I've been interested in natural holistic health care for about as long as I can remember.  As a child I always loved good food and cooking and as a teen I became interested in nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and yoga.  I read everything on these subjects that I could get my hands on and applied what I learned to my own life.  I knew that one day I would pursue a career that would allow me to put all that knowledge to good use helping others.    

I also knew that I needed a lot more life experience before I felt I could offer advice to other people.  So first I pursued another great passion of mine, travel.  I earned my BA in International Studies from Appalachian State University in 2000 and spent the next seven years pursuing opportunities that would allow me to see and experience the world.  My travels have taken me through Europe, Central America, Australia, Africa and Asia.  Those adventures expanded my perspective in ways that are almost impossible to express and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I started to learn a little about Acupuncture and became very curious.  While living in Barcelona in 2007 I had my first treatment.  I went in feeling that I was already in good health with no major concerns to address.  After just a few sessions I was amazed that I was in fact feeling much better than when I started.  I had so much more energy and yet I felt more calm and focused than ever. Friends made comments that I seemed different, happier.  I noticed that issues I hadn't even told my acupuncturist about were improving or disappearing completely, things like occasional headaches, painful periods and food cravings. This experience taught me about Acupuncture's ability to optimize health.  I learned that good health is more than just the absence of disease.   I saw how living in this more energized and balanced state improved the overall quality and direction of my life.  

I knew that the time had come to pursue my career in health care.  I enrolled in the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, FL, one of only three schools in the country teaching this unique tradition, and received my Master's degree in Acupuncture in 2011.  At the same time I completed a 27-month long course in Chinese herbology and became certified as an herbalist. I also completed a 12-month intensive course in Medical Qi Gong healing and cultivation techniques for acupuncturists.  I am nationally board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and hold licenses to practice Acupuncture in both Florida and North Carolina.  Since graduating I have pursued continuing education focused on women's health and fertility, holistic nutrition, functional medicine and the Five Element tradition.

I currently live in Fort Lauderdale with my husband Deryck, our dog Baxter, and our two cats, Casper and Boots.