Social media has become a strong tool for connecting with old friends, making new ones, and getting up-to-the-minute info on certain news feeds. Needless to say, I didn’t expect to find out from a large network of my Facebook friends that one of our esteemed colleagues had passed away when I logged on this morning. An inspiring mentor, teacher and friend: this is a little dedication to her and the impact she had on my life.

For you, Barbara.I met Barbara during my first semester as an Intern at Pacific College. For those of you not acupuncture-college affiliates, this means it was my first semester treating patients on my own. It was the moment I had been studying for and waiting for three long years. It was as thrilling as it was terrifying. As an Intern you are heavily supervised by a licensed acupuncturist, so I was not completely in the driver’s seat, but I had to start pretending that I was.  This was the time to really learn what it means to be a “health care provider” and to begin understanding the power of this medicine.  This is also the place where your instructors help mold the foundation for the rest of our careers as budding acupuncturists.

I could not have asked for a better supervisor during that first internship than Barbara Roesch.  She patiently gave me the freedom to figure things out on my own, and generously encouraged me when I needed support.  Her passion for the medicine was contagious, and her knowledge vast. Barbara’s ability to teach showed through especially in her Tui Na (Chinese Therapeutic Massage) skills. When a patient came in with knee pain one day, she followed me into the room and showed me step by step how to back-up the acupuncture treatment with joint-therapy massage. I still continue to practice the techniques she shared with me on knee and ankle injuries for my patients. Since that internship, she has continued to provide direct support and encouragement throughout my final semesters at college and in the opening of my private practice.

Beyond her skills as a clinician and teacher, she was a model for positive thinking. Having battled illness for a long while, she never let it affect the compassion and glow she gave to her students and patients. I saw her not just three weeks ago and when asked how she was, she replied “Fine,” with a big smile and followed with a hug. She looked tired, but it was not until today that I discovered she had been battling another round of Chemo for the past 8 months. She is a warrior, and I am so thankful to have known her.

I am also in awe of the response of the many colleagues who knew her.  Although I am sure the field of Chinese Medicine played only a small role in her community, she has touched the lives of many and will be very much missed.  As her student, she will ever be remembered and continue to live in the work that I do each and every day.

In loving memory of Barbara Roesch.