Sean McCann, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac.
Sean is a licensed acupuncturist (OR), a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture Specialist (NAHPCA). Sean offers an integrative approach that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, cupping, medical qigong, diet & exercise therapy, and more. He currently offers all of these services in the greater Medford, OR area and all services but acupuncture in the greater Eureka, CA (Humboldt County) area.
Sean earned an M.S. in Oriental Medicine and a B.S. in Professional Health Sciences from East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, FL, as well as a B.S. in Religious Studies from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. The combination of these fields of study feeds his passion for the study of classical Chinese texts and their relevance in the clinic and beyond. It is this passion that led him to deepen his understanding through the study of classical Chinese medicine & philosophy, daoyin, and martial arts with the Association for Traditional Studies (ATS) and the associated Alternative Clinic.
There, he learned a classical approach to Chinese medicine, allowing him to understand its roots and develop treatments that are more aligned with the strategies that allowed this system to thrive as the sole medical system in China for thousands of years. He is deeply grateful to Andrew and JulieAnn Nugent-Head of those organizations for their generosity in sharing their knowledge and experience. His strategies for treating internal illness and physical injuries using acupuncture, massage, and herbs have been significantly shaped by his time with them.
Sean's approach to the practice of medicine is truly holistic, taking into account all facets of a patient's physical, mental, and spiritual experience. He views the mind-body as an integrated whole and utilizes all tools at his disposal to aid patients in cultivating health and overcoming illness. This includes the use of physical medicine (i.e. massage, acupuncture, cupping, & guasha) to directly affect the tissues of the body and herbal medicine to create internal conditions conducive to healing. Sean also utilizes medical qigong as a method for treating patients with a variety of illnesses, particularly the elderly and those with advanced, debilitating, or chronic diseases (for more information on Sean's approach to treatment, visit the Acupuncture & Bodywork page under the Services tab).
Sean has over a decade of experience studying and practicing internal arts, including taijiquan, qigong, and yoga. This is balanced by a deep familiarity with traditional physical training. He has been involved in competitive athletics throughout his life, including playing varsity tennis at Florida Gulf Coast University while enrolled as a biology/pre-med student there. Having faced physicalinjuries on many occasions due to his various pursuits, he understands how hindering these can be and knows what it takes to fully recover. In fact, it was an elbow injury that, when healed by acupuncture, led Sean to shift his focus to the study of Chinese medicine. Largely due to this aspect of his history, he has a passion for the treatment of physical injuries and has cultivated the skills necessary to resolve them.
As a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture Specialist, Sean provides direct care to people with life-limiting illnesses. His understanding of this work was shaped by his time as a community health worker for ResolutionCare. He is dedicated to relieving suffering at near the end of life and uses his knowledge to assist patients and their loved ones in navigating the complex healthcare system.
Previously, Sean worked in nonprofit management, community organizing, and fundraising with Peace Action West, Uongozi - Centre for NGO Studies, Leadership, & Management, and The Fund for the Public Interest. During this time, his work focused on peace building, cultural preservation, sustainable agriculture, social justice, and foreign policy.
The common thread that ties together Sean’s experiences is that of balancing personal cultivation with engaging in the creation of positive social change. For him, the field of medicine allows him to continuously work on maintaining this equilibrium, for cultivation is key to the skill of the practitioner, and health is a primary requirement for the development of strong communities.