Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy

Faculty and Staff

Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy’s (NAH) nationally-known instructors have extensive clinical experience which validates and promotes the use of classical homeopathy in today's health care environment. The diverse backgrounds and styles of the faculty provide a progressive and well-rounded learning environment. This is evident in both classroom and clinical settings. In the classroom, instructors provide students with a deep understanding of homeopathic philosophy and remedies by sharing professional knowledge and experiences. This information is then reiterated and expanded upon in the student clinic setting. Throughout the program, one-on-one feedback and guidance are invaluable resources to students.

Eric Sommermann, PhD, RS Hom(NA), Dean,received an MSc and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Sommermann was engaged in biomedical cancer research at the time when he discovered homeopathy in 1983. Subsequently, he attended the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy. Sommermann’s scientific background has enabled him to create and offer a balanced curriculum which integrates the natural and human sciences with a holistic, homeopathic viewpoint. In founding the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy, Sommermann put into place training standards which exceed those set by the International Council on Classical Homeopathy (ICCH). His focus, as Dean, is to develop curriculum and teaching styles which encourage students to cultivate their own talents. This focus has as its goal the transformation of students into competent and successful practitioners of classical homeopathy.

Sommermann is a full-time homeopathic practitioner with Homeopathic Practitioners, Ltd. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He co-founded the North American Society of Homeopaths (NASH) with Valerie Ohanian and served as Registrar, President and Board Chair for seven years. He was also a key founder and officer of the Minnesota Homeopathic Association (MHA), an organization committed to serving and supporting the professional homeopathic community in Minnesota.

Valerie Ohanian, RS Hom(NA), CC Hom, Asst. Dean, has over 25 years of extensive clinical experience and special training in gestalt and feminist psychotherapy. This unique background provides students with a practical, contemporary understanding of Materia Medica. Ohanian attended the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy in Albany, California, where she later became an associate faculty member. Ohanian has an A.B. in Journalism from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. She is the American representative and past chairwoman of the International Council of Classical Homeopathy. Ohanian serves as Assistant Dean of the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy.

Ohanian is a full-time homeopathic practitioner with Homeopathic Practitioners, Ltd. In Minneapolis, Minnesota. Co-founder of NASH, Ohanian served as Vice President for 5 years. Along, with Sommermann, she was a key founder and officer in the MHA. MHA’s focus is to promote homeopathy as a safe and effective health care choice for Minnesotans.

Laurie Dack, RS Hom(NA), Instructor ,has been a full-time homeopathic practitioner in Vancouver, BC since 1979. Dack brings a wide-ranging cultural wisdom to her practice of homeopathy. She has traveled extensively and studied homeopathy in India, Greece, England and Switzerland. Dack has developed an in-depth style of case taking and possesses a unique understanding of remedies, informed by her love of mythology. This wisdom is shared with students via engaging stories and exemplary clinical cases. In addition to being an NAH instructor, Dack is also a faculty member at the Vancouver Homeopathic Academy and has published numerous case studies.

Karen Lawson, MD,Instructor , is active teaching faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School and through University of MN’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, where she works on educational efforts in integrative medicine, health coaching, and shamanic healing. She completed her medical training at University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin Madison, and is Board certified in both Family Medicine and Holistic Medicine. Dr. Lawson is the past-president for the American Holistic Medical Association, and has lectured and taught nationally. She is a previous student of Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy, and has used homeopathy in her clinical practice of medicine. Lawson’s dynamic teaching style of the medical sciences gives students an understanding of medical information received during a client-practitioner interaction.

Michael Quinn, R.Ph., Instructor , is president and Chief Pharmacist at the Hahnemann Laboratories, Inc. in San Rafael, California. He has a B.A. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Pharmacy from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. In addition to being an NAH instructor, Quinn has taught at the University of California School of Pharmacy, San Diego and the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy in Berkeley, California. Quinn’s extensive knowledge of homeopathic pharmacy offers students expanded learning about the preparation and potencies of homeopathic remedies.

Jason-Aeric Huenecke, Administrator , is a graduate of NAH. He also holds a BA in Anthropology, Holistic Health Studies, and Psychology from Metropolitan State University and a certificate in Holistic Health Studies from the College of Saint Catherine. Huenecke is a full-time homeopathic practitioner in private practice in Stillwater, Minnesota. He is a long-time student of homeopathy and mythology, and he very much enjoys working with students entering the healing profession of homeopathy.

Tami Herndon, RS Hom(NA) , Marketing & Admissions Coordinator is a graduate of NAH. She also holds a BS in Finance and Marketing from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Herndon is a full-time homeopathic practitioner with Tami Herndon Classical Homeopathy, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. She serves as board member of the Texas Society of Homeopaths and as volunteer for The Council for Homeopathic Certification. Herndon’s enthusiasm and combined backgrounds in Marketing and Homeopathy give her an energized, yet balanced perspective in representing NAH to future students.

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