My Bio

I graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1985, completed an additional three-year program in Chinese Herbal Medicine in 1993 and have a B.S. in chemistry. I have served on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the faculty of Holyoke Community College, lectured on Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and have published articles on acupuncture and on the safety and regulation of herbal medicine. In addition to treating patients and researching acupuncture at Baystate Hospital’s Pain Management Center, I have a private practice in Amherst, and have been associated with several area clinics providing care for victims of accidents, HIV and substance abuse.

My Philosophy

I believe that acupuncture should be a common practice, an accessible form of medical treatment for everyone.  It doesn't need to be a spa service, or mysterious experience.  My primary office is in my home because for many patients, this is the best way for me offer premium care at the lowest price. Part of my work week is spent at Baystate Hospital’s Pain Management Center, where I practice side by side with MDs and other medical professionals, complementing the offerings of modern biomedicine. Wherever I am working, I help patients to establish clear goals of treatment and objectively monitor their progress, and to reach satisfactory outcomes as quickly and completely as possible.

I try to develop a “healing partnership” with patients. I believe the mind and body have a deep capacity to heal. Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM, i.e.: acupuncture, herbs, etc.) offers a gentle yet powerful way to guide patients back to health by harmonizing and focusing the body's own energy. In a very real way, acupuncture, herbs and associated techniques do not so much make you well as they help your body to make itself well. It is a subtle but profound distinction. Your body already has the power to be healthier. TCM helps you to direct it.

With my formal education in chemistry and biology, a work history in biotech, and 25 years' experience in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, I have a respect for the strengths and limitations of both biomedicine and TCM. My style of acupuncture leans toward classical Chinese diagnosis and treatment, but I recognize that patients vary in their sensitivities and needs, and therefore I don't hesitate to incorporate Japanese and auricular techniques as well as trigger point needling and electroacupuncture when these options are best suited to my patients. Finally, I prescribe Chinese herbal medicine cautiously. I suggest TCM herbs to about 25% of my patients, usually to augment acupuncture. I choose sources of materials based on their purity, safety, reliability, convenience and value. I do not sell supplements that are not part of TCM, and I do not use herbs to enhance my revenue stream.


I look forward to working with you. Be well.