advocate. RoseMarie earned her degree in Pharmacy from Dalhousie University in 1972. After extensive studies in herbology and nutritional medicine, RoseMarie integrated these disciplines with her pharmacy practice to become Canada’s first Holistic Pharmacist. Proficient in the fields of phyto-pharmacy, herbal medicine, holistic health and nutrition, RoseMarie has a natural ability to present technical information in an easy-to- understand format. She is a highly respected lecturer, writer, and media personality within the natural health industry.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 28: RoseMarie Pierce on Food-Drug-Herb Interactions, Acid-Base Balance, and the Freedom of Responsibility
Sally Fallon Morell | Author, Activist
Sally Fallon Morell is founding president of The Weston A. Price Foundation, a non-profit nutrition education foundation dedicated to returning nutrient-dense food to American tables. She is also the founder of A Campaign for Real Milk, which has as its goal universal access to clean raw milk from pasture-fed animals. She is the author of the best-selling cookbook Nourishing Traditions (with Mary G. Enig, PhD); The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care (with Thomas S. Cowan, MD); Nourishing Broth (with Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN); and Nourishing Fats.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 27: Sally Fallon Morell
Sandra Robertson | RTCMP
Sandra Robertson is a Practitioner of Chinese Medicine and has been in practice in Victoria, BC, since 2008. She has a five-year Doctor of Chinese Medicine diploma.
She is the author of Treating Children with Chinese Dietary Therapy, released in 2021 by Singing Dragon. She has extensively studied and applied Chinese dietary therapy in her life as a mother and stepmother to three children and her clinical practice with clients.
Sandra trained with Lillian Pearl Bridges, the world’s leading authority on Face Reading and Facial diagnosis and completed the Master Face Reading Certification Program.
She has also taken continuing education training with Julian Scott, the world’s most eminent Pediatric Acupuncture specialist.
Sandra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, cooking, farmer’s markets, writing, hiking, yoga, qi gong, and aiming to live her life in the most yang sheng way possible.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 56: Sandra Robertson on Treating Children with Chinese Dietary Therapy, Face Reading, and Writing
Sarada Dhupati | Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner, Counselling Psychologist, Yoga Teacher
Sarada is an Ayurvedic wellness practitioner, a counselling psychologist, and a certified yoga teacher. She has 17 years of experience teaching yoga and Ayurveda wellness in India, the U.S., and Canada.
Sarada grew up in India and has been drawn to yoga and Ayurveda since her childhood as she was inspired by her grandfather, an Ayurvedic doctor. This physical and spiritual practice has been woven in throughout her life ever since. She has learned many different styles from multiple teachers. She believes yoga and Ayurveda are great instruments of union, balance, and joy and her passion is to teach Ayurveda as a way of life.
Courses
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 3 | Ayurvedic Energetics & Constitutions
Sarah Pritchard | Lic.Ac, MBACC, Dip.Tui na, Clin. Cert. Tui na (NanJing)
Sarah Pritchard was one of the first westerners to practice Tui na in the UK and is known as an inspiring teacher and workshop leader. She originally trained to be an actor at RADA where she was introduced to Alexander Technique, Qi Gong, yoga and meditation as well as the performance and communication skills that have proved invaluable for teaching. Sarah then trained at the London School of Chinese Clinical Massage Therapy, the Nanjing University of TCM and the London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Sarah has been a member of the British Acupuncture Council since 2000.
Sarah has 17 years of teaching experience and is the author of two Tui na books ‘Chinese Massage Manual’ originally published by Piatkus in 1999 and re-published with Singing Dragon in 2015 is the definitive introductory text on Tui na Massage currently published in English. She has been in private practice since 1994. She is the founder and Director of Blackheath Complementary Health Centre in London established in May 2000.
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 21: Sarah Pritchard on Tui Na, Taoism, and the Healing Power of Sound
Seraphina Capranos | Herbalist, Classical Homeopath
Seraphina’s European grandparents first introduced her to the healing power of natural medicine. While seasonally gathering herbs in rural Ontario, Canada they lovingly taught her about the traditional wisdom of herbs and plant lore. After suffering an injury to her spine as a teenager, Seraphina was declared by the conventional medical system to lead a life of suffering in chronic pain. Determined to heal herself, she returned to her roots and began a professional study of natural medicine at Emerson College of Herbology leading her to study with renowned herbalist Susun S. Weed at The Wise Woman Center in NY and then healers in the desert of New Mexico. She attended the University of Toronto while working with an inspiring MD who practiced homeopathy, revealing to her the brilliance of this unique and deep system of medicine.
