(Working Women) - Steph, Acupuncturist & BurnCycle Instructor

Steph is another one of my good friends from growing up in West Linn. She and I first met in middle school, I think, riding the bus to Athey Creek together, and we always ran around with the same group of girlfriends. We also lived walking distance from each other, and I often spent mornings at her house eating parmesan toast or stealing Cheez-Its to catch a ride to high school with her mom, before we were old enough to get our driver's licenses. Aside from her perfectly white, straight teeth and beautifully wide smile, her other most striking characteristic is her friend-ness. This girl has more friends than anyone I've ever known. Men and women. Young and old. Nearby and far away. Seriously, she's been in, like, 27 weddings (that might have been a subtle - not so subtle now that I've had to point it out - reference to 27 Dresses, because Steph's celebrity doppelganger would definitely be Katherine Heigl). And it's because she's caring, loyal, asks questions, listens to the answers, has a great sense of humor, knows how to have fun (I'm always envious of her outdoor adventures and concert-goings), and she can get along with just about any type of person. She's just so real. Oh yeah, and she's kind of a badass, too. Seriously.

Steph and Adrienne.

Bio info - who are you, how old are you, where are you from, where do you live, what's your living/family situation, what are your hobbies, etc. Essentially, what's your story?

My name is Stephanie. I am a friend of Jo's from childhood, we grew up in West Linn together. Quite frankly, after reading Libba's bio, I considered throwing in the towel. Funny and successful. Who can follow that. This has been going on for years ...

I'm 32 years old, I live in Southeast Portland with my girlfriend, Adrienne. I grew up in West Linn, went to Oregon State University, and ended up moving back to Portland after college. I have an incredible community here, friends and family, and despite my best efforts to leave, I have stayed and I am convinced now that Portland is a pretty great city to live.

I'm an acupuncturist, a spin instructor, and am extremely passionate about health. I love to travel, especially internationally. I have always been an athlete, a tomboy, and loved anything related to sports since I could walk. I think I wore a baseball cap for a year straight at one point (sorry Mom). I rock climb, even though I have a fear of heights. I practice yoga so I don't hurt myself doing other activities. I feel more comfortable when I am listening to music. I love the outdoors, good coffee, good wine, and the sun.

Erin, brother Dave, Steph and Adrienne wedding crashing.

What is your current job/profession? What path did you take to get there? Any required schooling or training?

After OSU, I worked a corporate job for 2 years at a construction company, the typical 9-5 work schedule. It was a great experience, but it became clear very quickly it was not what I felt called to do. I wasn't inspired and knew it was not something I was passionate about. I felt like I was meant to be helping people in some capacity, but didn't know how. Some of my family members were getting acupuncture for allergies, and they recommended I give it a try. I started getting treatment for insomnia, anxiety, and back pain (sitting at a desk all day!). It changed my health, my life, and I knew I had found my calling. I immediately started thinking about quitting my job and going back to school. 

Treating low back and neck pain using the foot.

I received my Masters degree in Chinese medicine and acupuncture at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland. They have a 3 or 4 year Masters program, depending on how little of a life you want to have! I finished in 3 years, and spent 6 weeks studying and working in hospitals in Nanjing, China after graduation. 

For my first year in practice, I had the opportunity to work with a breast surgeon specializing in treatment of breast cancer patients. After a year, I joined Acupuncture Northwest in North Portland, and currently practice there today.

To add a different element, I also instruct spin classes at BurnCycle in the Pearl District. Jessi Duley, owner of BurnCycle, is a friend since childhood as well. It all comes back around, doesn't it? When she started talking about starting a spin studio, I was all in. She brought the dream to a reality, and I jumped at the chance to try my hand at instructing. I now teach 5 classes a week. It is a creative outlet/second job/passion that allows me to reach people in a different way, and influence their health from a fitness perspective.

Steph & Will on the bike at BurnCycle.

What are the pros and cons of your current position?

Pros: Being self-employed allows you to create your own schedule, for the most part. I am my own boss, my own motivator, the creator of my own destiny, if you will. I love working with patients. I get to connect with people in a very deep way in a short amount of time, which seems to be rare these days. I am given the trust of people who have trouble trusting. I am told stories most people will never hear. And I get the opportunity to improve people's health with tiny needles, sometimes to the degree that they say their lives are changed by acupuncture. I am also very fortunate to work at an amazing clinic with amazing practitioners.

