Since her mid-teens, Julie has been drawn to holistic medicine. The desire to help with the healing of the whole person—taking into account body, mind, emotions and lifestyle—led her to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy, specializing in hand therapy. While Julie loved helping people recover from upper extremity injuries, diseases, and surgeries, she found herself feeling stifled by managed care.  Unable to practice in a way that allowed her to treat the whole person, and frustrated by her inability to find answers for her own medical concerns (read more about her personal medical journey), she took her education in a new direction, earning her second Master’s degree from the acclaimed Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin (AOMA).  She has also built upon her extensive western medical training with ongoing research and formal study in Functional Medicine and modalities.

Now, as a practitioner of both Oriental Medicine and Functional Medicine, Julie has the freedom to define her own practice as one that is focused on the specific, individual needs of each patient, something she was not allowed to do working in the managed-care Western medical model. She is able to practice a truly holistic medicine, viewing her patients not as a body to be “fixed,” but as a dynamic, organic being who is influenced by genetics, environment, beliefs, emotions, and lifestyle.

Julie continues her education in both Oriental medicine and Western medicine. She maintains her Occupational Therapy certification through meeting national requirements of continuing education. It is her belief that an understanding of both offers her patients the best path to true healing and wellness.

Julie has had great success helping those with gynecological/women's issues; stress, anxiety and other emotional issues; digestive disorders; thyroid issues; and autoimmune conditions. On a deeper level, she excels at helping people get "unstuck" in their lives.

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Psychology minor), Millikin University, Decatur, IL, 1993; graduated summa cum laude

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy; Tufts University; Boston, MA, 1995

Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin; Austin, TX, 2008

Certifications:

Diplomate of Oriental Medicine; National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2008

Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR); National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2009

Certified Hand Therapist (CHT); Hand Therapy Certification Commission, 2001-2006

Licensure:

Licensed Acupuncturist; Texas Medical Board; License #AC01068