39 GEN - a Yo San University podcast

In this episode, 39GEN host Emily Von Urff sits down with Dr. Ioannis Solos — acupuncturist, author, and Director of Clinical Medicine & Dean of YSU Phoenix. Doctor Solos shares his incredible 30-year journey through Traditional Chinese Medicine, tracing his path from an unexpected start studying medicine in London to spending 17 years in Beijing. He dives into his time training under renowned TCM masters, working in hospital neurology departments, co-authoring official TCM textbooks used in China, and honing surgical-precision scalp acupuncture. Together, they discuss the humbling reality of clinical hospital work, the importance of mastering foundational basics, his philosophy on open-knowledge teaching, and his specialized work in neuro-acupuncture and pediatric care in Arizona. Dr. Solos outlines his vision for the future of YSU Phoenix and offers inspiring advice for prospective acupuncture students joining the 39th generation.

Learn more about Yo San University at yosan.edu

In this episode, host Emily Von Urff sits down with Stephanie Kimber, LAc, Director of Eastern Medical Programs at OneSpaWorld. Fresh out of acupuncture school zero cruise ship experience, Stephanie took a leap of faith on a two-week notice trial that transformed into a thriving 20-year career. Today, she oversees acupuncture operations across nearly 180 cruise ships worldwide, bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine to thousands of people who might never have tried it otherwise. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom on clinical confidence, patient education, treatment models, and the future of acupuncture at sea.

Learn more about OneSpaWorld: https://onespaworld.com/

Learn more about Yo San University: https://yosan.edu/

In this episode of the Yo San University 39GEN podcast, host Emily Von Urff sits down with Dr. Eva Altobelli, an addiction psychiatrist with 30 years of experience and the founder of Home LA.

Together, they dive deep into the limitations of the Western mental healthcare model and discuss why shifting toward a collaborative, integrative approach — combining psychiatry, psychotherapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) — is essential for true mental wellness. Dr. Altobelli also opens up about the current psychedelic renaissance, sharing her insights on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, the robust research behind psilocybin and MDMA, and the vital importance of proper preparation and community integration when working with these medicines. 

In this episode of the Yo San University 39GEN podcast, host Emily Von Urff sits down with clinician-scientist and acupuncturist Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson to explore the powerful intersection of systems thinking, feminism, and East Asian medicine in midlife women’s healthcare. As an "academic unicorn" with 17 years of private practice and a PhD from the University of Washington, Dr. Taylor-Swanson discusses the systemic underfunding of women's health research and details her journey in creating MENOGAP — an innovative, group-visit intervention model designed to bridge the massive gaps in conventional menopausal care by combining evidence-based education, social support, and acupuncture.

In this episode of the 39GEN  podcast, host Emily sits down with Dr. Andrea Thorpe, acupuncturist, herbalist, and newly appointed faculty member at Yo San University. Andrea shares profound insights from her decades-long journey in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explaining why it is fundamentally a healing art rather than just a set of clinical protocols.

She dives deep into the clinical reality of female hormonal and menstrual health, contrasting the limitations of allopathic medicine with the root-cause, deeply validating approach of Chinese medicine. Ultimately, Andrea delivers a powerful message to students and seasoned practitioners alike: the most potent tool you have is your own vulnerability, curiosity, and authenticity.

In this episode of the 39GEN Podcast, Emily sits down with Dr. Anisa Kassim, Chief Academic Officer at Yo San University, to explore her journey through the global healthcare landscape. From serving in Afghani refugee camps and working as a fellow at the CDC to becoming an acupuncturist with a specialty in pediatrics, Anisa shares her unique perspective on why every TCM practitioner is, at their core, a public health advocate. The conversation dives into the intersection of global health sustainability, the fundamental pillars of public health like biostatistics and environmental health, and Anisa’s personal pivot from federal government work to clinical practice. She also discusses her deep passion for pediatric acupuncture and the rewarding challenge of treating the next generation, ultimately illustrating how individual wellness ripples out to improve society as a whole.

In this special edition of the Yo San University 39GEN Podcast, Emily sits down with CSOMA board members Dr. Julie Tran, Dr. Ra Adcock, and Dr. Robert Hoffman for a deep dive into the ‘perfect storm’ hitting acupuncture schools in 2026. This episode explores the critical impact of the RISE Act and the impending end of Grad Plus loans on July 1st, alongside the controversial California bill AB 2668, which threatens to drive up student debt by mandating a doctorate for entry-level licensure. Together, the panel discusses the urgent need for competency-based education, national exam standardization, and strategic advocacy to protect the future of integrative medicine and the next generation of practitioners.

This episode features Dr. Robert Hoffman, President and CEO of Yo San University, in conversation with host 39GEN Emily. Dr. Hoffman shares his remarkable transition from a high-stakes, 30-year career in the music industry—where he worked as a producer and engineer for icons like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Quincy Jones—to becoming a leader in the field of Chinese medicine.

He discusses how the lifestyle of the music business and a transformational relief trip to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami led him to pursue acupuncture at age 40. Throughout the interview, Dr. Hoffman explores the parallels between being a music producer and a medical practitioner, the importance of surrounding oneself with a talented team, and how Daoist philosophy (specifically the concepts of Xing and Ming) guides his approach to leadership and personal destiny.

Acupuncturist Nicole Lange joins Sean to dive deep into trauma, fertility, and what real whole-person care looks like in practice. Nicole shares her early path into TCM, how personal experiences led her to specialize in reproductive health and trauma, and why she structures care around a 25 percent troubleshoot, 75 percent cultivate-wellness ratio. The two unpack somatic healing, Stephen Porges’s idea of neuroception, and why felt safety in the clinic, the vibe, the pacing, and touch, is foundational to any lasting result.

They explore boundaries and burnout, the lighthouse metaphor for building a practice, and the power of patient education, not as marketing, but as the core of medicine. Nicole talks East-West integration for fertility, trauma-informed care, and the small, cumulative choices that change outcomes, from sleep and food to relationships and money stress. Sean shares personal stories on knots in the body, movement, and habit stacking, and the pair close on a simple mantra for life and healing, it’s like this now.

If you are curious about TCM, fertility support, somatics, or how to build a sustainable, heart-centered clinic, this conversation is a blueprint.

Your 39GEN host Sean sits down with veteran clinician and teacher Dr. Jake Fratkin, who has spent 45 years in East Asian medicine. Jake traces his path from 1970s apprenticeships in Chicago with Dr. In-yeon Moon and herbal pharmacy work with fellow YSU colleague Dr. Lau, to translating and co-teaching with Dr. Guo Zhengong, and a life-changing year of hospital training in Beijing. He explains the split between classical Shang Han Lun approaches and the modern hospital style of Chinese herbal medicine, why Japanese meridian therapy shaped his acupuncture, and how specialization made him a go-to for respiratory cases and pediatrics. Jake shares how swine flu and later COVID pushed his research into antiviral herb categories and long haul patterns, which he describes as a mix of lingering pathogen and blood stasis. He argues that good history taking often beats pulse and tongue, and urges new practitioners to find what they love and what they do best, then go deep. He also offers practical Qigong, daily meridian circulation sets, and reflects on a single career regret, not holding an MD for institutional clout, while affirming that his heart is in Qi, channels, and herbs. Resources mentioned include his book Essential Chinese Formulas and his site drjakefratkin.com, plus his China photo archive.