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Lindsey Harris (formerly known as Wedemeyer), MA MS VetMB CVA CVCH CVFT CVTP, studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University's veterinary school, graduating with degrees in both pharmacology and veterinary medicine and becoming a member of the UK's Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004. After seeing how chronic disease is often not successfully treated by conventional medicine, she became interested in acupuncture and studied with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society to become a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA). Dr. Harris started her own referral-based acupuncture practice in the United Kingdom, treating dogs, cats, horses and cattle. Her patients included Welsh national para-dressage team horses, valuable show cattle and many much-loved pets, and she was featured on both national BBC and local radio. |
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Dr. Harris continued her Chinese medical training at Florida's Chi Institute of Chinese Veterinary Medicine (seen by many as the premier Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine [TCVM] training institute in the US) to become a certified veterinary Chinese herbalist (CVCH). She also studied advanced diagnostics and acupuncture techniques for both dogs and horses.
Upon relocating to the USA, Dr. Harris obtained her New York veterinary license after completing the AVMA's ECFVG examination program for foreign veterinary graduates. She continued to expand her veterinary knowledge with courses and certification in Chinese food therapy (CVFT) and Tui-na (Chinese medical massage) (CVT).
Dr. Harris joined the faculty of the Chi Institute in 2010. She lectures at the Chi Institute in herbal medicine and the scientific basis of acupuncture, and is a laboratory instructor for the institute's small animal and mixed animal acupuncture program. She has helped train over 500 veterinarians in veterinary acupuncture and visited China to take part in the 1st International Conference in TCVM.
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Dr. Harris was invited to lecture at the 2012 International TCVM Conference in Suzhou, China, which was part of the 3rd ever Chinese Veterinary Congress. She spoke about the impact on modern veterinary medicine of Yuan Heng Liao Ma Ji (Yuan-Heng's Therapeutic Treatise of Horses), a 400-year-old Chinese textbook on equine care, acupuncture and herbal medicine. |
Dr. Harris was the English editor for the first ever translation into English of Yuan Heng Liao Ma Ji. After her lecture, Dr. Harris received an 'Excellent Speaker' award from the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association. The significance of this book in world veterinary medicine was the subject of Dr. Harris's thesis for her Master's degree in Chinese Veterinary Medicine at South China Agricultural University.
Through her work with older animals suffering from arthritis and those recovering from injury or surgery, Dr. Harris became interested in how canine rehabilitation can complement acupuncture to help these animals even more. She has been studying with the University of Tennessee for certification in canine rehabilitation and will complete the certification process this year. In addition, Dr. Harris also pursued study of Reiki, the Japanese form of hands-on energetic healing.
Dr. Harris is an experienced author and editor. She is an associate editor for the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has also authored several papers published in this journal, including “The Validity of Acupuncture in Veterinary Medicine,” co-authored with leading Chinese medicine authority Dr. Huisheng Xie. Dr. Harris has recently worked on the new series of textbook “Practical TCVM.” The 4 volumes of this series are the most complete TCVM reference guide yet written, with over 40 authors contributing their knowledge. Together with Drs. Huisheng Xie and Cheryl Chrisman, Dr. Harris is editor of the series and has also authored five chapters, including “TCVM Oncology,” “Equine Lameness” and “TCVM in Exotic Species.”
In addition to her work at New York Veterinary Acupuncture Service, Dr. Harris recently completed study for her Master's degree in TCVM at South China Agricultural University, becoming one of very few US veterinarians with this qualification. She continues to enjoy teaching at the Chi Institute in Florida and living in New York's beautiful Orange County with her husband.