ABOUT

The passion I have for this work, and for the relief and freedom it can bring to people's lives, is what drives me. My goal is to help you find greater comfort in your body, heart, and mind while empowering you with tools that support your long-term well-being. Acupuncture has been a profound gift in my own life, and I've witnessed the game changing differences it can bring to the lives of others. I want to share this medicine with you.

For me, acupuncture is a natural extension of my massage practice. It allows me to reach places and address patterns that my hands alone cannot. While I specialize in orthopedic acupuncture and pain management, my continually expanding toolbox allows me to work with a wide range of conditions and individual needs.

My path in bodywork began in 2009, when I attended the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in New York City. It was an academically rigorous two year program and I loved it! After graduating with an Associates Degree in Health Sciences, I became a Licensed Massage Therapist, specializing in sports medicine, medical massage, deep tissue, trigger point and myofascial release, and shiatsu. Through my private practice and work in a physical therapy office, I gained extensive clinical experience treating diverse populations and integrating Eastern and Western approaches to care.

In 2015, I began my clinical acupuncture education at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, where I earned my Master of Science degree in 2019. My strength and enthusiasm for orthopedic medicine led to an internship with the athletics department at the University of California, Berkeley, where I gained experience treating Olympic and collegiate athletes. In 2026, I returned to UC Berkeley as a clinical supervisor, teaching acupuncture students the art of orthopedic assessment and treatment while working with athletes.

Teaching has become another important dimension of my work. I also serve as a clinical supervisor at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, where I mentor students as they develop their clinical skills. In addition, I've lectured in advanced case study classes and sexual and reproductive health courses, including LGBTQ+ healthcare, culturally responsive patient care, and foundational LGBTQ+ education. Teaching fills my tank and my value of sharing. And nothing reveals the limits of your knowledge quite like a student asking a very good question- I view teaching as a great opportunity to learn. 

2026 was also an expansive year for my clinical work. Amidst increasingly tense political developments, I felt a strong calling to make acupuncture more accessible to immigrant communities, particularly given its potential role in supporting people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I initially approached La Clínica de La Raza, a nonprofit community health center in Oakland serving low-income communities, many of whom are Spanish-speaking immigrants, with the hope of volunteering my services. Instead, they offered me a position, and I accepted. There, I helped develop a more structured acupuncture program and expanded the team of acupuncture practitioners, increasing access to care for the community.

Over the years, I've worked with people experiencing a wide range of concerns, including TMJ dysfunction, frozen shoulder, sciatica, back pain, fibromyalgia, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. I also love working with the challenging cases: the pain that hasn't responded to treatment, the symptoms that don't fit neatly into a diagnosis, and the situations that call for a fresh perspective. These cases spark my curiosity and invite me to keep learning.

And if you've tried acupuncture before with little or no relief, that doesn't mean we've reached the end of the road. One of the things I love most about Chinese medicine is the diversity of its traditions, lineages, and treatment approaches. As the saying goes, "The water that softens the potato hardens the egg." The same approach won't work for everyone. Let's explore what might work for you. Give me a good clinical mystery, and you've got my attention. (I promise I have hobbies, too.)

My hope is to help you experience greater balance and ease in your days and nights, reconnect with a sense of comfort in your own skin, and enjoy life with fewer constraints. Ideally, with fewer reasons to spend your evenings Googling your symptoms. 

Though I am very proud of the education I received at both The Swedish Institute as well as Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, I am a firm believer that what you learn after your foundational schooling is integral for shaping who a practitioner becomes. Aside from daily self study, my continuing education courses have been: 

• Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM with Dennis Von Elgg Oct 2026

• The Dance of Diagnosis and Treatment in Acupuncture: Utilizing Tools from Manual Medicine     Oct 2026

with Dr. Dan Bensky and Dr. Jay Sandweiss

• Esoteric Acupuncture Foundations with Frank Turano-Cutler August 2026

• Utility of Palpation in Traditional East Asian Medicine with Dr. Dan Bensky June 2026

• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy & Frozen Shoulder with Jaime Chaves                                                                                             April 2026

• Points for the Spirit: From Trauma to Enlightened Realization with Jeffery Yuen                                          Oct 2025

• Neurological Conditions & Infertility Seminar with Dr. Jing Liu  Sept 2025

• Cervical & Lumbar Radiculopathy Assessment and Acupuncture Treatment with Jaime Chaves           Sept 2025

• Laws, Ethics and Safety June 2025

• Essential Orthopedic Tests & Acupuncture Treatment Strategies, The Knee & Ankle with Jaime Chaves     Mar 2025

• Acupuncture and Manual Therapy for Spinal Movement Dysfunction with Dr. Josh Margolis                       Aug 2024

• Calf, Ankle, Foot with Dr. Anthony Von Der Muhll June 2024 

• Essential Orthopedic Tests & Acupuncture Treatment Strategies, The Low Back & Hip with Jaime Chaves April 2024

• Trigger Point & Central Sensitization with Dr. Josh Margolis                                                                      Feb 2024

• Muscle Channel Theory Technique for Upper and Lower Extremities with Frank He                     Oct 2024

• Tennis Elbow: Assessment, Treatment, & Self-Care with Jaime Chaves                             June 2023

• Essential Orthopedic Tests, Acupuncture Strategies for the Upper Extremities with Jaime Chaves                Sept 2023

• Orthopedic Symposium Feb 2022

Sports Acupuncture, The EXSTORE System with Dr. Anthony Lombardi

The Shoulder Complex Made Simple with Jaime Chaves

Pelvic Floor Acupuncture with Dr. Jamie Hampton

Dry Needling for TMJ with Dr. Lev Furman

Palpation Skills for Finding and Needling Trigger Points, Rehabilitation for Low Back Injuries     

• Clinical Integration (course on psychology within the scope of Chinese Medicine), 2 years with Lonny Jarrett     2020-2022