July - August 2012 (PDF Version) - New York Chiropractic College

Student Spotlight
NYCC Acupuncture Student Discusses
Transition from Military Service to Campus
Initially, John Lehmann’s goal was to
become a Navy SEAL (sea, air and
land) but he ultimately turned to the
Army and, at the age of 20, began a
military career that would span 14 years.
After completing flight medic school,
his next four and a half years were spent
in Joint Special Operations Command,
then off to Japan for his final three years
of active duty, where, as a noncommissioned
officer, he was in charge of the
Emergency Department, administering
and ordering all immunizations for U.S.
Army and Marine Corps personnel in
that country.
A journey that led him to the Finger
Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has had
its share of fascinating twists and turns. Born at Ft. Leonard
Wood, Mo., John was still an infant when his family – Army
Special Forces father, beautician mother, and two older sisters
– returned to their native Buffalo. He was introduced to Asian
culture when, at the age of 12, he began lessons in martial
arts. Following high school, John worked for the Department
of Energy as a hazardous-materials technician. Trained as an
emergency medical technician, he performed these duties for
the Department of Energy. After two years, he felt it time for
a major change and he joined the military.
John Lehmann
Undertakes Natural Healthcare for
his PTSD
Still a member of the Guard, in 2008
John sought help from the Buffalo VA
for the post-traumatic stress disorder that
had begun to manifest itself in Japan.
When the emotions, migraines and loss
of sleep precipitated by the horrors of
combat and taking care of fallen friends
remained unmanageable despite treatment,
a psychiatrist placed him on five
different medications. Having nurtured
his interest in Asian culture and alternative
medicine while overseas, he informed
the psychiatrist he planned to integrate
acupuncture and chiropractic treatments
into his care. Both proved to be powerful medicine for him.
With a medical discharge scheduled to end his military career
in 2011, John explored attending occupational therapy school
but felt acupuncture held more promise for him. “Plus, it is
cultural medicine,” he says, recalling the “barefoot doctors”
that traveled from village to village in China. He entered the
FLSAOM in September 2011 and will graduate with his Master
of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree in
2015. During his three days a week on campus, he works in the
herbal dispensary and teaches Taiji at the Athletic Center. He
also receives regular acupuncture and chiropractic treatments.
Military Service
In 2004, John took a break from the military in order to return
to the States to finish his bachelor’s degree and find a job
in law enforcement or firefighting. A lackluster economy didn’t
serve up the job he sought, so he joined the Air National Guard
and was assigned to Flight Line Security where, within a year,
he was transferring prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to their
home countries. He quipped that he traveled to “anything that
has a ‘stan’ at the end of it.” It was dangerous work, tension at
every turn. During that time, John was accepted as an Alaska
state trooper – a job he had applied for because his then wife,
also in the service, was from Alaska and wanted to return. He
spent two years at the job and then returned to Buffalo.
It Works
Previously unable to sleep for more than four hours, John
now finds that with treatments he sleeps well and feels rested
upon awakening. Plus, he is now down to only one medication.
“Acupuncture and the treatments I receive have allowed my
emotional triggers to begin taking a back seat, thanks to [Associate
Professor] Katherine M. Taromina and her guidance to the
interns who have treated me. I owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Chiropractic care has also helped John - the cervical adjustments
work wonders in reducing the frequency and severity of his
migraine headaches and have provided relief for his temporal
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