Whitney Thorniley, LAc
I received my B.A. from The Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO. I left Boulder for a much less sunny San Francisco in 1997. I moved to the slightly sunnier East Coast of the Bay in 2001. Many years working in the grueling yet rewarding food service industry created the aches and pains that initially led me to acupuncture. The results were amazing. My father-in-law even thanked my acupuncturist for “making me nicer.” It must have been true because I gave him a great chuckle instead of my usual dirty look. My own powerful experiences as a patient coupled with curiosity made it clear that I needed to study acupuncture. With school completed, I worried about what my practice would look like and whether I would actually make it as an acupuncturist. I was relieved to learn about Community Acupuncture, and I have never practiced professionally any other way! When not in the clinic I am busy raising two wild and amazing boys with my equally amazing wife. In our spare time we are either doing dishes or ignoring dishes. I work in the Laurel Ave clinic Monday through Thursday, and in the Grand Ave clinic on Fridays.
Roselle McNeilly, LAc
I was born in Belize and spent my early years on a farm in the jungle before my parents moved us back to the States to attend school. I grew up mostly in Ojai, a small town in Southern California, before moving to Berkeley in 1997 for college. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2001 with a degree in sociology and a minor in Spanish. After working for a few years in public health research I developed a repetitive strain injury and a deep sense of boredom with my work. My mother had been studying and practicing acupuncture since my teen years and recommended that I seek out acupuncture treatment for my wrists. The treatments quickly resolved my injury and sparked my curiosity; I decided to return to school to study Chinese medicine. I now love my work and am thrilled to be a founding partner of OAP and a part of the Community Acupuncture movement. When not at OAP I can be found frequenting farmer’s markets and local playgrounds with my husband and our two darling boys. I work in the Laurel Ave clinic Wednesday through Saturday.
Jeffrey Levin, LAc
After over a decade of successfully practicing yoga, I began to experiment with other healing modalities to address some chronic injuries from surfing and skateboarding that were resistant to the clever therapies I had devised over the years. I came across acupuncture while traveling in Thailand early in 2005. The effects of my treatments were so miraculous and profound that by the time I returned to the United States, I had decided to become an acupuncturist. All these years later, I feel very lucky to be able to offer the benefits of acupuncture to my local Oakland community. When I’m not at work, I’m usually hanging out with my daughter Audrey who is super fun. You might see us smelling flowers in the Morcom Rose Garden. I also enjoy listening to my (ridiculously large) vinyl collection, sharing bottles from my (sadly small) wine collection, practicing and teaching yoga and meditation, sipping my fresh direct trade Ethiopian coffee, and cooking and eating delicious food. I am a simple man with sophisticated tastes. I work in the Grand Ave clinic Monday through Thursday.
Sarah Liners, LAc
I grew up in Salinas, CA and Brainerd, MN before moving to the Bay Area in 2000. Chinese medicine has always been part of my life. My mother’s family immigrated from China and the use of traditional herbs and medicines were and are commonplace in our homes. I enjoy biking, hiking, qi gong, and generally being outside in the wide world. Occasionally I teach violin, although mostly I just play for my own pleasure. My partner and I enjoy being with our puppies and kitties whenever possible. I am enthusiastic to do more for my community and to increase the health and vitality of the people around me. I work in the Grand Ave clinic Wednesday through Saturday.
Cait Cain, LAc
As a native Cape Codder, from a small seaside village, I was born with sand between my toes and salt water in my veins. Now, Oakland is my home, the cork to my bottle, the bulb in my lamp, and the zest in an already zesty life. Because of acupuncture, I have a clear mind, the ability to experience grace, and an avid love of life. When not pinning folks, I’m traversing the wild terrains of Applied Kinesiology and NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique), bicycling, on a yoga mat, or enjoying good food, good company and good fun. It’s an honor to work with you all, what a great privilege! I work in the Laurel Ave clinic Friday through Monday.
Mari Kubota, LAc
I grew up in North Carolina with the influence of my father, who is an Ishizaka-ryu style Japanese acupuncturist. From an early age I had an interest in healing work. Before moving to California to study acupuncture, I spent time learning Spanish in Honduras and Guatemala. Along my way to becoming a community acupuncturist, I volunteered at Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic in Oakland, a clinic that provides complementary care for women living with cancer, and Lyon-Martin Health Clinic in SF, a clinic that provides low/no cost healthcare to women and transgender people. I am passionate about making acupuncture a more available and safe option for people of color and LGBTQQ-TS (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit), as well as for gender non-conforming communities. In my political life I have become very passionate about studying transformative justice as a path to healing on an individual, communal, and global level. Outside of the clinic I enjoy art, the outdoors, and spending time with my wife and pups. I work in the Grand Ave clinic Saturday through Monday, and in the Laurel Ave clinic on Tuesday.
