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Our Team
Dr. Sydney Malawer, DAIM L.Ac.
Doctor of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, Private Consultations
Dr. Sydney (she/her) is a doctor of acupuncture and integrative medicine and licensed acupuncturist who specializes in autoimmunity and dermatology. She came to East-Asian medicine through her personal struggle with psoriasis and seeks to bring the same relief, transformation, and advocacy to her patients that she has received from her practitioners throughout her journey. Her doctoral work focused on the management of complex, chronic inflammatory issues using East-Asian medicine and conventional lab testing in the diagnosis, treatment, and progress tracking of such complex conditions. She integrates learnings from this original research into her patient care.
Her training is focused in Japanese Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative medicine. She has trained with Dr. Mazin Al-Khafaji through the International TCM Dermatology Association, the world expert in Chinese herbal medicine approaches to dermatological, allergic, and autoimmune diseases, and is currently training in functional medicine through Dr. Aviva Romm's Functional & Integrative Medicine Professional Training Program. In addition to her practice, Dr. Sydney is also a lecturer at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College (AIMC) at Berkeley and the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences (ACCHS), where she teaches classes on Japanese acupuncture and integrative clinical lab testing. To learn more about Dr. Sydney's offerings for East-Asian medicine practitioners and resources for students, click here.
Credentials & Training
- Doctorate of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine - AIMC Berkeley
- Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine - AIMC Berkeley
- Bachelor of Science, Design & Environmental Analysis, Human Factors/Ergonomics - Cornell University
- TCM Diploma in Practical Dermatology - International TCM Dermatology Association (ITCMDA)
- Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) Certified Coach
- Functional Medicine Practitioner (candidate) - New Medicine Institute for Women (Dr. Aviva Romm)
Stephanie Fareri, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist, Private Consultations & Community Treatments
Stephanie (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in internal medicine. Prior to her studies of East-Asian Medicine, Stephanie worked as a Critical Care Technician in a Children’s ER in San Antonio, TX. She had aspirations of becoming a Physician Assistant until during her time working in the hospital she realized that allopathic medicine's approach was limited in supporting people holistically, which ultimately led her to East Asian Medicine. Her training is focused in Traditional Japanese Acupuncture and integrative medicine. She is currently in the TCM Diploma Course in Practical Dermatology with Dr. Mazin Al-Khafaji, the go-to expert for herbal medicine approach to dermatological, allergic, and autoimmune diseases.
Credentials & Training
- Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine - AIMC Berkeley
- Bachelor of Science, Integrative Physiology - UC Boulder
- TCM Diploma in Practical Dermatology (candidate) - International TCM Dermatology Association (ITCMDA)
Melena Smith, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist, Community Treatments
Melena (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist specializing in internal medicine and mental-emotional health. She originally worked in western medicine and biomedical science and was drawn to the integrative wisdom of East-Asian medicine. Her training is focused in Japanese Acupuncture and Five-Element Constitutional Acupuncture as taught by Lonny Jarrett.
Credentials & Training
Doctorate of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine (candidate) - AIMC Berkeley
Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine - AIMC Berkeley
Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science, Pre-Medicine - Auburn University
Sam Lai, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist, Community Treatments
Sam Lai (she/her) is a licensed acupuncturist with a focus in general practice and sports medicine. She is focused on providing care to folks who are experiencing challenging physical and emotional transitions. Her training is focused in Japanese acupuncture and sports medicine acupuncture as taught by Whitfield Reaves. During her training, Sam interned at UC Berkeley treating Cal student-athletes and at Charlotte Maxwell Clinic serving low-income, underserved, and immigrant women with cancer. She was also a student fellow for Influential Point, a social venture organization working towards advancing health justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the East Asian medical community. As someone who is a queer, mixed-race Chinese American, Sam's mission to serve and care for underserved communities is what motivated her to become a practitioner.
Credentials & Training
Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine - AIMC Berkeley
Master of Business Administration, Design Strategy - California College of the Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography - San Francisco Art Institute
Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Visual Art - University of Washington
Ari Alvergue
Clinic Assistant
Ari (they/he/she) is a clinic assistant at Tendervine Health currently pursuing their Master’s in East-Asian Medicine at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College (AIMC) in Berkeley. Prior to starting their master’s, Ari worked in a patient-facing communication role with UCSF during the height of the pandemic. After working within a Western hospital setting for almost three years, Ari realized they wanted to continue having a direct relationship with patients and become a practitioner of effective, accessible medicine. Their motivation to pursue a career as a practitioner is providing health access and paths to care. Ari aims to bring drive and compassion to care delivery whenever possible.
Credentials & Training
Master of Science in Traditional Asian Medicine (candidate) - AIMC Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology - UC Berkeley
Associate Providers
In addition to our team, we provide a home for associate providers. To book an appointment with one of our independent associates, please contact the practitioner directly.
Naoko Katakami
Certified Massage Therapist
Naoko's practice specializes in orthopedics and neurological disharmonies. Learn more about Naoko's practice and access online booking here.
© Sydney Malawer, Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Inc., 2024