AAAOM Hires New Operations Manager

The AAAOM is pleased to announce the hiring of new Operations Manager Jolene Habeck, BS, MAc. Jolene is a recent graduate of the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, part of Northwestern Health Sciences University. She is originally from northeastern South Dakota where she received an undergraduate degree in biology at Presentation College. During college, she was first introduced to acupuncture when a nurse practitioner referred her for alternative care after a series of adverse reactions to medication. She states, “After that first treatment, the relief I felt was astounding. I knew from that moment this medicine had to be a part of my life.”

Jolene has worked with the AAAOM for the past three years as part of the AAAOM-SO Student Organization Council (SOC), served as a director on the AAAOM Board of Directors, chaired the membership and policy and procedure committees, and worked as a member on the conference and media and publications committees. As operations manager, she will oversee AAAOM daily operations in office administration, annual conference planning and implementation, the publishing of the Qi Unity Report and The American Acupuncturist, sustaining the AAAOM national advocacy platform and AOM in U.S. Healthcare activities, and general communication and outreach with the public. “I have enjoyed the many challenges and triumphs of the past three years,” she states, “and I have seen the AAAOM grow tremendously and come together. We are at a time in history where we can truly make our mark as a profession, not just for ourselves, but more importantly for our patients. I look forward to continuing my service to the profession, so that this ancient medicine will continue to touch lives for generations to come.

Rebekah Christensen, AAAOM Executive director welcomes Jolene to the AAAOM family with open arms - “Over the past three years we have been fortunate to observe and work with Jolene in her leadership of the student organization from the perspectives of membership growth, policy development, legislative advocacy and leadership development. In all capacities she has excelled. Jolene has a “hands-on” understanding of this profession that will accrue immediate value to her role as our operations manager. We are both honored and pleased to have her call both California and the AAAOM her new home!”