Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Killarney.
Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my interest in medicine when I was young. My primary care provider was a physician’s assistant. He was a Vietnam war veteran medic who became a PA when he returned home. He was such a great guy and seemed so knowledgeable I wanted to be just like him. So I set out to study biology and was pre-med until my junior year of college. Something I could not explain had me decide over time that going to medical school was not what I was looking for. I finished school, earning my bachelor’s in biology and about 3 years later, I met a chiropractor who reignited my interest in medicine.
I started researching other types of medical fields like naturopathy, chiropractic medicine and Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Once I read enough about the history and scope of practice for each of them, it was clear to me that the philosophy and methods of traditional Chinese medicine were was I was looking for. I often tell people when they ask me why I got into acupuncture, “when I learned about Chinese medicine, it was like I was reading a book that I had read a long time ago but forgot all of the details”. There were many aspects of the medicine that seemed to align with my own personal concepts I had formed until this point.
From there, I narrowed down which schools I wanted to attend and once accepted, I started my 4-year master’s coursework in Traditional Chinese Medicine at Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, CA.
After earning my master’s in 2010, I completed a 2-year apprenticeship in traditional Chinese massage/bodywork called TuiNa, pronounced (twee-nah).
In 2014, I accepted a job in downtown Salt Lake City in a medical clinic practicing acupuncture and functional medicine. After 4 years there, I left and started my own private clinic in Murray.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
School is never an easy road to take. However, the information and practices I was engaged with are so interesting and new, that helped a lot. As anyone who has tried it knows, starting a small business on your own has challenges every day. Most of which you didn’t know existed until you begin.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist. My education also includes massage, diet and exercise training. I specialize in a form of bodywork called TuiNa, which is a branch of orthopedic massage. Its principles use the same philosophy as acupuncture to help guide the body to heal trauma, illness and or emotional injury that is affecting the various body tissues. Throughout my education, I also focused on CranioSacral therapy, which I include in treatments as needed. This is a light touch therapy that is focused on the cranial bones, spine and soft tissue of the nervous system.
I am known for my work with trauma and orthopedic injury as well as assistance with a focus on post-operative or post-injury care. In my personal and professional experience once an injury is healed there are many times patients need additional care to get them functional. I enjoy the diagnostic process and treatment strategies involved to regain function and ease of movement to a recovering injury.
How do you think about luck?
I often say to patients and friends how lucky I feel to have found a profession, passion and medicine that provides assistance to those I interact with each day.
There are countless turns of events that lead me on the path i’m on. I’ve also been supported throughout my life by my family and those I have studied with to get me to this point. I’m grateful I have had the determination to work hard when it was necessary and also the site of mind to make the most of small twists of fate in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.slcacupuncture.com
- Instagram: @slcacupuncture
Image Credits
Jesse Justice Photography (@jessejusticephoto)
