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About Us
Randy Sorenson
Education & Training
- Master of Science Traditional Oriental Medicine
- Diplomat in Acupuncture
- Licensed Acupuncturist – Utah DOPL
- Chinese Herbalist
- Holistic Health Practitioner
- Oriental Body Therapist – Tui Na
- Certified Massage Therapist
- Postural Analysis Specialist – Egoscue Method
- Medical Qigong
- Bachelor of Science – University of Utah
I attended graduate school at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (San Diego, CA) where I earned a Master of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine. I am trained, certified, and licensed to practice:
Acupuncture - Chinese Herbal Medicine - Qigong - Tui Na
Personal Experience with Oriental Medicine
My first experience with Oriental Medicine occurred in the 1990s when I developed serious allergies and asthma. The solution that western medicine had to offer me was inadequate. The therapy gradually weakened my adrenals, liver, and vitality. I was then introduced to Chinese Herbal Medicine and after two years of compliance to the instructions I was given about 80-90% better and today my health, energy and vitality have been restored to about 90%. I continue to take herbs, receive acupuncture, exercise, and practice qigong regularly and eat well to maintain and improve my own health.
Personal & Professional History
Being raised in a military family I have lived on both the east and west coasts of the US. Born in California and spent most of my childhood in LA and Orange County Beach Cities. I was on swim team, and played water polo into high school, swam and played in the ocean year round.
I spent 3 months a year (summers) working, playing and spending time in nature on my grandparents’ farm/ranch in western Oregon. I explored and learned about nature in and around the rain forests of Willamette National Forest. I learned about work, responsibility, family, and developed a passion for life, nature, fitness and natural health, mostly in the shadow of my Grand Parents.
I joined the US Navy when I was just 18 and served 5 years active duty and 6 years in the active reserve. I worked in Propulsion Engineering, Boiler Repair, Shipboard Security, as a Firefighter, and Damage Control Specialist for 5 years. I was honorably discharged from active duty in 1981, served a 2-year lds mission in the Idaho Boise Mission until I was honorably released. A couple years later I reenlisted into the active Naval Reserve. I was assigned to the USS England CG-22 drilling in Salt Lake City and San Diego, as well as to a shore unit in Long Beach, CA. I served as Command Career Counselor, assisted in Combat Central and was part of a Security Unit. It was during my Active Naval service that I began to explore Holistic Medicine.
I became committed to a college path while working on the family farm/ranch until 1983 when I moved to Utah to attend the University of Utah. While attending the U of U. I studied Communications, Psychology, and Business and worked in the Biology Department and at the VA hospital. This is when I began to discover and explore and love Utah’s incredible outdoors. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987.
After completing my undergraduate studies at the University of Utah, I spent the next 10-15 years working in Corporate America. During these years I lost some of my perspective, my life drifted out of balance a little at a time my health. My fitness and overall wellness diminished. I exercised erratically, ate poorly, gained weight, lost touch with my purpose, and greatest passions.
In 2002 I moved to San Diego and began my graduate study in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine . I was taught, trained, and educated by a group of the most gifted, compassionate, and caring healers and educators assembled anywhere. PCOM has earned international recognition for it’s high standards and for effectively integrating Oriental and conventional Western medicines into a cooperative system of Health Care. Today, many PCOM graduates are highly sought after to work in Hospitals, Clinics, and Health Centers. I prefer to practice Oriental Medicine as an art. I do my best to consider each person truly as a unique individual.
As an Intern, I gravitated to and completed rotations at facilities including San Diego Hospice and Center for Palliative Care, multiple Community Outreach Acupuncture Clinics and organizations like “Veteran’s Stand Down – San Diego” where I was proud to serve many of the forgotten heroes who have served US.
I also really enjoyed working with high collegiate athletes at UC San Diego Athletics Department where I worked with, and supported the efforts of the Athletic Trainers and student Trainers and PTs for the benefit of collegiate athletes.
During 3 of the 5 years I spent in San Diego I worked at AcuSport Health Center in San Diego, CA where I was able to specialize in Orthopedics, Pain Management, and Sports Medicine Acupuncture. We combined multiple acupuncture styles & techniques, with Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui Na, Exercise Therapy, Postural Analysis and remediation, etc, to support athletes in their efforts to speed recovery from injuries, and optimize personal performance. I love working with athletes because of their level of focus, motivation, and commitment to their sport and the healing process when necassary.
In 2007 I returned home to Utah to continue learning and began to share this amazing 3,000+ year old medicine with the good people of Utah, and focus on regaining my own balance, happiness and health. I am passionate about this medicine and am deeply gratified by the changes I regularly witness in people’s lives.
When not in the clinic, I can be found studying, practicing qigong, yoga, gardening, and snowshoeing, hiking, or running local trails.
Education & Training
- Master of Science Traditional Oriental Medicine
- Diplomat in Acupuncture
- Licensed Acupuncturist – Utah DOPL
- Chinese Herbalist
- Registered Yoga Teacher
- Reiki Master Teacher
- Certified Massage Therapist
I have spent the past ten years studying various aspects of traditional and alternative medicines. My primary focus of training and Masters of Science degree is in Traditional Oriental Medicine. My degree was earned from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City. I am board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). I am licensed to practice acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Qi gong, massage, and Asian body therapy in Utah.
