Mary practices Classical Five Element Acupuncture as taught by J.R. Worsley. This medicine is a powerful system that allows each and every one of us to tap into our ability to heal and harmonize the body, mind and spirit. When we align with our truest self, health naturally ensues. This medicine creates clear access to the tools we already possess within us, and in doing so, symptoms begin to fall away. When we have access our deepest abilities, we heal more quickly and effectively, experience greater happiness and peace, and can move through the challenges of our lives with resiliency and grace.

BACKGROUND AND TRAINING

Mary has been practicing acupuncture since 2008, after a nine year college journey. She started in a pre-med program and then switched gears to earn a B.S. in Biology/Physiology. She earned her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine at Dongguk University Los Angeles, including internship in Seoul (Ilsan), South Korea. She went on to teach at her alma mater while maintaining a private acupuncture and herbology practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for five years, then studied Classical Five Element Acupuncture (CFEA) at the Institute of Classical Five Element Acupuncture in Santa Monica, CA with Neil Gumenick , Brian Bender and Eliot Ivanhoe. Her love of the medicine and dedication to maintaining the purity of J.R. Worsley's teachings lead her to begin teaching at the Institute, where she is full-time Senior Faculty. She has also published video courses on Ethics in the Field of Acupuncture, which can be taken with or without continuing education credit, available on Net of Knowledge.   

Before practicing acupuncture full-time, Mary worked in sleep disorders medicine for over 20 years, holding positions as technologist, manager and clinical specialist at prestigious hospitals and medical centers in Michigan, Oregon and California, including UCLA. While working with patients, co-workers, managers, staff and physicians, she learned how important it is to consider the unique perspective of each individual, and that we never know someone's true story until we take the time to listen; not just with our ears, but with our hearts. In working in the hospital arena, she received many crash courses in how to deal with difficult situations. Through this, she learned about resiliency and how to foster resilient growth in others. She took a three year hiatus from sleep medicine and taught in Los Angeles public schools' special education system, teaching learning disabled, emotionally challenged, at risk and autistic children, which gave her a unique perspective of how we, as dynamic humans, learn, struggle, triumph and grow, on all levels. This work taught her immense patience and perspective, an ability to see and track progress, no matter how small, and the capability to maintain an optimistic outlook no matter how dire the appearance of the circumstances. Her return to the sleep medicine field found her in a consulting position, which propelled immense growth in terms of how to manage both technical issues and professional relationships via distanced work. During her undergrad years, she worked as a technician and phlebotomist in medical laboratories, regional trauma centers and burn units. She's worked in medical and wildlife research facilities, large animal vet clinics and even morgues.

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Mary is also a certified Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher (400+ hours) and holds classes in Santa Monica and Long Beach. Note: Due to the pandemic, classes are conducted remotely, via web-based platform. Please see updates under "Services" for current offerings. 

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Credentials: 

Licensed Acupuncturist, California Acupuncture Board, # 13078

Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)® #844960

Doctoral candidate, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, 2020

Master of Traditional and Oriental Medicine, 2008

Bachelor of Science, 1992