Shannon Conrad, M.Ac., L.Ac 
Licensed Acupuncturist

I first became interested in Acupuncture during a college semester abroad in Beijing, where I found my university situated next to a publishing house that focused on Chinese Traditional Medical texts. I would visit the attached bookstore every week or so, and pour over the Acupuncture texts, and pictures of what I considered (at the time) to be a very unusual practice. I was fascinated with the Chinese conception of balance on the mind, body and spirit levels, and the hours spent watching doctors treat people with acupuncture, herbs and moxabustion on the streets of China only deepened my curiosity. 

During the four years I lived in China, I sought out Chinese and Tibetan healers, and was fascinated with what they could tell me about my state of health from my pulse alone. I really wanted to learn as much as I could from them, though at that time I considered my interest in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine as a hobby. Thus I continued on the expected path to graduate school, first in China at the Johns Hopkins SAIS Nanjing Center, and then in the U.S. at Columbia University, where I pursued my interest in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine through its historical and religious context. 

I discovered Tai Sophia in 2004 and became a licensed acupuncturist in the fall of 2007, and am currently in private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Prior to beginning my path of Acupuncture, I have worked as a research journalist for the Voice of America for the Chinese and Tibetan services, where I co-produced a short TV documentary on Acupuncture in America for the Mandarin TV service, and have worked as a consultant on China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong for the Department of Labor through MACRO consulting. I have published articles and book reviews for the US-China Business Council, China Quarterly, Washington Asia Press and Asian Fortune. I also volunteer for the National Committee on US-China relations and am the vice-chair of the Maryland-Anhui China Sister Cities Healthcare subcommittee.

 I hope you will join me on this fascinating journey to China, where we will discover how this ancient medicine is practiced in modern world.

To see class offerings or receive more information about the Chi Farm, please see www.thechifarm.com.