Faculty and Staff

Message from the Dean

About the Dean

Faculty Bios

Administration

PCU College Dean and Clinic Director: John Yang, Dr. TCM, PhD, MD (China)
Student Services Coordinator: Sandy Chen BA
Financial Administrator: Geanette Liu, MSc
Administrative Assistant: Becky Chen, BA
Marketing Coordinator: Julie Guzman, BCom
Clinic and Practicum Coordinator: Sharon Li, MA (China)

Educational Council

PCU College Dean and Clinic Director: John Yang, Dr. TCM, PhD, MD (China)
Vice-President, Academics and Regulatory Affairs: Bohdan Bilan, MEd, PhD

PCU College Advisory Committee

Kwang Yang, MD representing Western Medical Profession (Chairman)
Francis Law, PhD representing Advanced Education
Florence Pieronek, PhD representing General Education
Yanmei Li, PhD; TCMP representing PCU Faculty
Andy Zhou, PhD; Dr. TCM representing Traditional Chinese Medicine Professional
Shelina Devji, BA representing PCU Student
Lyren Chiu, PhD representing TCM Employers
Anne Coulombe, Ed M representing General Member
Bob Rose, PhD representing General Member

Western Medical Profession Member:
Kwang Yang, MD
Dr. Yang is an internationally recognized figure in the world of medicine. He is licensed to practice as a physician in Canada, China, England and Hong Kong; holds certificates in a multitude of specialties including Acupuncture, Cardiac Life Support and Trauma Life Support. Dr. Yang began his career after his graduation from National Taiwan University Medical School in 1969 and has held a family practice in Canada since 1971; his participation in BC's medical society is exemplary. Too numerous to list, Dr. Yang holds memberships in 16 different medical organizations throughout Canada, including member of the Board of Directors of the Chinese Canadian Medical Society and the Canadian Health Awareness Society. Beyond his present memberships, Dr. Yang holds in posterity several presidencies, vice-presidencies and directorships of various health and community organizations, such as the Chinese Mental Wellness Association and the B.C. Hepatitis B Society. Dr. Yang has publications to his credit including the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CTCMA) Mandatory Safety Course Textbook, the standard for licensing in BC. Dr. Yang's fruitful career has been acknowledged in the form of awards from the Canadian Diabetes Association, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Dr. Cam Coady Foundation.

Advanced Education Member:
Francis Law, PhD
Dr. Law is a professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University (SFU). He also serves on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, and Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine; as well as, being a member of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. He is also a founding member of the Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Chinese Medicinal Research. Dr. Law completed his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Chemistry at the University of Alberta. From here he went on to complete his Ph.D. at the College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan. Dr. Law has held many positions during his career including a member of the Expert Advisory Committee, Natural Health Products Directorate, Health Canada and a Visiting Fellowship at the Pharmacology/Toxicology Branch, US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 1975, Dr. Law was appointed an Assistant Professor at the College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University and subsequently, promoted to an Associate Professor. He relocated to SFU in 1983, and founded the Environmental Toxicology Program. Dr. Law has received numerous research grants and contracts from agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, US Food and Drug Administration, US National Institutes of Health, and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to support his research studies. He has published over 200 scientific papers and presentation related to the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, prescription drugs and environmental chemicals, and toxicity of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

General Education Member:
Florence Pieronek, PhD
Dr. Pieronek, Professor Emeriti University of British Columbia, obtained her B.Ed. Degree from the University of Calgary and both her Master Degree in Education and Doctorate in Language/Reading from Boston University. She has over 50 years of experience in the field of education and was employed in the Calgary Separate School System where she held numerous positions which included teaching at the elementary level, vice principal, reading clinician and reading consultant. At the university level, she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in the Reading Curriculum; directed master and doctorate students in completing their degrees; was involved in the design of numerous courses in Language Education; held various positions on university committees; conducted in service workshops for teachers in both the lower mainland and interior of B.C.; obtained numerous research grants; presented papers at local, national and international conferences; published papers in the area of curriculum development, reading education and special education; and also functioned as a liaison professor for incoming foreign students.
After taking early retirement from the UBC, Dr. Pieronek obtain a position at the University of Brunei Darussalam where she spent six years teaching various courses and continued to engage in the process of conducting in service for elementary teachers in Brunei Elementary Schools. She is currently holds the position of chairperson of the Education Alumni Association at UBC; and is also on call to provide guidance to visiting off shore UBC students. In addition, her travels in both Asia and India presented her with opportunities to interact with people of various cultures and enabled her to gain a better understanding of factors contributing to their healthy lifestyle. In summary, Dr. Pieronek brings to the PCU committee 50 years of diversified educational experiences at all levels of education.

