Ali Vander Baan
*Ali is no longer seeing patients in the Boston office.
PROFESSIONAL BIO
Ali graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in Psychology. After working in psychiatric research at Brown University, she decided to pursue a career in which she could have a more direct impact on the health and well-being of her patients. She received her Master's Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from New England School of Acupuncture, the oldest accredited institution for Oriental Medicine in the United States. She completed over 700 hours of clinical internship in Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine with renowned Chinese medical practitioners, Winnie Chow and Yan Ping Jin.
She also received her Master's Degree in Pain Management from Tufts University School of Medicine, culminating in her dissertation on mindfulness meditation combined with acupuncture for the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Ali continues to enhance her practice with extensive post-graduate continuing education training in Women's Health, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Pain Management.
Combining a passion for whole health with her academic and clinical expertise, Ali provides a truly integrative style of care with comprehensive and customized treatment plans to help her patients achieve their unique wellness goals. By partnering with her patients, Ali aims to empower them to take an active role in holistically restoring balance and cultivating sustainable wellness.
CREDENTIALS:
Licensed Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist, Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
Diplomat of Oriental Medicine, National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Master of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, New England School of Acupuncture
Master of Science in Pain, Research, Education & Policy, Tufts University School of Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, College of the Holy Cross
AWARDS:
2016 Saltonstall Award for Excellence in Pain Research, Education, & Policy, Tufts University School of Medicine
2015 Tsay Fellowship Award for distinguished achievement and likely contribution to the science and art of Chinese Medicine, New England School of Acupuncture
AFFILIATIONS:
Executive Committee, Women Leading the Way to Wellness, American Cancer Society
MY BACKGROUND STORY
I discovered the incredible power of acupuncture and herbal medicine through my own struggles with stress and hormone imbalance. After years of unresolved stress, it began to finally manifest as a constellation of neurological symptoms--chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, migraines, poor concentration, and menstrual irregularity-- to name a few. The message to "slow down!" was finally received when I began experiencing sudden, intermittent blindness and unilateral paralysis. It was a wake up call to listen to my body.
When conventional medical diagnostics failed to provide any conclusive answers or solutions I decided to see what acupuncture and a more holistic approach had to offer.
Through the lens of Chinese medicine, my acupuncturist was able to discern the subtle disharmonies that were wrecking havoc on my nervous and endocrine (hormonal) systems. Together we addressed them with a course of consistent acupuncture treatments, herbal formula supplementation, and diet and lifestyle modification.
Within a matter of months I went from depressed and exhausted to vibrant and exuberant! This experience offered me an invaluable lesson in attuning to my body's messages and intuition. It also exposed me to the empowering and healing capacity of a holistic approach to health.