Trained to find
what the conventional
system is designed to miss.
This isn't a resume. It's a clinical commitment.
I am Double Board Certified as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a Licensed Acupuncturist, with additional specialty training in functional medicine, sports medicine acupuncture and health coaching. The depth behind this practice exists because your biology deserves a practitioner who never stopped learning.
DACM — Pacific College of Health and Science
Magna Cum Laude, 2018
LAc — State of California & NCCAOM National
Certified, Functional & Integrative Telehealth FDN-P Certified
SMAC Certified — multi-region cadaver training
Rated #1 for Acupuncture in San Diego by CityBest — five times.
16k+
Patient
Visits
20
Years Clinical Experience
5+
Treatment Pathways
A practice built at the intersection of what ancient systems got right and what modern lab work can finally confirm.
Five degrees. Multiple distinctions.
Each one earned on purpose.
Pacific College of Health
and Science
Magna Cum Laude
2018
Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM)
The highest clinical credential available in acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the United States.
Pacific College of Health
and Science
Magna Cum Laude
2011
Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM)
International Training
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
Certificate of Completion: International TCM Training Program
University of Utah
Summa Cum Laude
2000
Bachelor of Arts — Spanish Language and Literature
Bachelor of Science — Business Marketing
Bachelor of Science — Business Management (with honors)
Recognized as a Bennion Center Service Learning Scholar
The pursuit of learning
never stops.
The pursuit of lifelong learning that supports my patients’ healing journey is my greatest passion. In my chosen field, the opportunities to continue learning and evolving are endless. What follows is a sample of the certifications and trainings I have completed and continue to pursue — it is by no means exhaustive. It is my sincere hope that as I continue to grow and challenge myself, I will bring a deeper skill set, a fresh perspective, and a host of comprehensive modalities to each patient’s own unique journey.
Board Certified — California Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist (LAc)
Board Certified — NCCAOM National Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM)
Certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture (SMAC)
ACE Certified Health and Wellness Coach
ACE Certified Behavior Change Specialist
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist
NASM-CES Corrective Exercise Specialist
Functional Medicine FT Certification
American Red Cross CPR and AED Certified (biannual)
Board Certified — American Association of Drugless Practitioners
Board Certified — American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners
Functional and Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P)
National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches Certified (NBHWC)
Select Partnerships & Certifications
NASM
National Academy of
Sports Medicine
NCCAOM
National Certification Commission
American
Red Cross
Functional Medicine
Fast Track
Certification
FDN
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
AANWP
American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners
California
Acupuncture Board
ACE
American Council on Exercise
NCCA
National Commission for Certifying Agencies
American Association
of
Drugless Practitioners
Clinical depth
built region by region.
Gross Anatomy, Palpation & Cadaver Lab
- Upper Extremities
- Lower Extremities — Muscle Palpation
- The Spinal Column
- Low Back, Hip and Groin
- Anatomy and Cadaver Lab for Acupuncturists
- Sports Medicine Acupuncture: Anatomy & Palpation — Lower Extremity
Sports Medicine Acupuncture — Assessment & Treatment
- Upper Extremity Injuries
- Lower Extremity Injuries
- The Spinal Column
- Low Back, Hip and Groin
- Lower Extremity — Myofascial Sinews Assessment
Musculoskeletal & Corrective Exercise
- Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise Training (Upper Body)
- Western Medicine Musculoskeletal Diseases and Disorders
- NASM-CES Corrective Exercise Specialist
Clinical Administration & Patient Care
- Health Information Literacy to Improve Patient Care
- ICD-10/11 Insurance Billing and Medical Coding for Patient Care (annual)
Athletic Performance & Physiology
- Improving Athletic Performance — Part 1
- Improving Athletic Performance — Part 2
- The Physiological Benefits of Exercise
TCM Specialties & Advanced Clinical Topics
- Traumatology As Treated by TCM — Basic Level
- Traumatology as Treated by TCM — Advanced Level
- TCM Supportive Treatment for Prostate Cancer
- TCM Treatment of Diabetes
- The World of Chen Xiuyuan: Consumptive Diseases
- The World of Chen Xiuyuan: Medical History
- The World of Chen Xiuyuan: Struck By Wind
- Putting Tangible Qi Into Clinical Practice
- Inner Compass Acupuncture
- Medical Marijuana and TCM
Philosophy, Longevity & Integrative Topics
- Dao De Jing Ethics and Morality — Part 1
- Dao De Jing Ethics and Morality — Part 2
- Chinese Way to Health and Longevity
- The Longevity Villages of the World
- Didactic Medical Qi Kung
- "What is Qi" Seminar
- Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui
- Sylvan Institute Western Herbs in TCM Field Study
About Dr. Riley's Credentials
Dr. Riley holds three undergraduate degrees from the University of Utah (Summa Cum Laude, 2000), a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science (Magna Cum Laude, 2011), and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science (Magna Cum Laude, 2018) — the highest clinical credential available in this field in the United States.
Yes. Dr. Riley is Double Board Certified as a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) and as a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc). Additional board certifications include the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners.
DACM stands for Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine — a doctoral-level clinical degree representing the highest academic and clinical credential available in the field in the United States. It goes significantly beyond a standard Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) credential in clinical training, research, and advanced practice hours.
Yes. Dr. Riley holds the Functional Medicine FT Certification and the Functional and Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P) credential, with additional training in functional lab interpretation and clinical nutrition as part of a fully integrated approach to patient care.
Dr. Riley is certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture (SMAC) and has completed multiple cadaver lab and gross anatomy courses covering the upper extremities, lower extremities, spinal column, and low back, hip, and groin. Additional credentials include NASM-CES Corrective Exercise Specialist, postural assessment training, and Western medicine musculoskeletal diseases and disorders.
Where would you like to start?
In-office in San Diego, or virtual anywhere in the world — the same depth of clinical expertise, wherever you are.
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
In-office visits at my private practice in Golden Hill, San Diego for acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Burnout to Balance® Coaching, Functional Medicine & Labwork
Available to clients anywhere via HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Includes lab work, personalized protocols, and ongoing support.
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