Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Susan Minich DACM, LAc, CNM, MSN.
Dr. Susan Minich DAMC, LAc, CNM, MSN, Diplomate, Oriental Medicine has been involved in Health Care for 40years as a Certified Nurse-Midwife working in Women’s Health providing care to Woman and their families. This practice involves gynecology, pregnancy and delivering babies. She attended the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program and received her Master of Science (MSN) in Nursing and Midwifery in 1981. She had a full-time, hospital-based Nurse-Midwifery practice for many years before Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles recruited Dr. Susan to come and work there. She is a Board Certified, Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist.
Dr. Susan’s interest and passion for Eastern Medicine has led her to pursuing International Acupuncture Humanitarian service work for women and children in Bali; providing care to the Tibetan women and children refugees living in Dharamshala, India; in Myanmar (Burma) performing humanitarian work on the women, children and monks and acupuncture training to the Traditional Practitioners in Women and Children’s health; a visit to Cuba for a medical and educational conference. She was recently in Bhutan at the “National Traditional Medicine Hospital” observing the health care provided to the local people and in New Delhi, India at the “Global Health Summit 2016” Women’s Leadership Forum sponsored by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first started my practice a few Physicians did not really believe in Chinese medicine. But, because of my Western training in Nursing and Midwifery and the many successes in patient care, the Western Physician’s- Fertility and Ob/gyn’s and other health care professionals, became more receptive and comfortable in referral’s, becoming my patient’s and trusting in my professional experiences and knowledge in East Asian Medicine. I see myself as a role model in bridging the gap between eastern and western medicine through communication and integration of the two.
We’d love to hear more about your practice.
Dr. Susan’s private Acupuncture practice in Burbank specializes in Women’s Health, Fertility, Pregnancy and Reproductive Health and Wellness and treatment for Fibroids, Endometriosis, Painful Menses and Menopause. She works with all the LA Fertility and Ob/Gyn Physicians, Midwives, Doulas, Childbirth Educators and other Healthcare Practitioners. She believes in prevention and maintenance of our health care and well-being through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. With her many years of experience in Western Medicine, Dr. Susan now integrates Eastern Medicine into her Women’s Health Practice. She continues to work part-time as a Nurse-Midwife and Acupuncturist at Kaiser Permanente providing full-scope OB/GYN.
Currently, Dr. Susan continues teaching the Ob/Gyn and Family Practice Residents at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center how to deliver babies. She is a member of the Clinical Faculty at USC Keck School of Medicine where the Medical Students rotate at Kaiser LAMC to learn about normal Obstetrics and Gynecology. She participates in lectures about combining Eastern/Western at USC to the Medical Students in the Integrative Medicine course. The Kaiser Resident’s rotating through their Fertility Curriculum and the USC Medical Students shadow Dr. Susan, observing how she integrates Eastern and Western Medicine in her private Burbank office. She is part of the Clinical Faculty at Cal State University, Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program as well as mentoring Nurse-Midwife, Nurse-Practitioner and Nursing Students.
During pregnancy and childbirth, acupuncture is safe and comfortable and is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of common pregnancy symptoms: Morning sickness, sciatica, heartburn, etc. Acupuncture is used to promote maternal and fetal health. Pregnant women are seen throughout their pregnancy for general wellness, pre-birth treatments, labor stimulation and support and postpartum care. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) successfully enhances the fertility process by bringing the body into a state of balance and harmony. Acupuncture helps to reduce stress and tonify and nourish the reproductive organs in both women and men. Fertility is not just about the physical state of being but about overall health and wellness of spirit. Our inner harmony and peace carries us through life’s challenges, especially the stresses connected with fertility issues. Significant improvement of fertility has been documented in patients who receive TCM. Acupuncture increases the chances for a natural conception, improves hormonal balance, increases the success rate with Assisted Reproductive Technologies and increases blood flow to the pelvic organs. It helps to create better quality of cervical mucus, regulates ovulation, promotes a regular menstrual cycle, enhances egg development, increases blood circulation to the uterine lining and improves sperm quality.
Acupuncture treatments are recommended for at least 3-6 months to optimize conception and having a healthy pregnancy and baby. In addition to Dr. Susan’s busy practice, she is a noted author, lecturer and teacher. She has been on Clinical Faculty in the Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program at UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Dr. Susan is committed to providing the highest standards of health care with respect, compassion, kindness and professionalism to her patients. She believes passionately in integrating Eastern and Western medicine into the health care system to promote the best health and wellness for her patients. She facilitates effective communication and collaboration with the profession of Eastern and Western medicine and promotes knowledge and understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to all of the medical professions to enhance quality patient care. Dr. Susan’s belief in her practice is to continue to promote her health care model of prevention and maintenance of patient health. She believes in being present, confident and focused in bringing the body into a state of balance and harmony through Chinese medicine. Our health is not just about the physical state of being but our overall health and wellness of mind and spirit… Our inner harmony and peace carries us through life’s challenges and TCM in her opinion is the best to support this.
Dr. Susan’s interest and passion for Eastern Medicine has led her to pursuing International Acupuncture Humanitarian service work for women and children in Bali; providing care to the Tibetan women and children refugees living in Dharamshala, India; in Myanmar (Burma) performing humanitarian East/Asian Medicine on the women, children and monks and acupuncture training to the Traditional Practitioners in Women and Children’s health; a visit to Cuba for a medical and educational conference. She visited Bhutan at the “National Traditional Medicine Hospital” observing the health care provided to the local people and in New Delhi, India at the “Global Health Summit 2016” Women’s Leadership Forum sponsored by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.susanminich.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.minich.37
- Youtube: susan minich acupuncture
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/susan-minich-cnm-msn-msom-lac-burbank
Image Credits:
Alan Weissman Photography www.alanweissman.com All photos taken by Alan Weissman
