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Dr. Kim Christensen
L.Ac., DAOM, Dipl.OM., Constellation co-owner
she/her/hers
Specialties: LGBTQ+ health, complex & chronic internal medicine conditions, menstrual disorders, reproductive & sexual health, mental health & trauma, pain
Dr. Kim (she/her) is dedicated to providing affirming, whole-person health care, prioritizing a personalized approach rooted in transparency, empowerment, and education. Her perspective is informed by her own identity and experiences as a creative, larger-bodied queer person living with chronic pain and late-stage Lyme Disease.
In her clinical work, Dr. Kim supports patients of all ages and all body sizes with a wide range of concerns. Dr. Kim’s areas of specialty include pain, complex and chronic medical conditions, reproductive and sexual health, fertility (including IUI and IVF support), and mental health and trauma. Dr. Kim is passionate about providing comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ individuals, including holistic support for queer family planning and gender affirming hormone therapy and surgeries.
Dr. Kim earned her Masters degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Northwestern Health Sciences University (NWHSU) in Bloomington, MN and her Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine degree from the Oregon College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in Portland, OR. Dr. Kim’s doctoral studies included specialization in internal medicine, reproductive health, trauma, and LGBTQ+ health. As part of her independent doctoral research, Dr. Kim focused on LGBTQ+ health equity and Chinese medicine approaches to support gender affirming hormone therapy for transgender folks, under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Lumenello, DACM, LAc.
While building her previous, solo acupuncture practice, Dr. Kim also completed a postgraduate Pediatric Integrative Health Fellowship at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital under Dr. Lynn Gershan, MD and Barbara Gosse, LAc. She later went on to study in Zhengzhou, China at Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Jinming Yue, TCMD, LAc.
Dr. Kim has had the opportunity to complete the year-long Tao of Trauma training program with Alaine Duncan, LAc. She is a certified health coach through Wellcoaches, and has studied Pranic Healing with Dr. Jason Calva, PhD, LAc and Reiki levels I and II with Mirtha Solis. She has completed cosmetic acupuncture certification with Dr. Martha Lucas, LAc and training in microneedling.
In addition to her work as a clinician, Dr. Kim is an instructor at the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota. Previously, she has served as a professor in the College of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at NWHSU, and as guest lecturer at OCOM, the Arizona School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Kim has collaborated on the development of integrative medicine trainings for Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Nursing Program. Her academic writing has been published in Medical Acupuncture, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, and The Journal of Chinese Medicine.
Dr. Kim strives to honor the Indigenous roots of East Asian Medicine in her clinical and teaching work. She stands with gratitude on the shoulders of the teachers, doctors, midwives, medicine women, and revolutionaries who have carried the myriad lineages of East Asian Medicine across generations.
“I have worked extensively with Kim, having received acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and Chinese herbal therapy, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough. Kim is more than an acupuncturist, and provided a great deal of encouragement and support as I navigated some complex health challenges. ”
“I can’t explain how thankful I am to have found Kim. Living with chronic illness is grueling but seeing Kim has lightened the burden. Not only is she a brilliant practitioner but she is a kind listener, generous healer, and a hilarious person. While I may never be cured, I am living with less pain, more hope, and better sleep since I started seeing Kim.”
“One day, I asked a trusted colleague if she thought acupuncture could work for my neck and back pain and she was so enthusiastic about the possibility of benefit, that I had to try it. She recommended Kim, and my experience has been astounding. I was very skeptical going in - not just of acupuncture, but also skeptical because I had tried so many other things that hadn’t worked. But, it turned out that acupuncture and cupping was the puzzle piece I was missing.... I never thought that I would feel normal again, but now, I can actually say that my body has almost completely recovered from the accident. My pain is no longer constant and I can move freely again, without restriction and pain. I can’t thank Kim enough for what she’s done for me. ”
Note: The term “Oriental” is rooted in notions of Eurocentrism, exotification, xenophobia, and white supremacy. Unfortunately, this term is commonly used in the East Asian Medicine field in the names of academic degrees, certifications, institutions, and professional organizations. I stand in solidarity with efforts led by many Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander practitioners and students to eradicate this term from the profession.
