About Ann
Ann qualified with a Diploma in Naturopathy and Acupuncture with the College of Naturopathic and Complementary Medicine, London in 2002. After 18 months in practice, she decided that she wanted to gain further skills in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in order to enhance the level of care she could offer her clients. Whilst continuing to maintain her practice, she undertook a 4 year degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Middlesex University, London, then regarded as Europe's leading TCM programme.
Ann graduated with a First Class BSc Honours degree in TCM in 2008 and was also presented with the University’s Ellis Snitcher prize for Integrative Medicine. Whilst she was studying for this degree she completed a Diploma in Tuîná (Chinese therapeutic massage) at the Asanté Academy of Chinese Medicine in Archway, London.
She has a great love of China and has visited several times both to travel and work. She has studied at both the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University and The Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gaining insight into various in-patient specialties such as Rheumatology, Nephrology, Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Internal medicine, together with the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Outpatients department.
Ann is also a qualified nurse. Although no longer practising, her nursing career spanned approximately 25 years, specialising in intensive care for 10 years and, more recently, hospice care. Her experience has taught her the value of examining the causes which may underlie current symptoms, whether they are physical, emotional/mental and/or spiritual. This Western medical experience provides an invaluable underpinning of knowledge to the work that she is now doing.
Academically, in addition to her Chinese medicine and nursing qualifications, Ann also has an Honours degree in Social Anthropology from Kent University and a Diploma in Professional Practice (Acute and Critical Care) from the University of Luton. Following on from voluntary experience working in a clinic for drug users in London, she has contributed a chapter on the use of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction to a textbook “Electro acupuncture – a practical manual and resource” edited by David Mayor and published in 2007.
Ann has developed a particular interest in, and is a passionate advocate of, the use of TCM in the treatment of fertility issues for men and women – whether that be enhancing their natural fertility or supporting couples undergoing conventional Western-assisted conception programmes. She is also experienced in providing acupuncture for women throughout their pregnancy and in the post-natal period.
Her commitment to fertility and obstetrics has led her to undertake in-depth post-graduate training in these areas. She is an active member of the Acupuncture for Childbirth Team (ACT) in Hertfordshire – an affiliation of acupuncturists with expertise in obstetric and fertility care, whose focus is on the continuing professional development of its members through shared experience and on-going training. She is similarly affiliated to the Zita West National Network.
Between 2012 - 2015 Ann co-founded and managed Maternity Acupuncture Support, an antenatal acupuncture clinic based at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage. The active encouragement of a number of the Obstetric and Gynaecological Consultants at the hospital led Ann and her business partner to establish Fertility Acupuncture Support – a dedicated fertility acupuncture clinic also based at Lister Hospital.
Ann is a member of the main professional regulatory bodies for Chinese medicine in the United Kingdom. These bodies – the British Acupuncture Council and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine – both require that their members are properly qualified practitioners who are bound by strict Codes of Ethics and Good Practice and have full professional insurance.