MAMPS is a collaboration formed by five acupuncturists highly experienced in supporting pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care. Recognizing that these topics have been downplayed or even discouraged in some acupuncture schools, our goal is to help acupuncturists become safe, effective, confident providers of perinatal care. We also aim to to nurture excellence in the next generation of teachers and providers of this important art, and to provide a safe and inspiring space for group study.
Debra Betts, PhD, BHSc (Acupuncture) LAc. RN (retired)
Debra graduated from the London College of Acupuncture in 1989. With a practice based in women’s health she commenced acupuncture courses for midwives in 1997. This led to publications on the use of acupuncture and acupressure in obstetric practice including the text book “The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth” in 2006, which has been translated into German and French.
Debra completed her PhD on the use of acupuncture in threatened miscarriage in 2014 through the University of Western Sydney and is currently the Director of Postgraduate Programmes for an online Masters course through New Zealand School Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
She is also a clinical supervisor at a hospital antenatal acupuncture clinic in New Zealand, and lectures internationally on the use of acupuncture in obstetric care. She currently resides with her husband and three children in Wellington, New Zealand.
Claudia Citkovitz, PhD, MS, LAc.
Claudia Citkovitz has led the Acupuncture Service at NYU Lutheran since 2004, supervising 8 acupuncturists who provide inpatient care and clinical instruction in the areas of neurological and orthopedic management, rehabilitation, labor and delivery, pain management. Dr. Citkovitz studied Chinese language in Beijing and acupuncture at the Pacific and Tri-State colleges in New York. An internationally known lecturer on acupuncture practice and research methodology, she lectures regularly for the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, the University of Westminster in London and the British Acupuncture Council. Her PhD study on acupuncture during acute stroke rehabilitation was the first conducted in the United States, as was her 2006 study of acupuncture during labor and delivery. Dr. Citkovitz is a frequent peer reviewer and Editorial Board member on journals including Acupuncture in Medicine, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Explore, and Meridians. She is a past member of the NCCAOM’s Task Force on Hospital-Based Acupuncture, the Tri-State College Advisory Board and the Touro College Institutional Review Board, and is currently a Commissioner of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Sarah Budd, MSc, LAc. Midwife (retired)
Sarah Budd has a background as a Midwifery Sister and subsequently trained as an acupuncturist in London and China. She set up an acupuncture service in the UK at Devon’s Plymouth Maternity Unit in 1988, then completed a degree in Complementary Health Studies at Exeter University in 1991. She then won a Churchill Fellowship, and went to China again to study acupuncture anaesthesia. She was given the first and only full time post as acupuncturist midwife in the UK. Over 8,000 pregnant women were treated with acupuncture on the NHS in Plymouth, and the service was joint winner of the Prince of Wales' Foundation for Integrated Health Award in 2001.
Sarah co-authored a report for the Department of Health with Simon Mills, "Professional Organisation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United Kingdom 2000" and worked as a Research Assistant on the Regulation of Complementary Medicine, and in the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre. She retired from the NHS in 2012, and then completed an MSc. Her research for this was a Delphi study on the use of Acupuncture for Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Over the years, Sarah has contributed to text books and journals and continues to teach internationally in acupuncture colleges / universities.
“It was a joy to offer help to women struggling in pregnancy, who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment. My hope is that this will be made available again.”
Zena Kocher, MS, LAc.
Since 1995, Zena Kocher has been a practicing traditional Asian medicine provider with clinical experience in women's health. In 2006, she expanded her practice to also serve as an Integrative Medicine (IM) provider for MotherBaby Center at Abbott Northwestern hospital, which is a part of the Allina Healthcare system in Minnesota. As an IM inpatient provider, she uses acupuncture, massage, mind body techniques and aromatherapy to support women during their pregnancies, births and postpartum periods in the hospital. She has had the unique experience of working with high risk pregnancies in the antenatal unit, helping women to stay pregnant and happy longer. In the last few years, Zena has been enjoying training other acupuncturists to work in the MotherBaby Centers at other Allina Health hospitals and has created a MotherBaby collaborative to strengthen and inform our Integrative work.
Zena's introduction to natural medicine came at the heels of her Swiss grandmother, who would forage herbs and use them to treat her family. In 1995, she expanded upon this knowledge by studying directly under Dr. Duc Kieu, a Vietnamese Herbalist and Master Acupuncturist for three years. Then she went to receive her Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine from the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University and became NCCAOM certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. She utilizes various bodywork modalities, Shiatsu, Reiki, guided imagery, NLP, and hypnosis in her work. She enjoys teaching individuals, families, and groups of caring people and hopes to share this work internationally.
Kate Levett, PhD, MPH (epi), BEd, Adv Dip App Sci (Acup)
Dr. Kate Levett is a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame, School of Medicine, Sydney. She is also an Adjunct Fellow at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney University.
Her Doctoral thesis has been completed and the main findings from the RCT have been published in BMJ Open Medical Journals (bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/7/e010691.full). It investigated a complementary medicine antenatal education course for pain relief in labour, called the Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth Study. This program investigated 6 evidence based Complementary Medicine techniques including acupressure, yoga, massage, visualisation, breathing and partner support. This research showed a dramatic reduction in medical interventions during labour, such as epidural use, caesarean section, and requirement for resuscitation of the newborn. Dr Kate has collaborated on several Cochrane Systematic Reviews on acupuncture and acupressure; manual therapies; and relaxation and yoga for pain management in labour in birth. Dr. Kate has qualifications in research methods, epidemiology, Chinese Medicine and education.
In her work as a Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame, School of Medicine, Sydney. She has received ND University grants to investigate maternity research at the ND Clinical School, Auburn Hospital, looking a the demographic profiles of the region, and common complaints of pregnancy to inform maternity research and policy. Cultural sensitivity research is also being developed to educate student doctors involved in Obstetric care of women.
She has a private acupuncture practice and treats mainly pregnancy and fertility related conditions, hormonal and mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression.
Image provided by Debra Betts
What our students have been saying about MAMPS…
" As a practitioner with about 9 years' experience in almost exclusively treating women's health issues, I have learned how to confidently treat complicated perinatal issues which previously would have left me hesitant and unsure. It's not just my clinical skills which have improved- my skills in educating my patients as well as communicating with other healthcare providers regarding how I can help have grown. Participating in MAMPS has surpassed my expectations in every way! The mentors are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge and it's wonderful to connect with a network of acupuncturists treating a similar patient population"
“I have found it useful to come to my own responses on a topic or case and then see what others are saying about it. I've learned a lot this way, more than I would have if I was just taught straight out. I've also learned a lot from others in the course.”
“Most useful! I mostly have enjoyed learning about how to critically read research, as well as the resource section materials. The forum to ask questions is great as well. “
“The information that Debra has shared is amazing and thorough. I appreciate her research and thoughtfulness. The online format has taken me a bit to adjust to- but I think I have now. I appreciate getting to share and discuss with other providers and acupuncturists about this work- it really enhances the way I teach interns and talk about it myself.’’