The Meridian Integrative Support Center Advisory Board unites leaders from oncology, pharmacy, and traditional East Asian medicine to guide the clinic’s mission, research direction, and clinical standards.

See Our Advisory Board

Core Medical Oncology Advisors

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Dr. Doru Paul

Dr. Doru Paul MD, PhD, FACP

Dr. Paul is an expert in the treatment of head and neck and lung cancer with a track record of developing successful multidisciplinary approaches to treat these conditions. He has also made major contributions as a translational and clinical researcher. Demonstrating a national and international presence in his field, he has widely presented his research defining specific therapeutic targets or processes that can be targeted for the improved treatment of cancer patients.

Dr. Paul has a strong background as a translational and clinical researcher. Since 2003, he has been Principal Investigator or Local Principal Investigator on 40 studies, and co-Principal Investigator on 20 others. He has designed and conducted several investigator-initiated studies and initiated 3 FDA-approved investigational new drug studies. He designed the first in-man pilot study that uses Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for the targeted treatment of cancer, obtaining approval from the FDA and funding from the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

Visit Dr. Paul’s Website

Integrative Medicine and Herbal Advisory

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Dr. Thomas Leung

Dr. Thomas Leung DACM, BS Pharm

Founder and Clinical Director, Meridian Integrative Support Center
CEO of Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy

Dr. Thomas Leung brings a rare and essential blend of pharmacy, traditional medicine, and generational expertise to the Meridian Integrative Support Center. As both a Western-trained pharmacist and a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Leung has dedicated his career to making safe, credible, and compassionate integrative care accessible for patients navigating the challenges of cancer treatment.

Carrying forward his family’s four-generation legacy in Chinese medicine, Dr. Leung has modernized the way herbal medicine is understood and delivered in oncology-supportive care. His background allows him to bridge two worlds with clarity and purpose, ensuring that every herbal and integrative approach at the center aligns with current oncologic standards, pharmacologic safety, and evidence-based practice.

Dr. Leung holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences. He has been a faculty member at Pacific College since 2002, where he has trained hundreds of clinicians in herbal medicine, safety, and clinical reasoning. His expertise in drug–herb interactions and integrative oncology has earned national recognition, with features in CNN, The New York Times, and other major media outlets.

As Founder and Clinical Director of the Meridian Integrative Support Center, Dr. Leung oversees herbal standards, formulary safety, and the clinical integration of supportive therapies that help patients manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and feel supported throughout their cancer journey. His vision is clear, grounded, and uncompromising: to make Chinese medicine a trusted partner in modern cancer care.

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Dr. Venessa Lee

Dr. Venessa Lee DACM, Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM), L.Ac

Fifteen years ago, my father was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer. He was living in Hong Kong then, and I had just lost my job and ended a long relationship. Life felt uncertain, but I knew one thing for sure — I needed to be with him. So I took a year off and went to care for my dad.

Back then, I knew nothing about cancer — or what it truly meant to support someone you love through it. We did what most families do: listened carefully to the doctors, followed every instruction, and tried to stay hopeful. His treatment plan included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The cancer had already spread to his lungs and later to his lymph nodes.

In Hong Kong, hospitals often combine both Western and Chinese medicine. That was where I first witnessed how Traditional Chinese Medicine could ease pain, restore balance, and bring moments of peace — even in the hardest times. The Chinese medicine doctor who cared for my father was gentle, patient, and deeply compassionate. She taught me simple ways to help him at home — acupressure points, herbal teas, foods to nourish his body. Her care helped relieve many of his side effects and gave us both something priceless: hope.

During that time, I also began seeking acupuncture myself. I was struggling — exhausted, grieving, unable to sleep. My acupuncturist gave me a quiet space to breathe, cry, and begin to heal. Those treatments carried me through the storm.

When my father passed, I felt completely lost. But somewhere in that darkness, I realized that this experience — as painful as it was — had also shown me my path. I wanted to help others the way those healers had helped us.

That’s why I chose to study Chinese medicine. Today, I work with cancer patients and caregivers, helping them find relief, resilience, and comfort through acupuncture, herbs, and compassionate listening. I know what it’s like to sit beside someone you love in pain. I also know that even in illness, there can be moments of calm, connection, and healing. That’s what I hope to offer — a space for your body and heart to feel supported, seen, and cared for.

I’m a licensed acupuncturist in NY and CT states, and an herbalist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)®. I earned my Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) and Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Certified by Memorial Sloan Kettering for Oncology Acupuncture.

Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Dr. Katherine Taromina

Dr. Katherine Taromina DACM, MSTOM, LAc

Dr. Taromina is an Acupuncturist for Fred Hutch’s Integrative Medicine Program and a Research Acupuncturist with the Greenlee Lab Team. She also serves as Academic Dean and faculty for the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine. Prior to relocating to Seattle, Dr. Taromina served as a Research Acupuncturist and Program Manager for the Integrative Therapies Program at Columbia University Medical Center. After 20 years of studying and specializing in treating adults and children with cancer both on-therapy and into survivorship, she now teaches advanced classes and continuing education for practicing acupuncturists on topics relating to East Asian Medicine as supportive care for cancer patients.

She previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Society for Integrative Oncology and is a member of the Society of Acupuncture Research. As a clinical researcher, her main interest is in trials that will expand patient access to East Asian Medicine.

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Dr. Heath L. Bettencourtt

Heath L. Bettencourtt M.D., L.Ac.

Dr. Bettencourtt is a board-certified pediatrician and licensed acupuncturist specializing in integrative medicine at the intersection of Western pediatrics and Chinese herbal therapeutics. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and completed his pediatric residency and chief residency at LSU Health Sciences Center and Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.

After more than two decades of clinical experience — including private practice ownership, pediatric emergency care, and work in both solo and group settings — Dr. Bettencourtt expanded his clinical focus to East Asian medicine. He completed his Master of Science in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Specialization at the Pacific College of Health and Science in New York City, graduating with the Kamwo Valedictorian Award. He now practices acupuncture and herbal medicine at Grand Meridian Clinic at Kamwo Herbs while continuing his pediatric practice at Leaf Medical in Brooklyn.

Dr. Bettencourtt is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the NCCAOM as a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. His clinical interests include integrative pediatrics and herbal medicine, neonatal medicine, developmental pediatrics, and mind–body approaches. His work has been published in Clinical Pediatrics, and he has volunteered internationally providing care and evaluation for children with complex developmental needs.

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Professional Collaborations

We are seeking dedicated oncologists, integrative physicians, and herbal medicine professionals to shape the next generation of complementary cancer care.

Advisory positions are voluntary and focused on clinical safety, education, and protocol development.

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