The combination and expertise of her two passions of herbal medicine and homeopathic medicine make Seraphina a gifted holistic practitioner. She brings the balance of university education in science and the magic of what wildlands and mystics have taught her to each of her classes and clients. She lives on Salt Spring Island where she’s had a clinical practice since 2005. She teaches herbal medicine, homeopathy & earth-based magic internationally. As an educator, she is passionate about offering empowering, heart-centered classes that are rooted in spirit. She gives thanks to all her teachers, namely Michael Vertolli (Emerson College 1998), Susun Weed, Aviva Romm, Murray Feldman, Susan Gimbel, Laurie Dack, Lianne South, Louis Klein, and the old authors of homeopathic texts from the 1800s, and the
Listen to Pacific Rim College Radio | Episode 23: Seraphina Capranos on Herbal Medicine, the Power of Mentorship, and Healingwomen who kept recipes alive in the stillroom books.
Courses
Home & Community Herbalist Programs:
Course 7 | The Art of Herbal Medicine Making, Internal Preparations
Course 11 | The History, Energetics, and Spirit of Plant Medicine
Course 19 | Herbal Business
Dr. Shoshana Scott | DMS, HD
Dr. Shoshana Scott began studying organic chemistry and won an award of excellence at the University of Winnipeg. She switched to Homeopathy after working in a busy homeopathic clinic under a Homeopathic Doctor in Winnipeg. Inspired by Dr. Leelamma Nielsen, Dr. Scott completed a four-year degree in Homeopathic Medical Science with an internship at Father Mueller’s Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital in Mangalore, India. Dr. Scott has a strong interest in bringing Homeopathy into mainstream medicine as a gentle, effective choice in healthcare. Dr. Scott now practices at the integrated medical clinic at the Victoria Community Health Cooperative in James Bay, Victoria, BC. She is on the faculty at Pacific Rim College.
Our team
Gillian Marsollier
Gillian Marsollier has been a Registered Acupuncturist in British Columbia since 2001 and an instructor of acupuncture for more than 15 years. After completing a 4-year Masters Program in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, she began her teaching career in Newfoundland where she wrote the bulk of the curriculum for a 3-year acupuncture program and served as the Acupuncture Program Director. Gillian was then transferred to Halifax where she successfully gained approval by the Board of Education in Nova Scotia for an acupuncture program. In addition to teaching, while residing on the East Coast she practiced at a very successful multi-faceted alternative treatment centre.
In 2008 Gillian went to Nepal to teach acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities at a medical facility. They are still using the modalities to this day to treat the locals from the Himalayan hills.
For the last 5+ years, Gillian has been pursuing the media side of acupuncture and natural healing through the creation of LIFT Education. Through this online education platform, she has created many popular courses including bootcamps that have become the national gold standard for preparation for TCM registration exams.
Courses
RAc Bootcamp
RTCMP Bootcamp
Acupuncture Bootcamp
Biomedical Bootcamp
TCM Quizzes & Exams Bootcamp
Modalities & Points Bootcamps
Now What? Part I: Get the Job
Now What? Part II: Set Up for Day One
Now What? Part III: Be With Your Patient
Refine Your Acupuncture Diagnostic Skills: Palpation, Pulse and Needling Techniques
Break Down Any TCM Case Study Efficiently & Effectively
Chinese Dietary Therapy
Holistic Nutrition Program: Course 5 | Chinese Medicine Dietary Therapy
James Christian
James Christian is the Academic Dean at Pacific Rim College and founder of its industry-leading School of Western Herbal Medicine. He is a Medical Herbalist, having studied with the College of Phytotherapy in the UK and achieving a B.Sc. in Herbal Medicine. He has also completed a post-graduate Diploma in Herbal Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire with a specialty in Herbal Education.
James maintains professional membership in the Canadian Herbalists Association of BC (CHA of BC) and is the current President of the association. He is a past member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (CPP) in the UK and of the oldest professional herbal association in the world, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH).
James is very passionate about nature and the environment. He travels to various parts of the world to study their use of indigenous medicines. Aside from working with medicinal plants in South Korea, James has spent time in Peru, Nicaragua and Costa Rica studying their local use of plants as medicines. James is also passionate about growing plants and currently resides at Tiny Tree Herb Farm on the Saanich peninsula specializing in permaculture and regenerative systems of food and medicine production.
Brea Segger
In 2008, Brea became a Director at Pacific Rim College. After the birth of her daughter in 2010, Brea started to focus her attention on pregnancy, birthing and parenting. She created the widely acclaimed Holistic Doula Certificate program. Brea is a Certified Pre-Natal Yoga Instructor and is passionate about the health-related, social, cultural and environmental aspects of birthing and parenting. She is also a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and works closely with individuals experiencing trauma and grief.
Brea is also passionate about permaculture, biodynamics, and sustainable farming practices. She has travelled to more than 25 different countries and remains fascinated by various cultures.
