Prior to committing to a career in acupuncture and oriental medicine, Andrea traveled a circuitous route filled with relevant learnings gathered in various fields and countries. After she graduated from Emory University in 1995 with a BA in International Studies, she worked in communications for both the Clinton Gore ‘96 Presidential Campaign and Inauguration in Washington, DC., and for Governor Gray Davis in Sacramento, CA. Andrea also endeavored in the private sector, working in marketing at Warner Bros. Consumer Products and America Online, where she program managed AOL’s global mobile strategy, traveling extensively through Europe. During these travels for work, she was continuously intrigued by each culture’s varying approach to health maintenance.
After two years, she realized that her professional aspirations had not been fulfilled, and she returned to Southern California. On her way back to Los Angeles, she took a soul-searching trip to to her mother’s native homeland of Puerto Rico, where she read an article about breakthroughs in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oprah Magazine that changed her life (see attached article). Her epiphany was that she could combine her lifelong passion for alternative, natural healing and sound nutrition with her strong desire to help others into the study and practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine. Her introduction to acupuncture came 10 years earlier, when she was faced with a digestive disorder that did not respond to traditional medical care. Andrea sought relief through acupuncture and traditional oriental medicine, administered by sage acupuncturist Trinh Li, and it was the only therapy that immediately helped. From that point on, Andrea was convinced of acupuncture’s efficacy and applicability to every day health and overall wellness, and received regular treatments. Once she realized that she too could channel her healing energy into the practice of acupuncture, she promptly enrolled at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master’s in Traditional Oriental Medicine in 2008.
Andrea has done additional study in acupuncture orthopedics and Japanese style acupuncture, as well as holistic nutrition and women’s issues.
She is thrilled to be a part of the Evolve Wellness team and to be working with her patients on the cutting edge of the wellness paradigm shift away from only treating symptoms and towards preventing disease and maintaining a state of health and contentment.
Andrea grew up in Westlake Village, CA. Ironically, she had to travel around the world only to find her true calling back in the LA area, working in the healing arts. She lives in West Hollywood with her husband and 3 year old daughter.