Who We Are as a Team
Together, the Bridges Team is a group of people with similar values and a fire to make a difference in our patient’s lives. We love connecting with each of our patients and facilitating transformation, each in our own unique way. We also enjoy working together, supporting each other when things get chaotic and laughing together as we plan and vision our next projects and to-do’s.
As a team leader, Laura looks for candidates with strong emotional intelligence, responsibility, and clear visions for a better future for all humanity. Always seeking balance, Laura’s philosophy is that a successful healthcare business must walk the talk, and Bridges Acupuncture provides well-paying jobs with generous benefits to nurture the emotional and physical health of all staff members, regardless of position. We are deeply grateful to each of our patients who supports us - through payment for services, leaving positive reviews, and sending friends and family to us - and in turn allow us to support you.
Thank you.
Laura Ellis
Acupuncturist, Practioner of Oriental Medicine
Laura has felt like a bridge for most of her life, although when she was young she mostly thought of it fondly as “being weird.” She was unschooled and enjoyed educating people about it so much, she and her brother started this website, and she still answers the curious emails that periodically come through.
Laura was also politically and spiritually apart from most of her peers, which early on caused her to question, to doubt, to explore, to trust, and to explain her different perspective - sometimes exhaustively with her more argumentative friends!
So it was only natural that Laura became interested in alternative medicine and energy healing in college, where for her, “experimenting” meant driving several hours for a weekend course in Reiki or Akashic Record consulting. She didn’t discover acupuncture until after college, but of course, the timing couldn’t have been more right.
With a degree in human sciences, Laura has studied sociology, anthropology, religion, psychology - all the things that make us human. Spiritually drawn to alternative medicine and energy healing, she is helping forge paths toward a world of balance and equality.
Joys in Laura’s life include traveling, writing, craft Belgian beer, scotch, Indian food, training horses, and geekdom (all the way to cons and fan fiction).
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Meet Laura's animals
Laura's cats, Magic and Mystique, are sisters who could not be more different. Magic loves to stay inside and cuddle while Mystique loves going for walks, climbing trees, and hunting.
Laura’s first horse is named Montego, and he’s a Spanish Mustang from the wilds of Wyoming. He loves learning new skills, playing with his herd members, and spending quiet, reflective time with people he trusts.
While Des the Arabian actually belongs to a friend, he’s still part of the family, and enjoys grass, affection, and secretly loves being told what to do (but he’ll deny it if you ask).
Lady Rose joined the herd as a foster mare from a local rescue. Lady Rose is spicy on the surface, sweet underneath, and doesn’t let the guys forget that there’s a woman around, now.
Athena is a sweet husky/akita who loves to play and wants to be in the middle of everything (especially hugs). She’s very expressive and we frequently “die of cute” when she tilts her head that certain way.
Education, Certification, and Training
- Licensed Practitioner of Oriental Medicine by the state of Pennsylvania, 2015
- Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM), Southwest Acupuncture College, 2015
- NCCAOM Certified Diplomate, 2015
- Trauma-Informed Care Certified, Acupuncturists Without Borders, 2024
- B.A. in Human Development and Social Relations with honors and Phi Beta Kappa, Earlham College, 2010
- Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture, Dr. Martha Lucas, 2017
- Reiki Master/Teacher, 2010
Tyler Shimko
Acupuncturist, Practioner of Oriental Medicine
Tyler is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. He began his healthcare career as a nurse and quickly realized he wanted to be part of a more holistic and natural approach to wellness. A major spinal injury gave him the opportunity to experience acupuncture and its ability to help the body heal. In May of 2021, Tyler completed his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical arts in Asheville, NC. There, he spent over 4,000 clinical hours refining his classical acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and herbal medicine skills.
With his background in Western medicine Tyler takes an integrative approach to his diagnosis and treatments by considering pharmaceuticals/supplements, bloodwork, lab results, and Classical Chinese medical diagnostic techniques to identify health patterns specific to the individual. Each treatment is custom-tailored to the individual, and through careful diagnosis. Acupuncture not only helps relieve your current symptoms; it can help treat the root cause of your condition. He has a specialty for treating pain and orthopedic conditions but also treats a wide variety of problems including GI issues, stress/anxiety/depression, sleep disturbances, headaches, gynecological conditions, allergies, respiratory conditions, and chronic illness. It is his goal to help each client develop and understand their own personal definition of wellness.
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More on Tyler's interests
Tyler loves outdoor adventures and activities. He is often spending his free time hiking, fishing, and camping in the warmer months, and snowboarding in the winter. Tyler is a life-long musician and plays a variety of percussion instruments. He frequently attends local concerts and comedy shows. Tyler loves all things horror/mystery, and when he is not outdoors or at an event, he is often nose deep in a Stephen King novel or watching classic horror films.
Tyler’s life partner, Corinne, is also an acupuncturist. They met in Asheville, NC at Daoist Traditions and share a strong affinity for caring for others through the modalities of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Their cuddly cat, Sika, is inseparable from them anytime they are home; she cannot get enough attention.
Education, Certification, and Training
- Licensed Practitioner of Oriental Medicine by the state of Pennsylvania, 2021
- Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM), Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, 2021
- Master's of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM), Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, 2021
- B.S in Nursing from West Virginia University, 2015
- Reiki Master, 2016
Christopher Stevens
Acupuncturist
Christopher made his way into the field of medicine by taking his knowledge of exercise science and applying it beyond fitness. Intrigued by the outstanding results that could be obtained through correcting muscular imbalances and spinal misalignments, he chose to further his education and opted for holistic care.
After earning a master's in acupuncture, his eyes were opened to a world where everyone wasn't seen as a sum of parts but as an individual part of a much bigger universe where everything functions at an optimum level when in a proper balance.
Using the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he went on to treat conditions beyond physical discomfort. He has since found his footing in alternative care and continues to study patterns of shifting health irregularities to become a greater opposing force in the fight against disease.
Activities that can typically be found on Christopher's personal itinerary include running, hiking, snowboarding, jamming out to music, trying out new cuisine, and binge-watching exhilarating television shows and movies during his much-needed downtime.
Education, Certification, and Training
- Licensed Acupuncturist by the state of Pennsylvania, 2022
- NCCAOM Certified Diplomate, 2022
- Master of Acupuncture (MAc) with Magna Cum Laude honors, American Institute of Alternative Medicine, 2021
- B.A. in Exercise Science from Capital University, 2017
Michelle Cipollone
Front Desk Receptionist
Michelle originally hails from Oregon, and has recently moved to Pennsylvania from the West Coast.
She is a professional singer and educator (teaching students voice and piano lessons), but is also passionate about customer service fields; especially the health and wellness industries. Michelle has benefited from massage and acupuncture herself, and has also served multiple clinics as their receptionist or front desk associate.
As she settles in to the Pittsburgh area, she hopes to continue to explore the musical and customer service opportunities this area can provide. Her hobbies include: reading, jigsaw puzzles and board games, and spending quality time with her cat Cleopatra.
Education, Certification, and Training
- M.M. in Vocal Performance , San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 2020
- B.A. in Music Education , Pacific Lutheran University, 2012