Meet the Practitioners
INSURANCE ACCEPTED PLEASE SEE INFORMATION BELOW
Sita Symonette has been a practicing Acupuncturist and small business owner of Black Pearl Acupuncture since January 2010. Sita is a graduate of Western Washington University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Psychology with a focus in pre-med. While doing her undergraduate work, she also participated in research studies focusing on neuroscience. Her work in this area was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. After completing her Bachelors’ degree, Sita then attended the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine to earn her Masters’ degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She is excited to work daily with the goal of enhancing her patients’ quality of life. Sita has created a healing environment where her patients feel welcome, heard and receive high quality health care. Sita proudly identifies as Black and Queer and it is her passion to continue to make Acupuncture and Chinese medicine more accessible to Black, Brown, Indigenous and Latinx people, the LGBTQIA community and marginalized communities.
Sita is an active member of her community and dedicates time to giving back by advocating for healthcare equity. She was the first student to serve on the board of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine board. She also served on the Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) board for 7 years from 2012– 2019. Sita is the first Black woman and first LGBTQIA person to serve as board chair in PPCW’s 54 year history. Sita and her acupuncture practice have been featured in the Observer, the Skanner and as part of the Mercatus Story Collective.
Sita is passionate about helping others live their lives to their fullest potential and serving her community. She believes one must have good health to live a full life. Her practice focuses on women’s health, fertility, headaches/migraines, acute and chronic pain and injury rehabilitation.
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Sita Symonette
MAcOM, LAc
Licensed, Acupuncturist
Black Pearl Acupuncture is Accepting New Patients!
Email bpacupuncture@blackpearlwellness.com to be added to our waitlist for when we reopen to New Patients. We will reopen to new patients as soon as possible!
If you are a returning patient please email the address above.
Sita is currently in network with the following insurance companies:
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Regence, Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Aetna, PIP/Auto Accident Insurance (Motor Vehicle Accident insurance), Complementary Healthcare Plans (CHP), American Specialty Health, Health Net, MODA, CIGNA and can accept United Healthcare if patient has out of network coverage.
*Sita is able to bill out of network for private insurance plans if the patient has out of network benefits.
Dr. Kimberly Gutierrez graduated from Purdue University Pharmacy School in 1999 and continued her development and education at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon in which she graduated in 2012. She practiced as a licensed pharmacist for 23 years and is now concentrating solely on her medical practices. She serves patients in the Portland area as well as in Tillamook. Her practice focuses on family medicine, hormone balance and disease prevention. Dr. Gutierrez treats the whole person by addressing any imbalances in the body. She uses a variety of modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy. Her vast knowledge and experience with pharmaceuticals allows her to manage an individual’s healthcare using both traditional as well as natural medicine. Dr. Gutierrez has a strong belief that a balance between body, mind and spirit are imperative to the welfare of one’s health.
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Dr. Kimberly Gutierrez
ND, RPh
Awaken Natural Medicine
Dr. Gutierrez is currently in network with the following insurance companies:
Regence, Providence, United Healthcare, Pacificsource, OHP open card, CareOregon, Aetna, Meritain, GEHA, MODA, Regence Group administrators, Samaritan
Feeling heard, held, and safe is some of the most potent medicine that we can receive. This is the environment and medicine that I am dedicated to providing.
I am licensed and board certified through the NCCAOM with extensive training and experience in culturally responsive, trauma informed care that is attuned to the unique needs of each patient. Since obtaining my license in 2019, I have worked in a variety of clinic settings supporting people experiencing a range of conditions including chronic and acute pain, headaches and migraines, hormonal balance, gastrointestinal support, pregnancy and post-partum, neuropathy, edema, and mental-emotional health. My hope is to help as many people as I can feel better so they can then feel empowered in their own well-being.
I was inspired to pursue acupuncture as a profession after my personal experience of receiving profound support and healing. I believe a sincere connection with yourself and your surroundings can lead to transformative change. Acupuncture can provide the relief that allows you to connect with more clarity to your body and your life and the decisions you choose for yourself. Let’s work together to help you achieve your goals and feel better.
