Traditional Chinese Medicine

Alejandra Reyes, DACM, LAc, is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and a licensed acupuncturist credentialed by both the California Acupuncture Board and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She has special interests in working with patients with chronic pain, orthopedics and oncology support, utilizing evidence-informed Chinese medicine to care for complex health needs.

Dr. Reyes is the director of the acupuncture and massage department at the UC San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine. She also serves as the co-director of the integrative medicine rotation for UC San Diego medical students, and is committed to expanding integrative medicine education and awareness among future physicians. In addition, she is faculty at Pacific College of Health and Science, supervising acupuncture students in off-site clinical rotations.

Beyond her clinical and academic work, Dr. Reyes is passionate about giving back to the community, including volunteer efforts with refugee shelters and local outreach initiatives. She believes strongly in expanding access to compassionate, culturally sensitive care for underserved populations.

A first-generation Mexican American raised in San Diego, Dr. Reyes is proud to serve the community she calls home. In her free time, she enjoys road cycling, beach days and kayaking with her family. She is also an avid traveler who loves exploring new destinations, cultures and cuisines.

Jacqueline Arellano, DACM is a licensed acupuncturist who sees patients as part of the Center of Integrative Medicine at UC San Diego. She specializes in pain relief, stress management and reproductive care.

Fully fluent in both English and Spanish, she is able to facilitate treatment in both languages effectively.

Committed to accessible health care, she founded and manages Border Kindness Health and Wellness Center. This holistic program provides acupuncture and adjunctive therapies for refugees and unhoused families in community settings including shelters, clinics and encampments. They also provide comprehensive pro-bono services to the community in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

In addition to patient care, she supervises acupuncture interns at Pacific College of Health Science.

Dr. Arellano completed her Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degree at Pacific College of Health Science in San Diego. She also has a master's degree in traditional oriental medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego.

Fidés Julian, DACM, is a licensed acupuncturist who cares for patients through the Center of Integrated Medicine at UC San Diego. She uses a wide range of acupuncture techniques, including orthopedic and sports injury treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Kiiko Matsumoto Japanese-style acupuncture (KMS), electroacupuncture and various adjunctive therapies.

Dr. Julian collaborates with multidisciplinary health care teams to provide holistic care and coordinate referrals to other health care providers. She specializes in family medicine, autoimmune conditions and pain management including chronic migraine headaches, neck, shoulder and back pain conditions. Her treatment approach integrates evidence based protocols informed by current research, orthopedic and neurological examination, with treatment plans that evolve with patients' needs.

In addition to patient care, she is a clinical preceptor, mentoring medical students and residents on their pain rotation. She is also a clinic supervisor at Pacific College of Health and Science where she oversees interns and assistants in delivering safe and effective acupuncture treatments to a diverse patient population.

Dr. Julian completed her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego. She also has a Master of Science degree in traditional Oriental medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago and San Diego.

She is a member of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, American Society of Acupuncturists and California State Oriental Medical Association.

Kimberly DiStefano is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine who care for patients as part of the Center of Integrated Medicine. She provides acupuncture treatment and uses a holistic approach to address various health concerns, with a special focus on women's health and orthopedic conditions.

She completed her degree in Chinese medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego and completed her undergraduate degree at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Jihyung Lee is an acupuncturist and researcher with clinical and laboratory expertise in immunology, integrative medicine and Five Element Acupuncture. He received his PhD in bioscience and biotechnology in Korea and later pursued immunology research training at UC San Diego, focusing on cAMP signaling in dendritic cells and T-cell differentiation. Bridging scientific inquiry with clinical practice, Dr. Lee completed his Master of Science in acupuncture and Oriental medicine and is trained in distal acupuncture systems, trigger point therapy and herbal medicine.

Dr. Lee's clinical approach emphasizes neuro-immune regulation through precise, minimally invasive distal point systems. His background working with patients experiencing chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, and autonomic imbalance informs his understanding of the psychological factors that influence immune and pain pathways. Dr. Lee currently provides patient care at the UC San Diego Lupus Center, focusing on autoimmune modulation, chronic pain, and complex systemic dysregulation within an integrative medical framework.

Lindsay Caruso is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese medicine (DACM) and licensed massage therapist with more than 15 years of clinical experience. She integrates Eastern and Western approaches to deliver highly individualized care that addresses root causes of dysfunction while providing meaningful symptom relief.

Dr. Caruso specializes in older-adult health care, palliative care, chronic pain, migraine, headache management and neurological disorders. By combining precise acupuncture protocols, advanced manual therapy and evidence-informed lifestyle medicine, she helps patients regain function and improve quality of life.

In her massage therapy practice, she specializes in therapeutic and corrective techniques designed to restore postural balance, regulate the nervous system and resolve pain. Her sessions blend modalities such as sports massage, myofascial release, joint mobilization and trigger point therapy.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Caruso is a trained health coach with a particular passion for guiding patients toward lasting behavior change. She partners with individuals to identify barriers, build sustainable habits and cultivate the daily practices—spanning movement, nutrition, stress management, sleep and mind-body awareness—that transform health from the inside out.

When not in the clinic, she can be found tending her garden (under the close supervision of her opinionated chickens), experimenting in the kitchen, and enjoying life with her husband and their demanding English Bulldog, Gidget.

Dr. Sozanski’s academic foundation is rooted in the University of Arizona, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, graduating Summa Cum Laude, followed by his Doctor of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the same institution and is board-certified through the American Board of Family Medicine. To further refine his expertise in holistic health, he completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

His practice is deeply informed by an international perspective on healing, having completed extensive training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture across the United States, Thailand, and China. He holds active medical licenses in California and Arizona, and is also licensed by the Medical Council of Thailand. This international background, combined with his early experience in hospice volunteerism, underscores his commitment to compassionate and versatile medical care.