Whitney Thorniley, L.Ac. (she/her)
After living in the Bay Area for nearly 18 years (though I will always consider West Virginia home), I am excited to now be part of the Sacramento community! 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 own powerful experiences as a patient coupled with my typical 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 thrilled and relieved to learn about Community Acupuncture, and I have never practiced professionally any other way! In 2008, I co-founded Oakland Acupuncture Project, which now has 2 locations in Oakland, with Sacramento Acupuncture Project being our third and newest clinic location. When not in the clinic I read and hike and laugh and spend time with my two wild and amazing boys. I work Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Lan Wang graduated from the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College (AIMC), Berkeley, summa cum laude. Prior to his studies at AIMC, he earned his BA from the University of California, Irvine, and JD from UC Hastings College of Law. His approach to acupuncture is inspired by mindfulness meditation, wisdom, and modern science. His intention is to offer healing that honors individual diversity with an awareness of the whole which can be seen as community.
Marissa Riojas, L.Ac. (She/her) (Hablo español)
As a child, I found an acupuncture book in my public library and did a school project where I stuck sewing needles into a cloth doll to demonstrate the acupuncture meridians. Many years later, I received my first treatment as a patient. At the time, I was deep in a Master’s program when I started to burnout. It was in experiencing the healing power of acupuncture that I decided to finally go to acupuncture school. I graduated with a Masters and Doctorate from Five Branches University with a specialization in Acupuncture Psychology. To bring myself full circle, I did my Doctoral research on ‘burnout.’ It was during this time that I also received my Meditation Teacher Certification and took Sound Healing courses. During my free time, I enjoy meditating, nerding out on yogic spirituality, exploring the outdoors with my dog, and playing with shape and color in any way I can.