Welcome to the new FSOMA website! We’re excited to have you explore our updated platform as we continue to fine-tune and enhance your experience. If you have an account, please note that you will need to reset your password upon your first login. For more details, click here. For questions, please email us at .

Lynne Carol Sheppard, AP, DOM, 72, of Belleview, Florida

Dec 1, 2021 – Lynne Carol Sheppard, AP, DOM, 72, of Belleview, Florida passed away November 26, 2021, at Estelle’s Hospice House, Ocala, Florida surrounded by friends. She is survived by her brother Richard Terry, her sister Leslie Terry and Leslie’s daughter, Laura Backus and Laura’s daughters, Madeline and Charlotte. Lynne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the late Richard Sheppard and Patricia Terry.

Lynne was an Acupuncture Physician and Doctor of Oriental Medicine. After graduating from Florida School of Acupuncture (now Dragon Rises) in Gainesville, Florida, in 1997, she opened the Whole Health Institute in Belleview, Florida successfully caring for her patients until her retirement in 2021. She has resided in Marion County, Florida since 1976, and early on, was a successful horse trainer/riding instructor. She was a founding member of STRIDE (a local dressage club) along with her best friends, Jill and Dan Tallman. After seeing what acupuncture and homeopathy could do for her animals, (with animals there is no placebo effect), she realized it was time for a career change and decided to help people with the same amazing medicine and results. Even though Lynne changed her career path from animals to people, she never gave up her love of working with animals and continued to support animal rescue shelters across the state. She worked with Great Dane Rescue of Florida for many years and supported the big cat rescue whenever possible. Lynne will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of calling her Physician and friend. A celebration of life will be held for Lynne in the near future.

“And if I go,
While you’re still here…
Know that I live on, vibrating to a different measure—
Behind a thin veil you cannot see through.
You will not see me, so you must have faith.
I wait for the time when we can soar together again,
Both aware of each other.
Until then, live your life to its fullest.
And when you need me,
Just whisper my name in your heart
…I will be there.”
(-Colleen Hitchcock)

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Important updates to your account and the website platform

 

Hello FSOMA Acupuncturists! 

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new website platform for our valued members and the public! Your patience throughout this transition period has been greatly appreciated.

After diligent effort with our tech team, we’re proud to announce that we are launching a more stable and robust platform, designed to enhance your user experience and offer an array of new features and resources. Whether you’re accessing information or engaging with our community, we’re confident you’ll find the new website to be much more user-friendly. As we embark on this exciting journey together, we extend our gratitude for your ongoing support, which fuels our mission to serve and empower professional acupuncturists in Florida. 

Please take a moment to read through the important updates regarding membership renewal and payment processes outlined below. Your involvement is integral to our collective success, and we’re excited to grow and innovate together through this new platform. Thank you for being a vital part of the FSOMA community!

If this is the first time you are renewing your membership since March 1st, 2025, because of the changes to our system all memberships that were due to automatically renew will instead expire on their next renewal date. 

To keep your account active you must log in with your username and update your credit card information by manually re-registering your membership through our new gateway when it is time for your renewal. This is only a one time process. 

At the time of your first login you will be prompted to reset your password. Once logged in, just navigate to the Become a Member page and select your membership level and follow the checkout process.

For payment to process smoothly, please make sure that your payment method is active, and you have sufficient funds. And if you need to automate your payments in our new platform for the future, simply go to your Account Profile while logged in and under the ‘My Subscriptions’ tab select your active subscription and make sure auto-renew is toggled on.

As your renewal date gets close you will receive email reminders about this process and the steps to take. You will also receive reminders if your membership has lapsed as a helpful nudge in case you missed the initial reminder emails, so stay on the lookout through this process to help us help you keep your account active. 

Your ongoing support is what drives us to continue working to secure YOUR future as a professional acupuncturist in the state of Florida and to provide the best possible services to our members. The more we grow the more we can do and the new website will help take us there!

Please keep an eye out for future communications and updates as we move forward.

Best regards,

Your FSOMA Board of Directors