FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2003 (Syosset, NY): The New York College of Health Professions today announced the appointment of Woodson C. Merrell, M.D. as the college's Chief Medical Advisor.

Dr. Merrell is currently the executive director of the Continuum Center of Health and Healing in New York City - the nation's largest and most comprehensive academic center for integrative medicine. Developed by Dr. Merrell, the Center includes 20 clinicians (including ten primary care physicians) practicing within every major specialty of Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM), including massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, botanicals, homeopathy and mind/body practice, responsibly combined with conventional medical care. The Center's work includes both outpatient and hospital-centered programs.

Dr. Merrell is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and is an attending physiician in the departments of medicine at Beth Israel and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center in New York City.

Dr. Merrell's medical focus reflects a strong interest in indegenous healing practices, particularly those of Chinese and Tibetan medicine. He was the scientific co-chairman of the First International Congress on Tibetan Medicine in 1998 in Washington, DC, and served on the planning commission for the Indigenous Medical Traditions of the Americas conference in Washington, DC in November, 2002.

"Dr. Merrell is an internationally acclaimed practitioner, professor and researcher in the area of complementary and alternative medicine" noted New York College Board Chairman Donald Spector. "His appointment as our Chief Medical Advisor reflects the College's ongoing commitment to becoming one of the world's leading institutions in the education of holistic health care professionals."

Dr. Merrell currently oversees a number of research projects in integrative approaches to wellness, including the use of imagery in pain management, the use of acupuncture and cranio-sacral work in the treatment of asthma, and the use of acupuncture in stroke recovery.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to public policy and legislative change, Dr. Merrell has served on the Board of Professional Medical Conduct for New York State since 1997 as an expert in integrative medicine. A physician/acupuncturist for 14 years, he was a board member for eight years on the New York State Board of Acupuncture, serving as chairman from 1998 through 2000. He has given testimony on CAM to both Houses of Congress on the proposed national Access to Medical Treatment Act, as well as to the Federation of State Medical Boards, the FTC, the New York City Council and the New York State Business Group on Health.

The New York College of Health Professions offers associate, bachelors and masters degrees in massage therapy, Oriental Medicine, and acupuncture as well as continuing education programs in holistic nursing. The College's main campus, which includes both student and professional clinics for community holistic health care, is located in Syosset, NY. The College also maintains a 30 acre modern medical facility in Luo Yang, People's Republic of China, and has recently signed an agreement with Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (People's Republic of China) to create the first Chinese International College.

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