Our Practitioners

Kathleen T. Poole, MSAc, L.Ac

Kathleen T. Poole is a Licensed Acupuncturist with a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and is certified in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Kathleen finds her work deeply satisfying on many levels. The technical aspects of her profession satisfy her love of science, and the healing aspects have encouraged her to develop her intuition. In her chosen field of Chinese Medicine, the enjoyment of working with her hands is combined with intellectual fulfillment. Her private practice and teaching give her opportunities to meet interesting people from all walks of life.  Her sense of adventure leads her to innovative treatments as well as to travel related to her field. Kathleen is enthusiastic about her work and sees her relationships with her patients as a partnership with them. 

From an early age Kathleen was interested in sciences. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of South Carolina. She worked in her field at the same university before moving to New York to take a position at Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory where she worked with foreign doctors trying to eradicate serious animal diseases from their countries. After moving to Maryland, Kathleen served as an Emergency Medical Technician for Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Department. These experiences have influenced her approach to medicine.

Kathleen first encountered acupuncture when she sought treatment for herself shortly after the birth of her second child and became fascinated with Chinese Medicine. In 1986 Kathleen enrolled in the acupuncture program at Tri-State College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (now Tri-State College of Acupuncture), located in Stamford CT and New York City. She started her practice, and continued her studies to earn a diploma and national certification in Chinese Herbology. Kathleen is one of the area’s first acupuncturists and is active in her profession through private practice and teaching. As president of the Connecticut Society of Acupuncture, Kathleen was instrumental in Connecticut's acupuncture law being passed in 1994. Through her leadership roles in the Connecticut Society of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine she continues to participate in efforts to further the public’s access to acupuncture. 
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Education
In addition to the Vietnamese-French meridian energetic perspective she learned at Tri-State, Kathleen continued her studies with Mark Seem to learn trigger point technique, studied Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion with Kiiko Matsumoto, and is familiar with five element and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) style acupuncture. 
In 2007 Kathleen traveled to China to study herbal medicine with Dr. Huang Huang of Nanjing. She found his herbal perspective perfect to combine with her understanding of acupuncture. Since then she regularly attends his seminars in the USA and Europe and in August of 2008 hosted him at Mystic River Acupuncture.Kathleen has also taken advanced studies in therapeutic cupping and guasha, and is certified in Battlefield Acupuncture and Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimnation Technique (N.A.E.T.)

Teaching
Kathleen served on the faculty of Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City from 1989-2005. Here she was a senior supervisor of the student clinic and taught weekend seminars, including skills reviews.

From 1990-1995 she served on the faculty in the Shiatsu Department of the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in Newington, CT. She developed and taught the Oriental medical theory portion of their Shiatsu program and wrote three of the course manuals.
She has been a regular guest instructor at Connecticut College, New London CT, presenting an Oriental Medicine class for the Medical Anthropology course under Dr. June Macklin (1994-1997). During the mid to late 1990s, Kathleen gave presentations of Chinese Medicine at the Pfizer Global Headquarters in Groton, CT.

In 1998 Kathleen returned to the Westport campus of the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy to teach East-West patho-physiolgy. She currently sits on the CCMT program advisory board.

Kathleen has participated in ICAM Home Week sessions at the University of Connecticut School of Medical. In these classes third year medical students experience Integrative and Complimentary Medicine (ICAM). As a guest acupuncturist Kathleen demonstrated acupuncture for the students in this program. She regularly gives guest lectures for Eastern Connecticut State University.

Experience 
From 1991-1998 Kathleen she served as an Examiner for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture point location exam and as a proctor for the written board examination. During this time she also helped to administer the Massachusetts acupuncture board examination.

Kathleen is a past president (1995-2002) of the Connecticut Society of Acupuncture and was instrumental in getting the first acupuncture legislation passed in Connecticut in the 1990s. She also served as a director on the board of the Connecticut Society of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CSAOM).

Kathleen traveled to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in July of 1999, where she was welcomed at Mission Mikocheni Hospital as a guest acupuncture professor. She gave a series of lectures and demonstrated acupuncture technique to the hospital’s medical staff.
Kathleen traveled across the country touring community clinics before opening Southeastern Connecticut’s first community acupuncture clinic at Mystic River Acupuncture.

Kathleen has frequently appeared on radio and television programs where she shares her expertise. Her ability to explain complicated theories in a clear, understandable manner and her practical approach to alternative medicine make her a popular guest on these shows.

Kathleen is licensed as an acupuncturist in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York and is licensed as a Doctor of Acupuncture in Rhode Island. She has current national certification in both acupuncture and Chinese herbs from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She is a member of Connecticut Society of Acupuncture and the American Society of Acupuncture, and a past member of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

On a local level, Kathleen volunteered at the Sunshine Soup Kitchen in Groton, CT until it closed its doors. She sits on the Mystic Area Ecumenical Council. She is a member of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and the Groton Business Association, and sits on the steering committee of the latter.