Meet Dr Nicola Macdonald (Chinese Medicine)
With a life long interest in health and wellbeing, owner and Director at Health Connect Shen, Nicola Macdonald has been in clinical practice as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, supporting clients all over the world, for more than two decades.
Nicola was led to Chinese Medicine by a chance encounter while living in London and before long found herself studying in Sydney on her return home to Australia. Nicola’s training included a treasured six months working in China where she refined her skills and gleaned valuable wisdom and expertise from well regarded masters.
Nicola managed her own successful private practice in Sydney before accepting an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ to work for Canyon Ranch Spa Club on the Queen Mary 2.
After a five year adventure on the high seas treating and educating people on the benefits of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Nicola returned to Australia at the end of 2008. She then worked at an Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic in Maroubra, Sydney, until relocating to Brisbane in 2009. In Brisbane Nicola took up the role of Senior Acupuncturist at the Acupuncture and Natural Therapy Centre West End.
In June 2009 Nicola opened Acupuncture Emporium, operating from two locations: West End and Indigo Health for Mind & Body at Mount Gravatt. In January 2013 Nicola purchased the Acupuncture and Natural therapy Centre from Phil Vanderzeil and has continued his legacy to provide the community with an excellent complementary health clinic.
Nicola’s philosophy is focused on really listening to clients so as to give them time to share their health concerns. Nicola has found, over her multiple decades of experience, that empathy and compassion is key to effective practice that supports clients to achieve optimal results.
Continuing professional education is also imperative to keep abreast of the latest research and innovations in both Allied Health and Western Medicine. Nicola’s passion is ‘to bring this Ancient Medicine into the Modern world’.
When she's not in Clinic with her fabulous clients you can find Nicola taking time to explore the beautiful area where she lives in Launceston, Tasmania. She'll either be at the beach, heading to a yoga class, in depth in learning about health, wellbeing and leading retreats, cooking up a storm or refining her new love, singing!
Nicola plans to begin hosting her own retreats in the near future so be sure to check back here soon or to follow the clinic on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest on her adventures and offers.