2025 ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025
WON
INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES
WON INSTITUTE OF
GRADUATE
STUDIES
Welcome to the annual report of the Won Institute, where the threads of history, wisdom, and education intertwine seamlessly. Our institution's roots trace back to the profound teachings of Won Buddhism, a philosophy that embraces the interconnectedness of all things. The very essence of our name, "Won Institute of Graduate Studies," reflects this philosophy, with "Won" being a transliteration of the Korean word for "circle." In the spirit of the circle, we have embraced a holistic approach to education, where mind, body, and spirit converge. The circular image symbolizes the interconnectedness of knowledge and the perpetual journey of learning. From our inception, we have drawn inspiration from the teachings of Won Buddhism, infusing our graduate programs with a deep appreciation for balance, harmony, and the unity of all elements. As we navigate this annual report, we invite you to explore the evolution of the Won Institute – a journey guided by the principles of Won Buddhism. Our commitment to fostering integrative health practices, coupled with the timeless wisdom of Eastern traditions, continues to shape the transformative experiences of our students. Join us on this circular path of exploration, where the past informs the present, and the momentum of knowledge propels us into a future enriched by the profound teachings that have guided us since our inception. As we express our gratitude, we recognize that it is through the collaboration and support of these pillars – donors, patients, and alumni – that the circle of our institute remains strong and vibrant. Together, we shape a future where knowledge, compassion, and healing converge seamlessly. Thank you for being integral parts of the Won Institute's story, and here's to many more chapters of growth, enlightenment, and success.
Together, we are WON. 4 2
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
From the President
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News from the Dharma Chaplain’s Office
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Program Department Updates - Master of Acupuncture - Won Buddhist Studies - Doctor of Acupuncture - Chinese Herbal Medicine
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Financial Report, A Message of Thanks from the Chair of the Board of Trustees
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Won Institute Clinic Report
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WON MAUM Meditation Community Outreach
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WON Meditation for Inner peace & Freedom of Mind
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Our Donors
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Support Won Institute
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We Are WON 2024~2025
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From the President T
his marks my third year serving as President of the Won Institute of Graduate Studies. With each passing year, I am ever more
deeply aware that this sacred work cannot be carried out by one person alone. Through the compassionate prayers and guidance of our supporters, the heartfelt support of our donors, the professional dedication of our Board of Trustees, and the passion of our faculty, staff, and students, all these efforts have come together as one, allowing our university to grow into a true community of grace. I take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has joined hands in this shared endeavor. The year 2025 was a time of internal consolidation and direction-setting in preparation for a full phase of growth. Building upon the human and material resources and administrative foundations we have established, we focused on clarifying the institute’s identity and educational philosophy and on translating them into concrete educational practices and program operations. Won Institute’s educational philosophy, —the practical application of spirituality, and an integrated approach in which moral cultivation and scientific inquiry advance together—has now moved beyond a mere slogan and has been woven into both large and small programs throughout the institution.
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This philosophy is embodied not only in the courses and practicum of Won Buddhist Studies, but also in the classes of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, in the students who visit our Dharma Hall, in the patients who receive our integrative medical services, in the veterans seeking trauma recovery programs, in Won Meditation programs for inner peace and awakening, and even in the administrative operations of the institute. Our philosophy function not as lofty or abstract ideals, but as practical systems that foster the growth of both individuals and organizations. As we live out these values, the Won Institute has naturally transformed into an open and engaged space that goes beyond being a conventional educational institution or a “closed” campus, and instead breathes together with the local community while sharing the values of healing and learning. I firmly believe that the Won Institute of Graduate Studies has now developed the resilience and capacity to navigate any challenges that may arise. With this strength as our foundation, we will continue to do our utmost to help make the world clearer, brighter, and warmer. I sincerely ask for your continued trust and companionship in the coming year.
