Amy Rattenbury

I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with the people of Champagoan, Nepal and the Acupuncture Relief Project. 

Growing up in a bicultural family sparked my interest in people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and traveling fueled my passion for humanitarian and social justice issues. Before studying Chinese medicine, many of my jobs involved teaching, advocating and assisting people within the health care and education fields. While I enjoy backpacking to remote areas of the world, I always dreamt of finding a way to give back to the communities I was visiting and to get to know the local people on a deeper level. Now that dream is possible with the simple yet powerful tools of Chinese medicine and I am thrilled to be in a position where I can contribute to the health and wellbeing of a community.

This experience will be a huge stepping-stone in my own evolution as a practitioner and healer and I am grateful that this program exists.  Not only do we have the opportunity to help the people of Champagoan but also to develop our skills and abilities within this evolution. Thank you for your interest and support!

Anne Frances Hardy

Anne Frances Hardy graduated from National College of Natural Medicine in June 2010, where she received a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine with high honors. Previous to NCNM, she earned a Bachelor of Science in medical biology from the University of New England, in addition to certification in massage therapy and multiple energy medicine techniques. Anne Frances has an expanded perspective on patient care based on her long work history serving as a nursing assistant for veterans and the elderly.       

Anne Frances Hardy’s primary area of practice includes women’s health, cardiology, gastroenterology, food allergies, mood disorders, chronic pain, and chronic diseases such as autoimmune disease and cancer. Anne Frances’s primary goal is to provide integrative medical care, using the best treatments available from Naturopathic, Chinese and conventional medicine. Providing medical care to the under-served has been an important aspect of her life in the United States, and she looks forward to returning to Nepal to care for people who are extremely giving despite having very little.

Dana Youssef

My adventures have taken me to Nepal several times and each time I feel that my heart and spirit have come back to a long forgotten home.

The people have charmed me, the landscape has awed me, the culture has intrigued me and the poverty and political situation has saddened me. The friendliness and generosity I have seen and been a recipient of have been an inspiration to me.
As an acupuncturist, registered nurse, reiki master, medical Qi Gong student and body talk access technician, I feel that I have the ability to offer the residents of Chapagoan the benefit of the many tools I carry in my bag.

To practice in a community setting will be a new experience for me. I know I will be challenged and changed by the many situations that arise, but I think these will be important lessons that will help me grow into the practitioner I want to become.
I am excited to become a practitioner with Acupuncture Relief Project.

I would like to thank all the people who have encouraged and supported me in making this dream a reality.

Danube Jacobs

From the moment I learned about the Acupuncture Relief Project, I was itching to jump on board.  I cannot think of a better opportunity upon graduating to serve, learn, practice and live.  I know an incredible life experience awaits me as I humbly meet 20-30 patients/teachers each day, all while absorbing every rich moment of living in a third world country, my first.
 
I am most excited to see the wonders of acupuncture work it’s universal magic, crossing cultural borders.  I look forward to carrying this experience back with me to the States and sharing newly gained knowledge and skills with my community.
 
Though my career before Chinese medicine school was making furniture, I have years of experience volunteering for nonprofits and being involved in humane education, with compassion always being a driving force behind my efforts.  My journey through life has been a meandering one; but with every decision and direction change in my life, the one constant has been a following of my heart.  This adventure to Chapagoan is no exception.
 
Thank you to everyone for the loving support and encouragement and helping to make this journey possible!

Emilie Salomons

It has been a decade now since I first started studying Chinese Medicine. Throughout the learning process and since graduating five years ago, I have always maintained a focus on community work. I am never short of amazement when I see how much hope, happiness and resilience exists in conditions which most of us could not fathom.

Whether it was working at a youth addiction house, treating people with mental health disorders, helping people with terminal illnesses like HIV and Cancer, or volunteering teaching nurses and Midwives in Uganda, working at the community level has given me joy, empathy and a true appreciation for the little things in life.

I am deeply honored to be joining the ARP team in Nepal. I look forward to continuing to learn from my new colleagues and patients, as well as from the new culture and climate.

Katie Marshall

I am honored and excited to be a volunteer practitioner for the Acupuncture Relief Project.

I was drawn to Nepal by its immense beauty as well as its need.  Volunteering for the Acupuncture Relief Project provides the perfect oppurtunity to combine my two great loves, the love of travel and passion for helping others. 

I have spent the past ten years living in beautiful places with strong communities, and I have always felt it necessary to give back to my community through volunteering. Through a series of life changing events, I found my way to Chinese Medicine. My ten years experience as a white water raft guide and  Special Olympic Snowboarding coach, combined with my formal education have prepared me to serve the community in Chapagoan as a volunteer acupuncturists. 

