Acupuncturist in Medina, grateful to be back home, promotes natural healing for body
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Dr. Colleen Gagliardi, who grew up in Middleport, has returned home to start a practice at the Missing Peace Holistic Wellness Center in Medina.
MEDINA – Returning home to practice acupuncture is a dream come true for Dr. Colleen Gagliardi, a Middleport native.
For Anna Cichocki, owner of the Missing Peace Holistic Wellness Center, it is the answer to her prayers.
Cichocki opened her wellness center at 510 Orient St. in November 2016 with a therapy room. In February 2017 she expanded the upstairs by adding a classroom to offer yoga, massage therapy, fitness and holistic wellness workshops.
“I knew from the day I opened I wanted to offer acupuncture,” Cichocki said. “But I didn’t have much hope of finding one. Then she appeared on my doorstep.”
Gagliardi will continue to take appointments from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Clients may call (585) 866-9025 to schedule a free 15-minute consult to see if acupuncture may be helpful.
Gagliardi attended Niagara County Community College and Niagara University. She ventured west to pursue a career which included business management. But she knew that wasn’t where her heart was.
She considered medical school, but that wasn’t quite her, either, she said.
Then she heard about naturopathic services and realized she had found her niche.
She entered Bastyr University in Seattle and graduated with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She later received her master’s in traditional Chinese medicine in 2011.
After college, Gagliardi did a two-year residency in Billings, Mont., then moved to Denver, where she studied Chinese medicine. In addition to a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, she has a master’s in Chinese medicine. She practiced in Chinese medical services for several years and had the opportunity to join a team clinic at Kalispell, Mont., part of the Kalispell Hospital System.
She worked with pain doctors and did naturopathic medicine and acupuncture for two years. She had moved back to Seattle for a while, when she decided it was time to come home.
She said her new practice gives people options.
“So many people want options to take over their health,” Gagliardi said. “Our body is designed to heal itself. People have much more control over their wellness than they realize. They are surprised at how the foods they eat really can impact their health and that nutrient deficiencies may be a root cause contributing to their issues.”
If a client tells the doctor what he or she is eating or drinking, Gagliardi said she might do naturopathy or acupuncture or Chinese herbs. She can also do hypnosis.
When Gagliardi first came home, she was considering doing home visits. Then she learned Cichocki had space available in her wellness center.
“It’s a good match,” Cichocki said.
“And it’s so good to be home,” Gagliardi added.