Dr. Wonsun Oh President of Won Institute of Graduate Studies
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News from the Dharma Chaplain’s Office Rev.Hojin Park, Dharma Chaplain At the Won Institute Temple, on April 13th 2025, a Dharma name bestowing ceremony was held, and sixteen local residents received their Dharma names . This ceremony was especially meaningful because several longserving faculty and staff of Won Institute were also bestowed their Dharma names. The event was further enriched by a Dharma talk delivered by Rev. Oheun Lee from the Washington Temple. Once each during the spring and fall semesters, college students from Buddhist student associations at Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania are invited to participate in retreat programs organized by the Won Institute of Graduate Studies. We also continue to engage in interfaith meetings with leaders of neighboring religious communities. Last November, approximately twenty clergy members from various faith traditions gathered at a Bahá’í Community Center to learn about the Bahá’í Faith and to participate in group discussions on the practical roles religion can play amid the challenges of the contemporary world. This occasion further deepened our sense of solidarity and interfaith cooperation. From November 18th to December 10th, we held a “Tree of Remembrance” event in commemoration of the Won Buddhist Spiritual Thanksgiving Day. Faculty, staff, students, and local residents were invited to write the names of those who have passed away, as well as those for whom they wish to offer prayers, on tags placed on the tree. Through this shared practice of praying together for beloved ancestors, family members, and neighbors, we aim to cultivate a more meaningful and compassionate year-end season. 4 2
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Program Department Updates ACUPUNCTURE STUDIES DEPARTMENT CHAIR DR. BEN GRIFFITH
The Acupuncture Studies Department, or the Masters of Acupuncture program, is the first three years of the Doctor of Acupuncture program. It has all of the required Clinical competencies for entry into the Acupuncture profession in the United States. It also prepares students to take four of the five components of the National Boards. It houses most of the students at the Won Institute and has been the feeder for our fourth-year DAc, CCHM, and, recently, the WBS certificate and master program. We continue to have National Exposure in the United States since it has been ranked as one of the top ten programs in the nation. Our students come from the Midwest, Mountain, and West Coast Regions. In Spring 2026 we have the most interest in our Study Abroad trip to WonKwang University. We continue to evolve our program into a hybrid model for the adult student to better incorporate our program into their lives. We are welcomed in another large class this Fall 2025. Our affiliation with Won Buddhism and our study abroad program at WonKwang University continues to help us recruit our next generation of Acupuncturists in the United States. I am grateful to the Won Buddhist Order and its support of our institute. I am in my 19th year with the institute, 9th year as the Chair of Acupuncture Studies, and now Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in the United States. The Won Acupuncture Studies Program has a bright future and we appreciate any added support.
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WON BUDDHIST STUDIES DEPARTMENT CHAIR DR.REV. GRACE SONG
This past year has been exciting for the Won Buddhist Studies department. With the completion of its program review, the department is now poised to revise and strengthen its curriculum to further enrich the student experience and better prepare future leaders. In parallel with these academic efforts, the department has been deepening its community impact. With support from a grant from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, faculty and research fellows developed a WON MAUM Meditation curriculum designed to address mental health challenges. The program began with in-person workshops at the Won Institute and soon expanded to the Women Veterans Center in Philadelphia. The response was overwhelmingly positive; even after the grant period ended, many women veterans urged that the program continue, affirming its essential role in their wellbeing. Encouraged by the outcomes at the Women Veterans Center, the WBS department has also broadened its outreach to older adults. Meditation programs are now offered at Ann’s Choice Senior Living, Commonwealth Senior Living in Willow Grove, and Delaware Valley Veterans Home, extending the benefits of MAUM practice to diverse communities across the region. These initiatives have created meaningful practicum opportunities for graduate students, offering real-world experience in meditation facilitation while serving community needs. Two Won Buddhist pre-ministers led specialized programs—one focused on older adults and another on adolescents, empowering young people with meditation tools to navigate the challenges of the digital age. Through these practicums, students build confidence in their facilitation skills while also learning the practical realities of guiding group practice. Alongside these community-centered initiatives, the department has remained active in scholarship. In July, it co-hosted an international seminar, MAUM: The Mind in Healing and Transformation, which gathered scholars, scientists, practitioners, and community leaders at the Won Institute to explore the role of the mind in shaping personal and societal transformation. This gathering not only enriched academic discourse but also strengthened bonds between the Institute and the broader community, highlighting the department’s role as a hub for both learning and action.