Personal History and Education with Traditional Medicine Clinical
Born and raised in Sandy, Utah, I spent my childhood and teenage years doing the things most people do in this amazing area… camping, boating, and hiking. I knew early on what I wanted my focus to be. Upon my graduation from high school, I attended the Utah College of Massage Therapy in Salt Lake City from 2000-2001. I completed both the Professional and Clinical tracks. The program involved 1125 hours of training in over 20 bodywork modalities. These included an introduction to acupressure and the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the student clinic, I participated in treating many people for various aches, pains, injuries, and stress-related conditions. At the University of Utah hospital, I attended to doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff, both educating them about the benefits of this therapy and providing massage.
Upon receiving my massage therapist license, I moved to Vail, Colorado. I worked in Vail at various day spa’s performing massage for 2 years. I began, at this time, to independently study different areas and types of alternative healing. These included aromatherapy, flower essences, astrology and yoga. I quickly realized that I wanted to expand my practice outside of the day spa realm and become formally educated in Asian clinical medicine. My decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine was heartily influenced by my massage education. The philosophy and science of Chinese medicine was emphasized and I really embraced it.
In the summer of 2005, I moved to New York City to continue my education. It was always a dream of mine to live in New York City because I had visited my aunt and her family a few times as a child and had fallen in love with the energy and diversity of the city.
Over the next 5 years, I studied at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. I immersed nearly every aspect of my daily life into the study and practice of Chinese Medicine. I completed extremely challenging academic courses and with almost 3,500 credit hours of theory and clinical practice to earn my Master’s of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The PCOM clinic, one of the busiest acupuncture centers in New York City and America, provided me with the amazing opportunity to gain clinical experience with the public. The modalities I learned in the clinical setting included acupuncture, herbal formulas prescription, cupping and moxibustion application, and tui na body work. My clinical experience also included an internship at St. John’s Riverside Hospital where I treated patients, referred to acupuncture from their medical doctor, from the facility’s in-patient substance abuse rehabilitation program.
While in school, I was employed in various fields related to Asian medicine. I worked for Pacific College as a teachers assistant and was self-employed as private tutor for students of all levels. I provided guidance and expertise to students specifically in the subjects of acupuncture point location, Chinese medicine theory, and herbal identification and theory.
Administratively, I worked as a manager in a Feng Shui store in 2005. In 2009 and 2010 I worked in Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy where I entered and developed new products for the on-line Chinese herbal pharmacy. In addition, I was employed as a massage therapist and receptionist at a yoga and holistic health center in 2008.
In 2007, midway through my academic career, I took a semester to travel to China. This wonderful experience deepened my practical experience with the medicine. During my 3 months abroad, I studied in two Traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals, Ji Nan Hospital for TCM in the city of Ji Nan and Dong Zhi Men Hospital for TCM in Bei Jing. While I was in the hospitals, I engaged in and observed hundreds of treatments, learned advanced techniques, and studied the application of external and internal therapies related to Chinese medicine.
As I entered my last year of school in New York City, I came to a time in my life where I was feeling stress. One of my teachers suggested that I receive an astrology reading from a friend of his. I decided to take my teacher’s advice and I met Geordie Numata, founder of Deer Spirit Reiki. Over the next year, I studied astrology and Reiki with Geordie as my teacher. He attuned me in all of the Reiki levels…level 1 through master teacher level. I also learned through this amazing teacher chakra and crystal healing, aura clearing, and even distant healing.
After five years studying Chinese Medicine and living in New York, I needed to rejuvenate my exhausted body and soul and nurture myself. Prior to returning home to Utah to start my life and career as a practitioner of Chinese medicine, I stayed in India to study and practice yoga. During the summer and fall of 2010, I completed my 500 hour yoga teacher training at Shri Kali Ashram in the gorgeous state of Goa, India. I learned the science and philosophic teachings of yoga including the postures, breathing techniques, meditation, chanting and prayer. I also studied Hindu, Buddhist, and Tantric teachings and philosophies. While staying at the ashram, I helped to develop and teach anatomy lectures and I administered acupuncture and herbal treatments to the other students.
I came home to Utah in the winter of 2010 after spending almost 10 years away. Soon, I began working at SLC Qi Community Acupuncture in downtown Salt Lake City as a licensed acupuncturist. I performed a diagnosis and treatment plan on almost 700 treatments. At SLC Qi, I treated up to 4 people per hour. It was a fast-paced environment that I thrived in.
I continue to independently study medicine and am focusing on owning and managing my business. Recently, I started my own small culinary herb garden at my home. I keep active with yoga, walking, and have recently learned how to swim and ride a bike. I try to maintain balance and a healthy lifestyle. When I do occasionally become under the weather, I treat myself with flower essences, aromatherapy, Chinese herbs, tea, and dietary therapy. I also receive acupuncture treatments.
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