Dr. CALI JAMES | PhD., DACM, L.Ac.
she/her
Dr. Cali is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine, who integrates the ancient practice of East Asian medicine with the scientific practice of modern medicine. Her approach is comprehensive, drilling down into the causes and manifestations of specific illnesses and pain, while taking into account their impacts on the various aspects of ourselves.
Physical pain can cause depression and stress can cause digestive upset. Dr. Cali believes that the wellness of her patients is optimized by balancing the complexities of their inner and outer landscapes. She projects a warmth that is nonjudgmental and compassionate, and respects patients where they are, even if they don’t do their exercises or take their herbs.
This is Dr. Cali’s encore career; she worked at Kaiser Permanente for 20 years leading teams of analysts/programmers in performing health care research and data analysis. As a Certified Pilates Instructor, she also taught classes and private clients on nights and weekends. She currently teaches Qigong, Taiji, and Baguazhang at a local martial arts studio. A doctor-scholar at heart, she has been known to launch into theoretical discourses of medical texts from the Han and Song Dynasties.
Education
DACM, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, PCOM
PhD, Economics, UC Berkeley
M.S., TCM, Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Science
Certified Pilates Instructor
Certified Medical Qi Gong and Taiji Instructor
Specialties
Movement Medicine
Healthy Aging
Pain Relief
CHRISTOPHER CHAKA RANDLE | L.Ac., C.SMA
he/him
Chris Randle has been practicing T'ai Chi and Chinese Medicine for over 30 years. On his first day of T'ai Chi training in 1990, Chris's teacher told him that if he wanted to learn the martial art then he had to learn the healing art—to learn the Yang, you must also learn the Yin—thus beginning his journey into Chinese Medicine. And in April 2007, five days before his son was born, Chris co-founded OCA Clinic, making him the proud father of a 16 year-old son and a 16 year-old clinic! Chris' earlier education includes a BA from the University of Chicago, where he began as a Physics major then later switched to Religious Studies. He jokes that he mixed his hard science with his mysticism, and now— poof—he's an Acupuncturist!
Chris is currently the Team Acupuncturist for the SF 49ers, and was Team Acupuncturist for the Golden State Warriors from 2013-2016, earning a 2015 Championship Ring for his contribution to the team's nutrition and injury prevention. Chris has also worked with players from the Oakland A's, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Capitals, as well as world champion boxers.
Education
C.SMA, Sports Medicine Acupuncture, SMA Certification
M.S., Chinese Medicine, American College of TCM
B.A., World Religions, University of Chicago
Certified T’ai Chi instructor
Externships
Zhejiang University Hospitals, Hangzhou, China: Orthopedics, Oncology, Pediatrics, Internal Med, Gynecology
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco: Stroke and Rehab Department
Robert Levine Acupuncture, Berkeley: Oncology
Maxine Hall Health Clinic, San Francisco: Community Health
Haight-Ashbury Medical Center, San Francisco: HIV Integrative Care
Specialties
Sports Medicine
Cancer Support
Digestion
Weight Loss
DR. EMILY LEAP | DAOM, L.Ac.
she/her
Emily Leap’s bodywork practice is built around a base of shiatsu, a slow, meridian based system that gives the practitioner space to inquire. In addition, she trained extensively in positional release and muscle energy techniques, both of which come from osteopathy and facilitate neurological resetting in areas of either chronic or acute trauma.
She studied tui na both as a student at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and during a three-month scholarship period at the Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhengzhou, China.
She also has experience with Chi Nei Tsang, or Chinese organ massage.
In her acupuncture work, Emily blends bodywork with the perspective of a Doctor of Chinese medicine, using the full range of observation and diagnosis and deep palpation to understand each individual body and what it needs.
Emily came to the world of Chinese medicine from a career in circus and dance. The circus taught her about muscles, tendons, ligaments: how they strengthen, how they stretch, how they break, how they heal. Dance, especially contact improvisation which she has practiced for 15 years, taught her how to listen to, and manipulate, another person’s body with her own.
Education
DAOM, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, ACTCM
Specialties
Pain Relief
Sports Medicine
Positional Release Therapy
JENNIFER TAYLOR | L.Ac., MSTCM
she/her
With over 18 years of clinical experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jennifer has worked with an extensive range of conditions including orthopedic/ musculoskeletal imbalances and women’s health related issues. After sustaining a debilitating shoulder injury while working in Outdoor Education over 20 years ago, she came to this medicine and health modality out of necessity. In acute daily pain, she stumbled upon a miracle worker who performed acupuncture and cupping, and, Wow! She was hooked!