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DOCTOR OF ACUPUNCTURE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR DR. DAVID DAGG-MURRY
The Doctor of Acupuncture Completion Track program demonstrated strong performance and positive student engagement throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, as reflected in enrollment figures, overwhelmingly positive faculty evaluations, and robust postgraduation outcomes. Looking ahead to the Spring 2026 semester, the program is anticipating a total cohort of 19 DAc students. This group will consist of 6 newly enrolled students joining the program and 13 students continuing their advanced studies. The program has maintained a consistent output of graduates, with 5 students expected to complete their studies and graduate in Fall 2025. Cumulatively, the program has produced 43 DAc graduates across the August 2024, December 2024, and August 2025 commencement periods. An analysis of the Post Graduation Survey, from the August 2024, December 2024, and August 2025 graduating cohorts, reveals highly positive outcomes:
90% of respondents (88.9%) reported that the Doctor of Acupuncture Program hassuccessfully prepared them to be a leader in the acupuncture field. An equal percentage (88.9%) reported an increase in their professional confidence. A significant 77.8% of graduates reported an increase in interactions with other healthcare professionals. The ability to incorporate scholarship, research, and evidence-based medicine/evidence-informed practice into patient care was confirmed by 77.8% of respondents. Over two-thirds (66.7%) reported positive increases in crucial soft skills, including problem solving, networking, collaboration, and communication. Nearly half (44.4%) also reported an increase in business opportunities. Finally, in line with the strategic plan’s emphasis on faculty development, a Faculty Needs Assessment was launched on November 1, 2025. Ten responses have been collected to date, andthe survey will be distributed twice more this month to ensure a more robust and representative response rate.
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CERTIFICATE OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE PROGRAM DIRECTOR DR. CAROL GOLDMAN Thanks you for another wonderful year in 2025! 2025 was set as a year to build in all directions by boosting enrollment, increasing dispensary sales and herbal patients, and expanding the herbal curriculum. The F2025 incoming class shows a boost in enrollment from our own Won MAc students as well as graduates from other programs. We feel that participation in SAR and ASA conferences has boosted the program’s visibility within the acupuncture and herbal medicine community, resulting in increased enrollment. We started a publication program to co-write herb-related articles with recent CCHM graduates and/or faculty. The publication program is designed to highlight our expertise in herbal medicine, boosting our profile amongst practitioners and potential patients, and students. A recent article was published in the local Warminster paper highlighting our Won Made herbal sachets. The CCHM Director launched the http://woninstitutecircleoflearning.com program by building upon partnerships with specialists in the industry, alumni, and faculty to co-create course offerings on the site. There are ten courses available, with fifteen more in the pipeline. Relationship building with the APA offers the institute advertising on the APA’s one-thousand- plus membership email list throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The ceu platform is available country-wide for users in need of continuing education, and marketing strategies are currently under contemplation. The herbal dispensary continues to capitalize on creativity by designing new, interesting products to offer to our community. In addition to TCM prescriptions, dispensary staff have put together teas, soups, foot-soaks, and topicals that are available to the general population, safely offering them without a prescription. In this, we are synchronizing the ‘herbs are food, and food ismedicine’ concept. Sales have slowly increased over the past year, attributable to the sale of these products as well as the increase in herbal patients and student use of the dispensary.
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FINANCIAL REPORT July 2024 - June 2025
With new programs in development and Investment Income increased classroom capacity in the new $328,403 Global Dharma Building the financial outlook for the Institute is positive. In our new home, we will have opportunities to expand our reach with Contributed Services clinics and community services. $239,645 Our supporters have played a critical role in delivering us to the threshold of a new era in the history of the Institute.
Clinic Treatments $264,909
Other Income $5,178
TOTAL REVENUE $3,127,204 EXPENDITURES $3,068,427 NET ASSET
$6,401,244 Tuition and Fees $2,104,464
FROM THE BOARD CHAIR The Won Institute of Graduate Studies is entering a new period of advancement, building upon the internal capacities it has steadily cultivated since its founding. With a stable academic foundation and a strong administrative framework in place, the Institute continues to affirm its identity as a graduate institution where education, spiritual practice, and healing are thoughtfully and integrally woven together. Over the past year, the Institute has remained deeply engaged with the surrounding community, consistently sharing the fruits of its education and training beyond the classroom. Students in Won Buddhist Studies, Acupuncture Studies, and Chinese Herbal Medicine have actively lived out the Institute’s mission through their work in diverse field settings, translating mind cultivation and Eastern medical knowledge into compassionate, skillful service in everyday life and society. Throughout this ongoing journey, we remain profoundly mindful of the quiet yet steadfast dedication of our benefactors. Often working behind the scenes, their generosity, vision, and trust have helped sustain and guide the Institute’s growth. Their goodwill continues to shape the character of our community and provides a firm foundation upon which future generations will build. As we look ahead, the Won Institute of Graduate Studies will continue to advance practical, integrative education that unites mental and physical healing through mind cultivation and oriental medicine, while deepening its commitment to serving socially vulnerable populations. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my sincere gratitude to the President, faculty, and staff whose leadership and dedication make this work possible. I also thank our students, alumni, and friends for their continued engagement and encouragement. We warmly invite your ongoing interest and support as the Won Institute enters 2026 with renewed purpose and confidence.
