My road to becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist began with three miscarriages. The first was a mystery: the midwife had already been chosen, my mother could get pregnant from using a man’s toothbrush, and I was only 29 years of age, so losing a baby threw me for a loop. So, I waited 3 months and tried again.

The second miscarriage, again at 11 weeks conception, was devastating, because two in a row now felt like a symptom of something really wrong. My “bad news” doctor’s appointment with my very unskilled and uninformative OBGYN found me bewildered and angry. I didn’t receive the compassionate care I needed to get through another loss, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. After the appointment, I had a intensely painful 6 hour labor without a baby at the end, with only the help of my equally bewildered partner. At this point, our midwife suggested acupuncture.

I began regular treatments with a local acupuncturist. I was also fortunate to have a Chinese Medicine Practitioner and skilled herbalist in my family circle, and she sent me a hormone test that was a easy as spitting into a plastic vial. Although I miscarried again for the third and final time, I had answers. 1) I was low in progesterone, and 2) acupuncture improved my stamina and increased my recovery, helping my body to return to balance so I could try again.

After spitting into a tube for thirty days, receiving regular acupuncture, getting a prescription for oral progesterone, and then firing my OBGYN , I delivered my first child. Two years later, I had another uncomplicated birth, and shortly after, decided to begin my training as an acupuncturist.

My journey also includes being a surrogate for a dear friend who struggled with fertility challenges, proving that families come in all shapes and sizes!

Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, I worked as a general practice physician with a practice including babies, children, mothers and fathers, grandparents, and pet-parents.

While I continue to welcome all people needing all levels of care, my current studies as a fellow at Yo San University in Reproductive and Integrative Care allows me to focus on the work I love - helping others create and grow their family.

The choice to pursue the dream of having a child sets us on an enormous journey. It guarantees questions, fears, breakthroughs and breakdowns. As a health care provider and birth doula, who has been on that journey for years, I’m dedicated to supporting my patients through the ups and downs of finding health.