Resume

Education

• Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 2018. Asheville's first Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Graduated in December 2018 with a 4.0 GPA.
• North Carolina Licensed Acupuncturists #445, 2007 to present. Passed all four required medical boards on first attempt with above-average marks. 
• Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Daoist Traditions, 2007. A member of the first class of Asheville's esteemed acupuncture school, Daoist Traditions College of the Chinese Medical Arts. Graduated with honors from their comprehensive four-year Masters degree program.
• Herbalist Certification, Sage Mountain, 2000. Completed the "Art and Science of Herbalism" course through Sage Mountain, Rosemary Gradstar's school in Vermont.
• Internship at United Plant Savers' Botanical Sanctuary, 2000.  An internship at Rosemary Gladstar's sanctuary focusing on the rehabilitation of 3,000 acres of former coal strip-mine land in the Appalachian Mountains. Conserving, propagating, and reintroducing native endangered medicinal plants like ginseng and black cohosh.   
• Internship at the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs, 2000. An internship focused on developing formal cultivation techniques for native endangered medicinal plants in order to protect wild populations from over-harvesting.
• Masters Philosophy Program, New York University, 1993-1995. Graduate philosophy studies with a focus on Asian philosophy and medical ethics.
• Bachelor of Philosophy, SUNY Albany, 1991. Graduated with honors from the State University of New York at Albany. 

Professional Affiliations and Volunteer Work

• North Carolina Society of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine, 2018 to present. Professional member since 2018 and board member since 2019 of this organization dedicated to promoting acupuncture and Chinese medicine on the state level through legislation, education, and research. 
• American Society of Acupuncturists, 2018 to present. Professional member since 2018 of this organization dedicated to promoting acupuncture and Chinese medicine on the national and international level through collaboration with legislators, educators, and the Western medical community.
• West Asheville Business Association, 2008 to present. Business member since 2008, board member since 2017 of this historic association founded in the 1950's.
• Project Access, 2008 to 2016.Volunteer provider with this local non-profit that helps low-income, uninsured patient’s access comprehensive healthcare.
• United Plant Savers, 2000 to present. Former intern and current member of this native medicinal plant sanctuary focused on the rehabilitation of 3,000 acres of former Appalachian coal strip-mine land.

Work History

• Center for Holistic Medicine, 2008 to present. Founder and staff acupuncturist. Offering private, integrative Chinese medicine treatments. Recipient of 11 “Best of Western North Carolina” awards in the Mountain Xpress' write-in readers' poll: “Best Acupuncturist" 4 years, “Best Alternative Healing Center" 7 years. 
• Adjunct Instructor, 2009. Mountain Area Health Education Center and the Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism.  Courses taught included the four-month series “When Pharmacology, Herbalism, and Nursing Come Together,” and “The Medicinal Properties of Traditional Incense.”
• West Asheville Urban Plant Walk, 2009 to 2014. Founder and co-host of these walks, focusing on the edible and medicinal plants found in the gardens and wild spaces in the blocks immediately surrounding the Center. This event took place in the spring and/or fall for a total of ten walks and cataloged almost 80 different plants.
• West Asheville Acupuncture, 2007 to 2008. Founder and staff acupuncturist, offering both private sessions and house calls.
• Whole Foods, Atlanta, 2000 to 2003. Buyer and staff herbalist conducting health consultations, managing inventory and special orders for over thirty companies, in charge of the departmental organization, displays, and product management.  Received awards for sales records and employee of the year.
• Health Food Industry 1989 to 2000. Worked in various independent health food stores as a buyer and herbalist, from Honest Weight Co-op in Albany, New York, to Return to Eden and Sevananda Co-op in Atlanta, Georgia.