Blogger Bios
- AcuMartyr
AcuMartyr is a complicated superhero dedicated to defending acupuncture’s sacred, eternal, and immutable values established by the consensus of our venerable ancestors. Empowered by ancient wisdom, pop-psychology jargon, and new age insight, AcuMartyr communicates only through profound affirmations.
AcuMartyr’s bold unwavering convictions in the face of conflicting evidence, statistics and surveys have made him a legend. There is no needle toting superhero today who is more masterful at invalidating the perspectives of sentient beings. However, you will find that AcuMartyr also struggles with the same darkness and insecurities that all mortals encounter in the world of alternative medicine. On his low self-esteem days, AcuMartyr admirers worldwide are moved by his endless agonizing, self-deprecation and tormented cries for help.
Regardless of his mood, AcuMartyr’s timeless message penetrates through your wei qi and clings to your consciousness like cupping on sore shoulders.
- Andy Wegman
Opened Manchester Acupuncture Studio in Manchester, NH in June '07 after a two-year courtship with the teetering and relentless desire to 'do it WCA-style'. By June of '09 MAS was in need of 12 more chairs and another Punk or two.
Andy is beyond fortunate to be working with, and schooled by an exceptional group of colleagues on a daily basis, both at MAS and CAN.
- Ann Mongeau
I've been a member of CAN since the beginning. It just makes sense to me to offer acupuncture at affordable prices. Then, because it's so much fun to do community acupuncture and it's so useful to people, I got active in spreading the word.
- Blythe Miller
It is hard to stay where it started. Perhaps it was deep down in Blythe Miller's roots in the 19th century Russian proletariat. Perhaps it was deep in a Qi Gong fueled meditative state. Hell, maybe it was something her dog told her. At any rate, it became crystal clear to Blythe that regular people have a really hard time getting access to quality healthcare, especially acupuncture. And she has made it a priority to bridge that gap through promoting Community Acupuncture. She is currently slogging her way through the Masters program at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine.
- Brent Ottley, L.Ac.
I am shifting from BA to CA because after many years in all kinds of practice situations, I just finally said ENOUGH. It's either do this or quit practicing. Time to put my money where my mouth is. All of you have been immeasurably helpful to me in making the jump. There is much to do to make this work, because I'm doing it insanely fast on a shoestring budget, but the support is coming in from all directions, and hell or high water, it goes live on 6/29/09. The community you have created is making a difference, and I am grateful to be a part of it. - Cortney Hartman
I am one of the most recent and very-happy-to-be-so acupuncturist additions to Working Class Acupuncture, in Portland Oregon. I learned about the community acupuncture model from year one of my studies and have been dedicated to it since then. Not really knowing if and how I would have made it out of school sanely without it, I am so thankful for CAN and the founders, members, and all of the love and knowledge that abounds. Learning and being challenged constantly, I am often amazed at how the CA model plays out in "real life" and am happy to be a part of the revolution and positive and much needed change in acupuncture and healthcare in the U.S..
- Cris Monteiro, L.Ac.
Started Providence Community Acupuncture after reading "The Little Red Book of Working Class Acupuncture" and attending a conference at WCA in Oct. '06. The community clinic has enabled her to spend more time working out doors at a friend's vegetable farm and at killing her own lawn to plant more food and flowers. Cris enjoys biking to work, scrumping (harvesting local food surpluses) and her wonderful community of friends and family.
- Dana TiftI just rolled over my clinic to a CA style clinic. I have 6 chairs in two rooms and have 4 shifts 4 days a week. As business grows, I will expand my hours.
- David M. Lesseps
I'm French-Irish-American hybrid living in SF, married to a Irish-American gal from New Hampshire. I have a son named after my hometown in Texas; he was born in the year of the Monkey (me--the Dog.) I went to school to learn how to stick needles into people in order to make them feel better. I'm broke, in-debt, and pay too much rent for aone-bedroomtwo-bedroom apartment. I have health insurance but owe about $2000 in medical bills and believe that CA will make my life, and others like me, more comfortable. I also have about 20 kilos of puer tea aging in a red metal cabinet -- I plan to drink it all before my days are over. - Diana Di Gioia, L.Ac.
I had just hit 10 years in practice when I stumbled on the Working Class Acupuncture model in 1995, via Lisa and Skip's "Little red book of working class acupuncture". After reading this 3 times in the first two weeks, I was ready to jump, and two months later I was offering Community Acupuncture part time in my Cape Cod, Massachusetts clinic.
While my boutiqe style practice had always been enough to pay the bills, I was forever needing to recruit new clients, and the ones I had often ignored my recommendations for a treatment plan, mosty due to cost. This made me feel frustrated and not very effective. The opportunity to transform my practice in ways that better support me, my community, and my values has been life changing for me. While it's all still a work in progress, there's no question that this is what I want to be doing, and helping others to do as well.
- Ellen Vincent, L.Ac.
is the co-founder of Philadelphia Community Acupuncture. She lives four blocks from her clinic, two blocks from the park, and has to go nurse now. The baby monitor is making noises. Oh wait, they stopped. So here's more: Use a stainless steel guide tube! Ellen loves them and so will you.
