The Scarlet Oak Collective trains local providers serving displaced and post-conflict communities in simple, portable, evidence-based auricular acupuncture protocols that ease pain and stress, delivered through the hands people already trust.

Studies show that auricular acupuncture can be profoundly impactful for stress, pain and trauma. It is in use around the world by aid organizations, post-disaster groups and militaries.

Healthcare and community workers serving refugee, displaced and post-conflict communities do heroic work, often with minimal access to some of the medications and therapies we take for granted. By providing these professionals with training in auricular acupuncture protocols, we are giving them another tool in the toolbox they can use to treat a patient.

This collective was founded out of my desire to combine the best of both of my histories and skills, as a humanitarian and as an acupuncturist, and bring the healing relief of auricular (ear) acupuncture to communities in need around the world.

Beginning over 20 years ago, I worked on programs across the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa; Sudan, Iraq, Liberia, Syria, Somaliland, Libya and others. In 2012, I returned to school for my Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine. In 2016, I opened my DC based practice, Scarlet Oak Acupuncture. And in 2026, I am launching my next chapter, The Scarlet Oak Collective.