My path to becoming an acupuncturist was not typical, though often it never is. This medicine finds those who have a certain curiosity and openness to the body, mind, and spirit. In 2009, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Maine. While studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, I developed a passion for public and community health, which ultimately fueled my career.
I’ve dedicated over a decade to working with health-related nonprofits and public health programs. Serving populations affected by infectious and chronic diseases inspired me to seek more training about the body and its healing abilities. As a patient, I experienced the relief that acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine offer after a stubborn back injury in my early twenties. I was amazed at how safe and effective those tiny needles were! I moved from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, in 2016 to embark on an acupuncture program.
In 2019, I obtained my license and worked in community clinics, where I provided over 3,000 treatments. I was invited by my former school to be a guest instructor for four classes covering topics such as pain management and comprehensive patient care. In 2022, I transitioned into a more specialized position on an interdisciplinary medical team as an acupuncturist at a neuro-rehab center with pain and brain injury programs. I’ve treated patients experiencing acute and chronic pain, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, chronic and terminal illness, anxiety, depression, addiction, allergies, insomnia, digestive disorders, infertility, and gynecological issues.
In 2024, I completed an 18-month Shamanic Practitioner Training, which deepened my insight into how the body can hold and release emotion. I acknowledge the teaching that our biography becomes our biology and that we can integrate where we’ve been to move toward where we want to be. Acupuncture is an incredible modality to support nervous system regulation, reduce inflammation, promote healing, and retrain the brain’s pain response.
I look forward to cultivating a positive patient-provider relationship that supports treatment goals and enhances quality of life.