Brea has extensive experience as a Business and Organizational Manager in a variety of fields including organizational development, business development, performance management and human resources. In early 2005, Brea joined Kirschner Consulting Inc. as a Senior Consultant, focusing on Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence and Organizational Assessments. Brea subsequently founded a consulting firm and has provided organizational and human capital assessments pre- and post-Mergers and Acquisitions for multi-million dollar businesses primarily in the environmental and construction sectors of the USA, Canada and the Cayman Islands.
When Brea isn’t at Pacific Rim College, you can find her working on her farm, growing food, painting, and playing with her son and daughter.
Shayna Piercy
Shayna Piercy is Pacific Rim College Online’s Marketing Manager. With a diverse background blending design, photography, illustration, and a passion for understanding the psychology of human behaviour, she is motivated by a simple idea: fuse creativity and purpose to cultivate meaningful experiences.
Shayna grew up immersed in the natural world, and her appreciation for nature instilled a sense of responsibility towards the environment and a commitment to eco-conscious practices. Her daily rhythm is inspired by a deep-rooted desire to cultivate a wholesome and sustainable lifestyle. She finds solace in the outdoors, whether it’s tending to a garden or enjoying a sunrise surf. These activities not only serve as a source of personal reconnection but also offer inspiration that guides her work.
Riley Craven
Riley Craven is the Head of Programs at PRCO. She is a clinical herbalist, holistic nutritionist and business owner in Victoria, BC. Riley graduated from Pacific Rim College with a Dual Diploma in Phytotherapy and Holistic Nutrition in 2019, started practicing out of Apotheka Herbal Boutique in 2020, and co-founded Sisterhood Apothecary in 2021. Sisterhood Apothecary is an online herbal medicine business focusing on women and people who menstruate.
In her private practice, Riley has focused on menstrual and hormone health, mental wellness, and emotional literacy. She is passionate about folks feeling empowered and autonomous in their bodies via education, a nourished body/mind connection, emotional literacy, and a deep connection to nature. She believes in the importance of noticing our thoughts and the stories we tell ourselves, as well as honouring what our bodies tell us. When she is not in practice, you can find her out walking in the forest, offering herbal medicine at Moss street market on Saturdays, reading books, listening to podcasts, and walking with friends by the ocean.
Benna Keoghoe
Benna is a Registered Herbal Therapist (HANS) with a passion for re-connecting humans with nature. She has a BSc in Wildlife Conservation gained from the University of Plymouth in the UK. This led her to 8 years of experience working in the field of sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, landscape connectivity, and aquatic health with environmental non-profits in Nova Scotia, Borneo, and Peru.
While doing this work she discovered the world of professional herbal medicine through a 2-year community herbalist program. The pull was strong enough to take her across the country back to school, where she received her Diploma of Phytotherapy at Pacific Rim College in 2016.
She now has a small clinical practice, on a growing homestead in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, where she supports folks in the remembering of our innate belonging and connection to the natural world. She is also part of the Pacific Rim College Online team, supporting students with their questions and assignments as a moderator.
Brittany De Fehr
Brittany De Fehr is PRCO’s Community & Student Support Lead. She’s spent the last 12 years working in the fashion industry, specializing in marketing and product development for brands across North America.
As a current student enrolled in the Holistic Nutrition Certificate program at PRCO, she’s an aspiring nutritionist with a passion for pregnancy, postpartum and family meal planning. Outside of work, you can find her chasing after her two toddlers, testing out new recipes, running, and spending time in nature.
Joe Coccagna
Joe is a video editor and acupuncture student at Pacific Rim College. He graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Social Science in Health & Aging from McMaster University. He comes from a sports medicine background where he spent over seven years working with a wide variety of clients of all ages and abilities to help them achieve their rehabilitation goals. It was there that he began video editing and creating website and social media video content in addition to his work in patient care.
Joe’s interest in the field of acupuncture initially came from his experience in sports medicine, but that interest grew after personal success with the healing modality. It was the latter that ultimately inspired him to move across the country to pursue the field and expand his knowledge of orthopaedic rehabilitation.
Emma Moscan
Emma Moscan is PRCO’s Social Media Marketing Coordinator.
Growing up in the Italian countryside, she developed a close relationship with nature, which is her safe space to cultivate balance in her life.
Merging her academic background in Innovation and Marketing with her passion for holistic health and yoga, she collaborates with wellness-based startups located all over the world.
As a Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Emma considers movement a portal to self-discovery and she is deeply committed to making it sustainable and inclusive for everyone.
Her approach to life consists in keeping a beginner’s mind—she defines herself as a lifelong student and has recently embarked on a journey to learn more about breathwork, nervous system regulation, and menstrual health.