Why I became an acupuncturist

I have always had the desire to heal people, and after 15 years as an athletic trainer, I thought I might want to go back to medical school. It was the beginning of the real surge in HMO's and managed care. When I spoke with my physician she strongly discouraged me from this pursuit. The things I really liked about her practice, the time she took with patients, her personal attention including phone calls and follow up, even her hand written notes were to become a thing of the past. She also had gone to medical school late in life and has since gone into a practice which accepts insurance and the rules that govern them. I wanted to know my patients. I believe that what an individual contributes to their healing is essential. As a practitioner, I wanted to help the process not control it.

At that same time, I was seeing an acupuncturist for allergy symptoms. I had seen an allergist for about three years with no relief. The treatment I got from the acupuncturist was amazing. I stopped taking the allergy shots and allergy medicine and felt better than I had felt in years. I was inspired by these results and the fact that she took as much time as she wanted and really got to know her patients. Her ability to make people well in what seemed an almost magical way was icing on the cake. I decided to go to acupuncture school.

After three years of acupuncture school and then three years of herb school, I now have my own practice where my patients and I work toward healthy, pain-free lives. Sometimes magic happens, sometimes the road is longer, most people see significant change in 3-4 visits. My fulfillment comes when someone walks out the door well.

My training and experience

I am currently in private practice in West Chester Pennsylvania. In the 15 years previous to acupuncture school, I worked as an athletic trainer in various high school and college settings. I am also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. I hold a master's degree in athletic training/sports medicine from Temple University and an additional master's degree in acupuncture from Tri-State College in New York City. I finished a 3 year Chinese herbal program of study at White Pine Healing Arts in Amherst, Massachusetts. I hold NCCAOM certifications in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology and have achieved their DOM status. I am registered in PA as a practitioner of Oriental medicine which licenses me to do acupuncture and dispense herbs.