About Our Team

About Dr. Beth Dorsey, L.Ac, FABORM

“Since 2006 Dr. Beth Dorsey has practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and worked extensively with women’s health and hormones, fertility, and pregnancy patients both virtually and in the Santa Cruz and Soquel area.

 

In addition to her private practice Beth works collaboratively with many other providers and practitioners to expand her knowledge and better serve her patients and community. She is one of the first and only acupuncturists in the Santa Cruz area who is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, ABORM. She is a member of the NorCal Fertility group, a collaborative group of acupuncturists specializing in reproductive medicine.

 

Additionally, Beth is one of the few practitioners for Birth Point, an organization of acupuncturists with extensive training in obstetrics and prenatal care, that work closely with birth care providers in our community. Together, Beth and the group provide an integrative approach to support optimal health in regards to fertility, pre-birth, pregnancy, labor, postpartum and pediatric care. Her passion and commitment for excellent, holistic patient care has motivated her to create a clinical experience where patients feel heard, educated, and supported so they can reach their health goals.

 

Since early 2006, Beth has been integrating functional medicine in her practice following her studies in functional endocrinology, thyroid health, and blood chemistry with Dr. Kharrazian. She completed the Kalish functional medicine mentorship and the advanced training in 2012 and is an active member of the Kalish community, where she meets weekly with Dr. Kalish and functional medicine colleagues to study specific topics and review lab tests.

 

Beth’s love for learning keeps her enrolled in many continuing education classes furthering her knowledge in Chinese and functional medicine. Her training has taken her beyond treating women’s health and hormones, treating a wide variety of health concerns such as digestive issues, adrenal health, asthma and allergies, and pain management.

 

Known not only for her compassion and sensitivity, Dr. Dorsey approaches her work using many lenses. With the art of TCM and the deep understanding of Western treatments and diagnoses, she offers a fully comprehensive, integrative treatment strategy. By deeply listening to each patient’s story she carefully crafts a comprehensive treatment plan that is designed for that unique individual and their specific health. Her blended knowledge of Western and Chinese Medicine allows her to draw from a vast depth of experience and expertise when creating her treatment sessions and patient care plans.

 

When she’s not treating patients in her private practice or online, you can find her corralling her two kids, throwing weights around at Crossfit, cooking in the kitchen, or rafting down rivers. She cherishes spending time with family, connecting with friends and the community, and traveling the world. She loves good food (think food snob, in a good way) and creating community around health and movement. She brings people together to inspire, support and share with each other.”

About Dr. Beth Dorsey, L.Ac, FABORM

Olivia Baker, L.Ac, MTCM, FABORM

Olivia Baker is a California State Board Licensed Acupuncturist, a Nationally Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, and a fellow of the Acupuncture and TCM board of Reproductive Medicine.

 

With a deep passion and understanding for Chinese Medicine, Olivia is driven to use her education and experience to help patients achieve optimal health. She compassionately treats the body as a whole by seeking, diagnosing, and treating the root cause of disease. Her passions and speciality lie in fertility, women’s health, psychological and emotional disorders, and sleep disorders.

 

After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Statistics, Olivia worked in psychology research until she realized how deeply she missed direct patient care. With a desire to get back into one on one patient care, she moved to Santa Cruz to study at Five Branches University. During her education she interned at China Medical University in Taiwan to study various styles of Acupuncture, while deepening and expanding her knowledge of Chinese Medicine.

 

Since beginning her acupuncture career, Olivia has worked at one of the top fertility acupuncture clinics in the Bay Area, completed the ADAPT Functional Medicine Practitioner Training Program with Chris Kresser, and helped countless patients along the way. With a heartfelt passion for learning, a background in Psychology, and diverse clinical training, Olivia is a dynamic and dedicated practitioner.

Carmen Palacios

Carmen Palacios is our office manager and marketing extraordinaire. You will see her up front running the show as well as behind the scenes communicating with patients and keeping things running smoothly.

 

Carmen has always been drawn to health and wellness and encourages others to work towards their emotional and physical health goals. She is an advocate for chronic illness, mental health, and accessible healthcare. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from University California Los Angeles in both Psychology and Disability Studies.

 

With her free time she can be found volunteering with nonprofits, spending time with her two pugs, going to concerts, or enjoying time at home with her family.

Carmen Palacios