Sook Ja Choi, M.D. Chair, Board of Trustees
Clinic Report
-A Year of Healing and CommunityDr. Doreen Lafferty, Clinic Director We are pleased to share the Won Institute of Graduate Studies Clinic Annual Report, celebrating a year marked by growth, service, and meaningful impact from September 2024 through August 2025. This year’s accomplishments reflect the collective dedication of our students, supervisors, staff, and supporters who believe in creating a healthier, more connected community.
Throughout the year, the Student Acupuncture, Student Herb, Veterans, Tuina, and Professional Clinics continued to embody the Institute’s mission: to provide compassionate, high-quality care while shaping the next generation of holistic practitioners. Guided by this purpose, our clinics remained a place where healing, learning, and community meet. Our clinics served a broad and diverse population, offering accessible care to the general public, students, faculty, and staff. By maintaining reduced fees for Veterans, their families, First Responders, and Senior Citizens, we continued to ensure that healing remains within reach for those who need it most. Together, our clinics delivered 5,405 treatments on campus this year—a powerful testament to the community’s trust in our services. Veterans and their families received 865 of these treatments, highlighting our ongoing commitment to honoring and
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2025 Women Veterans Health & Wellness Fair
supporting those who have served. Beyond our campus, our Go-To-Them Project continued to bring care into the community. At the Stephen Klein Wellness Center and the Veterans Multiservices Center in Philadelphia, we provided an additional 621 treatments, including 214 specifically for veterans. Each treatment reflects our belief that wellness should not be limited by geography or circumstance. This year, our interns and supervisors brought healing, education, and connection into a variety of community spaces. At events such as the Salute 2 Service Armed Forces Muster Day, the Harrisburg Acupuncture and Advocacy Day, and Warminster Township’s Warminster Day, our teams offered on-site acupuncture and Tuina—introducing many individuals to accessible, integrative care. We also invested in meaningful education and collaboration. A dedicated lunch-and-learn for Warminster Township employees provided insight into our holistic services. A new Memorandum of Understanding with the Centennial School District strengthened our shared commitment to community well-being. Our participation in Biometric Screening
”
Proudly served
more than 1000
events at three district schools, followed by pop-up auricular acupuncture clinics, expanded our reach and deepened our presence in the community. Together, we continue to build a community
treatments for
centered on wellness, connection, and hope. The
veterans and their
Won Institute is proud to carry this mission forward,
family members.
and we look ahead with optimism to another year of growth, service, and healing.
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WON MAUM Meditation Community Outreach Dr. Grace Song, Chair of Won Buddhist Studies MAUM is Korean for "mind" or "heart," encompasses a wide range of meanings, including thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Purifying and harmonizing one's Maum is essential to achieving inner peace and clarity. WON MAUM Meditation Community Outreach continued to thrive throughout 2025, expanding its reach across Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties. Rooted in the MAUM framework, a Mindful Approach to Understanding Me, the program emphasizes practical and accessible meditation tools that support emotional regulation, self awareness, and resilience across the lifespan.
In Spring 2025, the Won Institute offered bi-weekly meditation sessions at Ann’s Choice Senior Living Community, alongside weekly MAUM meditation sessions for women veterans at the VMC Women Veterans Center in Philadelphia. With the generous support of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and Women’s Way, the MAUM program was sustained and expanded, equipping participants with skills to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Women veterans consistently reported feeling more calm, grounded, and better able to respond mindfully to stress and challenging situations. Across all sites, the WON MAUM Meditation outreach program continues to foster calm, connection, and dignity, while strengthening the Won Institute’s commitment to serving veterans and older adults through compassionate, community centered care. 4 2
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Won Meditation for
inner peace & freedom of mind
A
s part of its Won Buddhist Studies and Continuing Education programs,
Won Institute of Graduate Studies offered a meditation program focused on Won Buddhist seated meditation, titled “Won Meditation for Inner Peace,” from March 4 to May 7 for a total of ten weeks. Seventeen participants—including Won Buddhists and non–Won Buddhists, both lay practitioners and ordained members—took part in the program. Through meditation, the course provided a valuable opportunity for participants to rediscover their true selves and cultivate inner peace and emotional stability. In the fall semester, a second ten-week program titled “Won Meditation for Freedom of Mind,” centered on the Won Buddhist practice of constant Timeless Son, was offered from September 9 to November 11 with eleven participants. In this course, participants kept more detailed practice journals and focused on cultivating and applying the true mind in the use of the six senses. Toward the end of the semester, each participant designed and presented their own meditation program based on what they had learned. This experience became an important opportunity to deepen interest in training both lay and ordained leaders capable of offering meditation programs across diverse fields in the future.