Whether it be traveling, working or studying in other countries, I have always cherished the the connection I form with diverse people in various communities. I look forward to connecting with the people of Chapagoan, and sharing the beauty of Chinese Medicine with them. 

Thank you for your generous donation alowing me to persue this dream and develop the skills to better serve my community upon my return.  

Lynsee Leahy

I'm very excited to be a part of all this! I am also honoured to be one of the first students accepted to partake in the Acupuncture Relief Project.

I recall when I was little, wanting to work with MSF (Doctors Without Borders), but I have never desired to follow the western medicine route. When I later discovered acupuncture, I knew that it was the path I was meant to take.

My studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine thus far have opened up a whole new world for me and introduced and inspired many new philosophies, ideas and interests. I am learning how to help those around me, and with this opportunity I will be fulfilling my desire to help those abroad who I feel are truly in need.

I'm currently living and going to school in Victoria, British Columbia. I'm thrilled to be able to travel halfway across the world to gain such valuable clinic experience. And I look forward to the future and all that may unfold for me.

Madhvi Aggarwal

I am very excited to join the ARP team in Nepal. This project enables me to attain a dream I have strived for since I was thirteen: to provide healthcare to rural communities around the world.

Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, it broke my heart to see social, racial and cultural inequity. I was often frustrated by the social divide between the “upper” and “lower” classes, as well as by hearing the apathetic statement “what can you do? This is just the way things are.” My biggest challenge was imagining how I could possibly change generations of people who held on to orthodox and colonial doctrines that justified East Africa’s economic conditions.

I have always felt guilty for participating in a lifestyle that I did not feel was just. It made me a hypocrite, especially because I did little to contribute in ways I felt capable towards the community at large.

For this reason, among many others, I truly feel lucky with this opportunity to work with a group of people who have identified a way to help communities that are undeservedly deprived of basic human rights.  I finally have a chance to actively participate in a program that touches the lives of thousands and sees past all the “differences” that exist in the human race. I know this adventure is going to teach me some beautiful and thought-provoking lessons about life; the experience is going to be invaluable! I really do look forward to growing and becoming more aware of how we can further contribute to a global society with an open heart and open mind.

There is nothing I believe in more than the work ARP has been doing in Nepal and I look forward to working with a dynamic community that has witnessed its own share of strife, as well as resilience. Thank you so much for all that you do!

Om Shanti.

Maura Dawgert

A recent graduate of Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, I am incredibly excited to work with the Acupuncture Relief Project because this opportunity allows me to fuse two of my loves, Chinese medicine and exploring new places. After studying Anthropology and Peace Studies at Loyola University of Chicago, I followed a curvy path to Chinese medical school. My love of adventure took me through many countries and cities as well as work and study opportunities in the fields of primatology, acupressure, massage and medical assistance.  Education and travel not only exposed me to various cultural traditions and landscapes, but they also enlightened me to various economic imbalances and injustices. I strongly believe that all people should have access to medical care. The opportunity to provide healthcare in Chapagoan and to continue my education through my interactions with all of the Nepalese I meet is an honor and a wonderful start to my journey as a practitioner of Chinese medicine.  Thank you to my beautiful family, friends, and colleagues for your wonderful support! 

Rachel Pearce

Since hearing about Acupuncture Relief Project two years ago, I knew it was an opportunity I wanted to be a part of. Combining my love for travel and culture with my new-found Traditional Chinese Medicine knowledge is a union I am very excited about. This will be my most extended trip to a third world country and am happy about the prospect of giving to the community while I am there.

I have had many life experiences preparing me for this endeavor. Traveling and working in different locations around the globe has given me knowledge and confidence when it comes to living outside of the states. Being in an accelerated graduate program while keeping a part-time job has mentally prepared me for hard work and long hours. Interning in a low income acupuncture clinic has given me a sense for working with under-served populations. And lastly, two years of playing roller derby has equipped me to be physically tough. This is a challenge I am ready to take on.

Thank you for your support, both emotional and financial. I look forward to positively representing our country and the acupuncture profession.

Sandy Riedman

I am truly honored to be a part of the Acupuncture Relief Project. I first traveled through Nepal in 1998.  My heart and my mind were blown wide open by the beauty of the people and the Himalayas. I am thrilled to return and offer my services to the people of the Chapagoan community.   This experience will allow me to work in a community setting with hundreds of people. I feel deep in my heart that I will become a more graceful, patient and compassionate healer through this journey.

I have worked full-time as a massage therapist and part-time as a yoga teacher for the past ten years in Portland, Oregon. This experience and my new passion for Chinese medicine has taught me that healing is a magical and unlimited process. I am excited to be part of this amazing team of practitioners and look forward to many adventures together.

Thank you for your support.