Thomas is among only a handful of people in the United States to have completed studies for the degree of Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (D.A.O.M.) from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) . He currently is a D.A.O.M.Candidate from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (P.C.O.M.) in San Diego. He also holds a Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (M.S.T.O.M.) degree from P.C.O.M. in San Diego has the rare distinction of being the first and only student to have begun Doctorate program classes while concurrently completing the M.S.T.O.M. program.

Thomas is one of the six original Acupuncturists to work in UCSD’s Center of Integrative Medicine (CIM) as a fully credentialed physician within the UCSD hospital system.  Here he works with other medical professionals as a unit to provide the most comprehensive and effective patient centered health care possible. 

Thomas maintains his private practice (Elemental Harmony Acupuncture) located in the Hillcrest area of San Diego and also works as a Professor of Herbal and Oriental Medicine Studies at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine San Diego.  At Pacific College, Thomas is a member of the distinguished faculty for both the Master’s and Doctoral level, teaching Herbology, Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese Medical Language. He has also previously served as the Director of Alumni Services (Alumni Liaison) at Pacific College and is currently an appointed tutor by the California State Department of Rehabilitation for the subjects of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

Thomas is the Director of Research for The Alternative Healing Network, (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) which promotes the use of integrative healing arts and improves access to ‘alternative’ health care in under-served neighborhoods.  He also serves on Althealnet’s Board of Directors.

Thomas is certified by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) in Clean Needle Technique and is state certified as a Licensed Acupuncturist in California. Thomas has also completed the program at Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI) in Tarzana, California and has practiced as a Certified Hypnotherapist (C.Ht.).

Thomas continues to further his study in eastern medicine with an eye to a fully integrated medical future.  His focus is on a patient-centered holistic health care model and strives to have each patient feel heard, cared for, and satisfied with their positive transformations.

Thomas has extensive experience working in an integrative medical setting having served for 2 ½ years as Clinic Manager of the acupuncture branch of the UCSD Free Clinic Project in Downtown San Diego.  He has also been on several rotations at Rady’s Children’s Hospital. He has won several awards for his work including the UCSD Free Clinic Project’s Acupuncture Faculty Leader Award.