I first discovered the transformative power of Chinese medicine as a patient. After seeking out a variety of therapies to ease what ailed me, a friend suggested I try acupuncture. As a trained skeptic, and terrified of needles, it took a mountain of strength (and a healthy dose of curiosity) to go to my first acupuncture session. And I am so glad I did. Where every other attempted treatment left my recovery half-realized, Chinese medicine brought me all the way home – back to myself. In just a few weeks of treatment, I was seeing and moving through the world differently. It was nothing short of revolutionary. And my fear of needles? Gone. It turned out that acupuncture needles are hair-width-thin and hardly perceptible upon insertion.
Having had my life changed for the better by Chinese medicine, I wanted to provide the same for others. In 2007 I enrolled in the Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) program at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in Portland, Oregon. It was a rewarding and intensive program, integrating Western and Eastern medicine with an emphasis on evidence-based practices and research literacy. Continuing my studies at OCOM, I earned my doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) in 2012, with a focus on women’s health, geriatrics and mental/emotional wellbeing.
After hundreds of patient encounters and treating everything from chronic pain to terminal illness, I can confidently say that this medicine is profound and powerful. Whether looking to restore health or simply maintain it, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can act by stimulating the body’s own innate healing capacities. My treatments are designed with an integrative system in mind, bridging the gap between an Eastern and Western approach. Looking to cultivate mental/emotional well-being? Alleviate chronic pain? Treat the symptoms of disease? Chinese medicine can help.
When not with patients, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two kids, our dogs, cat and cooking classical Italian food, hiking, indoor cycling, and traveling.
