top of page
image is a photo of a light-skinned woman with long brown/silver hair and green eyes.

Mary practices Classical Five Element Acupuncture as compiled 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 to 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.

Mary teaches Classical Five Element Acupuncture at the Institute of Taoist Education & Acupuncture (ITEA), the Institute of Classical Five Element Acupuncture, Inc., and via a private, 18-month course for practitioners in Quebec . 

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 , Dr. Brian Bender and Dr. Eliot Ivanhoe. She taught at the Institute starting in 2014 and was full-time apprentice, then teacher, before earning the prestigious title of Senior Faculty.  In 2020, with the arrival of the pandemic, Mary completed her Doctorate degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) program at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego.

She loves working with patients and students alike. In addition to in-person teaching, Mary has published two, 2-hour video courses on Ethics in the Field of Acupuncture, which can be taken with or without continuing education credit, available internationally.
She gave a free live talk in 2020: Rapport in the Burgeoning Realm of Distance Healing, which can also be accessed internationally; you needn't be an acupuncturist to access this course. All of these are available on Net of Knowledge. Use the Discover button to search Mary's name.  

Mary's newest course is occurring in February 2024: A 14-month complete training in Classical Five Element Acupuncture, held in Quebec, Canada. Please see the Courses tab to read more. 

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. While working in the hospital arena, she received many 'crash courses' in how to deal with difficult situations in real time. Through this, she learned about attaining a balance of discernment and neutrality, 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.

Mary is also certified (500+ hours) in teaching yoga and meditation. She applies this knowledge mostly for self care to be at her best to help you, but if you need help finding yoga or meditation techniques that work for you, please inquire.  

Credentials: 
Licensed Acupuncturist, California Acupuncture Board, #13078
Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)® #844960 
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, 2021
Classical Five Element Acupuncturist, Certificate, 2014
Master of Science in Oriental Medicine, 2008
Bachelor of Science, 1992

Affiliations / Memberships: 
American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA)
California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA)
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)®
Worsley Institute (WI)

Notable Trainings: 
CFEA Teacher Training: Refinement of CFEA Content with JR Worsley's daughter, Hilary Skellon, at the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture, Inc. (ITEA), 2021 and 2022; Teacher Training (LEAF program, one full year), 2023, and upcoming: Advanced LEAF via ITEA, 2024.
Continuously (daily, weekly, in person) mentored in both clinical and teaching skills by Neil Gumenick from 2014-2020, and ongoing, periodically, to date. 
 

bottom of page