Faculty

"To be educated is not so much to be taught as it is to be awakened to who you really are."
Dawna Markova, PhD.

All of our faculty members are practitioners in their specific disciplines. Their real-life experiences augments their instruction in specific topic areas, be those the academic human sciences or specific hands-on modalities. They come from a variety of professions – chiropractors, naturopaths, massage therapists, counselors, and business.

Janie Chandler, LMT is a 1986 graduate of the Boulder School of Massage Therapy and apprenticed at the Colorado Chronic Pain Clinic for two years. Her therapeutic massage work draws on several techniques, including NMT, St. John Method and Energy Medicine as taught by Donna Eden. She is a lead faculty member on Donna Eden's staff, and teaches energy medicine to medical and healthcare practitioners.

Willow Denker, MA, LMT, a graduate of Ashland Massage Institute, has specialized in working with the elderly since receiving her MA in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa Institute in 1989. She trained with Dietrich Miesler of the DayBreak Geriatric Project and is an assistant teacher for Dawn Nelson, founder/director of Compassionate Touch. Willow initiated and coordinates the Caring Touch Massage Program, which brings massage to several long-term care and assisted-living facilities.

Susannah Elder, LMT has been a professional and educator for over 15 years. She successfully opened businesses in the corporate world (from financial institutions to travel agencies), all using the same basic practical business information. Since obtaining her Oregon massage license in 2003, she has established a private massage practice, a corporate chair massage business, and a mentoring & practice-building business for newly licensed therapists.

David Fredrickson, LMT is co-owner and Dean of Students of Ashland Institute of Massage. David has been an LMT since 1987. He is a graduate of East-West College in Portland, with specialization in polarity and trigger point therapies. Prior to attending massage school, David was a student of Ortho-Bionomy® and the Touch for Health® method of applied kinesiology. In addition to teaching, he maintains an active private practice. David is recognized for his skills in assessment and therapeutic skill in orthopedic massage.

Michelle Homer, ND is a graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. In her general family practice, Dr. Homer utilizes botanical medicine, homeopathy, nutritional counseling and other modalities to assist patients in achieving and maintaining optimal health.

Geoff Houghten, ND graduated from Reed College in Portland, Oregon in 1990. He received his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2000 and has been in private practice in Ashland since 2001. He is best known for his unicycle tricks and supplying students with dark chocolate (for its therapeutic benefits).

Sarah Jones, MEd, LMT received her massage training from the Health Enrichment Center in Lapeer, Michigan. She has been licensed to practice massage in Oregon since 1993. She presently has a private massage practice in Ashland. In addition, she does on-site seated corporate massage in collaboration with Healing Chair in Medford.

John M. Kalb, M.S., D.C. is a chiropractor, teacher, writer and health coach. He did his pre-med training at NYU with a major in psychology and a minor in chemistry. He earned his Master’s Degree in Developmental Biology at the University of Buffalo. Dr. Kalb had extensive training and teaching experience in Polarity Therapy before receiving his Massage License in Oregon in 1980. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1981 and took an additional year of training in Acupuncture. He integrates polarity and other energy and soft-tissue techniques into his chiropractic practice. He has led hundreds of workshops and also taught at both the high school and college level.

Bryn McCamley BA, LMT is a graduate of the Ashland Institute of Massage. Bryn has been instructing and supervising students at AIM for several years and is the Student Clinic Coordinator. She combines her practical experience with an extraordinary compassionate presence, great sense of humor, and grace which make her a favorite with students. She has a private practice and also works in a spa setting.

Taffy Clarke Pelton, MA, LMFT, LPC, has a passion for helping people find and answer their call in the world, and to live rich, healthy, balanced and meaningful lives. She is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Ashland, a Wellness Coach and Consultant for a Fortune 10 company, and a Life Coach and Trainer specializing in Mindful Living. Taffy is also a Certified Yoga Instructor, professional speaker, and co-author of Mind Food and Smart Pills, (Doubleday, 1989) and How to Prevent Breast Cancer (Simon & Schuster, 1995).

Joseph Micketti, LMT, NMT is a 1985 graduate of the Boulder School of Massage Therapy and apprenticed at the Colorado Chronic Pain Clinic for two years. His massage practice is based on injury rehabilitation and pain reversal using deep tissue techniques. He formerly assisted on the teaching staff of Neuromuscular Therapy, St. John Method, for eight years. He and his wife, Janie Chandler, co-own Advanced Myotherapy in Ashland.

Judith Sanford BA, LMT, CST received her license in Toronto, Canada in 1977. She has worked in Ashland since 1990, where she has a private practice in CranioSacral Therapy , Lymphatic Drainage, and massage. She was the lead instructor for Swedish Massage at AIM for seven years and teaches workshops in the area.

John Schultz BS, MA, CMT studied acupuncture, acupressure and Barefoot Shiatsu in the 70's and has practiced Shiatsu for 32 years, and taught oriental medicine/shiatsu for 27 years. John is exceptionally intuitive and skilled with his magic hands and feet, and clients report that his work brings deep self-healing and energy balancing.  His gentle approach creates trust and safety in both the therapeutic and learning environments.

Genna Southworth, BS, MA, is co-owner and Director of Ashland Institute of Massage. Genna has worked as a manager, consultant, and personal coach in a variety of organizational settings – academia, human services, manufacturing, personal development, and veterinary medicine. She has twenty years training and practice in personal development, communications, and awareness. Her graduate degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences is from the Leadership Institute of Seattle, where somatic psychology was a core component of her oral examinations in organizational and counseling theory.

D’vorah Swarzman, LMT has been studying the art and science of traditional Thai massage for the past nine years, returning regularly to Thailand for further study. She is a graduate of Heartwood Institute’s 750-hour Advanced Massage Therapist program, where she also was an assistant instructor. She integrates rhythm and improvisation, mindfulness and vipassana meditation into her practice.

Gary Wilson, LMT is a graduate of Heartwood Institute's Holistic Health Practitioner Program. His teaching experience began in 1985 in the modalities of Swedish Massage and foot reflexology.  He taught Human Sciences at Heartwood for many years.  He now teaches Anatomy, Kinesiology, Sports Massage, and Deep Tissue at various massage schools.  He is known for his sense of humor, his talent in conveying subtle palpation skills, and his ability to present complex subjects in ways that can be easily grasped.


This is a partial list. Faculty members and courses taught are subject to change.