Our Practitioners

Tony Ward, L.Ac, MAOM

Tony is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalists with over 20 years experience helping patients live happier healthier lives. Tony began his career in healthcare as a restorative nursing assistant where he was responsible for carrying out physical and occupational therapy care plans, training healthcare workers in proper body mechanics, as well as repairing, building and sometimes designing assistive devices for elderly and disabled patients. During his 10 years working with the elderly Tony had the opportunity to learn and practice many therapeutic techniques including active muscle release, E-stim and Watsu (water shiatsu) as well as helping start the first in house Nautilus weight lifting program for the elderly in the country. Tony has extensive experience working with mobility and activities of daily life issues as well as many chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, stroke recovery, and hip replacement rehabilitation. Because of his excellence and dedication to the elderly Tony was awarded the Good Samaritan Residents Rights Champion Award and was a National Certified Nursing Assistant Employee of the Year nominee.

After his experience working in the Bio-medically centered arena of healthcare with its disease based focus and reliance on pharmaceuticals, Tony was inspired to become more involved in the primary care of patients. “It was frustrating watching my patients, our elders, taking dozens of prescription medications everyday. They had poor appetites, no energy and a host of unwanted side effects which usually inspired more prescriptions from doctors they almost never saw. I knew there was a better way”. Tony’s years of Zen meditation and martial arts practice found their natural extension in the holistic art of Oriental medicine with its focus on treating the whole person and its emphasis on preventative healthcare. Now as a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist it has become Tony’s mission to make Oriental medicine less the “alternative” and more the “primary” form of healthcare and health maintenance for everyone. “As an uninsured student I knew that I couldn’t afford doctors visits, prescription meds or even the standard acupuncture prices”. This is what inspired Tony to join with his partners to create the Neighborhood Acupuncture Project, where the people of Austin can receive the benefits of Oriental medicine at an affordable price.

Tony continues to develop his skills through the study of Japanese meridian therapy and his ongoing Tai Chi practice. As a lifelong musician Tony compares the art of acupuncture to that of music. “We learn the scales and the styles of the great musicians that came before us, we practice, practice ,practice then we bring our whole unique selves into every moment and we play”.

Joanne Tait, L.Ac, Dipl. AHM (NCBAHM) , CYT

Joanne is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Diplomate in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine certified by the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, and a certified yoga teacher.

Since beginning her acupuncture and herbal medicine practice in 2011, Joanne has successfully treated thousands of patients at the Neighborhood Acupuncture Project (NAP) in East Austin. With expertise developed through years spent in NAP’s fast-paced clinic setting, Joanne provides skilled and thoughtful care to Austin’s diverse community. She offers treatments for a wide range of conditions, including allergies, chronic and acute pain, stress, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, sleep issues, and women’s health issues such as PMS, PCOS, infertility, hormone balance, menopause symptoms, and many others.

Inspired by her patients and her community clinic experience, Joanne expanded her practice to include individualized holistic patient care in a personal treatment setting. In 2018 Joanne began offering services through Austin Acupuncture & Wellness in addition to her clinic work at NAP.

Joanne’s passion for continuing education is driven by her commitment to providing patients with the best treatment possible. She has gained invaluable knowledge and experience from her two-year Graduate Mentorship Program with Sharon Weizenbaum studying classical herbs based on the Shang Han Lun, Wang Ju-Yi’s Applied Channel Theory, Dr. Tan’s Balance Method, Korean Sa’am Four Needle Technique, Shang Han Lun Herbal Pulse Diagnosis, Five Element Theory, Kiiko Matsumoto Style (KMS), and Japanese Hara Diagnosis. Her nine-month mentorship with Randine Lewis, Daoism in the Death Canal, has enriched her approach to lifelong holistic healthcare.

In 2011, Joanne earned her Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. In 2009, she participated in training at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a Chinese teaching hospital integrating Eastern and Western medicine. Her experience in Chengdu deepened her appreciation of integrative and holistic healthcare through academic seminars, mind-body classes, and clinical observation rounds.

Joanne is a yoga teacher whose accessible teaching style blends Sivananda principles with Iyengar-inspired alignment and breath-centered Vinyasa flow. She has taught yoga in various settings since completing the Sivananda Yoga Ashram’s training program in 2005. She currently enjoys teaching beginner level classes for City of Austin employees. She offers private sessions through Austin Acupuncture & Wellness.

Before moving to Austin in 2007, Joanne worked as an environmental advocate at the Sierra Club legislative headquarters in Washington, D.C. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Joanne enjoys organic gardening, birding, dancing, and live music.

You can learn more about Joanne’s private practice at www.AcuYogaJo.com.

Robert Baptist, LAc 

Robert Baptist is a licensed Acupuncturist in Austin, TX, earning his degree in Chinese Medicine in 2008 from the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin (AOMA). He views healing as a return to our natural state of balance and wisdom. Find him at www.dharmaofhealing.com

After earning his Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine in 2008, he continues to learn and refine his own treatment style, for example, training in specialized studies in Kiiko Matsumoto Style Acupuncture as well as the somatic body work of Dr. Reginald Ray. His journey began earlier, becoming certified in the Usui Reiki tradition in 1999 and entering the path of Tibetan Buddhism that same year where he has since spent time in multiple prolonged meditation retreats and in India on pilgrimage.

He aspires to bring a presence that meets his patients where they are, using Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as tools to address both immediate symptoms and the deeper root causes of imbalance within a compassionate, safe space. In this space he encourages unconditional care and acceptance of whatever is appearing in life so that it is encouraged to express, transform, and move towards health.

As part of his Tibetan Buddhist study and practice he has received the Medicine Buddha empowerment multiple times from Tibetan Buddhist Masters including twice each from the 14th Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He continues along the Buddhist path under the guidance of his teachers and calls upon these practices during session.

Pamela Strosser, LAc 

    Bio Coming Soon…..