Integrative Hospital Based Acupuncture: Modeled in a Pediatric Oncology Center

Michelle Bombacie & Kenna Bouvet

Michelle Bombacie, MS, LAc, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM), LMT Michelle Bombacie is the Program Manager for the Integrative Therapies Program within the Center for Comprehensive Wellness. She is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist, and is the lead acupuncture and integrative medicine supervisor in the pediatric clinic. Michelle co-authored a chapter in Evidence-based Non-pharmacological Therapies for Palliative Cancer Care and Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Secrets. Most recently, she was a co-recipient of the first-place award for a research paper entitled Acupuncture for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain Management: A Promising Non-Opioid Therapy from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. She continues to conduct research on the use of integrative therapies in pediatric oncology and hematology, under the direction of Dr. Elena Ladas. Michelle received her Masters of Science in Acupuncture from Tri-State College of Acupuncture and her Massage Therapy education from the New York College of Health Professions. Previously, she led a family acupuncture practice in Manhattan for over ten years, specializing in Acupuncture Physical Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, for patients undergoing cancer treatment and patients with myofascial pain and stress-related conditions. Michelle was a member of the core faculty at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture for over decade. She completed the first official certification program in pediatric acupuncture in the United States from Jing Shen Pediatrics, served as co-chair of the Program Manager Special Interest Group for SIO, and leads a robust wellness initiative for the staff at CUIMC. Kenna Bouvet, MS, LAc, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) Kenna Bouvet is a Licensed Acupuncturist in New York State, USA. She is a research integrative therapist at Columbia Irving Medical Center in the division of pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant. She received her Masters of Science from Tri-State College of Acupuncture and Pacific College of Health and Science, where she trained in three distinct styles of acupuncture: Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Acupuncture Physical Medicine. She has taken postgraduate classes in Oncology and Supportive Care for Cancer Patients; Japanese Shonishin non-needling techniques for children; JingShen Pediatrics Certification in the US; and Paediatric Acupuncture International Certification. She is a member of the Obstetrical Acupuncture Association and an Alumni of MAMPS, a mentorship program for maternal acupuncture. Kenna owns a massage and acupuncture business in Long Island City, where she specializes in pediatrics, women’s health, and prenatal/postpartum. Kenna has co-taught classes in hospital based pediatric oncology for Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine and the doctoral program at Virginia University Integrative Medicine. Kenna is a cranial sacral therapist through the Upledger Institute International and is certified in Pilates and Nutritional Therapy.

1 Course