On April 16, more than 170 supporters filled Oregon College of Oriental Medicine’s KPC Community Room for the college’s annual Cherry Blossom Gala. The event raised $102,237 to promote OCOM’s top-ranked academic programs and to expand access to integrative health care.

As the evening began, the community came together to honor the longstanding service of Peter Martin, MAcOM, LAc, LMT, who recently concluded a 22-year term on OCOM’s Board of Trustees. Martin led OCOM as its fourth Board Chair during a period of remarkable growth and change; while remaining one of the college’s most active alumni; owning a successful practice, Balance Medicine; and volunteering for many local, state, and national acupuncture groups and causes. Board President, Karen Williams, JD, presented Martin with a proclamation commemorating his service.

Delivering an inspirational appeal, OCOM’s Interim President, Deborah Howe, PhD, FAICP, highlighted the college’s accomplishments as a leader in the field of Chinese medicine, such as being the first school to produce clinical doctoral graduates in AOM (acupuncture and Oriental medicine), and the first complementary and alternative medicine school to receive a National Institutes of Health grant. President Howe also spoke passionately about the field of Chinese medicine, the commitment and drive that brings students to prepare for practice in the field of acupuncture, the transformative patient outcomes she has witnessed, and the important work OCOM’s graduates are doing throughout the U.S. and the world.

The highlight of the night was a surprise announcement from trustee Brad Malsin, who stood to pledge a generous gift of $30,000 to be made to OCOM’s Annual Fund. Malsin has served on OCOM’s Board of Trustees since 2013 and his leadership has been instrumental to the success of the school, particularly the college’s relocation to its current campus in Old Town Chinatown. He and his wife, Liz Malsin, enthusiastically expressed their ongoing commitment to OCOM’s students.

In attendance were OCOM’s esteemed founders, Satya Ambrose, ND, LAc and Eric Stevens, DAOM, LAc, along with several of the college’s renowned faculty leaders, staff, alumni, students, and community supporters. The evening’s program was led by Chief Development Officer, Dave Eshbaugh, and auctioneer, Heidi Hill, who encouraged unpredicted levels of giving.

OCOM’s trustees, Lea Anne Doolittle, MBA; Charles Elder, MD, MPH, FACP; Michell Hay; Gene Hong, MD; Terry Hunt, PhD; Brad Malsin, MD; Juliet Moran; Karen Williams, JD; and Leah Yamaguchi, LAC, celebrate the success of the gala and thank all who contributed.

Thank you to all our generous sponsors!

PEARL

JADE

LOTUS

Table Hosts
Brad Malsin
OCOM Alumni Association
Oregon Reproductive Medicine
Leah Yamaguchi
Michell Hay
Charles and Leslie Elder
Karen Williams
Peter Martin
Kip Howlett
Jason Stein
Shelley Stump
Bill Hall
Juliet Moran

Supporters
American Acupuncture Council
Ankrom Moisan Architects, Inc.
Beam Development
Benefit Specialists, Inc.
Bill Naito Company
CareOregon
Hoffman, Stewart & Schmidt, PC
LCG Pence
Miller, Nash, Graham, & Dunn LLP

OCOM Board of Trustees
Karen Williams, JD, Board Chair
Peter Martin, MAcOM, LAc, LMT, Secretary
Michell Hay, Treasurer
Lea Anne Doolittle, MBA
Charles Elder, MD, MPH, FACP
Gene Hong, MD, DABMA
Terry Hunt, PhD
Brad Malsin, MD
Juliet Moran, BA
Leah Yamaguchi, LAc
Hong Jin, DAOM, LAc, Faculty Advisory Trustee
Travis Kern, Student Advisory Trustee