Hi, I'm Dr. Sara.
You might be wondering about a few other things like how I got into this profession, where I went to school, and what my hobbies and passions are. The other good stuff!
Let's Start with My Background.
I can say without any hesitation or reservation that I’ve always been driven by a desire to be of service to others. From a young age, this calling shaped my life. As a teenager, I volunteered as a candy striper (I’m dating myself here) in a rural hospital. That early experience paved the way for a career in healthcare, where I wore many hats working as a patient care assistant in memory care and nursing homes, a medical assistant in a cardiac critical care unit, as well as the open heart unit. I also assisted a gynecologist, and later, an electrophysiologist, cardiologist, and pulmonary team. I’ve even worked in dentistry and hospice care. You could say I made my rounds in the Western medical community, learning a great deal about people, the human experience in illness, and the healthcare system along the way.
I even went to nursing school. But one night, while working in the ICU, I had the heartbreaking task of telling a teenage girl who rushed in to see her father that he was gone. It was a moment that deeply affected me and made me realize how often we encounter such situations in Western medicine. That’s when I knew I wanted to find a different path, one that allowed me to help people heal in a way that felt more holistic and compassionate. So I switched gears and ditched nursing school.
Fast forward a bit… and along came a spider. A spider bite, to be exact. Let me tell you, a spider bite is no joke. It knocked me off my feet and wreaked havoc on my immune system. Two years later, with no end in sight, I felt desperate and hopeless. I had become antibiotic-resistant.
One day while talking with an herbalist friend of mine, she suggested I see her acupuncturist. I had never tried acupuncture before and knew very little about it, but I was willing to try anything. After just one treatment, I experienced incredible relief. After ten treatments, along with an herbal formula, I felt like myself again, only better. I was able to return to my studies. That’s when my path changed and I began acupuncture school.
That's when I began acupuncture school.
I knew this was my calling. I didn’t care how long it took, this was it. Acupuncture is unlike anything else. It’s magical, life-changing, and challenging. I immersed myself in both Eastern and Western medicine, studying pharmacology alongside its Eastern counterpart, mastering terms in Latin, Chinese, and English. I delved deep into bodywork, exploring several different modalities, practiced Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and learned every nuance of acupuncture points. It wasn't just studying - it became my life: I ate it, drank it, slept it, dreamed it, and truly lived it.
I started in Upstate New York and ended up in Portland, Oregon, at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, graduating with my Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I continued and completed the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, earning the MAcOM and DAOM, the highest degree available in the field within the United States.
I had the privilege of mentoring under some of the most respected women in the field of Women’s Health and TCM, including Dr. Claudia Citkovitz, PhD, MS, LAc, and Dr. Zhenbo Li, PhD, LAc. During my time with Dr. Li, I gained hands-on experience in the treatment of fertility at her clinic in Vancouver, Washington. As a nutritionist, Dr. Li relied on me to provide nutritional counseling and support to her patients, further enriching my expertise. Dr. Citkovitz was instrumental in helping me custom design a program that specifically focused on Perimenopause and Menopause, which enabled me to draft a clinical handbook on the subject.
Woven into my background, I became incredibly fascinated by sound healing, largely out of necessity to find alternatives for treating my patients who had been severely traumatized.
During my intern years, many of the women I treated had histories of physical and emotional abuse. I wanted to find a way to treat without the retraumatization that needles might cause, which led me to explore the use of the monochord, tuning forks, and singing bowls. These sound-based therapies allowed me to meet their energetic field as a friend rather than with a sharp object. No pun intended.
My capstone project for my DAOM, titled "Frequency-Based Agents in Clinical Practice: A Comparative Analysis/Literature Review," focused on exploring the impact of vibratory frequencies on health and well-being. This project delved into the use of therapeutic modalities such as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), laser acupuncture, and vibrational sound healing, which employ specific frequencies to promote healing, alleviate pain, and enhance overall wellness. This extensive review bridged traditional practices with modern scientific approaches, emphasizing the integration of frequency-based therapies into contemporary healthcare practices. I was incredibly fortunate to have Dr. William Morris, PhD, DAOM, LAc, as my mentor for this project.
Since then, I have gone on to complete a master's in clinical nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences and am currently completing a doctorate in clinical nutrition with an emphasis on functional nutrition at University of Western States.
It is a lifelong journey. My friends joke and tell me I am a habitual learner. If I ever stop, they’ll think something is wrong with me!
Outside of my professional life, I have many passions. I enjoy cooking, painting, gardening, playing my harp, "Astrid," and traveling. I cherish moments at home with my husband and our Boston Terrier, Betty. These activities bring balance and purpose to my life, allowing me to continually connect with my creativity and loved ones.
I look forward to meeting you and seeing how your story unfolds on your path to healing and wellness.
Warmly,
Dr. Sara