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Our Donors Our Donors With palms together, we acknowledge and thank all of our supporters. Your vision and generosity continue to shape the direction of our Institute.
FOUNDERS CIRCLE Donors who have given $100,000 or more to the school in their lifetime. Yoonsuk Koh & Igwan Pak
Eungbum Yoo & Beopin Kim
Kwanhyun Kim
Tonya Lee
Bongyoung Koh & Jean Kim
Song Kee Kim & Woon Sook Kim
Sookja Choi & Songguk Choi
JULY 2024 - JUNE 2025 SUPPORTERS GIFT OF $10,000 TO $49,999 Sookja Choi
Kwanhyun Kim
John Leutzow
Kalpana Patankar
GIFT OF $2,500 TO $9,999 Cynthia Cox
Patty Daniel
Myojin Kang
Sangok Ma
Wonsun Oh
Chol Syn
Hyeseon Kim
Bokhyae Koh & Socue Koh
GIFT OF $1,000 TO $2,499 Jungsoo Jo
Heejin Kim
Mija Kim
Taeho Kim
Janet Leidy
Mr. and Mrs. Mullin
Haeyoung Oh
Jeeyoung Oh
Hojin Park
Hilary Peirce
Emory Wyant
Sue Yie
GIFT UP TO $999 Jihye Baek
Jack Burns
Jiyoung Byun
Inkwon Byun
Michael Carney
Myungseop Cha
Youngmyung Cho
Yerim Choi
Lynn Cunnings
Hyeryoon Gong
Dowoon Han
Yongsoo Han
Changki Han
Kathleen Herr
Ja Hur
Inkook Hur
Sangho Hyun
Inwha Jeong
Jeseol Jin
Inhwa Jung
Seulky Kang
Joan Kelly
Bokin Kim
Youngbin Kim
Hyunhwa Kim
Kyungjae Kim
Seonghee Kim
Seyoung Kim
Ojin Kwon
Seongil Kwon
Chung O Lee
Jangin Lee
Myungjung Lee
Alison Mcnamee-Herman
Wendy Mclaughlin
Sangho Na Joelcode & Bonnie Scan the QR to Ostroff
Hyunoh Park
Injong Park
Mina Park
Jaehyun Park
Wonkyung Park
Yongeun Park
Incheon Park
Elizabeth Reed
Jeongjin Seong
Chijung Shin
Moira Thompson
Pyeonghwa Yang
make a gift online.
Chongnyue Park
COMMUNITY SUPPORT Interfaith Philadelphia
Strong stevens Milller & Wyant, P.C.
The Rorer Foundation
Womens’ Way Foundation
Won Buddhism of San Francisco
Won Buddhism of Jung-gu
Won Buddhism of New Jersey
Won Buddhism of North Carolina
Won Buddhism of U.S.A
Won Buddhist Studies Alumni Association
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Won Edification Center of PA
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Youngsan Seon University
Support Won Institute! Please scan the QR code to make a gift online, or visit https://www.woninstitute.edu/give/ Make a gift using our secure, online giving form. It’s quick, easy, and your gift can be put to immediate use. Contact: jungsoo.jo@woninstitute.edu
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WE ARE WON 2024-2025
5th Annual International Seminar: MAUM - The Mind In Healing And Transformation
Board Retreat at the Won Dharma Center
2025 New Student Orientation
2025 Warminster Day Booth
2025 Won Institute Staff and Faculty One-Day Retreat
WE ARE WON 2024-2025
2025 — The 22nd Commencement Ceremony
2025 Exploring Korean Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine Dispensary
Won Institute Student Clinic
Women Veterans’ One-Day Retreat at the Won Institute
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Won Institute of Graduate Studies 800 Jacksonville Rd. Warminster, PA 18974 U.S.A