I am proud to be of Korean ancestry and identify as an Asian practitioner in the field of acupuncture and East Asian medicine. I am passionate about increasing inclusivity and accessibility of acupuncture and East Asian medicine for Black, Brown, Asian-Pacific Islander, Indigenous, Latinx communities, the LGBTQIA community, and other marginalized populations.
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Judy DeHoogh
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Master’s in Acupuncture, LAc
Judy Myong Acupuncture, LLC
Judy is currently In Network with:
United Healthcare, Providence, BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Health Net, Cigna, American Speciality Health, Aetna and Auto Accident/ PIP insurance for patients who have been in Motor Vehicle Accidents.
Judy is not currently accepting new patients with: Complementary Health Program (CHP), Kaiser Permanente insurance. We will let you know when this changes.
Judy is able to bill out of network for private insurance plans if the patient has out of network benefits. Judy is working on becoming in network with OHP (Oregon Helath insurance companies at Black Pearl Acupuncture. Please check back to see updates about insurance accepted by Judy!
Dr. Clifford C. Meeks received his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) and Master’s of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). His extensive training in Chinese medicine and natural medicine has equipped him with the necessary skills to treat acute and chronic diseases and provide recommendations on maintaining good health and disease prevention. After completing his studies at NUNM, Dr. Meeks chose to focus his clinical practice on Chinese medicine. He has completed additional training in Worselyian 5-Element Acupuncture in addition to Chinese medicinal herbs, homeopathy, and nutritional counseling.
Dr. Meeks considers it a privilege to provide high quality health care to patients and he provides a space where they feel welcome, heard, and empowered. His passion for medicine is a result of his personal health challenges and reading books about holistic medicine while attending Prairie View A&M University. His interest in Chinese medicine grew while attending NUNM and learning about its prominent role in community clinics established by the Black Panther Party. He is committed to making Chinese medicine and natural medicine more accessible to patients...especially those from marginalized populations and/or those experience various forms of systemic oppression.
In addition to his role as an acupuncturist and clinical practitioner, Dr. Meeks serves as the Assistant Coordinator of the Multicultural Center at Portland Community College (PCC) – Sylvania Campus and Co-Coordinator of the Men of Color Leadership Program (MOCLP), a year-long program designed to increase the recruitment, retention, and completion rates of men of color enrolled at PCC. He also teaches courses in the Health Studies Department, Counseling & Guidance Department, and Education Department.
Dr. Meeks looks forward to serving the individual and collective needs of the community through healthcare, education, and social justice. Some of the conditions Dr. Meeks treats with Chinese medicine:
● Back pain, knee pain, headaches/migraines, shoulder pain, neck pain
● High blood pressure, heart palpitations, high cholesterol
● Asthma, common cold, flu
● Fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression
● Diabetes
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Dr. Clifford C. Meeks
ND. and LAc
Agape Health Clinic
503-926-9529
Dr. Meeks is currently in network with the following insurance companies:
CHP, Kaiser, Cigna(ASH), Regence Blue Cross Blue Sheild, MODA, Aetna, Humana(not in network but will bill)
Javelin has a B.S. in Social Work from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon and a MSW from Portland State University. She has worked for 30 years in the Human Services, mental health, parole/probation, addictions, and education field. She fell in love with Reiki and Vibrational Sound therapy due to personal health reasons. A combination of yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture, reiki and vibrational sound therapy helped her sustain optional health.
Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being.
Vibrational Sound Therapy is the induction of sound waves directly into the body with soothing ambient tones. This treatment can place you into a meditative state to deep relaxation. By placing therapeutic singing bowls directly on the body and using correct techniques, a practitioner engages with their client both physically and aurally. This is a great treatment modality for people who are uncomfortable with massage or have a trauma history. You are fully dressed and guided through the entire session.
Javelin also applies a combination of African ancestral practices of cleansing and washing with sage, essential oils for those who more interesting working on childhood trauma, abuse, and addiction. Javelin’s goal is to help you obtain overall health by empowering individuals to work on their whole -being their mind, body and spirit.
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Javelin Hardy
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MSW
Reiki and Vibrational Sound Therapy
Healing From The Heart, LLC
Javelin is out of network with all insurance companies.