My Story

I graduated from the prestigious Tri-State College of Acupuncture in NYC where I earned my master’s degree in acupuncture. During my education at Tri-State I learned 3 distinct styles of acupuncture.

1) Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 
2) Acupuncture Physical Medicine, which addresses the myofascial trigger points in the body
3) KM Style acupuncture, which is a Japanese style developed by Japanese acupuncture master Kiiko Matsumoto

During my studies I mentored for two years with the late Japanese acupuncture master Keichi Murata in NYC.  Murata sensei began his acupuncture training at the age of 16 under the tutelage of his uncle who was a successful acupuncturist in Japan. Murata sensei’s unique style of acupuncture along with his huge heart and generous nature made him beloved by all of his patients, including celebrities such as musician John Lennon, designer Steve Madden, actor Gael Garcia Bernal, designer Eli Tahri and others.

Then later after graduating I began mentoring under the guidance and tutelage of Jackie Haught L.Ac. who has been practicing acupuncture for 30 years.

And since then I continue to invest my time and money in attending many seminars in order to learn more to better serve my patients. My dedication to be constantly learning is what has enabled me to get the amazing results that I get for my patients.

Prior to my acupuncture career I spent 7 years in the vitamin and supplement industry, during which time I spent learning about western vitamins, herbs and nutrition.

My decision to become an acupuncturist arose out of personal health struggles from a young age.

Unfortunately, for my parents, my birth was far from ordinary. I was born with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia. What this means is that you are born, either without bile ducts or that your bile ducts are malformed, basically your liver is not able to function properly. 

The initial prognosis the doctors gave my parents was grim, to say the least.  After several surgeries during my first year of life, and against the odds the doctors were able to perform the miracle of keeping me alive.  But I was a car riding on a spare tire, they were able to keep me going but it was by no means a permanent fix. Yes, I was alive but I was far from what you could consider healthy.  Most of my childhood from then on was a minefield of secondary illnesses and prolonged hospital stays. Every year my liver was slowly getting worse, and this reflected in my health and overall quality of life.  Then, at 16, I received a long-awaited and lifesaving liver transplant. 

After a grueling 3 month recovery I was out of the hospital, back home, and on the mend with a mindset determined to cultivate my newfound health. 

Once back home it felt like the world had changed, but it wasn’t the world that changed at all it was me.  How great it felt to be alive and healthy, and it totally changed my trajectory in life. 

Only 2 years after my transplant I was in college studying psychology.  But my passion for health had only grown by then. I was now reading about Buddhist meditation and breathing practices. Learning about both Western and Eastern herbs, and would start the morning with a smile and a handful of vitamins. 

Just as I was finishing up my psychology degree I realized that as much as I loved clinical psychology I was more interested in helping people with their physical health instead of their mental health.

So I decided to switch career paths, and a  year later I was enrolled and working towards a masters degree in acupuncture.

By 2007 I had graduated with my master’s in acupuncture, was celebrating my one year wedding anniversary, and like a punch to the face out of nowhere, I received a diagnosis of Lymphoma.  My life was quickly put on hold as I geared up for yet another battle. It was definitely a very hard and emotional year.  If nothing else it taught me to always stay humble because life is indifferent to our accomplishments, struggles, and desires.

The following year I had Lymphoma in my rear window, and was working hard on rebuilding my health. And by 2009 I had opened up my own acupuncture practice in Manhattan.

My experiences have enabled me to approach my patients with a level of care and compassion that comes from a deep understanding of illness and the strong desire  to be Healthy & Happy.