Experiencing the powerful and healing benefits of Chinese Medicine along with its elegant simplicity has been both inspiring and truly transformative. During her studies at Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz, she completed advanced clinical internships in orthopedics and also studied under several professors in the Gynecology Dept. completing her Masters Degree in 2005. As a long time OCA practitioner and fellow colleague, she has continued her orthopedic training under the guidance of Chris Randle learning and implementing more specialized sports techniques.
Her other life long passion, though, remains working with Women in all the stages of life, using both acupuncture and nutritional and herbal medicine therapies to further support healing. Jennifer treats teens, women during pregnancy and postpartum care, and during fertility preparation, women experiencing hormonal imbalances and conditions such as migraines, acne, anxiety/ depression as well as perimenopausal and menopausal conditions.
Helping to improve the quality of life for all of her patients with compassionate and skilled care has been her life-long goal. With the body of wisdom and teachings that TCM provides, she hopes to continue in that goal.
Education
Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Branches Institute Santa Cruz, CA 2005
B.A. Liberal Arts, St. John’s College Santa Fe, NM
Specialties
Women’s Health
Pain Relief
Orthopedics
Immune support
REBEKAH LEE
she/her
Rebekah Lee’s love for traditional and natural medicine comes from a childhood belief that the body can heal itself. Although she began her healing journey by studying psychology, she felt called to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) after experiencing the deep benefits of its holistic approach. She attended the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences where she received her Master of Science in TCM. In her four years of study, Rebekah’s clinical training focused on pain management, anxiety, depression, stress-related conditions, digestive disorders, and gynecology. And now she’s training regularly in Orthopedics with Chris and Jennifer at OCA.
Education
Master’s Degree- MS, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Science
Bachelor’s Degree- B.A.Psychology, CSU Monterey Bay
PERLA YASMEEN MELÉNDEZ | Office Manager
she/her
Perla Yasmeen Meléndez (pronounced 🍐-la, btw!) is skilled and schooled in many disciplines including Book Arts, Creative Writing, and Culinary Arts. Perla has worked as a youth arts educator for over 20 years, leading cooking, creative writing, and expressive arts classes throughout Oakland and in every place she’s lived prior to that.
Perla is the owner of Two Mamacitas, a catering company specializing in Latin American & Caribbean Cuisine. While many of her catering events are for moments of joyous celebration, Perla feels especially called to using food alchemy to nourish those who are moving through times of deep transition including meals for postpartum, recovery from dis-ease, and grief support. Her love languages are food, nature, poetry and community, and she finds a particular kind of magic in moments when those four elements intersect.
As Office Manager at OCA, Perla enjoys creating a beautiful and welcoming experience for all who set foot in the space.
EDUCATION
BA Creative Writing, BA Book Arts, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Culinary Arts Degree, Escuela Gourmet, ARCAM, Heredia Costa Rica
Master of Fine Arts, Book Arts & Creative Writing, Mills College, Oakland, CA
SYLK RODRIGUEZ | Front Desk & Clinic Support
he/they
Sylk (he/they)is an herbalist, land steward, bodyworker, and artist living on Lisjan Ohlone land (Oakland). They are a practitioner of Curanderismo, their indigenous ancestral healing modality, and are currently studying Craniosacral Therapy at the McKinnon Body Therapy Center. Sylk is deeply moved by community-centered, land and somatic based healing ways and has devoted years developing their own practice in hopes of sharing their offerings with their community.
Sylk is the most recent addition to the OCA team! He’s joined as Front Desk and Clinic support and is excited to help maintain a nurturing and welcoming environment for everyone. He’s been happy connecting with patients and playing a humble part in their healing journeys. In his free time, he enjoys being in nature, taking road trips, and working with analog film.
Education
University of Maryland, BA in Economics / Women and Gender Studies
Cecemmana Herbalist Program, Oakland, CA - 9 month, 250-hour herbal extensive training
Herbalist Apprenticeship Program, El Sobrante, CA - Year long apprenticeship under seasoned Herbalist and Homeopathic practitioner, Maya Blow.
Curanderismo Immersion Program, Morelos, Mexico
Roots Permaculture Design Program, El Sobrante, CA 72-hour permaculture curriculum with an emphasis on the indigenous origins of permaculture concepts and hands-on design and implementation
Curanderismo Immersion Program, Oaxaca, Mexico
Studied with elder Curanderas, Estela Roman and Doña Enriqueta Contreras learning about traditional indigenous healing modalities and energy work.
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