Board of Trustees

Annette Sessions, M.D.
President

Annette Sessions currently resides in Rochester, NY, where she is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at the University of Rochester. During this tenure, she experienced the power and beauty of Worsley Five-Element Acupuncture® through the sharp end of the needle. In hopes of offering this medicine to her own patients, she studied this lineage of acupuncture through GLITCA, completing the requirements in 2009 and participating in the subsequent Master Apprentice Programs (MAP℠). She now practices both WFEA and urology through the University. Prior education included earning an A.B. in French at Duke University (1989), a M.A. through Middlebury College’s school in France (1990), and a M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1997). She completed her residency in Urologic Surgery at the University of Rochester, subsequently joining the Department of Urology.

Eric P. Hartmann, DVM, M.Ac., L.Ac. 
Vice-President
Chair of the Advisory Board

Eric Hartmann, DVM, M.Ac. is the Vice President of the Worsley Institute (WI) and has previously held the Treasurer’s position. He is also the Chair of the Worsley Institute Advisory Board. After receiving his veterinary degree in 1990, Eric began his study of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in 1994 at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Maryland. Eric began directly studying with JR Worsley and Judy Worsley in 1997. In 2000, he was invited to attend MAP II (Master Apprentice Program)tm which at the time was an invitation-only training for practitioners devoted to maintaining the integrity of Worsley Five Element Acupuncture. Since 2010, he has coached in MAPtm and continues to directly study with Judy Worsley. He is a teacher with the Worsley Institute Training (WIT)tm program since it’s inception in 2017.  He is one of the lead teachers for the WIT Tao China program. He has spoken at national and international conferences, given public talks and has attended Teacher Training Basic and Teacher Training Advancedtm and currently assists in facilitating those programs. Eric maintains a dedicated Worsley Five-Element Acupuncture practice in Seattle, WA and continues to work part time as a veterinarian.

Maria Hicks, MSOM, L.Ac.
Treasurer

Maria is a graduate of the National University of Natural Medicine and practices in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. Since 2013 Maria has attended consultation days with Judy Worsley almost annually, attended Teacher Training, participated in the first WIT cohort in 2019, and is a participant in LIT. Additionally, Maria had the role of Administrative Support for the Worsley Institute for a number of years. Maria is also adjunct faculty at NUNM, primarily supervising clinical interns, and brings a 15+ year history in non-profit work, a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology, and experience co-founding a mutual aid acupuncture collective. In their free time, Maria enjoys making art and has illustrated the Shen nong bencao jing translation by Sabine Wilms. Maria is grateful for the life changing mentorship and healing they have received through the Institute and its members. 

David Berkshire, DACM, L.Ac.
Secretary
Executive Director

David Berkshire graduated from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2001. He began studying Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in 1999. He attended his first Master Apprentice Program (MAP)℠ with Judy Worsley in 2011 and saw clearly that learning from Judy as the lineage leader is where his heart is at home. He has participated in MAP℠, Teacher Training Basic and Advanced℠, Leadership in Training (LIT)℠, and numerous Consultation Days℠. He served as the Worsley Institute President from 2013-2025, and now serves the Worsley Institute as the Executive Director and Secretary.

Janet Darby, L.Ac.
Worsley Institute Training Director

Janet Darby trained at the College of Traditional Acupuncture (CTA), in Leamington Spa, graduating in 1996.  With over 25 years of clinical experience, she is excited to be teaching the next generation of students with the Worsley Institute Team at Worsley Institute Training (WIT) UK to preserve the integrity of this beautiful system of medicine. For many years working in Sydney and Canberra, Australia, Janet was registered with The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.  True to Worsley Classical Five-Element Acupuncture, she has successfully completed Teacher Training in Colorado, US, as well as participated in the Masters Apprenticeship Program in Boston, US, and Norfolk, UK.

She was a member of the Great Britain World Cup-winning Ladies Modern Pentathlon Team in 1979, 1980 and 1981 as well as a member of the English World Silver Medal-winning Ladies Team for Mountain Running in 1989. Although not involved in competitive sport since commencing an acupuncture career, Janet continues to have an interest in a variety of different sports and in supporting athletes to maintain health and well-being.

Stella Jiang, R.TCM.P., R.N.

Stella’s interest in health of the body, mind and spirit led her to complete studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)  at Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine University, China (2003). She is a registered TCM Practitioner, registered with College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia.  Subsequent studies with Qin Ma and Nora Franglen introduced her to Five-Element Acupuncture which she began practicing in 2019, and she found an enthusiasm for this form of medicine. In seeking to deepen her knowledge and understanding of it, she joined the Worsley Institute and pursued additional training through the WIT program in 2022.  Through this program, she truly developed a passion for the beauty and power of Worsley Classical Five-Element Acupuncture™.  She currently practices in two clinics in Vancouver BC and White Rock BC. 

In addition to being an acupuncturist, Stella is also a Registered Nurse specializing in Perinatal care and has been working in this capacity at BC Women's Hospital since 2010.

She is delighted to be a Board Member of the Worsley Institute, helping to preserve, protect, and promote the teachings of JR Worsley.

Drazen Duricic, LicAc 

Tara Radsliff, L.Ac.

Tara Radsliff practices Worsley Classical Five Element Acupuncture™ in Portland, Oregon, where they trained at the National University of Natural Medicine. Tara began studying WCF-EA while completing their academic requirements and continued with the Worsley Institute Training (WIT).