PCU Faculty Member:
Yanmei Li, PhD; TCMP
Dr. Li graduated with a Bachelor Degree in TCM and a Master Degree in TCM Internal Medicine from Tianjin University of TCM. She practiced as a Dr. TCM in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM in China and further enrolled into the Academy of TCM of China to complete her PhD in the Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine. After that she returned to the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM to practice as TCM specialist and professor. As a TCM specialist, she treated thousands patients in the teaching hospital; as a professor, she mentored students in the Master and PhD programs. She also conducted medical research and completed three research projects in treating atherosclerosis using TCM formula and published more than ten academic articles in China. She was a board member of Gerontology Association of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine TCM of China. Dr. Li moved to Canada and now teaches TCM programs as instructor in PCU College, she teaches herbology and internal medicine of TCM courses, as well as, supervising the student clinic.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Professional Member:
Andy Zhou, PhD; Dr. TCM
Andy Zhou graduated from Heilongjiang University of TCM with a Bachelor’s Degree of Medicine, received a Master’s Degree of Science in Shenyang University of Pharmacy and PhD of Medicine in Heilongjiang University of TCM. He started post-doctoral research in Heilongjiang University of TCM. He pursued a clinical study and practice of TCM Dermatology in Harbin Medical University and the First Hospital of Beijing University. Dr. Zhou taught TCM Herbology and TCM Formula, as well as, researched in Heilongjiang University of TCM; and he also did clinical research of TCM dermatology (scleroderma and eczema) in National Medical Research Centre of UK. He started his clinical practice and research in Vancouver and was appointed to be the professor of Heilongjiang University of TCM. He has published more than 20 academic articles in China, UK and Canada and was elected as President of United TCM and Acupuncture Association of BC.

PCU Student Member:
Shelina Devji, BA
Shelina Devji graduated from Simon Fraser University with a joint major degree in Sociology and Anthropology; with a post baccalaureate in Ethnic Relations. While in university, she worked under Dr. P. Dossa researching and interviewing the less fortunate in our society. Following her graduation she worked part time in the fitness industry teaching aerobics and weight training; and worked at the Vancouver Public Library. Shelina went back to school and attended Vancouver Community College to pursue a career in the Hospitality Industry; after graduation, she acquired a job at the Four Seasons Resort in Whistler. While she enjoyed her job as a concierge in Whistler, she knew it was time to go back to school and pursue her true love Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has currently completed her first year in TCM and looks forward to a rewarding career and upon graduation she plans to spend time helping the less fortunate.

TCM Employer member:
Lyren Chiu, PhD
Dr. Chiu is the owner of the Beautiful Minds Wellness Centre. Beautiful Minds Wellness Centre is an integrative holistic clinic dedicated to bridge Chinese and Western medicine in order to promote health and wellness. Currently, the centre hired five TCM practitioners to provide TCM & acupuncture services.
Dr. Chiu is involved in many community services; she is President, Founder and Executive Director of the Federation of TCM Colleges of Canada and of the Canadian Research Institute of Spirituality and Healing (a professional charity organization), was the co-chair of the International Multidisciplinary Conference on Spirituality and Health and the chair of the Global Integrative Traditional Medicine. She is planning a social enterprise with the healing community in Vancouver with the vision of “a world without suffering”. Dr. Chiu believes new trends in business gear toward greater integration, interconnection, and collaborative creativity in a global context.
Dr. Chiu graduated from National Taiwan University (BSN), the University of California at San Francisco (MSN) and the University of Texas at Austin (PHD) and completed her post-doctoral training at Harvard University. She then took the position of Assistant Professor at UBC, where she taught mental health care, research and evidence-based practice, and spirituality and alternative healing practice at UBC.

General member:
Anne Coulombe, Ed M
As the respected Principal of Our Lady of Sorrows School, Mrs. Coulombe brings the PCU Advisory Committee great experience and knowledge in the field of education administration. Mrs. Coulombe has 42 years of experience in the field of education, spanning from elementary to university. Since obtaining her Master's in Education, she has been involved in various forms of curriculum development, including specialized workshops for educators and parents. She established an advocacy group aimed at addressing the needs of exceptional children, which lead to her starting a program for children with special needs. During her work in this field, Mrs. Coulombe was involved in a 3 year intensive early childhood literacy project, resulting in the Addison Wesley publication Favorites, Friendship, Food and Fantasy. This work subsequently established a parish-operated preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds, which still operates today. Presently, Our Lady of Sorrows is supporting the field of education by granting practicums to UBC graduate students as well as Western Town College students. Mrs. Coulombe is an active member of Phi Delta Kappa and the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese Administrators' Association (CISVAAA). She has recently completed the Enriched Pre-School/Kindergarten Montessori Teacher Training Program. Currently, she is exploring work in neuro-psychology and early childhood education.

General member:
Bob Rose, PhD
Dr. Rose is our committee's esteemed authority on higher education administration. In addition to his Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Higher Education from the University of Alberta, Dr. Rose has nearly 30 years of experience as a senior administrator of advanced education. During this time, Dr. Rose was Academic Vice-President/Dean and subsequently President of the Canadian Bible College and Theological Seminary. In 1996, Dr. Rose's career turned more directly towards clerical administration, and was Executive Pastor of Pacific Community Church until 2002. Presently, Dr. Rose is the Principal of InVision Coaching & Consulting Services, which provides consulting and executive coaching for not-for-profit boards and leaders. Dr. Rose shares his expertise through his participation on several councils and boards, including Peace Portal Counseling Centre, Overseas Council Canada and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Canada has recognized Dr. Rose's many contributions to the community by awarding him with the Canada 125 Medal. Dr. Rose is generously dedicating himself to our PCU College Advisory Committee.