About
Kate Yonkers & Kelly Welch
Washington Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (WATCM) opened in downtown Washington DC in May, 2001. We are a husband and wife team and are first and foremost a Traditional Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine clinic specializing in women’s and men’s reproductive health, pain management, stress induced disorders and nutrition. We also provide our patients a place to turn first for a broad range of health concerns, whether the common cold, headache, digestive complaints or back strain. For a more complete list click here. Our experience and training has given us the unique ability to create treatment plans for both long term patient care for chronic conditions and desired relief of acute conditions. Our commitment to the highest standards of care have allowed us to develop a patient centered, clinically precise and thoughtful practice for which over 20 years has met the needs of our busy patients. We are proud to be Washington DC’s first board certified reproductive acupuncture practice (ABORM).
In 2008 our office was named an off-site teaching facility for Georgetown University Medical School residency program.
Kelly Welch, MSAOM, L.Ac., DOM, FABORM
CURRICULUM VITAE
FABORM: Fellow: American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine – Board Certified Reproductive Acupuncturist
NCCAOM – Diplomate in Oriental Medicine : Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology
Traditional Acupuncture Institute, Laurel, MD – Teaching faculty- Chinese Herbal Medicine Program
Advisory Committee on Acupuncture Washington DC – Chair
Finance committee Chair – AAAOM
Founding member – Acupuncture Society of Washington DC
Clinical Integration Course – Stockbridge, MA, – Lonny Jarrett
Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea – Constitutional Medicine and Stroke Rehabilitation
Cheng Du University of TCM – Advanced Chinese Herbal Medicine
MSAOM, Bastyr University, Seattle, WA
B.S., Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL
Kelly Welch’s interest in Chinese Medicine was born out of an internal search for a meaningful life initiated by his Jesuit education throughout high school and college. After graduating from college with a finance-accounting degree and working at what was formerly known as Arthur Andersen & Co. in Dallas, TX he took some time to consider the future of his life and what he wanted out of it. This path of inquiry involved a daily, morning meditation which led him to a deeper pursuit of Asian philosophy and then to Chinese Medicine. After researching the top schools in the country for Masters programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine he landed at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA where he completed a four year full time Masters program in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbology, met his wife and business partner Kate Yonkers, and departed to establish their Internal Medicine practice in Washington DC. He specializes in the lost discipline of Chinese pulse diagnosis through the lineage of the renowned master John H. F. Shen, as taught to Lonny Jarrett who remains a close friend and teacher. His interest in Chinese medicine specifically involves how he can reach each individual patient most effectively to shift their health towards a more balanced state. As a personal discipline, and to maintain as much balance as possible in his life running a private practice and raising 3 boys, he practices the Ashtanga Yoga System daily in the morning Mysore tradition.
In 2013, after specializing in Traditional Chinese reproductive medicine for over a decade, he became the first Board Certified Reproductive Acupuncturist in downtown Washington, D.C.
Kate Yonkers, MSA, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.
CURRICULUM VITAE
B.A., Sarah Lawrence College, New York
M.S., Bastyr University, Seattle
Certificate of Chinese herbal medicine, Bastyr University, Seattle
Post-graduate Residency in Acupuncture, Bastyr University, Seattle
Clinical Faculty, Bastyr Natural Health Clinic, Seattle
Chengdu University of Traditional medicine, Advanced herbal studies
NCCAOM, Diplomat in Acupuncture
Licensed Acupuncturist
Washington DC
Kate Yonkers is a native Washingtonian. She attended public school in the District through 9th grade, and subsequently graduated from the Taft School and Sarah Lawrence College. During the early 90’s Kate worked in Budapest, Hungary, before returning to the U.S. and pursuing her interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She graduated with a Masters in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. After graduation she completed a year-long residency in Bastyr’s Natural Health Clinic, and was hired the following year to be a clinic supervisor. She completed advanced study in gynecology and herbal medicine in China at Chengdu University’s hospital of Traditional Chinese medicine in the fall of 2000. She has been in private practice since 1998. Kate opened her practice in Washington DC in 2001 with her husband Kelly Welch.
In addition to her interest in gynecology, maternal health, and fertility; she has particular interest in using nutrition as a vehicle to supplement treatment with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.
She is an avid cook, supporter of local farmers markets, and as the mother of three nearly grown sons, has seen the benefits first hand of using natural medicines and nutritional therapies with children, adolescents, and young adults. In recent years, she has continued to study women’s reproductive health, in particular supporting women during pregnancy, peri-menopause and into a healthy menopause.
Insurance & fees
We are a fee-for-service practice and do not bill any insurance companies directly. However, most of our patients do receive reimbursement from their insurance providers by submitting a Super bill which we will generate after each treatment and send to your email address. It may be useful to check with your plan to see whether you have acupuncture benefits before your first visit.
Our fees are $170 for the first appointment and $112 for any return visit.