Our Team
A collective of dedicated practitioners rooted in Classical Chinese medicine, Western herbalism, and holistic healing — committed to restoring balance, one person at a time.
The People Behind the Practice
Each member of our team brings decades of study, mentorship, and lived experience to every consultation — because healing is personal.
Dr. Anna Athieno
Classical Chinese Medical Doctor · RH, DSOM
Dr. Athieno is the founder of DIOPO. After working in healthcare for some time, she was disheartened by the lack of solutions to miscellaneous women's conditions and health disparities in psychiatric disorders — this inspired her to seek safer, natural alternatives.
A Classical Chinese medical doctor specializing in psycho-emotional and chronic illness, Dr. Athieno holds a Bachelor of Science in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University and a Doctor of Science in Oriental Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, OR.
Her doctoral thesis focused on using emotional therapy in Classical Chinese medicine to treat mental illness. While at NUNM, she completed mentorships with Dr. Fruehauf in Classical Chinese Herbalism and Professor Brandt Stickley — integrating Shen-Hammer pulse techniques with Jing Fang formulas. She brings over ten years of experience in Western herbalism and formulation.
Additionally, Dr. Athieno is trained in trauma-informed care, long-distance healing, Qigong healing, sound therapy, energy healing, and Emotional Healing in the Way of Wang Fengyi .
Renowned for his expertise in Chinese medicine and herbal therapy, Dr. Fruehauf founded the Classical Chinese Medicine program at NUNM, the Hai Shan Center, and Classical Pearls Herbals — sourcing ingredients from small family farms in China. He specializes in treating serious conditions including cancer, heart disease, and chronic digestive disorders. Dr. Athieno completed a year-long herbal mentorship under his guidance.
Professor Stickley worked closely with Dr. Leon Hammer for over 20 years, becoming an expert in Dr. Hammer's approach to Chinese medical psychology. Dr. Athieno completed a two-year mentorship under Prof. Stickley, learning invaluable techniques developed by Dr. John H. F. Shen and Dr. Leon Hammer — including the integration of Shen-Hammer pulse techniques with classical Jing Fang herbal formulas.
Prince Ismaila offers consultations in Yoruba herbalism and spirituality, bringing a rich tradition of African healing wisdom to DIOPO's integrative approach. His knowledge of plant medicine and spiritual guidance complements the team's commitment to whole-person care across diverse cultural traditions.
We practice Classical Chinese medicine through a mobile clinic serving most areas in Washington state, visiting clients in their offices, homes, or other convenient locations. We also provide powerful long-distance healing using video platforms like Zoom — because your well-being doesn't depend on proximity. In-person treatments include pulse analysis using the Shen-Hammer system alongside full symptom and medical history review.
THE SHEN-HAMMER
Pulse Tradition
During in-person treatments, we check your pulse using the Shen-Hammer system — a modern Chinese pulse diagnosis method rooted in the Menghe Ding physicians with origins tracing back to the 15th Century.
Ding Jiwan taught this method to Dr. Shen in Shanghai and Hong Kong between 1937 and 1942. Dr. Shen was the only surviving World War II practitioner who carried this pulse knowledge westward, later passing it to Dr. Leon Hammer — a psychiatrist and Chinese medicine practitioner — after nearly thirty years of collaboration.
By feeling the pulse at the radial artery, we gain detailed diagnostic information about your inherited traits, current health, and possible future health paths — unique to you as an individual.
Our Teachers & Mentors
OUR VALUES
Dignity
Respect human dignity
Integrity
Ethics, transparency and well-intentioned decisions
Ownership
Cultivate a sense of ownership
People
People centered
Obligation
Foster harmony between people, communities and nature