Cons: Acupuncture is a service industry, so that sometimes means working unconventional hours, or weekends. It is an alternative form of medicine, a luxury to many people, so our industry is very susceptible to the trends of the economy, as well as changes in health insurance. Building a patient base can be very stressful, and your income depends on it, so you can never stop marketing, meeting people, pushing yourself. It is hard to turn work "off" when you are self-employed.

Walk us through a typical day, week, or month ...

I work 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday at Acupuncture Northwest (I also worked Saturdays for about 3 years, but recently changed my schedule). Each day's schedule varies a little, some morning and some evening shifts. I see patients about 8 hours per day, 2-3 patients an hour. In the off-time during the day, I am either teaching at BurnCycle, or going to the climbing gym or a yoga class. Every day also involves patient charting, and some kind of research or administrative work for the clinic.


What is something about your job that other people might not know or expect?

Education is one of the biggest parts of my job! Not just for the patients, but for myself as a practitioner as well. Acupuncturists have to know so much more than just Chinese medicine. We often treat complex cases, a lot of chronic illness, and when a patient comes to you with a serious diagnosis, you have to know the ins and outs of their disease. You need to be fluent in most aspects of Western medicine, including pathology, anatomy and physiology. You also have to be up to date on current trends in medicine ... new supplements or medications, alternative treatments, diets, etc. People Google every health condition and you have to be as educated as they are!

Oh, and also, acupuncture does not hurt. It just doesn't. I know people are afraid of needles. Nobody likes a shot. This is not like a shot. I promise.

How much do you make? (Too forward?!? Probably. But let's be real, a large part of the reason we work is to make money - give us some deets about your income, as much as you feel comfortable sharing, whether specific to your personal salary, or generally speaking, as in, What Would Google Say).

I can tell you that I didn't pick this career for the easy money. Annual earnings for acupuncturists are so variable, based on experience, location, entrepreneurial ability, and many other factors. Honestly, there is great potential to make good money as an acupuncturist, under the right circumstances. I have been fortunate to experience large growth each year I have been in practice, and am very motivated to continue that trend.


Do you anticipate making any career changes in the next 5 to 10 years?

I will always practice acupuncture. It becomes more of a lifestyle, than just a career. The beauty of being an acupuncturist is that you can practice in multiple ways. I now work at an amazing clinic that I love and am deeply invested in. But in the next 10 years, hopefully I have a family, and things might look different in the way that I practice.


If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

I would be a wine distributor and importer in Europe. And I couldn't tell you for certain if it there are hints of dark cherry and leather in that Syrah blend.


If someone else was interested in your job, what piece of advice would you give them?

I would tell them that being an acupuncturist is about being 50% medical practitioner and 50% business person. Unless you work at a hospital or some other federally funded setting, you are SELLING yourself and what you do. It's a combination of being the compassionate caretaker and the savvy business owner. It is not for the faint of heart. It is an ego check EVERY day. But it is also incredibly rewarding and exciting to care for people in that way and watch your clinic grow.

What other jobs could you work with your education/training/experience?

My Chinese medicine training is pretty specific, but there are definitely opportunities to work in different aspects of the field. Acupuncturists can work in private clinic settings, hospitals, integrative care clinics, and in public service settings.

Steph's birthday BurnCycle ride.

How do you balance work life and home life?

Ha. There's a song by David Guetta, "Work Hard, Play Hard," that is running through my brain right now. Overall, I think I do a pretty good job at balancing work life and home life. I'm not sure what my friends and family would say ...

In truth, it is something I work at every day. It is such a big part of HEALTH, one we don't talk about as often as exercise and diet. I tend to thrive on the energy of others, so my default is to fill my schedule. But I try to incorporate time to rest and relax. My family keeps me grounded, my amazing brother and parents. I have learned the lesson over and over that you can't be everywhere at once, and wherever you are, it is important to be present. People can tell when you are not mentally with them, and that can be damaging to both your personal and work relationships. I strive to be intentional. But if you need someone to go to that concert with you ...

Adrienne & Steph at Smith Rock after a first multi-pitch climb.

Thanks, Steph! Click this link for more of the "Working Women" series.